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- The Sickos Committee’s Weather Travel and Football Master Almanac Notebook. (SCWTFMAN) - The NEC and Patriot League Outlook.
The Sickos Committee’s Weather Travel and Football Master Almanac Notebook. (SCWTFMAN) - The NEC and Patriot League Outlook.
Welcome to the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Notebook aka the SCWTFMAN.
Here in our SCWTFMAN we will attempt to forecast the upcoming 2023 college football season by using our Sickos Committee alert system. We’re going to do this in the Farmer’s Almanac style. If you don’t know what a Farmers' Almanac is, basically it provides long-range weather predictions for both the U.S. and Canada. We will be applying our forecast to all of Division I in the United States. We’re trying to predict what the upcoming season holds for all Division I teams in college football using our Sickos Committee Weather Alert System.
First we will preview the 128 FCS teams in a conference by conference breakdown over the next coming weeks. Then we will get to the 133 FBS teams for a total of 261 team previews in all.
Will these previews be long winded and incredibly in depth? No. Will these previews be mostly based on “vibes” as assessed by the Sickos Committee weather forecasters? Yes.
Basically, we’re going to try to assess the team as a Sickos Warning, Watch or Advisory, give you their record last year, provide a little blurb about the team and for the FCS version to advise you of any of their games against the FBS and interesting schedule tidbits. We will do a couple of parts here for the substack as we can’t fit all the teams in one post.
The Northeast Conference
Here’s the NEC Logo.
Sorry, sorry, here’s the NEC Logo beveled.
Central Connecticut
Last Year 2-9 Overall and 2-5 in the NEC.
A very rough season last year for the Blue Devils and they fired their Head Coach. They welcome first-year head coach Adam Lechtenberg. Last year their only two wins were against the two teams who finished below them in the NEC, Wagner and Stonehill.
One FBS Team this year against Kent State. They open the year against a team called the American International College Yellow Jackets, who doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. The rest of the schedule is standard NEC fare with Brown and Delaware State mixed in.
Rating - Sickos Watch - They’ve got a new coach and will try to make some noise in NEC. Hopefully the good kind of noise.
Duquesne
Last Year 4-7 Overall and 3-4 in the NEC.
Played at Florida State and Hawaii last year. Pretty much played .500 after those two games including a Double OT 50-48 loss to LIU. A middling year for the Dukes last year. Head Coach Jerry Schmitt returns for his 19th season.
They open the season with the Edinboro Fighting Scots football team who doesn’t have a Wikipedia page either! Then follow it up with two FBS opponents of West Virginia and Coastal Carolina. The other out of conference game is against FCS Playoff participant Delaware and then the standard NEC schedule.
Rating - Sickos Watch -The Dukes have this incredible tiny stadium on campus which is something to behold. As for this year Duquesne is projected at a tie for 3rd in the NEC and that feels pretty correct.
LIU
Last Year 4-7 Overall and 4-3 in the NEC.
An incredible sickos year last year. They lost their first seven games last year including a loss to Wagner. Then they won their next four straight games to end the season. Head Coach Ron Cooper returns for his 2nd season as Head Coach.
They open with three straight on the road with two FBS Opponents of Ohio and Baylor. Their two out of conference games are at Bryant and at Maine, then the NEC schedule.
Rating - Sickos Warning - A team that could lose to Wagner then rattle off four straight wins is completely unpredictable and we love that. A Sickos Shark warning for LIU this year. LOOK OUT IT’S A BEVELED SHARK!
Merrimack
Last Year 8-3 Overall and 6-1 in the NEC.
They were in their final year of the Division II to Division I transition and could not make the FCS playoffs last year. They nearly won the conference with their only loss to the Conference winner. They played six one possession games.
One FBS opponent at UMass in November and who knows there. They open at Holy Cross again this year which will likely not be fun. Also, they play a school called the Virginia-Lynchburg Dragons, another school without a Wikipedia page.
Rating - Sickos Advisory - Merrimack should be good and they are picked second in the NEC. Maybe they can sneak into the FCS playoffs in their first year of eligibility?
Sacred Heart
Last Year 5-6 Overall and 3-4 in the NEC.
Had a down year from their 2021 NEC Championship. Rough losses to Lafayette and Morgan State. Basically, beat all the bad teams on their schedule and lost to the good ones with some exceptions. Very inconsistent from week to week. Head Coach Mark Nofri returns for his 11th season.
One FBS team on November 18th against UConn. The other two out of conference games are at Yale and at Georgetown, who both have Wikipedia pages. The NEC schedule is the NEC schedule.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Do they regain some of their 2021 Conference Champs form? Or do they stay a middle of the pack NEC team? They are tied for 3rd in the 2023 NEC Preseason poll.
Saint Francis (PA)
Last Year 9-3 Overall and 7-0 in the NEC. Conference Champs and made FCS Playoffs. Lost to Delaware in the 1st Round.
Nearly upset Akron in Overtime to begin last year and then lost to Richmond the next week. Then rattled off nine straight wins to win the NEC. The Red Flash are led by 13th-year head coach Chris Villarrial.
One FBS game at Western Michigan to start the year. One tough out of conference game at Delaware and then the NEC Schedule. Nothing really too crazy for the Red Flash.
Rating - Sickos Advisory - They’re projected to win the NEC again and for good reason. Sickos Warning for their mascot Frankie the Friar though.
Stonehill
Last Year 4-5 Overall and 2-5 in the NEC.
Stonehill is ineligible for NEC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II as they were last year. The Skyhawks are led by seventh-year head coach Eli Gardner. Nothing too crazy of a transition year last year. They beat Duquesne and Wagner in the NEC last year.
No FBS teams but they welcome New Hampshire to open the season, we wouldn’t recommend to open the season against the defending CAA Co-Champs to any FCS team. Also, at Georgetown and then at Fordham in the Non-Conference, which the Fordham game will be tough. Then the NEC fun schedule.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Let’s cause a little more chaos this year Skyhawks. You can’t make the playoffs or with the NEC title, cause more chaos please.
Wagner
Last Year 1-10 Overall and 1-6 in the NEC.
Ended their 26 game losing streak by beating LIU in a Friday night thriller 37-26 before a recorded crowd of 998 fans and all of the Committee watching at home. We were serenaded by the sounds of Staten Island fans and screamed at by what we dubbed the “Staten Island Screamer”. The Seahawks are led by fourth-year Head Coach Tom Masella. Also, in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts selected Wagner defensive end Titus Leo with the No. 211 overall pick. That’s right 1-10 Wagner had someone taken in the NFL Draft.
Two FBS games at Navy and at Rutgers. The other out of conference game is at Fordham to start the year. Then they have the standard NEC slate and finish up with the Division II Post Eagles.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Picked dead last in the NEC preseason poll. Maybe they can get another NEC win against Central Connecticut, Stonehill or at LIU. We hope they can get a win against Post to end the year on a high note.
The Patriot League
Bucknell
Last year 3-8 Overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League.
In 2022, they beat Pioneer League team Marist and the only two Patriot League teams worse than themselves - Georgetown and Lehigh. Playoff team Holy Cross dropped them 59-0 in a game played at Polar Park, home of minor league baseball team, the Worcester Red Sox. Both teams shared a sideline, so I can only imagine how spicy that cross-talk got.
Under 5th year head coach Dave Cecchini, Bucknell is just looking for any kind of momentum. Unfortunately, they open the year at FBS James Madison. Along with the Patriot League slate, they’re non-conference games are against VMI, Penn, Cornell, and Marist.
Rating - Sickos Advisory - Bucknell’s last winning season was in 2014, and I’m not sure this year is going to change that.
Colgate
Last year 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League.
Colgate took a step back in 2022; usually towards the top of the Patriot League, they slid, doing something that was almost impossible - losing to Stanford. Their only wins came from non-conference opponent Maine and other Patriot League punching bags Bucknell and Georgetown. They played two FBS opponents, losing to both Army and the aforementioned Stanford.
Under 3rd year head coach Stan Dakosty, Colgate has their usual Patriot League schedule along with non-conference games against their one FBS opponent in Syracuse, then Villanova, Penn, Cornell, and Dartmouth. They return QB Michael Brescia, threw for over 1600 yards and ran for over 750 in 2022.
Rating - Sickos Watch - 2022 feels like it could be an odd year as the Raiders get back to their usual spot.
Fordham
Last year 9-3 overall and 5-1 in Patriot League play, and made the first round of the FCS playoffs. Finished ranked 22nd.
Fordham was only team in the 2022 Patriot League that gave champs Holy Cross a run for their money. That regular season match-up came down in overtime, where the Crusaders snuck away with a 53-52 win.
They’re returning a ton of talent on both sides of the ball from their great 2022 season into 2023, and their non-conference schedule includes Albany, Wagner, one FBS game at Buffalo, Stonehill and Stony Brook. Expect the Rams back in the FCS playoffs, either as an at-large bid or possibly Patriot League champs.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Their hashtag #RAMILY is still one of our favorites, and that might be all we need to cheer on Fordham. The #RAMILY might upend Holy Cross’s dominance.
#RAMILY BEVEL
Georgetown
Last year 2-9 Overall and 1-5 in the Patriot League.
While the rest of the Patriot League began to offer football scholarships in the early 2010s, Georgetown has stayed steadfast in declining to do so. They have endowed scholarships, but none directly from the school. I’m not convinced it would make any difference, though. In 2022, Georgetown’s two wins were over non-conference opponent Marist and Patriot League team Lafayette.
In 2023, they play their Patriot League schedule along with non-conference games against Marist, Sacred Heart, Stonehill, Columbia, and Penn. Georgetown doesn’t return a ton, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Also, no FBS teams on the schedule.
Rating - Sickos Advisory - Their last winning season was in 2011, and we don’t think this is going to change anytime soon.
Holy Cross
Last year 12-1 Overall and 6-0 in the Patriot League, Conference Champions they advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs, where they lost to eventual national champion South Dakota State. Finished Ranked 6th.
Do you like offense? Last year, the Crusaders outscored opponents 486-280, including a 59-0 drubbing of Bucknell. They also won their match-up against FBS non-conference opponent Buffalo, who paid for that pleasure to lose on a Hail Mary. Yeah, a team named Holy Cross won on a Hail Mary.
They’re bringing back a ton of their high power offense from last year in 2023, which had previously averaged 10 yards per passing attempt. The only Patriot League team from 2022 who even came close to stopping them was Fordham, who took the Crusaders to overtime. One FBS game at Boston College in Week 2.
Rating - Sickos Warning - We know what you’re thinking here, how can a returning Conference Champ be rated a Sickos Warning? Well, points, points, and more points. We’re not bettors but take the over.
Lafayette
Last year 4-7 Overall and 3-3 in the Patriot League.
In 2022, Lafayette was under new management, with head coach John Troxell coming back to lead his alma mater. Their wins came against non-conference foe Sacred Heart, and Patriot League teams who were worse than them, Bucknell, Colgate, and Lehigh. Won “The Rivalry” game against Lehigh 14-11, so it was a successful first year no matter what else happened.
In 2023, they’re playing non-conference games against Sacred Heart, at FBS Duke in Week 2, Columbia, Monmouth, and Princeton. We wish they would schedule the Ragin’ Cajuns every year so the score-bug would read Louisiana-Lafayette.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Lafayette has a chance to get out of the middle of the pack of the Patriot League if things cut their way.
Lehigh
Last year 2-9 Overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League.
2022 was not a great year for 4th year head coach Tom Gilmore; after winning their Patriot League opener against Georgetown 21-19, the Mountain Hawks would drop the next 7 straight, including some heartbreaking two point losses to Cornell and Bucknell. Gilmore resigned at the end of the season.
In 2023, Lehigh is led by coach Kevin Cahill, who has been at Yale in various roles, including most recently as Assistant Head Coach. Lehigh returns some key players, including 2022 Patriot League Rookie of the Year wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel. Their upcoming non-conference schedule includes Villanova, Merrimack, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Monmouth. No FBS foes this year.
Rating - Sickos Watch - Under new management, there’s a chance things turn around quickly for Lehigh.
This has been an excerpt from the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Notebook.
