Fordham Preview

History:

• Located in The Bronx.
• Played their first game in 1882.
• They were coached by Joe Moorehead and Dave Clawson, among others.
• Vince Lombardi played at Fordham, where he was one of the Seven Blocks of Granite.
• Prominent grads include Alan Alda, Denzel, Mary Higgins Clark, Frankie Frisch, Captain Kangaroo, Vin Scully, Robert Gould Shaw.

Recent Track Record:

• They were 6-5 (2-4) last year and 9-3 the year before that.
• They were picked #3 in the pre-season poll for the Patriot League.
• They have 3 FBS wins since 2023.  They beat UB last year, scoring with 2 minutes left to take the lead.
• In 2022, they lost to Ohio 59-52.  The Bobcats scored twice in the last minute to win the game.
• Overall, they are 3-4 against MAC teams, but some of those games occurred when the teams were not in the MAC.
• They were "others receiving votes" in FCS poll

Offense:

• They were 27th in FCS and 2nd in the Patriot League in scoring offense last year.
• They were 22nd in FCS in yards/play.
• Their QB, CJ Montes, had a huge year, throwing 26 TD over 1 INT.  He was #3 in the Patriot League in passing efficiency,   He transferred from New Mexico.  He was the #1 QB for the pre-season Patriot League.
• Julius Loughbridge was the #4 on yards per game and yards per carry.  He first-team All-Patriot last year but was not on the pre-season Patriot League team. 
• They have a number of receivers and lineman back.
• They are starting a true freshman at RT.

Defense:

Lonely Ramses XVIII
in his new home
built by Grace Kelly's Father

• They were 45th in FCS in scoring defense and 2nd in the Patriot League.  They were 73rd in total defense and 4th in the Patriot League.
• They have four players on the preseason team, including DL Matt Jaworski, who is the pre-season defensive player of the year.  James Conway, their LB, is a tackling machine.
• They were 44th in the country in rushing defense and 71st in pass defense.

 Special Teams:

• The top punter in the Patriot League, Will Haslet, returns.  He is an Akron transfer.
• They have a true FR kicker.
• Their leading returners are both back.

Overall:

So why do we always play good FCS teams?  Anyway, this team is not a pushover and can't be an afterthought.

Having said that, the Patriot League is the 7th ranked FCS conference and Fordham isn't picked to win it.  If we have any hope of beating NIU and Miami this year, this one has to go down for a win.  Extra points if it isn't a nail-biter.  BG is "banged up" which doesn't make it easier--but we need a good result regardless.

Looking like awesome weather and the freshmen have been whipped into a frenzy.  Should be a good crowd.  ESPN game predictor has BG with a 96% chance of winning.