July 31, 2008
2008 Patriot League Football Media Day Photo Gallery
Bethlehem, Pa. -
Defending Patriot League champion Fordham has been picked to repeat its title in 2008 in a poll of the League's head coaches and sports information directors, it was announced Thursday at Patriot League Football Media Day.
Fordham earned a first-place selection on nine of the 14 ballots, and received 68 points overall. Holy Cross claimed four first-place votes and 56 overall points to claim the second position, followed by Colgate with the remaining first-place vote and 53 points in third place. Lafayette placed fourth with 48 points, with Lehigh (35), Bucknell (18) and Georgetown (16) rounding out the preseason poll.
The poll voters also predicted a repeat performance for the Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as the 2007 winners received the preseason recognition. Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph was selected as Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Lafayette senior linebacker Andy Romans was picked as the League's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Fordham completed an outstanding turnaround season in 2007, improving from 1-5 in Patriot League play the year before to a 5-1 finish and the first outright Patriot League title in school history to earn the League's berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision postseason. The Rams also became the first squad to earn sole possession of the League crown since 2003, while finishing with an 8-4 overall record. Fordham won its first five Patriot League games and recorded a six-game winning streak that concluded with a 24-21 victory over Holy Cross on Nov. 3 that wrapped up the League's postseason berth. Fordham Head Coach Tom Masella has an 11-12 mark in two seasons with the Rams, and is 6-6 in Patriot League play.
The Rams bring back eight starters on each side of the ball, and have 57 letterwinners returning. Quarterback John Skelton, running back Xavier Martin and wide receiver Asa Lucas lead an offense that also has four starters back on the line, while James Crockett, Matt Loucks and Isiejah Allen are the top returnees on defense.
