New Season Brings New Identity for Colgate Football

They’re known as the Raiders, but as Colgate Football marches toward the 2026 season, there is a new alias to define this year’s squad: Team 136.

That’s because the 2026 Raiders are the 136th team in the history of Colgate Football, which formed in 1890, and head coach Curt Fitzpatrick started using the new moniker during the spring season to help his players build an identity for this year’s roster.

“We have been talking about building the identity of this team,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is Team 136. I’m phrasing it that way so the players build an identity around the 2026 team. It’s one trip around the sun for this current team and that team will never exist again. That speaks to staying in the moment, cherishing every practice, every team meal, every chance you get with your teammates.

“It’s a yearlong journey. You don’t know how or when that journey will end. It’s exciting that the work you do today will impact how the end happens in November, December, or January.”

For Team 136, the journey started on March 24 with a productive spring season that wrapped up on April 25. The student-athletes returned to Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium after a busy winter in the weight room, eager to get back to playing football.

The team ran 15 practices plus scrimmages. The playbook was reviewed. Lessons were provided on how to operate in certain situations. Younger players received much-needed seasoning. And work began on building a locker-room culture around Team 136. 

All of it resulted in what the second-year head coach said was a productive spring season.

“We made a lot of progress,” Fitzpatrick said. “The consistency of how we approach practice, our daily habits, is much improved from a year ago. We built a lot of depth through the spring and really developed our younger players.”

After a 2025 season in which injuries bedeviled the Raiders, forcing less experienced players to be thrown into bigger roles, development became a big part of the spring.

With senior wide receiver Winston Moore still recovering from an injury he suffered last fall, his absence allowed younger receivers to get more reps, which they needed, Fitzpatrick said.

“They have gotten a lot better as the spring went on,” Fitzpatrick said.

In addition, this year’s spring season involved more than just running plays and learning the playbook. The Raiders spent more time working on how to operate in situations such as third downs, red zone, and playing with less than two minutes on the clock.

“We know we have to be a developmental program to be successful,” Fitzpatrick said. “A year ago, we were learning the basics of the playbook on offense and defense. Now, there is still learning going on in that way, but also now applying those lessons in more situations.”

On defense, the Raiders are moving forward with a more experienced squad.

“You can see a steady progression of our defense from last year,” Fitzpatrick said. “We have so many guys who played a lot last year who are back. You can see that experience, the confidence that comes with that. They are playing faster, more physical, and with fewer missed assignments.

“More solid football overall and adding a lot more depth. Our defensive staff has done a good job to continue to preach technique.”

Colgate will see 24 seniors depart as they graduate in May. But the team is adding 33 student-athletes, including three transfers who joined the team for the spring season.

Two of those transfers — defensive back Chase Jarrett and offensive lineman Thomas Gearity — come from Central Florida. The other is Joey Tomasso, a New York native who previously played at William & Mary.

All three transfers made a seamless shift to Colgate.

“The culture of our team is very welcoming to newcomers,” Fitzpatrick said. “The guys felt like they were welcomed right away. They have acclimated quickly. All three guys add depth and competition to their position groups. That’s what we expect and why we brought them here.”

The new class brings the roster to 105, up from 98 the previous season.

“Our goal was to increase our roster number to 105 players, just to build depth,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our staff did a really good job of identifying players who can help our program. We got the opportunity to recruit them and they all chose Colgate.

“The bigger roster helps us run practice more efficiently,” he said. “The more players we have, the more opportunities guys will have to prove they can play at the Patriot League level.”

The Raiders finished at 5-7 in 2025 in Fitzpatrick’s first year at the helm. Despite the record, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.

One highlight was the offense, which dramatically improved under Fitzpatrick. The Raiders had also lost four games by a touchdown or less. 

Now, with a year of experience under Fitzpatrick, the Raiders hope to take the next step and win more of those closer games. 

But to make it happen, they’ll have to battle through another tough schedule that includes new conference opponents.

When the season begins on Aug. 28 at Fordham, Colgate will square off in a 10-team Patriot League for the first time, thanks to the additions of Villanova and William & Mary. 

Fitzpatrick said the new teams will make the league more fun and competitive, forcing every team to raise their game.

“It’s going to be a challenge week in and week out,” he said. “But that’s why our guys chose Colgate. Colgate has always aspired to play a tough non-conference schedule, and that will continue this year with Central Michigan, Harvard, and Cornell. Add in all the league games, and we’re going to have a challenging schedule. That’s why we had to have a great spring.”

Support Colgate Athletics
The loyal and collective generosity of alumni, families, and friends like you helps provide a first-class Division I experience. Support student-athletes like those on the football team by making a gift to the Colgate Athletics Fund or team(s) of your choice, here.