Oct. 12, 2005
by Nick Nagel
Media Relations Assistant
In honor of 20 years of Patriot League football, the Patriot League will profile the seven current members of the League . Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh have played in all 20 seasons, while Fordham has played 16 seasons, and Georgetown has participated in five campaigns in the Patriot League. This week we look at the 2002 co-champions, Fordham.
The Rams of Fordham are one of the most storied programs in the history of college football. They are ranked 14th in all-time wins coming into the 2005 season with 720. During Fordham's 106 years of football, the Rams appeared in the first six national rankings put out by the Associated Press, a record matched only by Duke. Fordham is the only Division I-AA institution to play in two major college bowl games, having played in the 1941 Cotton Bowl and the 1942 Sugar Bowl.
In August 1988, Fordham announced it would elevate its program to the Division I-AA level, and join the Patriot League in 1990. However the Rams started Patriot League competition when Davidson left the League. The Rams struggled in their inaugural season going 2-6 overall. In 1991, Fordham played a regular season game with Holy Cross in Limerick, Ireland just the third I-AA football game played outside the United States. The Rams got their first Patriot League win in 1992 downing Bucknell, 21-0, on Halloween.
In 2002, the Rams went 10-3 overall and 6-1 in League play to win their lone Patriot League title. The 10 wins are the most on the I-AA level for Fordham. Also in 02, the Rams advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. In its first game, Fordham prevailed over Northeastern, 29-24. The Rams then traveled to Villanova, where they fell, 24-10.
During its run in the Patriot League, Fordham has had five head coaches. Larry Glueck led the Rams into Patriot League competition. Glueck was on Rose Hill from 1986-93 amassing a 30-51-1 record. Dave Clawson (1999-2003) led the Rams to their Patriot League title. In four seasons, Clawson's record was 29-29. Along with the title his 2003 squad finished third with a 9-3 overall record and 4-3 mark in Patriot League action. Currently, the Rams are coached by Ed Foley, who is in his second year with a 5-11 career record to date on the Hill.
A look at the Fordham record book will show familiar names to Patriot League fans. The Rams' all-time leading rusher and leader in rushing touchdowns is 2002 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Kirwan Watson, who ran for 4,617 career yards, including a combined 38 touchdowns in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The Fordham record for most career passing yards and passing touchdowns is held by Watson's teammate, Kevin Eakin, who passed for 6,112 yards and 45 touchdowns. Javarus Dudley is the Rams leader in every receiving statistical category. Tad Kornegay (01-04) ranks second all-time in career interceptions with 14.
Going into the 2005 season, Fordham was picked to finish fourth by the League's coaches and sports information directors receiving two first-place votes and 41 points overall. Currently the Rams are 0-5, 0-1 in the Patriot League. They return to action Saturday when they travel to Colgate for a Patriot League game slated for a 1 p.m start. Time Warner sports will televise the game in upstate New York.
The Patriot League continues its look at 20 years of football next Wednesday when Lehigh will be featured.
Oct. 5 Feature: Lafayette College Leopards