The Ups and the Downs:
Honestly, if I had to use one word to describe last season it would be “adequate”. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad season by any means. Going in, though, expectations were often high, and, as a result, the outcome felt only average. It seemed like every positive accomplishment had a string attached to humble us back down. Every time our potential felt endless, we found the concrete ceiling.
The beginning half of the season had its high-ups met with some unfortunate downs:
UP: Despite the loss, the Boston College game demonstrated early on the exceptional capability of our team. Only losing by 3 to a Power 5 FBS team was not a bad showing. What we saw in the matchup gave us high hopes for the offense going into the rest of the season.
DOWN: Two weeks later, Holy Cross suffered a crushing loss to #24 Harvard at Polar Park. Holy Cross mostly outperformed Harvard statistically, but turnovers killed us. The offense lost 2 of 2 fumbles while in other possessions Sluka threw 4 interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown). It was these 6 turnovers that resulted in a 28-38 loss. The little things can take you down.
Even the end of the season felt like an up-and-down situation:
UP: Holy Cross finished 5-1 in conference play claiming our fifth consecutive Patriot League title. The title was Chesney’s fifth title in six years as head coach.
DOWN: However, unlike every other year, we were mere co-champions making the title feel a little less valuable. A loss to Lafayette in week 7 lost not only the pride of solo domination but also the FCS playoff bid. If not for that 3-point loss, Holy Cross would have finished conference play undefeated and even had another chance at the FCS Championship.
Shoutouts:
A good season only comes at the hands of a great team, and a great team is only as good as its members. This year had some real standouts.
Matthew Sluka, Jordan Fuller, and Jalen co*ker are–in my opinion–the three most notable offensive players of 2023. All had exceptional seasons. Each player broke at least one program record, and Sluka even broke the Division 1 record for QB rushing yards in a single game. The trio alone accounted for 43 of the 57 total touchdowns recorded this season. Although already impressive, these stats would certainly be improved upon if not for the injuries suffered by Fuller and Sluka in the late stages of the season.
Defensively speaking, Holy Cross struggled a lot, but there were some positives. Standouts on the line included Jacob Dobbs and Frankie Monte.
Dobbs suffered from a dislocated elbow, a torn UCL, a torn forearm, and a torn tricep tendon from an injury in Week 4 of 2022. This year he was a Buchanan Award finalist, a Campbell Award finalist, and the Patriot League scholar-athlete of the year. Dobbs was also named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year with 123 total tackles and 6 sacks in only 9 appearances. All this resulted in him being named Comeback Player of the Year 2023.
Monte seconded total tackles with 66 starting appearances in all 11 games. He was even named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after the matchup against Army on Nov. 11. I’m expecting big things from him this season without Dobbs by his side.
It would be a disservice not to mention the man in charge. Although not his best season, Coach Bob Chesney did lead us to yet another winning record during his 6th season at Holy Cross. The winning record resulted in us being crowned Patriot League Champions for the fifth consecutive time. His coaching performance this season bumped his record up to 44-21 overall, including a remarkable 28-4 in the Patriot League.
After the season, Chesney was thought to be in contention for the head coaching job at Syracuse. Fans were relieved when the Syracuse job instead went to Fran Brown, the former defensive backs coach at the University of Georgia. But, the relief did not last long because only a few days later Chesney was hired as the Head Coach at James Madison University. It's a bittersweet thing to see him go. He deserves all the success headed his way but will be missed dearly by the entire Holy Cross community.
Watch this video on Chesney’s career at Holy Cross (from x.com/HCrossFB):
More on the 2023 Season:
For more details about the 2023 season have a look at this article written by Michael Bonner from Holy Cross Magazine: 'I Need You': Inside Football’s Bittersweet Championship Season
Schedule Analysis:
With a pretty uncertain team ahead, it’s hard to predict exactly how we will perform with the upcoming schedule. What I can tell you though is that this year’s schedule will be nothing short of entertaining. We will know a lot more about what to expect after the matchup against URI on August 31st. What happens at URI will set the pace for the rest of the season.
Starting the season with a win is crucial for a good season. Unfortunately, our first game is on the road. For that reason, the matchup will certainly test the adaptability of our untested team, but I believe they are fully capable of stepping up to the occasion. URI had a poor performance last year in the CAA giving me confidence, but despite this, it’s important not to underestimate any opponent. They still seem to be a well-put-together offensive team under Jim Fleming. If our defense can step up and prevent a loss of any sort, I will have a bit more confidence for the future.
For the third year in a row, there is an opportunity to beat an FBS opponent early in the season. In perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the decade, we will take on Syracuse on Sept. 28. Words cannot describe how much I would like to win this game. But to say we are the underdogs, would be an extreme understatement. With QB Kyle McCord transferring from Ohio State and the rest of HC Fran Brown’s recruits, it would be nothing short of a miracle to come out on top. We are a Catholic school, though, so God should be on our side… right?
Regardless, in my opinion, an FCS bid seems unlikely without a solid performance in conference play. A sixth consecutive Patriot League title seems to be the only way. For that reason, the most important game of the season probably lies on Oct. 26 against Lafayette. Falling short last year, I hope there will be no underestimating Lafayette ever again. Going undefeated in the Patriot League is a priority mission for the season.
The full schedule can be found here:
at University of Rhode Island | Aug. 31, 2024
vs. University of New Hampshire | Sept. 7, 2024
at Bryant University | Sept. 14, 2024
vs. Yale University | Sept. 21, 2024
at Syracuse University | Sept. 28, 2024
at Colgate University | Oct. 5, 2024 *
vs. Fordham University | Oct. 12, 2024 *
at Harvard University | Oct. 19, 2024
at Lafayette College | Oct. 26, 2024 *
vs. Lehigh University | Nov. 9, 2024 *
Bucknell University | Nov. 16, 2024 *
Georgetown University | Nov. 23, 2024 *
(Patriot League matchups marked by *)
Names to know:
Assuming you read last year’s “shoutout” section, you’ve probably noticed an alarming theme. Only one stand-out player mentioned above is returning in 2024. DON’T FREAK OUT YET! For starters, some new faces are coming our way. It would be wrong to develop an opinion without considering what they might offer. Secondly, we’ve retained some players who just haven’t had their time to shine yet. I’ve chosen to highlight one of each. I believe each has the potential to be applauded in my “shoutout” section next year. That is if they rise to the occasion…
Dan Curran:
What gives me the most hope in Dan Curran is not his 11 seasons as the head coach of Merrimack; not that he is the all-time winningest coach in Merrimack history; not that he has led Merrimack to the Northeast Conference championship game twice in the last two season; nor that he has produced nine All-Americans and 50 all-conference players. Rather, what gives me the most hope is that he did all that as the coach who guided Merrimacks’ transition into Division 1.
The kind of coach who can produce a winning-caliber team from chaos is exactly what Holy Cross needs.
With any major change in a football team comes chaos. Chaos is at Holy Cross football’s doorstep. Dan Curran has been tested by fire and proven that he can handle chaos. Curran understands the game, and, as a former football star himself, Curran understands the players. Establishing a team connection will be essential to a successful season.
All I can say is that I have high hopes. Will Dan Curran be the best coach? I have no idea. Will Dan Curran be the worst coach? I have no idea. But look at that neck.
Joe Pesansky:
There is no player I am more excited to see play than Joe Pesansky. Pesansky made an appearance in seven games during the 2023 season. In two of those games, Pesansky started in place of QB Matthew Sluka (injury).
His first career start came on Oct. 28 against Fordham. In that game, he threw for a staggering 337 yards as he completed 20 of his 33 pass attempts. His longest pass was a 41-yard touchdown to Jalen co*ker marking his first career touchdown pass. Take a look:
Pesansky’s first career completion was a 21-yard pass to junior Justin Shorter one play previous.
Every single pass executed by Pesanksy that game appeared to be a masterpiece. Every throw was a perfectly placed dot always meeting with its intended target. Pesanksy’s throwing accuracy is nothing less than exceptional.
Pesansky’s second start took place against Lehigh the following week. Although not as crazy as his last performance, he still led the team to a 28-24 road win. He threw 11-19 for a total of 158 throwing yards. The matchup was another showcase of Pesansky’s impressive arm accuracy. Take a look at these two tying touchdown throws to co*ker:
One worry I have for Pesansky is his rushing capabilities. He totaled -48 yards in rushing this with 4 sacks in his two starts. Simply put, he is not good on his feet. Something that will take some getting used to after the Sluka years.
His lack of mobility puts much pressure on the offensive line to protect him. Work will need to be done here since this was not much of an issue in previous seasons.
Additionally, a good throwing QB is only as good as his receivers. The WR and TE teams will need a good showing if we expect Pesansky to succeed as he has the potential to do.
Predictions...
There is a lot of potential for the season; so I’ve developed some personal predictions based on my research and analysis. They are quite ambitious but bear with me. Here they are:
The Crusaders will finish with a winning record. 8-4 at worst
The Crusaders will finish conference play with a 6th consecutive Patriot League title. If Lafayette is taken care of, then this is possible. Have hope.
The Crusaders will be listed in the FCS top 25 more than once this season.
Have hope, ladies, and gents. Have hope.
In Closing:
Holy Cross is a team that thrives on resilience and determination. Yes, there are setbacks; but, when the Holy Cross Crusaders are lifting that FCS Championship trophy in January 2025, the setbacks will be what makes our story so much greater.
As we eagerly anticipate the kickoff of the 2024 season, we should rally together and support with unwavering hope. Predictions may be ambitious, but the spirit of the Holy Cross community is ambitious. Ambitious and determined. Here's to a season filled with victories and milestones.
Roll ‘saders.
