Union has released their 2025 Football Roster... https://unionathletics.com/sports/football/roster ...One name noticeably absent is punter Hayden Hall. Hall burst onto the scene last season as a surprise D1 transfer (Monmouth/UConn) and his booming punts were instrumental in the Garnet defense. He averaged a 10th best in the country 41.5 yds/punt which repeatedly changed field position in Union's favor. Hall was named All-Liberty League second team and D3football.com All-Region 2 Third Team (2024) I'm guessing his punting prowess enabled him to get a better offer. Good luck to Hayden but he'll be missed.

Union traveled to Hartwick yesterday for a controlled scrimmage which was unfortunately interrupted by a 45 minute weather delay. With a lot of holes on both sides of the ball to fill the Garnet had many new faces in new places. The 1st team offense led by QB Patch Flanagan moved the ball reasonably well and the defense had an early pick-six. The place kicking of sophomore Francesco Pileggi was a solid plus.  Sadly the injury bug bit the Union O-line. Versatile senior Davis Cooperstein, who started games at RT,G and Center last season went down with what appeared to be a significant injury. "Coop" was set at starting center this season and with him out the back-ups had problems with the shotgun snaps, hiking the ball over the QB's head multiple times. That needs immediate fixing. Hopefully Cooperstein is a fast healer. 

We're on the cusp of football season and I'm really a football guy but something popped up to catch my attention that I wanted to share.

Union College basketball has announced it's new class of recruits and it includes one very intriguing member. The Garnet Chargers return their entire roster from last season and now they'll have something they were lacking. A true big man. 6'11" Scott Schmitt has transferred to Union from Middlebury College where he played in 15 games last season for the Panthers. Schmitt is out of New Jersey and played at IMG Academy in Florida where he got some top notch coaching and competition. And at 250 lbs.he's not some skinny rail that will easily get pushed around. It will be interesting to see how coach Chris Murphy uses him but he's got to help right?

Here's the rest of Union's recruiting class...All these guys can shoot the rock!

Jack Watson.........6'4" SG from Milton Academy, Mass
Patrick Cullinan...6'2" SG from Canisius prep in Buffalo
Cade Furse.........6'2" CG from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire
Trace Moffitt  ....6'5" SG from Greensboro Day School, NC

Aside to stlawus...Trey Rezendes who you listed as a basketball recruit to Union back in May is actually on campus as a football recruit.

Today, 8/12, is move in day for the 2025 Union football team. The 108 man roster will need to fill some huge holes and quickly as their non conference schedule is daunting. At #4 Susquehanna followed by at #10 Cortland. Here's hoping some of the 31 first year's will step up early.

Speaking of stepping up early remember the name Ike Irabor? Ike and fellow freshman Andre Ross Jr. burst onto the scene in 2018 lighting a fire in the Union program which led to NCAA playoff appearances in 2019 and 2023. Both ended that first year as All Liberty League first teamers and went on to be Union all time greats. I always wonder if any of the 31 incoming newbies can be that next guy. One candidate I'm intrigued by is actually not a freshmen but a transfer portal sophomore, RB Jah'Cire Jones. He started his career at D1 East Carolina and is now at Union. There should be ample opportunity for Jah'Cire to shine since following the graduation losses of stalwarts Michael Fiore and Jonathan Anderson the running back room is thin. Union has a solid experienced QB returning in Patch Flanigan, a stable of suitable WR's and a O-line featuring 3 returning starters but can the ground game excel? Returning Sr. RB DJ Wright has only 27 career carries. I'm looking for Jah'Cire Jones to be that next great Garnet RB. If he does remember you saw his name here first.       

In 2019 Union had one of it's best teams ever. The then still Dutchmen finished the regular season 10-0 and  won a playoff game against CWRU lead by a very strong group of underclassmen. Names such as Will Bellamy, Ike Irabor, Andre Ross Jr., Colin Lama and Daniel Gioioso were all first team Liberty League performers. Another stalwart on that squad and maybe the best of them was All American center Ryan Ehrets. Things looked great for the upcoming 2020 season but then Covid hit. When Union reformed for the 2021 season all those guys were back except Ehrets. He graduated early and decided to move on to Alfred University. Not as a player, even though he had eligibility left, but as a coach . 

Ehrets spent the 2021 season coaching tight ends for Alfred and subsequently ended up coaching at Curry college. Now he's back at Union! Ehrets takes over as offensive line coach and run game coordinator for coach Jon Drach's 2025 Garnet Chargers. He'll do a great job. Welcome home #76. 

Quote from: Caz Bombers on May 05, 2025, 10:01:00 AMIthaca, Skidmore, RPI, Clarkson in the 4-team double elimination field. More representation for the East Division than there has been in a minute; feels weird not to see Rochester here. Tournament at Freeman Field.

Not sure what you mean by "in a minute" You understand Clarkson was in the West Division this year and last year Union and RPI from the East joined Ithaca and Rochester from the West so it's been 2-2...The Union at Clarkson series was very close. Clarkson won both games 1 and 3 on walk offs in the 10th. Union actually outscored Clarkson 19-17 in the series. 

In summing up Union's season...They started OK going 3-1 in their first 4 then lost 4 in a row including their first 3 in Liberty League play. They grew up in a close loss at then #1 Emory which catapulted them into a stretch of 11-4 in league play. That put them at 11-7 in conference and the 4th seed in the LL tournament where they beat Hobart to get a shot at top seed RPI. Another close loss ended their season at 16-11. A very successful 2024-25.

Along the way the Garnet Chargers led the nation in Free Throw percentage shooting 80.8%
They had their first First Team All LL player in 7 years. Point guard Tanner Tedesco and a Second Team selection in forward Jack Plesser, both sophomores.

And did I mention everyone is back. There are no seniors on the squad. The future looks bright. 

Thanks for the heads-up on schedules Bartman. I just checked and Union's 2025 is up too on their football homepage https://unionathletics.com/sports/football/schedule

As I mentioned last fall, it's true...Union opens at Susquehanna on Sept 6th and follows that up at Cortland on Sept 13th.   It can't get much tougher than that. Unfortunately with the addition of Hilbert to the Liberty League and the reciprocal 2 game LL/E8 agreement, Springfield is not on the 2025 schedule. The Garnet host Morrisville in Week #3.

Quote from: hopefan on February 26, 2025, 06:18:10 AMOld old RPI guy here.... Went to internet and turned on Hobart at Union last night..... GREAT GAME...
It doesn't get any better!!! And the Tanner Tedesco name... yes, I remember trying to keep up with Jim Tedesco...

Jim Tedisco ,Union'72 all time hoops great, and Tanner Tedesco, current Union point guard, are NOT related but it sure is sweet to hear that name once again on the Garnet PA.

BTW Jim Tedisco, who's a New York State Senator, was in the bleachers rooting for the boys Saturday.   

Yet another incredibly close, exciting game for the Garnet Chargers. It was remarkably similarly to Saturday's game. Hobart got off to a strong start while Union struggled with it's shooting.The Statesmen were up 35=30 at the half. Quickly after halftime the Garnet took the lead but from there it was lead change after lead change to the end of regulation.Fittingly the game went into overtime tied at 72. Again each team had the lead in OT right to the last seconds when the impossible happened as Union's Matthew Garside hit a buzzer beating 3 for the win! The third time he's done that this season.

Bartman your Statesmen played great but this seems like destiny.

It was senior day for Union at the Viniar Center today. Well at least for the four graduating seniors in the Garnet Chargers women's program. They celebrated with a resounding 77-44 victory over William Smith. The men took to the court later and orchestrated yet another close game victory over Hobart, 76-69, to wrap up 4th place in the LL and a home game Tuesday...against Hobart. The Statesmen opened the game strong and built a 7 point halftime lead while Union struggled with their shooting hitting only 33.3% and even missing 3 of 6 free throws. 

The second half was another story as Union caught fire shooting 58.6%, 5 of 9 from the arc and all 9 of their free throws. Hobart kept up and had their last lead 53-51 with 8:32 left before the Garnet slowly forged ahead. It was still a 3 point game at the 23 second mark until a spectacular putback tip in and four of those FTs sealed the deal.  No senior celebration ensued...because this sophomore dominated Union squad that's so fun to watch, has NO seniors.     

RIT shot an incredible 19/38 from behind the arc, with nine different guys hitting a three , 37/70, 52.9 % overall and lost the game 100-98 to Union. How? the Garnet Chargers lit it up at an even better rate shooting 36/63, 57.1 % and 10/22 from 3. Again Union won the game with their nation leading free throw shooting 16/18 to RIT's 5/7. There were 12 ties and 24 lead changes in this back and forth contest. It was the two free throw misses after making their first 16 in a row at the end that once again gave Union's opposition a chance to win or tie but a Tiger jumper at the buzzer clanked off the rim. Union improves to 10-7 in the Liberty League to sew up a playoff spot. 

This afternoon the St. Lawrence Saints celebrated their final home game of the 2024-25 season as it was senior night for their 6 graduating players. The Union Garnet Chargers, with no seniors on their roster obliged their elders by making it a memorable game for the Saints squad. St. Lawrence forced 11 first half turnovers and Union did little right in falling behind 37-18 at the midpoint. The Garnet didn't fare much better in the second half and St. Lawrence won 74-50. Union, who is tough when they shoot well, had an off night going 19/59 and only 3/22 from the arc. They did hit 9/10 free throws to keep their national #1 ranking in that category. St. Lawrence dominated defensively with 13 steals among Union's 18 turnovers. In a season that's been disappointing for the Saints veteran squad it was evident they came motivated today.   

The Union College men's basketball team leads the nation in Free Throw %, shooting 272/340 (80.0%) after last nights 18/21 effort in a one point win over Clarkson 71-70. Clarkson was only 7/18. They needed every made point after ironically two missed 2 FTs with 25 seconds left allowed the Golden Knights one last opportunity. A contested 3 for the tie fell off the rim and a put back layup only made the final score closer. The Garnet Chargers have made a late push to the top half of the Liberty League standings by winning their last 5 games by a total of 12 points! 

A significant weekend for Union proves fruitful as the Garnet get close road wins against Skidmore and Ithaca.Tenacious hustle and good shooting make this Union team a problem for Liberty League opponents. Next up a key home opportunity to knock off league leading RPI.

Great win for Union over St. Lawrence tonight with the Garnet playing like they need to to win. St. Lawrence dominated inside, outscoring Union 40-19 in the paint and 14-3 on the fast break but the difference was the Garnet made their free throws 8/8 and hit their 3's shooting 10/22 from behind the arc. Including a buzzer beater 3 to win 60-59. That thrusts Union back into the LL playoff hunt.