Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Kelly says he does not place much faith in moral victories. Considering this, it will be hard for the first-year helmsman to glean any positives out of his team’s 31-14 loss to Colgate on Saturday.
“We had a chance to win, and we blew it.” Kelly said.
Once again, the Hoyas literally let the game slip through their fingers, committing five turnovers on a blustery day at Andy Kerr Stadium. It was the squad’s third-straight loss this season and its fifth-straight at the hands of the Raiders.
At the very least, the trip to Hamilton should help illustrate to the young players what Kelly has in mind when he preaches “fanatical effort” on a daily basis.
Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle has set up the model Patriot League program in upstate New York. He won a Division I-AA Championship in 2003. The Raiders are regularly in hunt for the league title. They boast a 10,221-seat stadium – no small feat in a town that has all of three stoplights.
“They have a great tradition up there at Colgate,” Kelly said. “They have a winning attitude and a confident swagger about them.”
And some great recruiting. The game’s score would have probably been different had local talent like Hyattsville, Md., native Jordan Scott stayed home and run for 175 yards and one touchdown wearing blue and gray instead of Raider maroon.
There is no reason that Kelly cannot foster the same type of atmosphere on the Hilltop. Like Georgetown, Colgate prides itself on its academic standards, proving that there can be some equity in the term “student athlete.” If Biddle can lure talent to Hamilton, it would be reasonable to think that Kelly can do the same.
Colgate wins because it comes into every game believing that it can – this was what Kelly was referring to when he spoke of “swagger.” As for the Hoyas, their insecurity is noticeable in their chronic slow starts. For the second week in a row, Georgetown came into a game as a heavy underdog and played like it through the first quarter, allowing Colgate to beat it to the punch for a 14-0 lead.
The Raiders did a thorough job of reminding the Hoyas that they have a long way to go before they claw their way out of the Patriot League cellar. Georgetown must be able to execute big plays offensively – like Scott’s 29-yard streak to the end zone, or the pristine throw-and-catch from Mike Saraceno to Wesley organ that resulted in 14 unanswered points in the third quarter.
The Hoyas will not see any offensive production until they establish a consistent rushing attack and open up their playbook with more downfield passing. Georgetown has scored one rushing touchdown all year and mustered only a measly 78 yards on Saturday.
Junior quarterback Matt Bassuener has spent more time in front of the projector than a film student, constantly searching for chinks in the armor of opposing defenses. All his work goes for naught, however, when he is constantly instructed to flick shovel passes for minimal gains.
The Hoyas have plenty of speed at the receiver position. Sophomore Kenny Mitchell can flat-out fly, and he showed his speed on a 51-yard kick return to open the second half against Colgate. Junior Offensive Coordinator Jim Miceli must have the confidence to continually challenge opponents with the long pass. Kelly insists that a concerted effort is being made to get the ball in the air, especially in the direction of track-star Mitchell.
“We’re trying to get him as many touches as possible.” Kelly said.
The Hoyas also must eliminate their nasty habit of turnovers – such errors are nearly nonexistent for programs like Colgate’s, which are used to success. Georgetown’s turnover plague has been Black Death for the win column this season.
Junior wideout Brent Craft coughed the ball up twice. Brian Tandy muffed a punt, giving Colgate the ball in splendid field position. Bassuener was picked off by junior cornerback Cody Williams deep in Raider territory, nipping a promising Georgetown drive in the bud. On the next possession, Colgate junior linebacker ike Gallihugh pounced on another Bassuener fumble. This is what junior linebacker Mike Greene was referring to when he said that the Hoyas “just keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”
If the turnover woes continue against Lehigh next week, Kelly may want to invest in some superglue.
The core of the Patriot League schedule still lies ahead, and practice this week will mean more gasses for the Hoyas and drill-sergeant-style pep talks from the coaches. Kelly has no intention of letting up on his young team.
He has been part of winning programs at Marshall and Navy. He has coached players who now play on Sundays. He knows what it will take to get Georgetown to the pinnacle of the Patriot League.
His players believe that their captain has the ship on course.
“We have to be patient,” freshman offensive lineman Dan Matheny said. “We have to keep doing what he tells us to do – he has set the groundwork for a top-flight program.”
The ride home from Hamilton was a long one for Kelly, but at least he could take solace in the fact that his team now has seen a concrete example of what they can be – provided that its members practice what he preaches.
“I’m not a patient man.” Kelly said. “But what we saw this weekend [at Colgate] is what we are looking for.”
