Sports

Fordham football picked to win Patriot League

The Fordham Rams snuck up on teams last year. This season, they will be the hunted.

Fresh off its most successful football season in six years — posting a 12-2 record and winning an FCS playoff game — Fordham was unanimously picked to win the Patriot League, it was announced Wednesday morning at the league’s media day in Bethlehem, Pa.

“I think the kids are very excited,” said third-year coach Joe Moorhead in an interview with CampusInsiders.com.

Fordham received all 12 possible first-place votes, and the maximum 72 points, in a poll of the league’s coaches and sports information directors. The other two first-place votes went to Lafayette (Fordham representatives were not allowed to vote for their own team).

Lehigh (54 points) was picked to finish second, while Lafayette (51) was the third choice. Rounding out the poll were Bucknell (43), Colgate (33), Holy Cross (29), and Georgetown (12).

Fordham also had multiple players receive individual preseason accolades.

Senior quarterback Mike Nebrich, who threw for 4,380 yards and 35 touchdowns last season while completing 73.5 percent of his passes, was named the preseason offensive player of the year.

Linebacker Stephen Hodge, also a senior, was named the preseason defensive player of the year. In 2013, Hodge recorded 124 tackles (16 for loss), five sacks, five forced fumbles (three recovered), and an interception.

Along with Nebrich, Fordham had six other offensive players receive first-team honors, all seniors: wide receivers Sam Ajala, Tebucky Jones and Brian Wetzel, tight end Dan Light, offensive lineman Mason Halter, and kicker Michael Marando.

On the defensive side of the ball, Hodge, as well as defensive linemen DeAndre Slate and Brett Biestek and cornerback Ian Williams, were named to the first team, along with sophomore punter Joe Pavlik — the only Fordham non-senior to receive first-team honors.

The Rams open their 2014 season on Aug. 30 against Saint Francis University (Pa.) and start the Patriot League portion of their schedule Sep. 27 at Holy Cross.

This season marks the first time since 2009 that Fordham is eligible for the Patriot League title. It was ineligible for the league title from 2010 to 2013 due to offering athletic scholarships before other Patriot League schools decided to do so.

“[The] first two years, we had to be almost perfect to secure an at-large bid to the playoffs, which we came pretty close to doing last year,” Moorhead said. “It just feels good to be back in the league, have your games count, and have the opportunity to win a true Patriot League championship. Our guys are very excited about that opportunity.”