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Olivia Hokanson

Thirteen Colgate Football Notes on Gameday

| By: Jordan Doroshenko & Christian Locker

Previewing Friday's Season Opener vs Monmouth

HAMILTON – Colgate Football's highly-anticipated Friday night opener kicks off at 7 p.m. when the Raiders host No. 22 Monmouth under the lights of Andy Kerr Stadium. Here are 13 notes on gameday. 

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  • COLGATE-MONMOUTH SERIES HISTORY
    • Colgate is 3-1 all-time against Monmouth, having won each of the last three meetings, most recently in 2011 (26-14). Monmouth won the first-ever meeting in 2006. The two teams faced each other in season openers back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010. 
       
  • FITZPATRICK ERA UNDERWAY
    • Curt Fitzpatrick, coaching in his first FCS game, goes up against Kevin Callahan, the nation's longest tenured FCS head coach (1992-pr). Callahan before moving on to Monmouth was an assistant coach at Colgate from 1984-1992. 
       
  • RANKED FOES
    • This is the first time Colgate opens the season against a ranked opponent since 2017 against No. 23 Cal Poly. Monmouth at No. 22 is Colgate's highest ranked opponent in a season opener since they took on No. 10 UMass in the 2006 opener in Amherst, Mass. 
       
  • FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
    • Colgate kicks off the 2025 season under the lights of Andy Kerr Stadium. This is Colgate's first Friday night home game since October 1962 when the Raiders hosted Holy Cross (L, 22-0).
       
  • SEASON OPENERS
    • Colgate is searching for its first season-opening victory since 2018 when the Patriot League champion Raiders bested Holy Cross 24-17. Colgate has lost each of its last six openers, with three of those against FBS opponents.
       
  • PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
    • Colgate was picked seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches/ The Raiders with 31 points edged out eighth-place Fordham (29), while defending champion Lehigh was picked first (97).
       
  • WELCOME HOME, COACH
    • Curt Fitzpatrick, a local Fulton, N.Y., native, is the 31st head coach in Colgate football history. He heads to Hamilton after most recently leading Division III Cortland to a 45-5 record in four seasons at the helm. The 2023 Division III National Coach of the Year guided Cortland to a national championship in 2023.
       
  • TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2025
  • VOGELER LOVES THE LONG BALL
    • Junior Luke Vogeler, an All-Patriot League First Team honoree, connected on 13 of 15 field goals in 2024, tied for the best percentage in the conference. He broke two program records, making the most 40+ yard kicks in a season (4) and converting more 50+ yarders than any kicker in program history (2). 
       
  • TOUCHES FOR TREY
    • Senior wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders racked up a wealthy list of preseason accolades, being named a Stats FCS Preseason All-American, Walter Payton Watchlist selection, and Preseason All-Patriot League honoree. He has 180 receptions, good for fourth all-time, 41 catches away from Luke Graham's all-time record of 221. 
      • 1. Luke Graham (2001-04), 221 
      • 2. Corey Hill (1995-98), 212 
      • 3. George Delaney (1988-91), 181 
      • 4. Treyvhon Saunders (2022-Pr.), 180 
         
  • WITH A WIN THE RAIDERS WOULD...
    • ...win their season opener for the first time since 2018
    • ...hand head coach Curt Fitzpatrick his first head coaching win at Colgate
    • ...improve to 4-1 all-time against Monmouth
    • ...record their fourth straight win in the head-to-head series with Monmouth
    • ...post their first ranked win since Nov. 4, 2023, against #16 Lafayette (37-34)
    • ...open their season with a ranked win for first time since 2017 (#23 Cal Poly)
       
  • COLGATE HOSTS LIFT FOR LIFE
    • The Colgate Football Chapter of Uplifting Athletes announced the return of its annual Lift for Life, a nationwide initiative to raise awareness and funds for the rare disease community. The Raiders, led by Zach Osborne and Joe Kelly, surpassed their goal by raising more than $14k this year. 
       
  • LUCKY NUMBER 13
    • Colgate considers 13 to be a lucky number. The University celebrates Colgate Day every Friday the 13th. In 1817, 13 men met in the frontier settlement of Hamilton, N.Y., to found the Baptist Education Society of New York. They are said to have backed up their experiment in education with 13 dollars and 13 prayers, which is why 13 is considered a lucky number at Colgate. 
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