Bob Cornell

Football 10/30/2020 11:00:00 AM John Painter

All-Decade Football: Wide Receivers

Early Fame from Rosnick, Looney Led to Continued Heroics from Maddaluna, Ives

Third in a series.

Running Back

HAMILTON – The 2010s were another amazing decade in the annals of Colgate Football.

The Raiders won four Patriot League championships for the second decade in a row, upping their all-time total to 10. Colgate made two deep runs in the NCAA playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals in both 2015 and 2018. The Raiders under head coaches Dick Biddle and Dan Hunt went 64-53 overall and 39-17 against Patriot League competition.

In celebration of those accomplishments, Colgate Football announces the All-Decade Team for 2010-19. Voters for this team were from the coaching staff, alumni, athletics department and media. Ties in the voting at wide receiver and linebacker resulted in one additional player being named for both of those positions.

"This was a neat thing to do and I appreciate everyone who helped out and gave their time to this process," Colgate head coach Dan Hunt said. "For me personally, it was really fun to talk about these guys, having been here for all of them and then some -- but not all as the head coach. It was a unique perspective on this to go back and talk about these great players."

Hunt especially enjoyed comparing those who finished their careers in 2010 or 2011 versus players who rounded out the decade.

"It was a good cross-section from different views of the football team," he said. "And the voters got it right. Obviously, there are players not on the list who easily could be. There were four championships during this 10-year period and two trips to the NCAA quarterfinals -- so there are some good players and some good teams."

Hunt noted that 11 of the 27 honorees came from the 2018 team that finished seventh and eighth in the major national polls after starting the season 9-0 on the strength of five shutouts. Those zeroes tied an NCAA FCS record for a season as Colgate breezed to a Patriot League title and earned a first-round NCAA playoff bye.

"Particularly on the defensive side of the ball, there are five on this team who were on that 2018 defense, and then four on offense and one on special teams," he said. "And to be honest with you, that's the way it should be. That's an all-time defense and an amazing all-around team that obviously performed very well."

Thomas Ives (2015-18)

Ives led the Raiders with seven receiving touchdowns in 2017 on his way to 53 receptions for 865 yards and nine TDs. He was a two-time All-Patriot League Second Team selection who turned in one highlight-reel catch after another during Colgate’s back-to-back Patriot League title runs in 2017 and 2018. Despite being slowed by injury in 2018, Ives still managed a 17.5-yard average and went on to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Bears.

Thomas is obviously playing in the NFL. He made more spectacular catches than any receiver in my time here and really brought the competitive fire to the position. He was a true football player. He was a receiver, yes, but he was a physical player, a competitor, a leader and just a defensive nightmare. He would go up and get the football when he appeared to be covered. The quarterbacks knew that and threw it his way and he just made the play every time. And if the spectacular catch was needed, he made it.

Coach Dan Hunt

Chris Looney (2009-12)

Looney earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors in 2012 after helping the Raiders to an 8-4 showing and the Patriot League title. He led Colgate that year in all three receiving categories, finishing with 43 catches for 776 yards and six touchdowns. Looney for his career posted 82 receptions for 1,176 yards and nine TDs in 32 games played. He capped his senior season by being named a Capital One Academic All-America Division I Football Team member and Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

I'm glad to see Chris on this list. I was wondering how the voting would go there because I didn't know if he was going to get passed by just because he was quietly a really great player for us. If you look back to 2012 and that record-breaking offense, he had so many big plays. I remember he had big plays that got us going. If there was a game where maybe we weren't firing on all cylinders offensively early, we threw it up to Chris and he always made the play. Easy play, tough play, always in the right place, never ran the wrong route -- just exactly what you want. He made every routine play but also made the spectacular play.

Coach Dan Hunt

John Maddaluna III (2013-16)

Maddaluna finished his career fifth in receptions (153) and sixth in receiving yards (2,332) after catching at least one pass over his final 32 games. He twice earned All-Patriot League Second Team thanks to versatility that saw him contribute 1,448 career yards on kickoff returns. In 2016, Maddaluna was on the receiving end of a 93-yard pass completion from Jake Melville for the longest TD from scrimmage in Colgate history. His 261 yards on 11 catches that afternoon (three touchdowns) are the second-most receiving yards in a game in program history.

John made so many big plays. We're not known as a passing team but he's one of the best receivers I've seen in the Patriot League. For a guy who wasn't all that physically big, he made so many tough catches over the middle, so many crucial catches in crucial drives in big games -- you could always count on him. I know quarterbacks love a guy who will go over the middle and make the tough catch on third down, and that was John.

Coach Dan Hunt

Doug Rosnick (2007-10)

Rosnick was an All-Patriot League First Team selection his senior year after posting 49 catches for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished his career with 105 receptions for 1,361 yards and eight TDs. Big games that final season included a career-high 10 catches for 84 yards against Syracuse, seven for 103 and a touchdown against Monmouth and nine for 141 and two scores against Princeton. He also caught a pair of touchdown passes against Fordham.

Doug defines toughness in this position. He was a player who, hands down, was one of the most competitive wide receivers we've ever had and one of the toughest wide receivers we've ever had. He was more at the beginning of his era and, really, he was our go-to guy almost every play. He was going to get the ball, people knew he was going to get the ball, and they still couldn't cover him. He would find a way to advance the ball by running through you or running around you. It didn't matter; he was going to get it done He was absolutely one of the most competitive football players we've ever had. To see him make this team is outstanding.

Coach Dan Hunt

Next Up: Tight End/Fullback, Monday.