The 2012 season marked another successful year for the Colgate football program. The Raiders won the Patriot League Championship for the seventh time in their history. They finished with a 8-4 record overall and were undefeated in conference play, beating Holy Cross, Georgetown, Lafayette, Lehigh and Bucknell.

“Any time you can win a championship, you relish it. It’s a reflection of a great school it’s a reflection of some great

players,” Head Coach Dick Biddle said.

The team’s success in the Patriot League went beyond earning the top spot. Biddle won Patriot League coach of the year. Junior quarterback Gavin McCarney was named the Patriot League’s offensive player of the year and senior Chris Looney was awarded Patriot League’s scholar athlete of the year.

Additionally, McCarney finished his

season with an unprecedented 3,778 yards of total offense, including 1,406 rushing and 2,372 passing. This triumph made McCarney a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as national player of the year. McCarney’s counterpart, tailback Jordan McCord finished his Colgate football career with a total of 3,144 rushing yards, with 1,708

this season.

The Raiders’ success in season earned them a chance to compete in the NCAA FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Unfortunately, they lost to Wagner 20-31 in the first round of play. Despite this disappointment, the men relish the time they’ve spent as a team.

“I’ve met a lot of cool guys. I’ve met a lot of guys I have great friendships with. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else,” McCord said. Good thing, too. The football team has already started training for the fall 2012 season. With practices, lifts, meals and summer training, the team spends nearly every waking

moment together.

Colgate will begin its season on August 31 against Air Force in Colorado Springs, CO. The Raiders will play a total of six home games, an increase from four in the 2012 season. The first home game will be

September seventh against Albany.

“Night games in Hamilton, especially

early in the season, really get the crowd

involved and make for a great atmosphere. I’m glad we’re doing it and hope we continue to do it,” Biddle said.

The Raiders will be losing 20 seniors next year, a fifth of their 100 person roster.

Despite the personnel loss and more challenging schedule, the team has high hopes for the 2013 season.

“It’s a very challenging schedule – probably the most demanding since I’ve been here – and we’ve really got to step up and play,” Biddle said. “But our kids will enjoy it and that’s why you play the game, to face good competition. That’s how we challenge them.”

Contact Belle Stepien at

[email protected].