Pete's Schedule Rankings

The 2008 Colonial Athletic Schedules

Preseason Predicted Order of Finish:

Massachusetts
James Madison
Richmond
Delaware
New Hampshire
Villanova
Hofstra
William & Mary
Northeastern
Towson
Maine
Rhode Island

2008 CAA Schedule Strength Ratings

Pos.	Team	Rating
1	Northeastern	32.56
2	James Madison	32.63
3	William & Mary	32.98
4	Villanova	33.95
5	Towson	34.27
6	Richmond	36.03
7	Maine	37.21
8	Hofstra	37.24
9	Rhode Island	38.57
10	Delaware	40.17
11	Massachusetts	41.54
12	New Hampshire	44.09

Click Here for Colonial Athletic Association 2008 Composite Schedule

Pete's 2008 Colonial Athletic Pre-Season Schedule Previews

Northeastern: As it was in 2007, the top three schedules (in terms of strength) in the Colonial Athletic are again very close in 2008. However, this year, the Huskies edge out JMU and W&M. In the first three weeks; Rocky Hager's club with face IA Ball State, IA Syracuse, and Georgia Southern ...all on the road. Enough said.
James Madison: The Dukes schedule is more difficult this year, than it was last. IA Duke and what should be a much more challenging non-conference I-AA/FCS bout with Appalachian State highlight this dance card. A key factor is the lack of New Hampshire on the schedule. This could be the difference as to whether or not JMU makes a post-season appearance. Having UMass and Delaware in Harrisonburg is crucial as well
William & Mary: If the defense can live up to its capabilities, the Tribe should very-well be the "sleeper" in the 2008 CAA race. Coach Laycock returns 18 starters (on O & D alone) looking for a return to dominance in the conference. In addition, there is only one loss on special teams. Jake Phillips will be behind a veteran line that averages over 300-pounds, and 5 of his six favorite receiving targets are back for 2008. The schedule is favorable, but the number of difficult road games greatly increase the difficulty factor. New Hampshire, Delaware, Towson and JMU are away from the "colonial city" for 2008.
Villanova: Expectations are high for the Villanova Wildcats as they enter the 2008 season. The Wildcats return 17 starters and 33 letter winners from last year’s squad that went 7-4 overall, and 5-3 in conference. QB Antwon Young has to be the main concern, returning after a serious knee injury in '07. An opening date in Morgantown, WVa is not something that any coach looks forward to; but Andy Talley has been doing this for a long time. The remainder of the schedule is favorable, with JMU, UNH, and the Spiders at home.
Towson: Although coach Combs has a new contract and a team with better health in 2008, this summer will be spent replacing much of the Tiger defense. He needs to come up with three linebackers, two defensive linemen and two defensive backs. The CAA slate is going to be rough for the Tigers, with Richmond, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Villanova away from Unitas Stadium
Richmond: The Spiders return more experience than most realize because of 2007 play-time gained by underclassmen due to injuries. Most of the loss comes on offense. The opening tilt at Elon is very interesting, as the Phoenix should be much improved in 2008. The 2008 "money game" is an in-state match with Virginia. The remainder of the schedule is mixed, with Delaware and JMU at home.
Maine: The fall roster would indicate that the Black Bears return all starters on defense. The schedule looks solid, with an opener at Big-10 Iowa. A very light non-conference FCS schedule includes Monmouth, Stony Brook, and Iona. However, the conference schedule is slightly "road heavy", with Richmond, Delaware, and UMass away from Orono.
Hofstra: Much like Maine, the Flying Dutchmen have a tough BCS opener, and a light non-conference FCS remainder. Hofstra opens with UConn; the remaining non CAA schedule includes Albany, Stony Brook and Bucknell. The conference schedule sees UNH, UMass and JMU on the road.
Rhode Island:On December 18, 2007 former Ram All-American tight end Darren Rizzi was selected as the 18th head coach in program history. He has a very balanced schedule to work with. In the first two weeks, the Rams will face Monmouth and Fordham. Things do not become easier, as the next three games see UNH, Hofstra, and a very late "money game" against Boston College at the end of September.
Delaware:Almost all of the preseason talk about the Blue Hens centers around the latest in a series of high-profile BCS quarterback transfers ...junior Robby Schoenhoft of Ohio State. However, we are here to cover schedules. Schoenhoft begins his FCS career against Maryland. The key to UD's schedule is a 9/20 game at Furman. As of right now, no one seems to know what type of team the Paladins will have this year.
Massachusetts: The Minutemen are one of the few teams that open at home in 2008, with at game against Albany. This years BCS game is a very interesting contest against Texas Tech. TT is a "passing machine" and having a strong resurgence under coach Leach. UMass is also one the road for Holy-Cross, JMU, and UNH.
New Hampshire: If Wildcat fans are looking for good tailgate-trivia; one might find it interesting that the head-coach, OC, and DC all are named "Sean". However, these Irishmen have led a resurgence of UNH football over the last few years and look to continue in 2008. The schedule is favorable, with an "opener" at West-Point that will be televised on ESPN Classic. Other OOC games include Albany and Dartmouth. The most difficult CAA games include UMass, Hofstra, William & Mary, and Villanova ...all but the latter are at home.

Pete's 2008 Colonial Pre-Season Schedule Previews

Click Here for Colonial Athletic Association 2008 Composite Schedule

Delaware
Date Opponent
8/30/2008 at Maryland
9/6/2008 West Chester
9/13/2008 at Furman
9/27/2008 Albany
10/4/2008 at *Massachusetts
10/11/2008 *Maine
10/18/2008 *William & Mary (Homecoming
10/25/2008 at *Hofstra
11/1/2008 at *James Madison
11/8/2008 *Towson
11/15/2008 at *Richmond
11/22/2008 *Villanova

Hofstra
8/28/2008 at Connecticut
9/13/2008 Albany
9/20/2008 Rhode Island - HC
9/27/2008 at Stony Brook
10/4/2008 at James Madison
10/11/2008 at Bucknell
10/18/2008 at Maine
10/25/2008 Delaware
11/1/2008 at New Hampshire
11/8/2008 Richmond
11/15/2008 Northeastern
11/22/2008 at Massachusetts

James Madison
8/30/2008 at Duke
9/6/2008 North Carolina Central
9/13/2008 Massachusetts *
9/20/2008 Appalachian State
9/27/2008 at Maine *
10/4/2008 Hofstra (Family Weekend) *
10/11/2008 at Richmond *
10/25/2008 at Villanova *
11/1/2008 Delaware (Homecoming) *
11/15/2008 William & Mary *
11/22/2008 at Towson *

Maine
8/30/2008 at Iowa
9/6/2008 at Monmouth
9/13/2008 Stony Brook
9/20/2008 at Richmond *
9/27/2008 James Madison *
10/11/2008 at Delaware *
10/18/2008 Hofstra *
10/25/2008 Northeastern *
11/1/2008 Iona
11/8/2008 at Massachusetts *
11/15/2008 at Rhode Island *
11/22/2008 New Hampshire *

Umass
8/30/2008 vs. Albany NY
9/6/2008 at Holy Cross
9/13/2008 at James Madison *
9/20/2008 at Texas Tech
10/4/2008 vs. Delaware *
10/11/2008 at Northeastern *
10/18/2008 vs. Richmond (HC)
10/25/2008 vs. Bryant
11/1/2008 at Rhode Island *
11/8/2008 vs. Maine *
11/15/2008 at New Hampshire *
11/22/2008 vs. Hofstra *

New Hampshire
9/6/2008 at Army
9/13/2008 at Rhode Island
9/20/2008 ALBANY
9/27/2008 at Dartmouth
10/11/2008 WILLIAM & MARY
10/18/2008 at Northeastern
10/25/2008 TOWSON
11/1/2008 HOFSTRA
11/8/2008 at Villanova
11/15/2008 MASSACHUSETTS
11/22/2008 at Maine

Northeastern
8/28/2008 at Ball State
9/13/2008 at Georgia Southern
9/20/2008 at Syracuse
9/27/2008 UC DAVIS
10/4/2008 at Towson*
10/11/2008 MASSACHUSETTS*
10/18/2008 NEW HAMPSHIRE* H
10/25/2008 at Maine*
11/1/2008 VILLANOVA*
11/8/2008 at William & Mary*
11/15/2008 at Hofstra*
11/22/2008 RHODE ISLAND*

Rhode Island
8/30/2008 vs. Monmouth N.J.
9/6/2008 at Fordham
9/13/2008 vs. New Hampshire *
9/20/2008 at Hofstra *
9/27/2008 at Boston College
10/4/2008 vs. Brown
10/11/2008 at Towson *
10/18/2008 vs. Villanova *
10/25/2008 at William & Mary *
11/1/2008 vs. Massachusetts *
11/15/2008 vs. Maine *
11/22/2008 at Northeastern *

Richmond
8/30/2008 at Elon
9/6/2008 at Virginia
9/13/2008 vs. Towson *
9/20/2008 vs. Maine *
9/27/2008 at Villanova *
10/4/2008 at VMI
10/11/2008 vs. James Madison *
10/18/2008 at Massachusetts * HC
10/25/2008 vs. Georgetown
11/8/2008 at Hofstra *
11/15/2008 vs. Delaware *
11/22/2008 at William & Mary *

Towson State
8/30/2008 at Navy
9/6/2008 MORGAN STATE
9/13/2008 at Richmond*
9/20/2008 at Coastal Carolina
9/27/2008 COLUMBIA
10/4/2008 NORTHEASTERN*
10/11/2008 RHODE ISLAND* (HC)
10/25/2008 at New Hampshire*
11/1/2008 WILLIAM & MARY*
11/8/2008 at Delaware*
11/15/2008 at Villanova*
11/22/2008 JAMES MADISON*

Villanova
8/30/2008 at West Virginia
9/13/2008 vs. Lehigh
9/20/2008 at Penn
9/27/2008 vs. Richmond
10/4/2008 at William & Mary
10/18/2008 at Rhode Island
10/25/2008 vs. James Madison
11/1/2008 at Northeastern
11/8/2008 vs. New Hampshire
11/15/2008 vs. Towson
11/22/2008 at Delaware

William & Mary
9/6/2008 at North Carolina State
9/13/2008 VMI
9/20/2008 NORFOLK STATE
10/4/2008 VILLANOVA
10/11/2008 at New Hampshire
10/18/2008 at Delaware
10/25/2008 RHODE ISLAND [HC]
11/1/2008 at Towson
11/8/2008 NORTHEASTERN
11/15/2008 at James Madison
11/22/2008 RICHMOND