August 30, 2001

GENEVA, N.Y.–The Hobart College football team is ranked fourth in the Upstate New York Division III preseason poll. The Statesmen were ranked third in the final poll last season.

The defending Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Champions are coming off a 9-2 season that saw them earn their first NCAA Tournament bid and postseason victory. Hobart returns 23 lettermen this season, including 13 starters.

The Statesmen share the top five with No. 1 Union (60 votes), No. 2 Brockport (36), Ithaca (36), and No. 4 Buffalo State (29). Hobart opens the 2001 campaign on Sept. 8, against Dickinson College at 1 p.m. The Statesmen defeated the Red Devil's 28-13, at home in last season's opener.

Upstate New York Division III Football is an association of the 14 colleges and universities in the Upstate region that sponsor DIII football. The association's web site, which features scores, statistics and more, can be found at: web.hws.edu/statesmen/football/upstate.