Staten Island, NY – With an eye towards the August 31 season opener vs. Saint Anselm College (NH), the Wagner football team, under the direction of third-year head coach
Jason Houghtaling, reported to preseason training camp today.
Members of Wagner's 150-plus person roster checked in at 10:00 a.m. Following a series of physicals and meetings, the Seahawks took to Hameline Field at 6:00 p.m. for a conditioning test on the eve of the first practice of preseason training camp, set for Monday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m.
"Reporting day is always exciting," said Houghtaling. "It's great to see the veterans blending with our incoming guys for the first time. You can tell that all of our players and coaches are excited and really eager to take the field for the first time. I'm really proud of these guys put in during the offseason and just can't wait to get to work and start putting all of the pieces together."
Wagner placed five players on the 2017 Preseason All-NEC Team, namely defensive lineman
Jordan Baskerville ((West Point, NY / James I. O'Neill / Milford Academy), kicker
James Cooper ((Linwood, NJ / Mainland Regional/ Temple), offensive lineman
Matt Diaz (Edison, NJ/Edison/Milford Academy), quarterback
Alex Thomson (Keyport, NJ / Keyport), and wide receiver
John Williams (Sewell, NJ / Lackawanna CC [PA].
Duquesne was picked as the NEC preseason favorite with four first-place votes, defending NEC champion Saint Francis U, which picked up two first-place ballots, was chosen second, while the Seahawks, who also received two first-place votes, are third. Central Connecticut found itself in fourth place when the survey results were tallied, followed by Sacred Heart, Bryant, and Robert Morris.
The 2017 lid-lifter against the Saint Anselm marks the second straight year these schools will play a Thursday night season opener as the Green & White defeated the Hawks, 38-16 on September 1, 2016.
Following the season opener, the Seahawks hit the road for three straight games, the first of which is the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener on September 9 at defending Northeast Conference (NEC champion Saint Francis U. Wagner then returns to the Big Apple, making the short trip into upper Manhattan on September 16 to meet New York City rival Columbia of the Ivy League.
The three-game road stretch concludes when Wagner boards a plane bound for Kalamazoo, MI for the Seahawks' first-ever meeting with FBS member Western Michigan on September 23. The Broncos, who compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), are coming off the best season in their history, a 13-1 campaign that culminated in the Cotton Bowl when they battled the University of Wisconsin Badgers to the wire before falling by a count of 24-16.
This marks the sixth consecutive season that Wagner will face at least one FBS opponent. The Seahawks round out the first month of play with a September 30 home matchup against Lehigh of the Patriot League for Wagner's first-ever meeting with the Mountain Hawks.
October kicks off with three straight conference matchups, beginning on October 7 with a visit to Duquesne which precedes home contests against Central Connecticut (Oct. 14) and Bryant (Oct. 28).
The Seahawks will host Robert Morris on November 4 in their final home contest of the season on Senior Day.
The 2017 regular season concludes on the road as Wagner travels to Stony Brook on November 11 before closing out the campaign in Fairfield, CT against NEC rival, Sacred Heart, on November 18.
The 2017 Seahawks return six All-NEC performers from a team that went 6-5 a year ago and capped the season with a 31-20 win over previously undefeated conference champion Saint Francis U, giving the Green & White a 4-2 league mark and a third-place league finish.
Seahawk fans will have an opportunity to get their first glimpse of the 2017 squad in game-like conditions on Saturday, August 19 at 6:00 pm in the annual Green & White Game.
For fans planning to attend a practice session, please contact Football Operations Director
Ryan Monaghan in advance at 718-420-4511.
