Meet the CAA: Hampton joins longtime member William & Mary in new-look football league
William & Mary is no stranger to the Colonial Athletic Association — the Tribe joined in the 1980s.
But Hampton University climbs aboard this season, and in football the conference also welcomes Monmouth. Stony Brook, a member of the CAA in football since 2013, has joined the league as a full-time member.
Good news for the Pirates: Their Oct. 8 game this season against Maine is in Hampton, so the Black Bears will trek more than 850 miles for it. That’s the CAA’s longest trip — at least until North Carolina A&T joins the league in 2023.
Here’s a glance at the new-look CAA:
Albany
Location: Albany, New York
Coach: Greg Gattuso, 36-49 in eight seasons
Last season: 2-9, 1-7 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at No. 10 Baylor.
This season vs. Hampton: Oct. 15 in Albany
This season vs. W&M: Does not play
757 connection: None
Did you know?: Gattuso was a standout defensive lineman at Penn State and helped the Nittany Lions win the national championship in 1982.
Delaware
Location: Newark, Delaware
Coach: Ryan Carty, first season
Last season: 5-6, 3-5 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at Navy
This season vs. Hampton: Sept. 24 in Newark
This season vs. W&M: Oct. 8 in Williamsburg
757 connection: Blue Hens assistant Art Link was the head coach at Christopher Newport University for the past five seasons, compiling a 19-22 record.
Did you know?: Delaware is one of just three colleges — with Stanford and Michigan — with an alum elected President (Joe Biden), a Super Bowl MVP (Joe Flacco) and an NFL MVP (Rich Gannon).
Elon
Location: Elon, North Carolina
Coach: Tony Trisciani, 12-16 in four seasons
Last season: 6-5, 5-3 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at Vanderbilt
This season vs. Hampton: Nov. 12 in Hampton
This season vs. W&M: Sept. 24 in Williamsburg
757 connection: Donovan Everette, a redshirt freshman linebacker, played for Norview High in Norfolk.
Did you know?: When Elon started sports in the 1920s, the school’s teams were called the Fightin’ Christians; they became the Phoenix in 2000.
Maine
Location: Orono, Maine
Coach: Jordan Stevens, first season
Last season: 6-5, 4-4 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at New Mexico
This season vs. Hampton: Oct. 8 in Hampton
This season vs. W&M: Does not play
757 connection: None.
Did you know?: Stevens’ bio in the Maine media guide lists his birthplace as Virginia Beach, but it calls him a native of Maine, and he attended Mount Blue High in Farmington, Maine.
Monmouth
Location: West Long Branch, New Jersey
Coach: Kevin Callahan, 173-129 in 29 seasons
Last season: 7-4, 6-1 Big South
Season opener: Thursday at New Hampshire
This season vs. Hampton: Does not play
This season vs. W&M: Does not play
757 connection: RB Owen Wright, a graduate student from Bethesda, Maryland, transferred from William & Mary. He rushed for 701 yards in 22 games with the Tribe.
Did you know?: Callahan is the only coach in Monmouth history, and his 173 career wins rank sixth among active FCS coaches.
New Hampshire
Location: Durham, New Hampshire
Coach: Rick Santos, first season
Last season: 3-8, 2-6 CAA
Season opener: Thursday vs. Monmouth
This season vs. Hampton: Does not play
This season vs. W&M: Does not play
757 connection: Sophomore DE Josiah Silver, who played for Phoebus High in Hampton, led the Wildcats last season in tackles (80) and sacks (12.5).
Did you know?: Santos was a star quarterback for New Hampshire whose uniform No. 2 is one of four jerseys retired by the football program. He was a three-time All-American and is a member of the UNH Hall of Fame.
Rhode Island
Location: South Kingstown, Rhode Island
Coach: Jim Fleming, 45-59 in eight seasons
Last season: 7-4, 4-4 CAA
Season opener: Thursday at Stony Brook
This season vs. Hampton: Does not play
This season vs. W&M: Oct. 29 in Williamsburg
757 connection: WR Darius Savedge, a former Smithfield High star, played three seasons and appeared in 24 games for Old Dominion before transferring this summer.
Did you know?: Savedge is one of 10 transfers from FBS or FCS programs who joined the Rams during the offseason.
Richmond
Location: Richmond
Coach: Russ Huesman, 14-25 in five seasons
Last season: 6-5, 4-4 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at Virginia
This season vs. Hampton: Oct. 22 in Hampton
This season vs. W&M: Nov. 19 in Richmond
757 connection: None
Did you know?: Starting QB Reece Udinski played for VMI and Maryland before transferring to Richmond as a graduate student.
Stony Brook
Location: Stony Brook, New York
Coach: Chuck Priore, 95-82 in 17 seasons
Last season: 5-6, 4-4 CAA
Season opener: Thursday vs. Rhode Island
This season vs. Hampton: Do not play
This season vs. W&M: Oct. 1 in Stony Brook
757 connection: None
Did you know?: RB Ty Son Lawton led the league in rushing last season with 1,088 yards and is the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Towson
Location: Towson, Md.
Coach: Rob Ambrose, 66-71 in 12 seasons
Last season: 4-7, 3-5 CAA
Season opener: Saturday at Bucknell
This season vs. Hampton: Nov. 19 in Towson
This season vs. W&M: Oct. 22 in Towson
757 connection: WR Da’Kendall James, a redshirt junior who starred at Portsmouth Christian, transferred in from Norfolk State; OL Josh Roberts, a graduate student out of Tallwood High in Virginia Beach, transferred from Lafayette College.
Did you know?: Ambrose, a former quarterback and receiver at Towson, as a coach has guided the Tigers to two CAA championships, three playoff appearances and a trip to the 2013 FCS National Championship game.
Villanova
Location: Philadelphia
Coach: Mark Ferrante, 31-21 in five seasons
Last season: 10-3, 7-1 CAA
Season opener: Friday vs. Lehigh
This season vs. Hampton: Oct. 29 in Philadelphia
This season vs. W&M: Nov. 12 in Williamsburg
757 connection: None
Did you know?: Villanova’s only FCS national title came in 2009 with a victory over Montana.
Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com. Twitter @JamiVP
