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University of New Hampshire Athletics
The Wildcats react to seeing their name on ESPNU during the NCAA Selection Show (Photo by Stu Horne)
Photo by: Stu Horne
CAA Co-Champions Host Fordham in NCAA FCS Playoffs (Nov. 26, 2 p.m. ESPN+)
11/20/2022 4:00:00 PM | Football
Wildcats return to postseason for first time since 2017
PURCHASE PLAYOFF TICKETS NOW • PURCHASE PLAYOFF PARKING NOW
INDIANAPOLIS – The 17th-ranked University of New Hampshire football team will play host to 21st-ranked Fordham University in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, Nov. 26, starting at 2 p.m. (ESPN+) at Wildcat Stadium. The entire 24-team bracket was announced Sunday on ESPNU during the NCAA Football Championship Selection Show.
"I'm excited for the Durham community, our fanbase, all our loyal supporters that we can have a home playoff game," UNH first-year head coach Rick Santos said. "We're going to get The Dungeon rocking back to the good, old days of New Hampshire football."
The Wildcats (8-3, 7-1 CAA) received an at-large selection after defeating Maine, 42-41, in overtime Saturday at Alfond Stadium to clinch a share of the CAA championship and reclaim possession of the Brice-Cowell Musket.
"The job is not finished. This is the whole point of it," Santos added. "We wanted to win a championship and get back to the playoffs. The ultimate goal of this program since I was a redshirt freshman, when Coach Mac put up those goals [in the locker room], was to win a national championship."
The Rams received an at-large bid out of the Patriot League after posting a 9-2 record with a 5-1 conference mark. Fordham's lone league setback came at Holy Cross, 53-52, in overtime Oct. 29.
Fordham's head coach, Joe Conlin, spent seven seasons (2004-10) as a UNH assistant coach of the defensive line (2004-07), defensive backs (2008) and the offensive line (2009-10).
"He's as good of a head coach at any level," Santos said. "Very detailed, methodical in his approach. He gets those guys playing extremely hard. They're going to be tough, they're going to be disciplined, so it's a great opportunity for us to go against an unbelievable football team."
Kevin Decker, Fordham's offensive coordinator/QB coach, is a 2012 UNH graduate who won the 2011 CAA Offensive Player of the Year award as the Wildcats' starting quarterback. Associate head coach/WR coach Art Asselta coached Wildcat WRs in 2012.
The winner of the UNH/Fordham first-round game advances to face No. 8 seed and Patriot League champion Holy Cross (11-0, 6-0) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 12 p.m. (ESPN+).
The Wildcats' co-CAA championship is their first since 2014, which was also the only time UNH and Fordham have squared off in an NCAA playoff game. The top-seeded 'Cats dispatched the Rams, 44-19, in a second-round matchup Dec. 6, 2014, at Cowell Stadium.
New Hampshire qualifies for the NCAA Playoffs for the 17th time in program history and the first time since 2017, which capped a stretch of 14 consecutive playoff appearances. Fordham is making its sixth appearance and first since 2015.
INDIANAPOLIS – The 17th-ranked University of New Hampshire football team will play host to 21st-ranked Fordham University in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, Nov. 26, starting at 2 p.m. (ESPN+) at Wildcat Stadium. The entire 24-team bracket was announced Sunday on ESPNU during the NCAA Football Championship Selection Show.
"I'm excited for the Durham community, our fanbase, all our loyal supporters that we can have a home playoff game," UNH first-year head coach Rick Santos said. "We're going to get The Dungeon rocking back to the good, old days of New Hampshire football."
The Wildcats (8-3, 7-1 CAA) received an at-large selection after defeating Maine, 42-41, in overtime Saturday at Alfond Stadium to clinch a share of the CAA championship and reclaim possession of the Brice-Cowell Musket.
"The job is not finished. This is the whole point of it," Santos added. "We wanted to win a championship and get back to the playoffs. The ultimate goal of this program since I was a redshirt freshman, when Coach Mac put up those goals [in the locker room], was to win a national championship."
The Rams received an at-large bid out of the Patriot League after posting a 9-2 record with a 5-1 conference mark. Fordham's lone league setback came at Holy Cross, 53-52, in overtime Oct. 29.
Fordham's head coach, Joe Conlin, spent seven seasons (2004-10) as a UNH assistant coach of the defensive line (2004-07), defensive backs (2008) and the offensive line (2009-10).
"He's as good of a head coach at any level," Santos said. "Very detailed, methodical in his approach. He gets those guys playing extremely hard. They're going to be tough, they're going to be disciplined, so it's a great opportunity for us to go against an unbelievable football team."
Kevin Decker, Fordham's offensive coordinator/QB coach, is a 2012 UNH graduate who won the 2011 CAA Offensive Player of the Year award as the Wildcats' starting quarterback. Associate head coach/WR coach Art Asselta coached Wildcat WRs in 2012.
The winner of the UNH/Fordham first-round game advances to face No. 8 seed and Patriot League champion Holy Cross (11-0, 6-0) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 12 p.m. (ESPN+).
The Wildcats' co-CAA championship is their first since 2014, which was also the only time UNH and Fordham have squared off in an NCAA playoff game. The top-seeded 'Cats dispatched the Rams, 44-19, in a second-round matchup Dec. 6, 2014, at Cowell Stadium.
New Hampshire qualifies for the NCAA Playoffs for the 17th time in program history and the first time since 2017, which capped a stretch of 14 consecutive playoff appearances. Fordham is making its sixth appearance and first since 2015.
•Tickets for the UNH/Fordham NCAA Division I FCS Championship first-round game are on sale now at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets. The Whittemore Center Ticket Office will be open Monday-Tuesday (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). For more information, call 603-862-4000.
•All UNH season ticket members, Service Credit Union Victory Club members, priority lot members and preferred lot members who purchase playoff tickets will receive free parking.
•Anyone purchasing a parking pass must print from home and present to lot attendants on gameday.
•Limited parking passes are on sale now for Boulder Field in advance only. There will be no gameday parking sales for Boulder Field.
•Parking passes are available in A Lot in advance and on gameday.
•All UNH season ticket members, Service Credit Union Victory Club members, priority lot members and preferred lot members who purchase playoff tickets will receive free parking.
•Anyone purchasing a parking pass must print from home and present to lot attendants on gameday.
•Limited parking passes are on sale now for Boulder Field in advance only. There will be no gameday parking sales for Boulder Field.
•Parking passes are available in A Lot in advance and on gameday.
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