Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

An all-star on the football field as a four-year starter at free safety, Palmer was a key figure in Hobart’s emergence as a football powerhouse in the East. From his first-year season to his senior season, he helped the Statesmen improve by six wins, each season progressing toward their 7-3 record in 1993, when Palmer served as captain. That team, which was named a Hobart Team of Distinction in 2013, was the first Hobart football team to earn a postseason bid to an ECAC Bowl.

Through his first three seasons, Palmer was a thorn in the side of opposing quarterbacks, making six interceptions as a first-year, three as a sophomore and five as a junior. As a senior, he logged a Hobart season record nine interceptions. When he graduated, he had amassed an impressive 23 career interceptions, six more than the previous Statesmen record. His career interception mark remains higher than any other player in program history, while his season mark has been matched just once, and never surpassed.

With 22 career pass-breakups, Palmer established a new record for career passes defended at 45, now third highest in Hobart history. A fierce tackler, he recorded at least 60 tackles in each of his four seasons, including a career-high 68 in 1991. At 260, his career stops rank eighth on Hobart’s all-time list.

Palmer was also a three-time letterman in lacrosse, starting two seasons as a defenseman and helping propel Hobart’s national championship run in 1993. That year, the Statesmen went 9-0 against Division III teams while also knocking off Penn State and Cornell to finish with an 11-3 overall record. Palmer and his teammates played their finest defensive game of the year against Gettysburg, limiting the Bullets to just three goals in 60 minutes. Hobart secured its 13th national championship in 14 years with a 16-10 win over Ohio Wesleyan.

As a football player, Palmer was named to the 1993 All-America first team and recognized with the 1993 Mike Roberti ’90 Memorial Award and the 1991 Noel Filipino Memorial Award. A captain on the lacrosse team during his senior year, Palmer collected a career-high 49 ground balls on his way to USILA All-America second team recognition. He wrapped up his collegiate athletic career at the USILA North-South All-Star Game. In recognition of his work ethic, leadership and sportsmanship, he was named the winner of the 1994 William C. Stiles ’43 Memorial Award.

Since graduation, Palmer has returned to campus to serve as a guest coach in the Napier Leadership Seminar, sharing his knowledge and expertise with Statesmen student-athletes.

Palmer has also served as a youth lacrosse coach, helping to grow the game in the Peach State.