#CAAFB75: Great Pride And People Powered New Hampshire's 14-Year Playoff Run
Rob Washburn
Entering the 2004 season, the New Hampshire football team hadn’t reached the playoffs in a decade and hadn’t won more than six games since 1996. Wildcats’ head coach Sean McDonnell had a feeling that his team might be ready to make a big jump forward, but no one could have imagined where it would ultimately lead.
Behind untested freshman quarterback Rick Santos, New Hampshire went 10-3 in 2004, starting a remarkable run of 14 straight playoff appearances that was the second-longest in NCAA FCS history. With a roster that often included players who were lightly recruited, the Wildcats were able to maintain that success year-after-year, spending 162 consecutive weeks ranked in the national polls.
The streak was not only fueled by the players and coaches on the field. The town of Durham, New Hampshire was as much a part of the Wildcats’ success as the players who helped make UNH a national power.
As part of CAA Football's 75-year celebration, we hope you enjoy this look at New Hampshire's playoff streak.