Patriot League Release

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (7/25/11) – Colgate headlines the Patriot League 25th Anniversary Football Team with seven selections, as a group of players spanning four decades and seven different schools were honored on Monday.

Colgate and Lehigh, the two winningest programs in Patriot League history, combined to make up half of the 26-man roster as the Raiders led the way with seven selections and the Mountain Hawks recorded six. Bucknell, Fordham, Holy Cross and Lafayette each placed three players on the team, while Towson had the remaining selection.

Six of the Raiders selections came on the offensive side of the ball with Ryan Vena '00, Kenny Gamble '88, Corey Hill '99, Paul Clasby '00, Luke George '99 and Nick Hennessey '09, while Greg Manusky '88 was the only Raider on the defensive side.

The Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team was voted on by each of the seven current football member schools, with each institution getting one vote and ineligible to select their own players. Players qualified for the ballot by earning three-time All-Patriot League status; a first, second or third-team All-America honor from the four major awarding organizations; or a Patriot League Player, Offensive Player or Defensive Player of the Year award. Schools were also permitted to include additional candidates that did not meet the automatic qualification criteria.

Vena was selected among an outstanding group of Patriot League quarterbacks. He earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in all four of his seasons, the only quarterback to pull off that feat. Vena also received the Patriot League Player of the Year award in 1996, 1997 and 1999, and led the Raiders to the Patriot League title and FCS playoff berth in both 1997 and 1999. Colgate had a 19-4 Patriot League record in Vena's four years under center. He stands fourth in Patriot League annals with 9,435 yards of total offense in his career.

“It's just a great honor,” stated Vena. “It goes without saying to be selected by the coaches and peers that it's amazing to be on the team. There have been some amazing players, certainly some amazing quarterbacks to come through the Patriot League in the last 25 years. It's just a tribute to my coaching staff and my teammates throughout the time I played at Colgate. I'm very honored.”

Gamble stood out among the stellar cast of running backs in Patriot League history. Gamble claimed the inaugural Walter Payton Award and the ECAC Player of the Year honor in 1987 while earning consensus first-team All-America honors and his second consecutive first-team All-Patriot League award. Gamble remains one of the most decorated players in Patriot League history, while receiving induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“This is a great honor and a privilege to be named to the Patriot League's 25th Anniversary Football Team, especially since the Patriot League has turned out so many great football players during this time period,” said Gamble. “This honor is even more special because of the long lineage of great running backs Colgate has produced over the years, some before my time (Mark Van Eeghen, Rich Erenberg, Henry White, etc.) and certainly after (Randall Joseph, Jamaal Branch, Jordan Scott and today, Nate Eachus). Hopefully these guys don't mind my selection to the team. I want them to know that with this honor, I'm representing them and the Colgate family of great running backs.

“More importantly, I'd be remised if I didn't thank the guys up-front, the ones that made every one of those yards possible, my offensive line. Without their commitment and willingness to put themselves on the line on every play to create the seams I needed to advance the ball down field, certainly none of this would be possible.”

Hill was the go-to target for the Colgate offense during Vena's first three seasons. He earned three consecutive first-team All-Patriot League honors while also receiving All-America status in his final two campaigns and the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award as a senior.

“I am very honored and humbled to be selected to the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team,” said Hill. “I am glad to accept this honor on behalf of Colgate University, my coaches and teammates. I want to give special thanks to the greatest, most supportive family in the world: my dad Prentice Hill, my mom Marilyn Hill, and my sister Stephanie Hill. This selection is truly a blessing, I have been so blessed in my life. When I started playing, I never played for individual accolades, I played for the competition and love of the game. For it to culminate in this is mind boggling!”

Colgate's trio of 25th Anniversary Team offensive lineman each received All-America recognition during their time in Hamilton. Clasby was a three-time All-Patriot League pick and earned three All-America nods as a senior, while George earned All-Patriot League recognition in his final two seasons and All-America status as a senior. Hennessey earned consensus first-team All-America recognition as a senior in 2008 as well as a pair of All-Patriot League honors.

“It is an honor and I am very proud to be a part of the Patriot League's storied athletic history,” stated Clasby. “I was truly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to play football for coach Biddle and coach Foley while attending Colgate. To this day I feel great pride in being part of coach Biddle's team. As a first year head coach, Coach Biddle and staff taught the team to win and more importantly taught me, a first year college kid, the importance of positive attitude, accountability, and setting high expectations that would carry through not only my playing years at Colgate but all future endeavors.”

“I am honored and thrilled to be selected to the Patriot League's 25th Anniversary Team,” said Hennessey. “The memories I have from my time at Colgate University and the Patriot League will be with me always, but they would not be possible without the tireless efforts of my coaches and fellow players. I share this honor with all of them."

Rivaling Gamble as the star in the first two years of Patriot League Football, Manusky made 162 tackles as a junior in 1986 and earned the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award with three All-America honors in his senior season.

"I'm very excited. My four years at Colgate was a great time,” stated Manusky. “From the university and from football. I'm excited to make this anniversary team. It is a great honor."

Players on the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team will be profiled leading up and throughout the 2011 season, along with features on additional student-athletes, coaches and teams in Patriot League history.

The Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team

Offense:
QB - Ryan Vena (Colgate, 1996-99)
RB - Kenny Gamble (Colgate, 1986-87)
RB - Gordie Lockbaum (Holy Cross, 1986-87)
WR- Corey Hill (Colgate, 1995-98)
WR - Javarus Dudley (Fordham, 2000-03)
TE - Adam Bergen (Lehigh, 2001-04)
OL - Will Rackley (Lehigh, 2007-10)
OL - Paul Clasby (Colgate, 1996-99)
OL - Luke George (Colgate, 1995-98)
OL - Nick Hennessey (Colgate, 2005-08)
OL - Mariusz Misiec (Bucknell, 1994-97)
PK - Jason McLaughlin (Lafayette, 1991-94)
AP - A.J. Kizekai (Bucknell, 2006-09)

Defense:
DL - Nick Martucci (Lehigh, 1995-98)
DL - Corey Vincent (Holy Cross, 1988-91)
DL - Andrew Hollingsworth (Towson, 1997-00)
DL - Hunter Adams (Bucknell, 1995-98)
LB - Greg Manusky (Colgate, 1986-87)
LB - Ian Eason (Lehigh, 1996-99)
LB - Andy Romans (Lafayette, 2005-08)
LB - Matt Cohen (Lehigh, 2006-09)
DB - Dave Murphy (Holy Cross, 1986-89)
DB - Tad Kornegay (Fordham, 2001-04)
DB - B.J. Gallis (Lafayette, 1993-96)
DB - Abdul Byron (Lehigh, 1998-01)
P - Barry Cantrell (Fordham, 1994-97)