1985 Colgate Red Raiders football team

The 1985 Colgate Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season.

1985 Colgate Red Raiders football
Conference	Independent
Record	7–3–1
Head coach	Frederick Dunlap (10th season)
Captains	Tom Burgess Bill Hecht
Home stadium	Andy Kerr Stadium
Seasons ← 1984 1986 →

1985 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 9 Georgia Southern ^			–					13	–	2	–	0
No. 11 Eastern Washington ^			–					9	–	3	–	0
No. 18 Richmond			–					8	–	3	–	0
Colgate			–					7	–	3	–	1
Delaware			–					7	–	4	–	0
Tennessee State			–					7	–	4	–	0
No. 16 William & Mary			–					7	–	4	–	0
Lafayette			–					6	–	5	–	0
James Madison			–					5	–	6	–	0
Lehigh			–					5	–	6	–	0
Holy Cross			–					4	–	6	–	1
Florida A&M			–					4	–	7	–	0
Western Kentucky			–					4	–	7	–	0
Bucknell			–					3	–	7	–	0
Northeastern			–					2	–	8	–	0
^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

In its tenth season under head coach Frederick Dunlap, the team compiled an 7–3–1 record. Tom Burgess and Bill Hecht were the team captains.^[1]

The Red Raiders spent four weeks in the national top 20 rankings, reaching as high as No. 14, but fell out of the rankings by season's end.

This would be Colgate's final year as an independent, before joining the Colonial League. Future league football opponents on the Red Raiders' 1985 schedule included Lafayette, Lehigh and Holy Cross. The league was later renamed Patriot League, and continues to be Colgate's home conference as of 2020.

The team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	at Holy Cross		Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 21–24	16,211	[2]
September 21	at Lafayette		Fisher Field Easton, PA	W 30–14	11,500	[3]
September 28	at Cornell		Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	W 21–20	12,300	[4]
October 5	Lehigh		Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 32–14	5,100	[5]
October 12	at Dartmouth		Memorial Field Hanover, NH	W 54–28	9,434	[6]
October 19	at Princeton	No. T–19	Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ	W 49–44	8,795	[7]
October 26	at Army	No. 16	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 43–45	40,063	[8]
November 2	Columbia		Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 55–11	6,300	[9]
November 9	No. 17 Penn	No. 14	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	T 27–27	5,000	[10]
November 16	at Rutgers	No. 17	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	L 14–28	6,500	[11]
November 23	at Boston University		Nickerson Field Boston, MA	W 48–37	2,485	[12]
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. pp. 13–14 and 26. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. Cadigan, Barry (September 15, 1985). "Fenerty Boosts Holy Cross over Colgate, 24-21". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 67 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Meixell, Ted (September 22, 1985). "No 'Big Plays' for Leopards". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pa. p. C-1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Bernstein, Viv (September 29, 1985). "Interception Saves Colgate, 21-20". The Sunday Press. Binghamton, N.Y. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Dunlap, Colgate Rip Lehigh Again". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. October 6, 1985. pp. 5D, 2D – via Newspapers.com.
6. Craig, Jack (October 13, 1985). "Colgate Cruises, 54-28". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 62 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Esterman, Sue (October 20, 1985). "Colgate Rallies to Defeat Princeton, 49-44". The Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. pp. E1, E12 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Army Holds Off Colgate, 45-43". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. October 27, 1985. p. 64 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "2 Players Set Marks in 55-11 Colgate Win". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. October 6, 1985. pp. 7D, 2D – via Newspapers.com.
10. Freligh, Sarajane (November 10, 1985). "Quakers Play to Unwanted Tie Against Colgate". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. pp. 13-E, 16-E – via Newspapers.com.
11. Bruns, John (November 17, 1985). "Scarlet Knights Solve Offensive Woes to Capture 28-14 Victory over Colgate". The Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Monahan, Bob (November 24, 1985). "Bumbling BU Loses Its Grip". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 70 – via Newspapers.com.