September 17, 2002

By Anthony Manfredi, Athletic Communications Student Assistant 

HAMILTON, N.Y. - As Colgate gets set to square off with Dartmouth Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium, the Raiders find themselves with more questions than answers.  Sitting winless in two games, and more significantly 0-1 in the Patriot League race, head coach Dick Biddle’s team has backed itself into a corner and is hoping that the game against the Big Green can help get them out.  Kickoff is 1 p.m. 

            After suffering a lopsided 20-0 loss to Villanova in the opener and a heartbreaking 40-31 loss to conference opponent Fordham, the Raiders find themselves in the same hole they dug after last year’s 0-2 start.  However, what is perhaps most significant is the two opening losses last year came against perennial playoff contenders.  This year, one of the losses came at the hands of a Fordham program, which hadn’t notched a win against the Raiders since 1996.

            Following the losses to Villanova and Maine in 2001, the Raiders reeled off seven wins in their last eight games and came within three points of dethroning Lehigh as league champions.  The biggest difference between last year and this year, however, is the alarming amount of yards the Colgate defense has given up.  In the two defeats a year ago, the Raiders gave up an average of 331 yards of total offense.  That number has increased to almost 460 yards per game this season.  The pass defense is what has been the biggest problem thus far.  Villanova’s Brett Gordon threw for 392 yards and a touchdown, while Fordham’s Kevin Eakin gained 324 through the air. 

            The Raiders could get a bit of a reprieve this week, however.  The game Saturday is the Big Green’s first of the season.  Their 1-8 record from a year ago could be misguiding though.  Five of the eight losses were by 10 points or less.  The Big Green couldn’t shake the injury bug either, losing their only quarterback with game experience in the fourth week.  Similar fate has struck the Dartmouth program already this season.  Starting running back Pat Risha is out for the year with a heart condition while top receiver Bob Murphy is sidelined for four weeks with a broken hand.  Despite the pre-season adversity, the Big Green is optimistic.  Fifth-year quarterback Brian Mann is back at the helm after sitting out the entire 2001 season with a broken hand.  He ranks fifth all-time in career passing and threw for close to 1,000 yards as a junior in 2000.  Three first-team all-Ivy League performers return as well.  Tight end Casey Cramer led the Big Green with 37 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns while guard Kevin Noone is back to anchor the offensive line.  Alex Ware, who broke the school’s all-time punting average last year with 42.9 yards per kick, is an obvious special teams standout. 

            Gaining only 134 yards in total offense in week one, the Raider offense came alive last week, rolling up 398 total yards.  Senior quarterback Tom McCune responded to his worst outing as a starter against Villanova with a strong showing against Fordham, connecting on 22-of-33 for 266 yards and a touchdown.  He also scored a rushing touchdown on a seven-yard option play.  Nate Thomas began to hit stride as well, gaining 103 yards on 21 carries.  Luke Graham caught five balls for a career-high 125 yards as well and proved that he can go up in the air to make the grab. 

            Last year’s match-up between the Raiders and Big Green was scheduled as Dartmouth’s season opener, but the game was cancelled due to the September 11^th tragedies.  The Big Green has lost four straight season openers, and has not beaten a team coached by Dick Biddle.