HAMILTON – Colgate Football's 2015 title season received a championship sendoff Saturday night with the annual awards banquet at the Hall of Presidents.
 
Head coach Dan Hunt presented the Raiders with their Patriot League championship rings, and the attendees enjoyed video highlights not only of this year but also commemorating Colgate's 125th season of football.
 
What a campaign it was as the Raiders won nine games for just the ninth time in the storied program's history. Colgate advanced as far as the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time thanks to road victories over New Hampshire and No. 5 James Madison.
 
The Raiders fashioned a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs that saw all seven victories earned by single digits – 4, 2, 9, 7, 4, 7 and 6. Other highlights included:
 

• Tops in the nation with only two interceptions thrown.
• Eighth nationally in fourth-down conversion rate at 67.4 percent.
• Among the top 10 in both fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles-for-loss allowed.
• Fewest penalties per game in the Patriot League at 4.8.
• Best in the Patriot League in rushing at 206.4 yards per game.

 
Colgate swept through the Patriot League with six consecutive victories, including the clinching 49-42 triumph over Lehigh. It was the first title for Hunt, who matched his mentor Dick Biddle with a championship in just his second season as head coach.
 
"This group defined the team concept better than any I've been a part of," Hunt said. "It began in the offseason and never let up, even when we started 0-3.
 
"And I couldn't be more proud of the fact that this team put together the best Colgate Football grade-point average in history. It shows that our parents here tonight should be proud of the kind of men they raised. They raised champions, and we were here tonight to honor them as champions both on and off the field. That's really what Colgate University and Colgate Football are all about."
 
2016 Captains Named
Quarterback Jake Melville picked up the Andy Kerr Offensive MVP Award, while nose tackle Alex Campbell was named Hal Lahar Defensive MVP. Linebacker Cameron Buttermore and tailback Demetrius Russell were recipients of the Tom Dodge Unsung Hero Award, with defensive back Josh Ford earning the Mark Rakowski Special Teams Award.
 
The Dick Biddle Coaches' Award went to defensive back Keyon Washington and defensive coordinator Paul Shaffner.
 
Three senior captains were announced for 2016, with Melville, Victor Steffen and Kyle Diener selected by their teammates.
 
Hunt also presented Eric J. Andersen '87 with the Maroon Council Jack Mitchell Loyalty Award. Andersen lettered for the Raiders on the offensive line back in the 1980s and his son, Ben, just finished his senior year at defensive end.

David Moules '82, a four-year letterman on the offensive line during his Colgate playing days, served a master of ceremonies.
 
Check out the Colgate Football 125th Anniversary video HERE.