New look for Holy Cross as Crusaders open camp with eye on improving

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The Holy Cross football team opened training camp on July 29 in the rain at Kuzniewski Field, but the conditions hardly dampened the Crusaders’ first practice of the 2026 season.

“It was a continuation of the work we’ve put in the last six or seven weeks and a continuation of the momentum we had during the offseason and spring,” HC third-year coach Dan Curran said during Patriot League Virtual Media Day on July 30. “That’s a testament to our leadership. Anyone who’s been around our program the last two or three months can feel the energy.”

Curran, along with fifth-year offensive lineman Cam Nolan of Oxford and senior linebacker Adam Due, joined the PL’s other nine coaches for preseason interviews as camps get underway.

With the addition of Villanova and William & Mary, the Patriot League expands to 10 teams this year. Richmond, a former CAA member like Villanova and William & Mary, joined the PL last year.

Villanova, an FCS playoff semifinalist in 2025, is the Patriot League preseason favorite.

“You look where the Patriot League is trending right now,” Curran said. “It’s one of premier conferences in the country.”

The Crusaders, who are picked sixth in the PL preseason poll, are coming off a 3-9 (3-4 PL) record in 2025.

HC won its final two games of last season, and after beating Georgetown, 42-7, at Fenway Park to finish the year, Curran hoped his team would carry some impetus into 2026.

The Crusaders are a largely new team with 15 transfers and 18 freshmen.

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“We were a young team last year and a lot of young guys were on the field (when we beat Georgetown),” Nolan said. “They saw what it takes to win each and every week in those last two games. When the new guys got here in the spring, they saw what our culture is and how we do things, how we attack the process. They’ve done a great job buying into our culture and what we do, and it’s been a seamless transition with those guys.”

Nolan, an All-PL preseason selection, is one of three returning starters on the offensive line. Seniors Brad Blattner of Shrewsbury and Bennett Nunnally are the others.

The incoming transfers, a group that includes junior defensive lineman Cooper Ackerman of Shrewsbury, gives the Crusaders added depth at several positions.

“Depth creates competition across the board,” Curran said, “and with this roster it allows you to hopefully sustain a high level of play through 12 games.”

HC opens Aug. 29 against defending PL champion Lehigh at Fitton Field. The Crusaders play non-conference games at Miami (Ohio), against Yale and at Harvard.

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Entering training camp, Holy Cross has a three-player battle, among juniors Cal Swanson and David Lynch and sophomore Dom Campanile, for the starting quarterback position.

Swanson, who transferred to HC from Illinois last year, started six games for HC in 2025. He completed 53% of his pass attempts for 1,021 yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Lynch, a transfer this season from Pitt, played in six games, with three starts, for the Panthers in 2024.

Campanile appeared in six games for HC last year and started the final three. He was 53-88 for 514 yards and a TD.

“All three guys have Division 1 (playing) experience and all three had really good offseasons,” Curran said. “They have done a great job learning and growing. It’s a three-horse battle right now and it will be great to see who will win it.”

Last season, HC ranked last in the PL in passing and total offense and seventh in scoring offense.

Matt Schell, who coached the tight ends last season, has taken over as offensive coordinator.

Elevating the passing game will take consistency and good decision making, Curran said.

“Our coaches are putting all three of those guys in position to be successful,” Curran said. “They continue to develop those guys and get those guys in a great spot. All three made big jumps from the spring. We are very confident in all three. The competition will play itself out over the next few weeks.”

‒Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: New look for Holy Cross as Crusaders open camp with eye on improving

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