Who Plays Holy Cross at Polar Park This Year?

Holy Cross dropped their schedule but have yet to announce their Polar Park opponent

Last Friday, Holy Cross announced their 2021 schedule. The usual suspects appear along with a new face in Bryant. However, the school did not announce their matchup for the 2022 EBW Classic at Polar Park, the home of the Worcester Red Sox.

The game was a smash hit last year, selling out and ranking as Holy Cross' second-most attended home game despite Polar Park holding over 13,000 fewer fans than venerable Fitton Field. 

Since the EBW Classic was a success last year, one is inclined to think the school will repeat the event. Hence, this article looks at the feasibility of each 2022 Holy Cross home opponent playing in the EBW Classic:

Yale: September 17

This seems to be the most obvious choice. I mean, it's Yale. New Haven is only a 90-minute drive away from Worcester and the Bulldogs were tenth in the FCS in average attendance with 13,263 fans per game. Getting a brand like Yale in Polar Park gives the EBW Classic more credibility as a landmark event in the Patriot League season. 

Bucknell: October 8

The 2021 Patriot League South Division champions are probably the least likely opponent to play in the game for two reasons, their lack of attendance and a relative lack of history with Holy Cross. Despite a division championship and resultant CBS Sports Network appearance in the 2021 Spring season, the Bison took several steps back going 1-10 with an offense that averaged 9.5 points per game and never scored more than 21 points.

Attendance took a hit as the Bison finished 116th in the FCS in attendance with 2,415 per game at venerable 13,000 seat Christy Mathewson Stadium. The lowest point was a showing of 864 fans on Senior Day against Holy Cross. 

A big selling point in the announcement of last year's Polar Park game was Colgate's long-standing series with the Crusaders, with the two schools facing off 84 times. Like Bucknell, Colgate is distant from Worcester at 223 miles away, but the history made up for it.  Bucknell has faced off against Holy Cross only 38 times, with 36 meetings occurring since 1986.

Fordham: October 29

The Fordham Rams may be the second-most likely opponent for Holy Cross at Polar Park due to proximity and history. The two schools compete for the Ram-Crusader Cup and played at Yankee Stadium as recently as 2016. The Bronx is only 3 hours away from Worcester, so there is a 50-50 chance that Fordham fans could travel well. However, the Rams finished 102nd in attendance with 3,668 fans per game amidst the crowded NYC sports scene. 

Lehigh: November 5th

Lehigh is a team that draws well in the Patriot League, but likely does not have enough series history with the Crusaders. The Mountain Hawks finished in the middle of the pack in attendance, 65th overall and second in the Patriot League with 5,639 fans per game. There is a solid chance a good traveling party could make the trip from the "Little Town of Bethlehem" to Worcester's sparkling new ballpark.

However, like Bucknell, the two schools have a relatively limited series history with only 35 meetings and one before 1986, so the “long-standing rivalry” aspect is absent.

Bryant: November 12th

Bryant is an intriguing option as Smithfield, Rhode Island is less than 40 miles away from Holy Cross, roughly a 41-minute drive. The possibly Big South-bound Bulldogs are an emerging program that almost beat Akron last season and have contended for the NEC title the past two seasons.

Yet, the Bulldogs are a young program relative to Holy Cross' Patriot League cohorts, with only 22 years of college football history. Part of the allure of last year's EBW Classic was Colgate and Holy Cross' return to the days when they were regulars at Fenway Park and the Polo Grounds.

Bryant has no such history and they also have never played the Crusaders, so a trip to Polar Park seems unlikely. It also does not help that the Bulldogs finished 110th in attendance with 2,883 fans per game. Still, Bulldog fans may show up in droves for the program’s first neutral site game.

Whether the Crusaders decide to repeat the EBW Classic this year or not, they have plenty of options to choose from. The choice seems to point to Yale, but the Crusaders could keep the game an all-Patriot League affair. Only time will tell who plays in the shadow of the Worcester Wall this Autumn.

*All series data found in Holy Cross' 2019 record book found here. Check it out!