The Fordham football team’s biological clock is ticking.
Four years removed from an 0-11 season, the Rams now have a conceivable shot at the Division I-AA National Championship. But they’d better do it now.
They have 13 senior starters, three of whom are offensive dynamos: QB Kevin Eakin (22 TDs, 3,040 yards passing in 2002), TB Kirwin Watson (18 TDs, 1,467 yards) and WR Javarus Dudley (77 catches, 8 TDs, 1,106 yards).
“Is there an urgency because we have those three? Yeah,” Fordham coach Dave Clawson said. “We’re starting [13] seniors this year, twice as many as ever before. If starting that many seniors doesn’t give you urgency, then nothing will.”
Then there’s Clawson, himself. Some believe this will be his last year, as well. After winning the Patriot League Coach of the Year title two years in a row, Clawson has become a hot commodity. Though he says he has received offers from other schools, he also says he’s content guiding the Rams for now.
“I love working with Fordham, I love working with the school, I love working with the players,” Clawson said. “And yet, it would be a professional mistake to not at least consider other opportunities that were better for my career and family. I like it here. I’m not super anxious. And I’m not looking around like crazy, but if a really exciting opportunity came along, I would certainly consider it.”
Last season, Fordham won the Patriot League title with a 10-3 record and earned a berth into the I-AA playoffs. It defeated Northeastern 29-24 in the first round, but lost to Villanova 24-10 in the quarterfinals.
With the accomplishments come huge expectations, like being ranked as high as fifth in the preseason polls, for instance.
“[The expectations] make people work that much harder,” said Eakin, who was named to the inaugural I-AA All-Star game this past week. “The thing you gotta worry about is people looking past things. Because we are ranked fifth we can’t think we are better than other teams. Or that we don’t have to work as hard. If we are ranked that high, we have to work even harder.”
Now the worries lie in injuries and overconfidence. In other words, the Rams need to avoid both. Going into tomorrow’s opener against C.W. Post, there are no huge injuries, though Watson sat out of Wednesday’s practice with a cramped hip. He resumed practicing yesterday.
And if you believe Clawson, there are no holier-than-thou attitudes, either.
“There’s more of a quiet confidence than an outward cockiness,” Clawson said.
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 30 C.W. POST 1 p.m.
Sept. 6 U. of Rhode Island Noon
Sept. 13 Lehigh* 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 COLUMBIA# 12:20 p.m.
Oct. 4 BUCKNELL* 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 Brown 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 NEW HAVEN 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 Lafayette* 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 GEORGETOWN* Noon
Nov. 8 HOLY CROSS* Noon
Nov. 15 Colgate* 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 Towson* 12:30 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
* – Denotes Patriot League opponent
# – Denotes Homecoming