2003 Holy Cross Crusaders football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2003
| team = Holy Cross Crusaders
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Patriot League
| short_conf = Patriot
| record = 1–11
| conf_record = 1–6
| head_coach = Dan Allen
| hc_year = 8th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain = Ari Confesor
| captain2 = Steve Fox
| captain3 = Ben Koller
| captain4 = Nick Larsen
| stadium = Fitton Field
}}
{{2003 Patriot League football standings}}
The 2003 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Holy Cross tied for last in the Patriot League.
In their eighth and final year under head coach Dan Allen, the Crusaders compiled a 1–11 record. Ari Confesor, Steve Fox, Ben Koller and Nick Larsen were the team captains.{{cite web|title=2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book|publisher=College of the Holy Cross|accessdate=June 15, 2020|page=126|url=https://goholycross.com/documents/2019/7/19/19-hc-fb-fb.pdf |location=Worcester, Mass.}}
The Crusaders were outscored 478 to 322. Holy Cross' 1–6 conference record tied for worst in the Patriot League standings.{{cite book|url=https://patriotleague.org/documents/2020/7/14/2020_PatriotFB_Record_Book.pdf|title=Patriot League Football Record Book|chapter=Football All-Time Year-by-Year Results|publisher=Patriot League|location=Center Valley, Pa.|date=2020|accessdate=August 10, 2020|page=9}} The Crusaders' sole win came against fellow Patriot League cellar-dweller Georgetown.
Holy Cross played its home games at Fitton Field on the college campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
| rankyear = 2003
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll =The Sports Network
| other-event = ^ Family Weekend
| September 6 | @ | Lehigh
| Goodman Stadium | Bethlehem, PA | L 20 38
| 8,697 | {{cite news |title=Snap Judgments Doom Crusaders |first=Chris A. |last=Courogen |date=September 7, 2003 |page=C18 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60913334/2003-lehigh-hc/ }}
| September 13 | | Georgetown
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | W 42 34
| 6,412 | {{cite news |title=Crusaders' O'Neill Leads the Charge |first=Jennifer |last=Toland |date=September 14, 2003 |page=E18 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60915093/2003-georgetown-hc/ }}
| September 20 | | Harvard
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | L 23 43
| 10,312 | {{cite news |title=Fitzpatrick Hits the Books |first=Pete |last=May |date=September 21, 2003 |page=C13 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60915273/2003-harvard-hc/ }}
| September 27 | @ | {{cfb link|year=2003|team=San Diego Toreros|title=San Diego}}
| Torero Stadium | San Diego, CA | L 45 46 <2OT>
| 4,449 | {{cite news |title=HC Suffers Late-Night Setback; Conversion Pass Lifts San Diego to Victory in Second Overtime |first=Sandy |last=Burgin |date=September 29, 2003 |page=D1 |newspaper=Telegram & Gazette |location=Worcester, Mass. |via=NewsBank}}
| October 4 | | Yale
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | L 16 41
| October 11 | @ | Towson
| Johnny Unitas Stadium | Towson, MD | L 13 30
| 8,125 | {{cite news |title=Towson Overpowers Holy Cross, 30-13 |first=Kent |last=Baker |date=October 12, 2003 |page=5E |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore, Md.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60941738/2003-towson-hc/ }}
| October 18 | | Dartmouth^
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | L 20 24
| 7,863 | {{cite news |title='Saders Foiled Again at End |first=Jennifer |last=Toland |date=October 19, 2003 |page=D4 |newspaper=Telegram & Gazette |location=Worcester, Mass. |via=NewsBank}}
| October 25 | @ | FIU
| FIU Stadium | Miami, FL | L 23 34
| 4,506 | {{cite news |title=Finally: Runs Key Panthers' First Win |first=Daniel |last=Izquierdo |date=October 26, 2003 |page=1D |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |location=Fort Lauderdale, Fla.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60953462/2003-holy-cross-fiu/ }}
| November 1 | @ | Bucknell
| Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium | Lewisburg, PA | L 31 53
| 8,132 | {{cite news |title=Jackson Has Career Day as Bison Pull Away for Win |first=Tom |last=Housenick |date=November 2, 2003 |page=D1 |newspaper=The Daily Item |location=Sunbury, Pa. |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60955567/2003-bucknell-hc/ }}
| November 8 | @ | #19 Fordham
| Coffey Field | Bronx, NY (rivalry) | L 28 49
| 5,277 | {{cite news |title=Rams Roll, Turn Focus to Colgate |first=Sean |last=Brennan |date=November 9, 2003 |page=68 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York, N.Y.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60957322/2003-fordham-hc/ }} Attendance figure in {{cite news |title=New England Summaries |date=November 9, 2003 |page=C17 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.}}
| November 15 | | Lafayette
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | L 13 41
| 2,821 | {{cite news |title='Saders Stuck in Slack Season |first=Chris |last=Forsberg |date=November 16, 2003 |page=D7 |newspaper=Telegram & Gazette |location=Worcester, Mass. |via=NewsBank}} Attendance figure in {{cite news |title=New England Summaries |date=November 16, 2003 |page=C17 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.}}
| November 22 | | #6 Colgate
| Fitton Field | Worcester, MA | L 38 45
| 10,166 | {{cite news |title=Colgate Dodges Shocker; HC Can't Quite Contain Branch |first=Jay |last=Gearan |date=November 23, 2003 |page=D6 |newspaper=Telegram & Gazette |location=Worcester, Mass. |via=NewsBank}} Attendance figure in {{cite news |title=Atlantic 10, New England Summaries |date=November 23, 2003 |page=C16 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.}}
}}