The Holy Cross Crusaders Are Bringing Their A Game
By Kimberly Dunbar

The Holy Cross Crusaders are back ~ and not just for another season of football, but for a run at a championship season like they were used to having during their glory days. In fact, the Crusaders started the season ranked No. 25 in the nation by the Street & Smith’s 2007 College Football Yearbook .

“It’s a far cry from where we were a few years ago,” said Holy Cross football coach Tom Gilmore. The last time Holy Cross wore the Patriot League crown was in 1991, in which they went 11-0 (5-0), capping a spectacular six year run as a national football powerhouse, winning five Patriot League Championships and boasting a 60-5 record. Since those days, their reign has come to a halt, hitting rock bottom in 2003 when they went 1-11, the worst record in school history. In 2004, Gilmore arrived to help salvage the outstanding football tradition on the Hill.

“It wasn’t that long ago when Holy Cross was the best in the country,” said Gilmore, and citing their history as one of the reasons he came to Holy Cross. After coaching 25 years in the Patriot and Ivy Leagues, Gilmore was often run over by the rolling Crusaders, but also learned a lot about balance. “I know that you can be good at both academics and athletics, you don’t have to choose. I believed I could do it,” he added, stating that it was a matter of showing up, getting the program better coordinated, and surrounding himself with the right coaches and players.

Gilmore’s strategy seems to have worked, as the football program has won more games each year he has been at the helm (including the first back to back winning season since 1991-92) and is looking good to post its best numbers yet. The squad features many returning key players including junior quarterback Dominic Randolph, who received some pre-season honors of his own.

“We have a lot of confidence in the returning players because they have proven they are consistent performers,” said Gilmore. Between the quarterback and receiving corps, the coach believes there is enough experience under their belts to help them take it to the next level. “We have some major positives we can build upon.”

However, Gilmore is hoping to improve defensively. In past years, HC ranked dead last in the league in most defensive categories, but the program has made some constant improvements. “If we can take the defensive steps and offense steps up the game, it can help us win a lot of the close games we lost last year,” he added, including last year’s finale, which would have given them a piece of the Patriot League title and a spot in the playoffs.

“A lot of things are coming together for us, and it isn’t just one person, it’s everyone involved in the program. We are very optimistic about where we are going,” said Gilmore. “Three years ago it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We were hoping to win, not expecting to win, and in a short period of time, we have had a tremendous turnaround. A lot of hard work and sacrifice went into this, and I am blessed to have people around me willing to pay that price. I know it is cliché, but we have to take one game at a time, we are doing a good job of doing that.”

Top photo, R: Holy Cross football coach Tom Gilmore