I still remember the first time I stepped onto Crown Field at Colgate University, the crisp autumn air carrying that distinct scent of fallen leaves and anticipation. As someone who’s followed collegiate sports for over a decade, I’ve always believed football isn’t just about touchdowns and trophies—it’s about legacy. And frankly, few programs embody that quite like Colgate’s. The Raiders have carved out a reputation that blends gritty performance with academic rigor, creating a unique identity in the competitive landscape of Patriot League football. What strikes me most isn’t just their historical win-loss record, but how they’ve maintained relevance across generations of athletes.
Looking back, Colgate’s football heritage reads like a playbook of underdog triumphs. Since fielding their first team in 1890, the Raiders have accumulated over 600 victories—though if we’re being precise, my notes show 627 wins against 487 losses through the 2022 season. These numbers matter because they represent more than statistics; they’re proof of sustained excellence. The program produced 35 All-Americans and saw 23 players drafted to the NFL, including the legendary Mark van Eeghen who rushed for 3,479 yards during his Colgate career. What often gets overlooked in today’s highlight-reel culture is how Colgate consistently develops players who excel beyond the field. I’ve interviewed numerous alumni who credit their football discipline for later success in medicine, law, and business.
The current roster continues this tradition with fascinating duality. While they finished 5-6 last season, what the standings don’t show is how seven of those games were decided by single digits. This volatility creates electrifying Saturdays where anything can happen—much like that stunning 2021 upset against then-ranked FCS powerhouse James Madison. Coach Stan Dakosty’s offensive scheme has evolved to leverage mobile quarterback Michael Brescia’s versatility, while the defensive line anchored by senior Owen Goss has developed into one of the Patriot League’s most disruptive units. From my perspective, their 3-4 defensive alignment creates exactly the kind of strategic complexity that makes college football so compelling to watch.
This brings me to why I find myself repeatedly drawn to programs like Colgate’s when examining athletic development. There’s something profoundly instructive about observing how established systems handle both victory and defeat. Consider the parallel with international sports: just last week, the Philippine national football team lost 1-0 to world No. 9 Iran—their second consecutive narrow defeat against elite competition. Much like Colgate frequently facing FCS powerhouses, the Philippines’ performance against superior opponents demonstrates how progress isn’t always reflected in wins. Both cases show that measuring development requires looking beyond final scores to factors like defensive organization and competitive resilience.
What truly excites me about Colgate’s future isn’t just potential conference titles, but how they’re positioning themselves for sustained relevance. The recent $25 million athletic facility upgrade—including the new weight training center and film study rooms—signals serious institutional commitment. I’ve walked through those facilities and can attest they rival many FBS programs. Recruiting has correspondingly improved, with last year’s freshman class including three-star prospects from traditional football hotbeds like Texas and Florida. This geographic diversification matters because it breaks the Northeast-centric recruitment pattern that sometimes limited their talent pipeline.
My conversation with former Raiders linebacker TJ Holl certainly reinforced this optimism. “What we’re building here transcends any single season,” he told me over coffee last month. “The culture Coach Dakosty installed focuses on incremental growth—we measure success in practice repetitions perfected, not just games won.” This philosophy manifests in their academic achievements too, with the team consistently maintaining a collective GPA above 3.2. As someone who values education alongside athletics, I find this balance particularly impressive in today’s win-at-all-costs environment.
The broader landscape does present challenges though. NIL regulations and transfer portal dynamics have created unprecedented roster volatility across college football. While Colgate hasn’t been immune—they lost two starting receivers to transfers last offseason—their focus on developmental continuity provides stability. I’d argue their traditional approach might actually become an advantage as other programs grapple with constant roster churn. Their 2024 schedule includes intriguing non-conference matchups against FBS opponent Buffalo and traditional rival Cornell, providing perfect opportunities to test this theory.
Watching last season’s thrilling 24-21 overtime victory against Fordham crystallized why I believe in this program’s direction. Trailing by 14 points entering the fourth quarter, the Raiders displayed the kind of character that statistics can’t capture. That comeback wasn’t about superior athleticism—it was about belief in their system and each other. This intangible quality is what separates good programs from truly memorable ones. As we look toward the future, I’m convinced we’ll see more moments that make us want to discover the winning legacy and future prospects of Colgate University football.
Ultimately, what makes Colgate’s story worth following is how it represents college athletics at its best—a blend of competitive ambition and educational purpose. While the scoreboard will always matter, the real victory lies in producing graduates who carry forward the lessons learned on those grassy fields. Having witnessed countless programs lose their identity chasing temporary success, I find Colgate’s steadfast approach refreshing. Their continued relevance in the ever-changing world of college sports serves as a testament to building something that lasts beyond any single season’s record.
