The Colgate Raiders ended their 2002 football season with an embarrassment of riches in the offensive backfield.
But heading into today's spring scrimmage, coach Dick Biddle is experiencing what he hopes is a temporary recession.
The Raiders rode the surprising emergence of sophomore tailback Ray LaMonica to a 9-3 record and a Patriot League co-championship last fall. LaMonica rushed for 877 yards after taking over midway through the year for starter Nate Thomas -- a first-team All-Patriot League pick in 2001 who broke his ankle in week 3 against Dartmouth.
Thomas, a senior, applied for a medical redshirt and will play for the Raiders this fall. Add to that the expected return of junior Jamaal Branch -- who had secured the starting tailback job in last year's spring practice before leaving school due to academic difficulties -- and Biddle's biggest problem seemed to be finding enough carries for his three studs.
But Branch is not yet enrolled in school. Thomas, who will be a graduate student, can't practice until the summer. And LaMonica suffered academic problems and will not play this year.
Suddenly, Biddle was forced to move fullback Matt Kobelski to tailback just to get through spring practice.
"It's been a little hectic, with the weather keeping us off the grass field and the number of kids not practicing," Biddle said. "But we're doing things with the kids that are here."
Come summer, when Branch and Thomas are expected to return to practice, the Raiders will again have a potent offense at their disposal. Soon-to-be junior Chris Brown returns at quarterback for Colgate after taking over late last year for the injured Tom McCune, and Brown will have junior wide receiver Luke Graham and senior tight end John Frieser as targets in the passing game.
Brown, who had virtually no experience at quarterback before Tom McCune ruptured his spleen in week 9 last year, engineered three wins during the Raiders' march to the league title. Graham enjoyed one of the best seasons ever for a Colgate receiver, catching 65 passes for 1,182 yards and seven touchdowns.
Frieser, a first-team All-Patriot League pick, caught 19 balls for 283 yards and cleared the way on Colgate's off-tackle running plays.
Biddle must find replacements for four of his five starting offensive linemen -- only guard Mark Sclafani returns this fall -- but is comfortable with the replacements.
"We need to find a tailback, find a fullback, a punter and a some depth at safety," said Biddle, who must also replace starting cornerbacks Max Wynn and Maurice Robertson and outside linebacker Chris Rowland. "Everything else will take care of itself."
Soon-to-be junior Eric Guglielmotti has the inside track at the starting fullback position, with Kobelski -- who will be a senior -- on hand to help if necessary.
At punter, Biddle must replace his son -- three-year starter Brendon Biddle -- with a new recruit, but kicker Lane Schwarzberg returns after making 13-of-17 field goals and 34-of-36 PATs.
On defense, linemen Robert Hannah, Josh Sabo (each with a team-high eight sacks), Mike Latek and Nick Susko return, as do linebackers Tem Lukabu (a team-high 112 tackles en route to Patriot League co-Defensive Player of the Year honors) and Ryan Disch. However, Sabo, Latek and Disch all had off-season surgery, limiting their play this spring.
Sean McCune and Ainsworth Minott are back at safety.
"Depth is always an issue here, but you deal with it," Biddle said. "We like the kids we have back."
