November 23, 2025 • 51 mins
We scan a packed weekend slate, then sit down with Notre Dame coach John Snyder on carrying a target into a new season and Colgate’s Kurt Fitzpatrick on rebuilding through culture, tough schedules, and leadership when injuries hit. Local stories, big lessons, clear takeaways.
• Section III football results and standout performances
• Why Notre Dame books elite non-conference tests
• How to handle pressure and keep composure
• Ella Trinkaus’ impact and supporting cast growth
• TVL contenders to watch and matchup notes
• The value of community support and a Florida trip
• Colgate’s year-one progress and “inputs over outputs”
• Scheduling anyone, anywhere to accelerate growth
• Treyvhon Saunders’ leadership after injury
• Patriot League outlook and recruiting edge
Please follow The Mohawk Valley Sports Watch across our social channels and share the show with a friend
🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to The Rock Pile!
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of your favorite Rock Pile shows — including:
- Inside Utica University Football 🏈
- Chalk Talk with Coach Little C 🎓
- The Weekly Huddle 💬
- Beyond the Game Podcast 💼
- The Mohawk Valley Sportswatch 📰
📺 Subscribe on YouTube:
👉 youtube.com/@TheRockPilePodcast
📲 Follow Coach Little C & The Rock Pile on social media:
- Facebook: facebook.com/rocky.corigliano
- X (Twitter): twitter.com/TheRockPileShow
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-rock-pile-podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:36):
Welcome to the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch.
Thanks for making us part ofyour Sunday morning here with
the coach, Rocky Krigliano.
And it's good to be back hereon the Mohawk Valley Sports
Watch.
Good lineup for you thismorning here in just a little
bit.
We'll have friend of the showcoach John Snyder, the Notre
Dame girls head basketballcoach.
We'll talk to him in just a fewminutes.
And then at the bottom of thehour, we'll talk to first year
(00:58):
head football coach at Colgate.
Just won yesterday.
Finished off a good season forCoach Fitz in his first year
there at the helm of the RedRaiders.
So we'll talk to Coach at about9.30.
And then we might have Peggs.
We might have the stat man.
We might have the whole crew onhere this morning.
Not 100% sure, but the showmust go on.
It's good to be back.
I just want to run through afew scores from yesterday.
(01:21):
Want to give a shout out toCoach Foz and the Utica Pioneers
for finishing out a greatseason.
They fell just a little bitshort yesterday in their bowl
game to Rowan.
They made a comeback.
They made a game of it late,but uh they fell 26-20.
Uh that was the ECAC bowl gamethat they hosted yesterday at
Gaetano Stadium.
So congrats to Coach and theteam on a fantastic season.
(01:43):
And I'll let you know when nextweek we'll wrap up the final
show with Coach on Inside UticaUniversity Podcast.
Across section three, uhfootball, uh Tayoga beat
Lowville 28-14.
So Lowville season comes to anend in Class D.
Hats off to them, though, 11-1,um, a fantastic season.
(02:04):
They beat Dodgeville in theSection 3 finals, but their
season comes to an end in theregionals.
Moving on in the Class Aregional game, Union Endicott
46, Whitesboro 22.
Whitesboro season comes to anend as well.
They finished 10-2, so congratsto Coach Smith and the
Whitesboro boys on another10-win season and another
(02:24):
Section 3 title.
And then on Saturday, there wasa slate of games, Chenango
Forks.
Well, I got to tip my hat toChenango Forks because my
company, we do the busting forthem.
Um, they've always been good tome and my and my Bernie team.
Uh, they beat General Brown inthe Class C game, 47-24.
The eight-man um state uhsemifinal game, Morrisville
(02:48):
eating a section three, beatTaconic Hills 56-21.
Christian Brothers uh CBA beatElmira Southside.
I think that score was 42-7.
So if you're watching, I didn'tsee the final, but I believe it
was 42-7 in favor of thebrothers last night against
Elmira.
So they will move on again.
A quest for another statechampionship.
(03:08):
And then a friend of the show,Coach Kramer and the Spartans.
They rallied late.
They were down 20 points.
They rallied late to take thelead under two minutes to go.
And Owigo, Free Academy, kickeda game winning field goal to
beat the Spartans 36-34.
What a show put on by PeytonWay and Johnny Fatulo last night
(03:28):
for New Hartford.
The New Hartford season comesto an end after an 11-win
season.
And I think Coach over the lastthree years is like 30-3.
So a fantastic run with thatgroup of kids and uh section
three title.
I know they're probably nothappy and disappointed this
morning when they wake up, buthats off, a fantastic season for
the Spartans of New Hartford.
(03:49):
And then Colgate, as I said, atthe bottom of the 9 o'clock
hour, we'll talk to KurtFitzpatrick and his first year
at the home.
They beat Buck Down on seniorday yesterday at home 38-19.
So they finish off the year at5-7.
It's a team that last year onlywon one game in his first year
at the home.
They were competitive in a lotof games.
There were some games that theyhad a good chance late in.
(04:11):
They gave up some leads late,but to come back after a season
like last year and win fivegames with this group.
Colgate is in good hands withCoach Fitz.
Um, there's no doubt about it.
I think Colgate's a fantasticfit for him and his coaching
staff.
I want to give a shout out toCoach Cahill, the new harf or
the New York Mills native, uh,and his Lehigh team last night.
They they beat Lafayette in therivalry game, who I think game
(04:34):
day.
Um, and they they mentioned iton um ESPN yesterday, that it
was an option to go for gameday.
They did pick the game.
Lehigh Lafayette is one of theoldest rivalries in the country
at the Division I level.
And uh Coach Cahill and theguys won, so they punched their
ticket.
They finish 11-0, and we'll getto the FCF playoffs.
(04:56):
So congratulations to CoachCahill.
He's another coach that uh hasbeen on this show numerous
times.
And I'm sure we'll have him onagain here throughout the
playoffs.
Um there's another former uhcoach that I played for, Coach
Rich Naggy's the defensivecoordinator there, so I want to
give Coach a shout out.
And then former Colgate headcoach, Coach Hunt, he's the
offensive coordinator there, soI want to give Coach Coach a
(05:17):
shout out uh as well.
So those are some of thescores, and I see we got Coach
Snyder on, so why don't we bringCoach on?
He's a little early, but it'salways good to be early when
you're a coach.
So let's uh let's pull him onhere this morning with me.
Coach, how are you, my friend?
I'm doing well.
Good morning.
Good morning to you.
It's uh when I whenever I seeyour face, I'm like, it's gotta
(05:39):
be girls' basketball seasonbecause you're always the first
coach I have on.
So it's always good to catchup, coach.
Coach John Snyder (05:44):
Yeah, it's an exciting time for sure.
Great, great to be here.
Thanks.
Rocky (05:48):
It's hard to believe it's already here, though.
I feel like I get into thefootball season, and before I
know it, I'm like, well, thehigh school season just ended.
College, we have one more weekof the regular season, and then
we get to wait for the playoffsand all that.
But then when we get late inthe year and in football, that
means the start of hoop season.
So we go from one to the other.
Coach John Snyder (06:04):
So always time flies faster and faster, it
feels like every year.
Rocky (06:08):
It sure does.
So, coach, let's talk first.
Um, I feel like I've beensaying this to you for since
I've been I've been talking withyou on the show, but uh, you
know, it's it's it's sodifferent when you're the you're
the team that everybody wantsto beat, and you know um coming
off the section three titlesthat every team you guys play,
non-conference, which we'll getinto your schedule in a little
(06:29):
bit, you're gonna get their bestshot no matter what.
Coach John Snyder (06:32):
Yeah, you have to be prepared, you know,
you have to be focused, uh, youhave to embrace that challenge.
And we've done a pretty goodjob of it uh the last couple
years.
So uh, you know, it's it'sexciting, it's great, and you
know, we look forward to thechallenge.
Rocky (06:47):
Yeah, and coach, I know I've asked you this, and you
guys always play anon-conference, a tough
non-conference schedule.
Uh, then you get into theTri-Valley League, which we'll
get into in a little bit too.
But, you know, when I looked atthe schedule last year, and I
know I had talked to you aboutthe schedule last year, you
know, Aquinas was there who'sone of the best programs.
Shaker was there, you guysplayed Greenwich, and then it
seemed like every every gameafter you played those games,
(07:10):
you guys went on a huge, hugerun.
I think after the Aquinas loss,coach, I think you guys won
like eight or nine straightheading into um sectionals.
But talk to us about thatnon-conference schedule, how
much that helps you guysthroughout the year.
Coach John Snyder (07:23):
Yeah, it's something we really focus on and
and try to challenge ourselves.
You know, we we believe we havea good group.
We hope that we can continue toperform at a high level.
We have big goals and toprepare ourselves for those
things.
We we try to seek out anychallenge that we can get.
So um, you know, our league isa wonderful league, but we also
try to challenge ourselves uhoutside the league and play
(07:44):
bigger schools and schools fromdifferent areas uh as much as we
can, you know, just to seedifferent styles, uh, you know,
different levels of physicality,um, and just get us prepared.
Rocky (07:56):
And coach, I think uh too, looking back to is it, you
know, state championship, beento a final four, you've won
back-to-back section, sectionthree titles.
Do you or the girls feel anyadded pressure, you know, year
in and year out with, you know,you got you got some girls back
who will get into the roster ina little bit, but do you guys
feel any extra pressure beingthat you you've been to the
final four, state championship,section three titles?
(08:18):
Any extra stress weigh on yourguy's shoulders?
Coach John Snyder (08:22):
You know, I don't know if it's it's stress.
You know, there's certainly anervous anxiety, I think, that's
natural.
Like we talk about embracing,like if you don't feel some
nerves or I guess some stress,however you want to say it, you
know, you probably don't careenough, you know.
So um we've been fortunate todeal well with with those
situations.
You know, again, you try to putin the work, you try to to go
through the the everyday detailsthat prepare you for those
(08:45):
moments.
And, you know, last year we gotbitten, you know, it shows you
how lucky we were to some extenton our state championship run.
You have to be really good andyou have to have some things
break your way.
Um, but you just try to be asprepared as you can be for those
those tough moments.
Rocky (09:00):
And coach, this year um, you know, you'll return both the
trinkises, and then you gotsome young young girls that uh,
you know, play some key rolesfor you as well.
Talk to us about this roster,and some of the girls will be
we'll be hearing their namesthroughout the season.
Coach John Snyder (09:14):
Sure.
I mean, everything starts withthe Trinkis girls.
Uh, you know, everybody knowstheir names.
Um, you don't really need totalk about them too much.
They're special kids and greatplayers.
Um, you know, we had two younggirls uh come up and play for us
a lot last year, but we do havefive seniors, you know, besides
Aaron and Ella.
Uh we have Emma Johnson, who'splayed a lot of minutes for us
(09:34):
even in the state championshipgame a few years ago.
Tessa R.
Curie, Jenna Heron.
So led by the seniors for sure.
You know, it'll be a tough run.
Uh, you know, the final runhere will be emotional, I'm
sure, um, to with that group whowas a big part of our state
championship.
But then, you know, last year,a lot of people, you talk about
pressure and things.
We had that target on our backfrom the state championship, but
(09:54):
we started two freshmen lastyear, um, you know, and it was a
transition year moving up toclass A, and you know, still
were able to get that sectionaltitle.
So that was a really big thingfor us.
I think we dealt with thatstress and pressure with some
new faces and people in newroles.
And, you know, this year it'severybody's back.
Everybody who played minutesfor us last year is back.
So um hopefully we can keepthat focus, you know, keep you
(10:17):
know, our mindset right uhbecause as you say, everyone
gets better, you know, and andthe challenge for us only grows
because the target gets bigger.
Rocky (10:26):
So and coach, how does this year's team compare to?
I know every every coach wouldsay every every team is
different.
As you just said, a lot of thisteam is back from a year ago
that played some minutes foryou, which is which is awesome.
But how does the team makeupthis year differentiate from
your team last year?
Coach John Snyder (10:42):
Okay, I think those two younger girls, Lily
Johnson, our point guard, and uhJules Otis, uh, who plays a lot
of minutes for us to like guardforward, you know, their growth
is big, you know, as talentedand good as they were as
freshmen, and they've got a lotof experience, they were
freshmen, and you know, some ofthose things showed up at
different times, but they have alot of confidence.
I think that confidence isgrowing, uh, you know, and they
(11:03):
experience strength just as youget a little bit older.
Uh, you know, so we're lookingfor big things for them.
And you know, again, Ella, Ellais unique.
She just committed to St.
Bonaventure's uh St.
Bonaventure.
Uh, so she's a division oneathlete, she's a special player.
You know what you're gonna getfrom her.
It's it's kind of everybodyaround her.
And I I think, again, peoplewill target Ella.
(11:24):
And I think we did a prettygood job last year of showing
that we're a lot more than her.
Uh, obviously, we wouldn't wantto play without her, but uh,
but but we have a lot of greatplayers around her too, and and
how all those kids step up andand continue to improve will be
huge for us.
Rocky (11:39):
And coach, you mentioned the TVL League, and uh the TVL
league's always good top tobottom.
But talk to us about thisyear's TVL League.
Who are some teams, you know,on the up and coming?
And and um is there any any anyteams in there that should push
you guys?
Coach John Snyder (11:53):
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of great teams in
our half of the Tri Valley, youknow, Rome, where you you
certainly are connected to, hassome great young young ladies uh
that are continuing to improve,they're getting older.
Um, you know, I think they'reincredibly talented.
It'll be a big challenge.
You know, New Hartford is inclass A with us.
They're they're probably one ofthe favorites in class A.
Um, you know, in our in our ownleague, right there across from
(12:16):
us.
I expect them to be a very goodseed.
They gave us, you know, a greatgame last year uh when we
played them.
So um a lot of challenges outthere.
Whitesboro's had got some greatplayers coming back on our half
of the league.
And uh, you know, again, everyeverybody in the league's good.
It's it's historically goodprograms.
And uh, you know, again, nobodyknew who Ella was until she
(12:37):
came on the scene.
You know, there's there'salways young up and coming
players, and you know, everybodykind of thinks you have
everybody back, so it's justgonna be a you know you know a
walkthrough again, and it's farfrom the case.
And you know, I know what's outthere, and I know you know kids
that are really working at itand make that jump uh as they
move up through the grades, youknow.
So I expect a lot of toughchallenges for us.
Rocky (12:59):
And coach, what's this team got to do maybe different
than last year's team to to notonly win another Section Three
title and make a deep run intothe state playoff?
Coach John Snyder (13:08):
Yeah, I mean, I think the big difference from
our state championship team,you know, partially was that
age, you know, we lost fourseniors off that team compared
to last year.
And I think, you know, being alittle bit younger, uh again,
that physicality is different.
Uh, you know, have somebodythat's an enforcer out there for
you a little bit, you know, youknow, you need that sometimes.
(13:28):
Um, so improving that, youknow, our our defensive
mentality, just being a littletougher, uh dealing with teams
that try to beat us up a littlebit, a little bit better.
Again, that's where we go outand try and play some of those
bigger schools who who have somebigger, stronger, faster
athletes uh to challenge us andget used to that pressure.
Um, you know, those are thethings we need to continue to
(13:48):
work on and get better at.
Rocky (13:50):
And coach, I know we we've talked about the Trinkis
Girls quite a bit, and we'vetalked about them for the last
so many years and a big part ofyour program.
But let's just talk a littlebit about Ella.
I know Ella did, as youmentioned, sign to play at St.
Bonaventures, and the wholeTrinkis Girls have been
fantastic for uh for theprogram.
But can you just talk a littlebit about how special of a
player she is and just the typeof person that she is?
Coach John Snyder (14:12):
Yeah, I mean, that's the thing that it starts
with is the person that she is,you know.
That's uh and it leads into theplayer that she is, just a
hardworking, you know, wonderfulkid, unselfish, um, you know,
so talented.
The thing I talk about withElla is people don't realize how
good she is, is that you know,if she has a bad shooting night,
she's probably gonna go get you25 points just because she
(14:32):
chases every ball.
She gets every I mean, herrebounding stats are
unbelievable.
Uh, you know, the effort thatshe puts in on every single play
is what differentiates her.
I mean, and then you know,she's a really good shooter too,
and she gets a lot ofattention, so she doesn't get as
many open looks, you know, lastyear, especially.
Um, but you know, she startshitting three pointers, and and
(14:53):
man, it's a tough night for theopponent.
So it's nice to it's nice tohave her on your side.
Rocky (14:57):
So and coach, are you guys tipping it off at the start
here?
Is it the zebra classic you areplaying in next week?
Coach John Snyder (15:03):
Yeah, we're really quick here.
So uh we got a big challengewith Liverpool coming up, um,
you know, end of next week.
Uh so they're you know,obviously a perennial power.
They're two-time uh, you know,in the state championship game
in triple A.
Uh, so big school, greatprogram, great coach, great
athletes.
Uh, so that's a big challengefor us right off the bait, right
(15:23):
off the bat, and we'll, youknow, be a good measuring stick
for us.
Rocky (15:26):
Well, I look forward to uh getting a chance to see it
during the season.
And uh I know we'll have you onagain throughout the season,
but I always appreciate it.
And one thing, coach, that'sbeen really cool is you know,
the community's been behind youguys for a long time.
And to see the communitysupport, talk to us what that
means to you and your program.
Coach John Snyder (15:45):
It's a huge thing.
I mean, Notre Dame is a reallya close-knit family type place.
You know, I went to schoolthere, my kids went to school
there.
A lot of connections, you know,just throughout the area and
even beyond people that haveleft that still touch base and
reach back out to us.
You know, we're taking a tripto Florida as kind of a thank
you to my five seniors thisyear.
So we're gonna play some gamesdown there against some very big
schools that are good.
(16:06):
We're playing Marion fromIllinois in uh the first round
of that tournament.
And uh, you know, people thathave supported us in our runs,
the fan support, you know, evenwhen we're down when things
aren't great, uh, you know, andwhen you have a tough loss, but
just so many people theresupporting us.
It's a wonderful community andand great for our girls.
And you know, our girls try togive we try to give back to the
(16:27):
community as well.
So it's you know just a greatinteraction.
Rocky (16:30):
Well, I got you making a deep run.
I think we're all lookingforward to uh the season.
And uh again, coach, Ihopefully I'll get a chance to
see you at one of the games thisyear, and uh we'll definitely
do it again.
But I appreciate you alwayscoming on with me to talk some
hoops.
Coach John Snyder (16:42):
Yeah, I'd love to do it.
Thank you so much.
Rocky (16:45):
Thanks, Coach.
Coach John Snyder (16:46):
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Rocky (16:48):
So that was Coach John Snyder, the head coach at uh
Notre Dame, who's uh who's beencoming out with us now for I
think probably the last two orthree years, and he's been
always so gracious to come outwith me.
I love talking to him.
I love talking to himthroughout the season, and I
know we'll do it again uh soon.
He's got a special group.
Um I think they can makeanother deep run and chase a not
only a Section 3 title, but Ithink they can chase a state
(17:09):
championship as well.
So thanks to Coach for uh fortuning on here uh with me this
morning.
So up next at about 9.30, we'llhave Coach Fitzpatrick on.
Really excited to talk to CoachFitz.
I the last time I talked toCoach Fitz uh is when he was at
Cortland.
He was also at uh SUNYMorrisville.
He's a Utica uh Utica guy thatwas on Coach Faz's staff uh as
(17:30):
well.
So we will talk to him at about9.30.
So uh more to come here from umthe Mohawk Valley Sports Watch.
I do also want to run through,I don't know um last night a lot
of people were on me.
I'm gonna run through some ofthe uh the scores here um across
uh college football.
(17:50):
And I was really happy to seelast night.
I was watching the Penn Stategame, and I root for Penn State
during the year, except whenthey play Michigan.
Um the head coach, the interimhead coach is Terry Smith, who
uh was a wide receiver at PennState.
Um his dad played at PennState.
Um he was on the staff withCoach Franklin.
Um the game before, I think itwas they beat Michigan State,
(18:12):
they carried him off the field,and then last night, man, was
like out of a movie, if youdidn't see it.
If you didn't see it, I think Iposted on my Facebook page just
a clip of Coach walking offinto the tunnel.
The entire stadium was yelling,Terry, Terry.
The players love him.
Um some of the the old players,Michael Robinson, who I think
was doing a game for NBC lastnight um at halftime, said the
(18:37):
alumni um are pushing for TerrySmith.
And I don't know what PennState's gonna do.
I think that's the crazy thingwith these coaches, is a lot of
the guys, um the big namecoaches, and I think Lane
Kiffin's still gonna stay, butthere's rumors out there that
LSU's gonna offer him um ninetythousand dollars, uh which would
(18:57):
be absolutely crazy.
Um, but that's what I that'swhat I'm hearing.
But I think a lot of thosecoaches um right now are
deciding to stay.
Um, and I think that that sayssomething because they're
getting bigger deals.
But I think if you're PennState right now, and it to me,
at least it shows or seems likeI don't know if Pat Kraft had a
(19:20):
plan for who the next coach wasgoing to be unless he's gotten
shot down.
Because all these coaches, MattRule staying at Nebraska, um
Lane Kiffin's not coming to PennState, um, but a lot of these
guys' names, I keep hearing BobChesney, who I said on the
podcast um last week with SteveCully, is I said, I think Bob
Chesney would be a fantasticfit.
(19:40):
But after watching the lastcouple weeks, Terry Smith's
gotten Penn State to play reallygood football, they're
motivated, they're inspired.
But is Penn State gonna lookfor a big name guy?
Um, or you're gonna look for aPenn State guy?
You know, I think that's alwaysthe question I would ask myself
is, you know, do you want theguy that that bleeds blue and
white uh through and through andis a true Penn State guy?
(20:02):
And a lot of those uh recruitswould probably stay.
The only thing I would probablyhave to go back and question is
I probably would have to say ifthey give it to Terry Smith,
and I don't know if they will, Ithink it's a good story if they
do, does he keep all thecoaches to where basically it's
Franklin's coaches, Franklin'srecruits, uh-huh, just a new
(20:24):
head coach, which sometimesgives a team a f a fresh look,
or does Terry Smith make anychanges?
Because I think offensivelythey looked better.
Um I think Penn State's wentback to let's run the football,
let's not get too fancy.
Um, and those Nate Singletonand Katron Allen last night in
the last two, three weeks of theseason have been fantastic for
Penn State.
(20:44):
And I think defensively, that'sthe defense I think that all of
us, including myself, whopicked Penn State to start the
season as my pick to win thenational championship, because I
thought they were built likeOhio State.
Thought they were built likethe Buckeyes last year that
brought everybody back.
I thought they were built likethe Michigan team two years ago
that won a national championshipwith the seniors and the
(21:06):
fifth-year seniors that wereback.
So I had picked Penn State.
I don't know what happened.
I don't know what happened.
It spiraled downhill, and thenTerry Smith comes on board as
the interim and gets his teamplaying well.
They got a chance next week.
If they can win next week, theyhave a chance to um go to a
bowl game.
And I would guarantee you thatK Trine Allen, Nate Singleton,
(21:27):
and all those players don't optout if they go to a bowl game.
And I think that'll tell yousomething about the type of
person and coach that TerrySmith is.
Some of the scores from lastnight, Ohio State will take that
11-0 record in T game nextSaturday at high noon.
Fox will have it.
Um my jersey comes out.
(21:47):
We're on a four-game win streakagainst Ohio State.
Um, nobody's gonna giveMichigan a chance, probably
including myself.
Um, but nobody gave him achance last year as a
20-something point dog.
Uh, went on the road inColumbus and beat Ohio State.
Um, my wife and I will be ondifferent couches next week.
We won't talk to each othernext week for probably the day.
Um, but again, she's gotbragging rights because not only
(22:10):
did Ohio State win the nationalchampionship last year, I had
bragging rights to sayMichigan's beat them four years
in a row.
And I'll say this if Michiganwins, I don't think Ohio State
plays for the Big Ten titlegame, so they can spoil that.
If Ohio State beats Michigan,Michigan, I don't think, will
get into the college footballplayoffs.
I think if Michigan wins, theyget into the playoff and they
(22:31):
spoil Ohio State's, I wouldn'tsay their season, but their
chances to play for another BigTen title.
If Ohio State wins, they'llplay Indiana in the Big Ten
title game.
So they've looked apart.
I don't think they've beenchallenged all year because of
the schedule, but they're stilldoing what they're doing.
They're beating everybody ontheir schedule, and they are
doing it at a high level.
So Ohio State 42-9 over Rutgersyesterday.
(22:55):
That game was close athalftime, 14-3.
Um AM 48-0 over Samford.
Georgia beat Charlotte 35-3.
Oregon in a good game at homeagainst Lincoln Riley's USC
team, who I think USC was a lotbetter this year.
I think USC is going to end upwith nine wins better than a
year ago, but is 9-3 good enoughfor USC?
(23:15):
Is Lincoln Riley a candidatefor any of these big jobs?
I think they are starting tofit the part.
They're running the ball a lotmore.
Um, but Oregon looked goodyesterday at home.
Oregon will finish the seasonoff next week with a chance to
go 11-1, and they'll be in thecollege football playoff.
So moving on down the line,Oklahoma's 17-6 over Missouri.
(23:36):
John Mateer back.
I think he's getting better,but that defense for Oklahoma is
really good.
Um and hats off to BrentVenables because if he wins next
week, he's in the collegefootball playoff.
And Venables was a guy whosename was on the hot seat at
Oklahoma.
And here he's got Oklahoma, Ithink, a game away from being in
the college football playoff.
(23:57):
Notre Dame, I know the Syracusefans don't like me.
Preseason, I picked Syracuse togo 4-8.
Now I'm even thinking, I don'tknow if they can beat Boston
College.
I don't think Syracuse can beatanybody at this point.
I don't even know if Syracusecan beat CBA at this point.
70-7 was the score yesterday atNotre Dame.
I think it was like 21-0 beforethe offense of Notre Dame even
(24:20):
stepped on the field.
That game was 49-0 at halftime.
49-0.
I think that's the worst lossin Syracuse history.
Giving up 70 points.
I know it's a really good NotreDame team.
A really good team.
I'm not taking anything awayfrom Marcus Freeman because I
think Notre Dame's gonna, ifthey win out, um I think it's
got a good chance to get to theplayoff.
(24:41):
But Syracuse, man, they havehit rock bottom.
There's no doubt about it.
And I know a lot of people aregoing to talk about the Angeli
thing, and I I don't disagreewith any Syracuse fan or Alum at
all.
Angeli went down, this teamcompletely collapsed.
But I said this for the lastcouple weeks.
The biggest thing that I'mdisappointed in with Syracuse is
(25:06):
I don't think the rock I don'tthink the players got any
better.
You know, I I don't want to usethe Bill Belichick comparison
because North Carolina got beatto Duke yesterday, but I'm going
to here for a minute because Ithink if I look at like North
Carolina, they were really badto start the year.
They've been in games to endthe year.
I think they've gotten betterin a lot of areas at North
(25:29):
Carolina, and I'm just usingNorth Carolina as an example.
And I look at Syracuse and Isay, where'd they get any
better?
The quarterback position, howFran Brown's handled, it's been
a complete joke.
Complete joke, completedisaster how he's handled it,
um, which tells me they were100% all in at Angeli.
And I know he said he's goingto come back.
But what's that do for therecruits?
Because Fran Brown can recruit,there's no doubt about it.
(25:51):
I said last year, and I when Iwas talking to Scott Patoniak um
a few weeks ago on the show, Isaid, you know, last year's
schedule for Syracuse was arather easy one, and then this
year it's been a tougherschedule.
But it's like Fran can recruitthat we all know.
We're not we're not gettingaround that.
He's got good recruiters onthat staff.
I'm not impressed with thein-game management.
(26:13):
I'm not impressed so far asthat as a head coach.
I'm just gonna say, I'm gonnathrow it out there.
Has nothing to do with losingyesterday, has nothing to do
with their record.
For me, it has everything to dowith there's been no player
development this year atSyracuse.
And one coach that knows aboutthat, they played Syracuse.
Coach Fitz is going to join mehere in just a few moments.
(26:34):
So um we'll move on here withscores.
Alabama beat Eastern Illinois56-0.
BYU 26-14 over Cincinnati.
I believe if BYU wins nextweek, they are in the Big 12
title game.
Um, and hats off to BYU.
Utah comes from behind.
They scored late to beat KansasState, 5147.
(26:55):
Miami 34-17 over Virginia Tech.
Vandy, 45-17 win over Kentucky.
Pittsburgh in a big win.
I did not see Pittsburghbeating Georgia Tech.
They dominated this game fromthe start.
They were up 21-0 to start thegame.
They never looked back.
And tip your hat to PattonArduozzi, who got a lot of heat
for saying, well, Notre Dame canbeat us 100 to nothing.
(27:17):
All we need to do is win thosenext two games, which are ACC
games, and there's a really goodshot.
Pittsburgh plays for the ACCchampionship.
Moving on, Texas, 52-37 overArkansas, Archman threw for 389
and four scores.
He's gotten better throughoutthe year.
I still don't think, even ifTexas beats AM next week with
(27:40):
three losses, I still thinkTexas is on the outside looking
in.
Some people think they got ashot to get in.
I don't see it.
Um, I don't I think there'sfour teams ahead of them in the
SEC that'll get in.
Uh, but a 9-3 season for Texas,eh, Sark, Sark got a little
jumpy when uh Desmond Howardcame out and said, don't be
surprised if the universityparts ways mutually with Steve
(28:02):
Sarkeesian at the end of theyear.
I think it'd be a mistake, butwe'll see.
Michigan, I think it's the bestMichigan's looked all year.
They ran the ball well.
Uh Bryce Underwood threw theball well.
He threw for 215 and twoscores.
They ran the ball well.
They need to play defense nextweek because that is going to be
the game.
And they get them in Ann Arbor.
They beat Maryland 45-20.
(28:23):
Tennessee beats Florida 31-11.
Wisconsin and um Luke Fickle.
They beat the old squad down,or Brett Bielama's old squad 27
to 10.
And this is a game too.
I feel like the coaches wherethey got support.
Like the Wisconsin AD came outand said, We're we're back in
(28:45):
Luke Fickle.
And I think it's a good movebecause I think too many of
these schools, they get rid ofcoaches, you recycle coaches,
you got to rebuild these teamswith the portal.
But one of the things I alwaysfind fascinating about college
football is when an AD fires acoach, like the next day you
hear, we're going to invest morein the program.
We're going to put more moneyinto it.
Well, why the hell didn't youdo that when the prior coach was
(29:08):
there?
Right?
Like, why didn't you invest allthis money when the prior coach
why are you firing a coach tonow say you need to invest more
money?
I never, never understood thatat all, but I'm a big Luke
Fickle guy.
I think he's, I think the kidshave played hard for him, and
I'm happy to see that uh CoachFickle's going to get another
year.
They had a big win over atIllinois' team that was uh
(29:29):
picked high in the Big Ten, whoright now looks like they're
going to finish at 8-4.
TCU beat Houston.
Many think Sonny Dykes is onhis way out at TCU.
I think that would be anotherbad move because I think Sonny
Dykes has done a really good jobat TCU.
Tulane, 37 13.
John Summerl seems to be theguy that I keep hearing for the
(29:51):
LSU or Florida job.
Uh we'll see how that playsout.
They beat Temple, and thenCoach Prime's team moves to one
and seven in the Big 12 as Theyfall to Arizona State 4217.
So without further ado, I don'twant to keep Coach Fitz on
hanging too long here, so I'mgoing to bring him in on here
with me now.
Coach, how are you, my friends?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:13):
Hi, hi Rocky.
How are you?
Rocky (30:15):
Doing good, my man.
Been a long time since I uh gota chance to catch up to you.
So I'm looking forward to this.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:20):
I appreciate you having me on.
It's uh it's been a while.
Maybe maybe after the nationalchampionship at Cortland, we
talked, I think.
Yes.
Uh yeah, I remember that.
Rocky (30:29):
I was in uh I was in a hotel room watching that game
late, and my wife says, We'rewatching the Cortland game.
I said, Yeah, we're gonna watchthe Cortland game.
They're playing for a nationalchampionship.
I appreciate that.
Yeah.
No, no problem at all.
So, coach, listen,congratulations.
Um, you know, a huge bounceback year from where the the
program was a year ago.
You know, you come in in yearone, uh, five five wins on the
(30:51):
season.
I know it's not where you wantto be, but this program, man,
under one year with you, isheading in the right direction.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:57):
Well, thank you.
I appreciate you saying that.
I think uh obviously, you know,we want to win every game we
play.
So, you know, to to uh yeah, II I wish we could have done
more, but I'm I'm proud of theprogress of the team.
You know, I I talk to our teamall all the time about being
input focused, inputs notoutputs, and that's that's kind
of the theme of our or themantra of our team and and how I
(31:19):
coach.
And I feel like we got we gotbetter and made progress as the
season went on.
And um, you know, I'm soexcited for the future.
Uh the way we finishedyesterday against Bucknell.
I think we had some someinjuries uh this season that you
know took us a while toregroup.
You know, uh we had some somereally talented guys go down,
(31:41):
which happens in football, andyou know, not making excuses for
that.
And you know, I'm proud of theway we kind of regrouped and and
found our found our identitymidway through the year and you
know, found found a way tostring together uh some some
good wins and uh over someconference teams, tough
conference teams.
You know, anytime you beat beata team like Holy Cross on the
road, you know, those are it'sit's hard to do in this league.
(32:03):
The Patriot League is a is agreat, great football league,
and you know, proud of theprogress we made and excited,
excited to build on uh build onthis season and head into the
future.
Rocky (32:12):
Coach, when you got hired at at Colgate, I said, man,
what a great fit for you knowfor you uh with with your ties
this way.
But when you look back at itnow, what what attracted you to
most of this Colgate job?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (32:25):
Well, I I think you know when when I was
uh a young assistant coach forfor for Coach Fagiano there at
Utica College or UticaUniversity now, Utica College at
the time, um we would we wouldcome up to Colgate uh and
growing up in I grew up inFulton, you know, growing up in
central New York, you you know,you always knew about Colgate.
(32:45):
Um I wasn't smart enough to goto go here as a as a student as
a student.
Um but uh you know you hearabout Colgate and there's just
just the tough, the tough,gritty football teams.
You know, I remember being Iwas in college uh watching, I
watched the 2003 nationalchampionship game.
I remember where I was.
Um you know, we were home forfor uh you know Christmas break.
(33:06):
I remember watching that gameand thinking, wow, this is a
team in you know, this is theteam in central New York playing
for a national championship atthe at the one double A level at
that time.
And um it was you know, uh andso when when the job came open
and there was mutual interest,just the history and tradition
of Colgate.
Um the Patriot League, I thinkis is is is you know a sweet
(33:29):
spot for me in in collegefootball, and that you can
recruit you know division onecaliber athletes, talented
athletes, but the educationstill matters, you know.
Our in the Patriot League,where you get your degree from
still matters a lot and factorsin into those decisions.
I think so.
The blend of student athlete,like this, there's still a
purity.
Uh there's still a purity inthe Patriot League, in the Ivy
(33:52):
League.
Like, you know, it's it's ait's a blend of student
athletes, not all, you know, ourguys love football, but they
also you know want to be doctorsand lawyers and work on Wall
Street and and understand thevalue of being at Colgate for
those reasons.
And to me, that's that that'syou know, that's uh there's
still a purity to it.
And and uh and so that thatthat's why this job was so
(34:12):
attractive to me.
Also, I'm a central New Yorker,so staying staying close to
home.
Uh family is extremelyimportant to me.
I've been fortunate my wholecareer to be in central New
York.
Um, and uh that's really not bydesign, but just kind of how it
happened.
And you know, I feel like thisis a great fit for my family and
I.
Rocky (34:29):
Well, you mentioned that 2003 team, so I played against
that team.
Uh, I'm a Fordham grad,unfortunately.
Don't hold it against me.
I talk a lot of Colgatefootball and Patriot League, so
go easy on me.
But uh I played against thatteam.
I graduated in 2002 fromFordham, and that was a really
good Colgate team that playedfor a national championship.
And I think when I look back atyou know the the Patriot
(34:50):
League, and I say this all thetime, and and obviously I cover
a lot of the Patriot League, butI always say that the Patriot
League is really good footballtop to bottom.
And I even think now you addRichmond in the mix, um, you add
the coaches that are in thisPatriot League.
And I think even this year,when I look at it, you know,
Lafayette losing yesterday toLehigh, the Patriot League this
year has a chance to get twoteams in.
(35:11):
I don't know if they will, butthey have a really good chance
to get two teams in.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, I uh we we played
Lafayette and Lehighback-to-back weeks.
I think those two teams arevery evenly, very evenly
matched.
Um Lafayette, they're two oftheir losses are to FBS teams.
They lost to Bowling Green,they lost to Oregon State, and
they they were leading OregonState at halftime a couple weeks
ago.
Um, that was the week before,two weeks before we played them,
(35:37):
a week before we played them.
I mean, they're an impressiveteam.
The league talked any givenweek.
Um, though, you know, it's uhit's a great league.
I think with Richmond coming innext year, Villanova and
William and Mary come into theleague.
You know, uh the Patriot Leagueis gonna be one of the
preeminent leagues in in FCS, ifyou know, on the East Coast,
(35:58):
maybe the pre-eminent league onthe East Coast and multiple bid
league.
Um it's great football, likeyou said.
I think bringing all thosestoried programs into our
conference raises our recruitingprofile.
Uh, I think you know this isgonna be a league where where it
that the that's attractive tohighly competitive football
players who want to get a greateducation and who value that.
(36:19):
And uh, you know, I thinkyou're gonna see Patriot League
football continue to get betterand better and better and more
competitive nationally uh as theyears go on.
Rocky (36:28):
And coach, I've always talked about the Colgate
non-conference schedule, sayingColgate always plays just about
anybody, not scared to playanybody, and whether it's the
FCS or the FBS, but you know,you guys played Mammoth that is
gonna be a playoff team.
Villanova's probably gonna be aplayoff team um this year.
Lafayette, you know, like Isaid, could be a playoff team.
But talk to us a little bitabout that non-conference
(36:49):
schedule.
I know you went up to Syracuseand played, uh, which was which
was pretty cool, but talk to usabout that non-conference
schedule.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (36:57):
Yeah, that's one one thing when I when
I was interviewing for the job,um talking about scheduling
with our athletic director, ouradministration, our alumni.
Uh playing a toughnon-conference schedule is
something that's very importantto to uh to it's something that
Colgate's always done.
When you look at look at thehistory of Colgate, you know,
we're we're playing the playingthe best people that that we
(37:18):
can.
Uh I think that's kind of theethos of Colgate football, the
underdog, the chip on theirshoulder, the we'll play
anybody, anywhere, anytime.
Um, I love that mentality.
Uh, I think that that that kindof carried through through our
season here as we as we you knowrebuild, rebuild our program.
But um, yeah, the the schedule,I think uh Jordan Doroshenko,
(37:38):
our sid can correct me if I'm ifI'm wrong here, but I believe
this is the uh the most rankedteams Colgate's ever played in
the season.
Um and so you know we're uh Ithink that that helped build our
team.
We played a played a toughschedule.
We're gonna now we're gonnaplay a tough schedule every year
because all a lot of theseteams are in in league now with
Villanova and William and Maryand Richmond.
And you know, playing Syracusethis year.
(38:00):
You know, we were playingSyracuse when Angeli, when Steve
Angeli was healthy and theywere humming and he was the
leading passer in the country.
And you know, that's um yeah, II wouldn't have had it any
other way.
I think.
I think you know, playinglesser opponents, maybe we could
have got as many wins andlosses, but I don't think we
more maybe we could have gottenmore wins, but I don't think we
would be as good a team as weare right now because of the
(38:21):
challenges and the tests that wehad.
And so I think that'll the thetough schedule will will pay off
in the future.
If you're a competitor, uhschedule like Colgate plays uh
is exactly what you want.
Rocky (38:33):
Coach, you've you've you've won everywhere you've
been.
And when you got this job, Isaid there's no doubt in my mind
that Coach Fitz is going torebuild this program and and win
here, which is is is awesome.
What goes into that for you?
You know, knowing that you haveto come in and rebuild a
program.
Again, you've talked about alot of history.
They've played for a nationalchampionship, they've had a lot
(38:53):
of good years.
But when I go back and I lookat Colgate, maybe over the last
five or six years, I thinkthey've only won maybe 20 games
in that time frame.
What goes into it from amindset for you to rebuilding
this program and getting it backon track?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (39:07):
Um, I think you know, one thing that
was important to me was I Ididn't want to make any
assumptions about how thingswere.
And and uh, you know, I justbelieve in in building a team,
you know, a positive teamculture that's built around
belief, optimism, um, you know,mental, a mental toughness to
the to the way that we play.
(39:29):
Uh you know, there's really nosecret to winning.
It's it's it's uh you gotta putit, you gotta put in the work
and uh and and build it, buildit one at a time.
You know, we we had uh youknow, I inherited, we we
inherited um some really goodstudent athletes, outstanding
young men um who were here.
And so those guys were uh Itried tried to blend.
(39:51):
Obviously, we're gonna do somethings uh in a new way with it
with a new coach and a newstaff, and you know, but also
there were so many great uhtraditions and history here that
I wanted to honor.
And I felt like you know, wecan blend those do those two
things.
And you know, winning winningis a lot as I told our team this
year when we were starting towin some games and we beat beat
(40:12):
Fordham, uh, we beat Cornell andyou know winning is winning is
a result of something.
You know, it's it's not thewinning you should focus on,
it's the something.
It's the it's the the processof your preparation, your and
and and and how you practice andyou know building those habits
and all those those habits leadto lead to winning.
And so I think we made hugestrides in that, you know, and
(40:32):
that that's really I think thisthe secret to to winning games
is uh just just being you knowdaily, you know, building the
habits that are that are elite,building the habits that that
champions have.
And you you have to have thosehabits before you become a
champion.
And and so we've laid reallystrong foundation in that way.
And you know, I feel um I feellike I I uh as a head coach,
(40:55):
been there, uh coachchampionship teams, and I you
know, some of those traits I'mstarting to see pop up in in our
players and the way we preparedlate, late in the season, um
how we deal with diversity, likeall those things, you know, we
we've we've gotten a lot betterat and we'll continue to build
on the offseason and you knowjust keep trying to raise it,
raise it, raise the bar one morenotch uh every day.
(41:17):
And yeah, I'm getting chillsjust thinking about winter
conditioning.
I can't wait to get get it getin you know January, February,
and just start start grindingwith the with the players.
You know, last year I was stillliving in I was living in um in
the Cortland in Tully, justnorth of Cortland and driving to
to Hamilton every day.
And it seemed like it snowedevery day last January.
Trying to get to those 6 a.m.
(41:39):
those 6 a.m.
runs and I couldn't get thereevery day because I have young
kids and you know, I just feellike I didn't know the team
well.
And now I can't wait for thisthis winter conditioning because
you know we I feel like we canreally make the most out of uh
out of the opportunity and andand really build really build
our team and build on build onthis past season.
Rocky (41:57):
Coach, you had a special wide receiver who I
unfortunately the injury uh gotthe best of him late in the
season for you, but one of thebest receivers in the country
and one that we've all followedhere across the country.
But talk to us about howspecial of a player Trey Van uh
Saunders is for you guys.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (42:12):
Yeah, Trey, what what a heartbreaking
injury.
Um, you know, you he is such agreat player.
I mean, he he could have playedat any in any school in the
country, uh FBF, FBS, FCS.
Um terrific young man.
So as a as a person, you know,outstanding student, you know,
takes he's an econ major here,which is one of the hard hardest
(42:34):
majors at Colgate, 3.7 GPA,just like off the field leader,
two-time captain, and then onthe field through he got injured
in the second play of our sixthgame.
So he basically played fivegames and and had 50 catches for
700 yards and six touchdowns.
And like, you know, he's juston he's an unguardable player,
(42:54):
um, and was a such a greatleader for our team and uh gave
a lot of the gave a lot of histeammates confidence when he was
out there because you know tohis teammates, Trey was
invincible.
Um, and then when he went whenhe went down, uh it was one of
those one of those injuries thatwhen it happened, everyone in
the stadium knew that the seasonwas over for him.
And um, you know, that thatthat took us so that that's you
(43:16):
know what I referenced a fewminutes ago about finding our
new identity.
You know, that you know, I'mproud of the with the way our
team and really led by Trey.
You know, he was, you know, bythe end of that game, he was
back on the sideline on crutchesand encouraging his teammates.
He was on the headset the restof the season, you know, when
when uh after he had he hadsurgery to to get fixed up.
And um he was we put him on aheadset.
(43:37):
He was coaching the receiversduring during games and
traveling with the team.
And you know, he just he meansa lot, means a lot to our team.
He's gonna be an outstandingplayer.
You know, we've had you knowcontact with you know pretty
much our uh every NFL team aboutTrey.
They've been been in watchinghim practice, watching the film,
and he's gonna have a chance toplay at the next level.
He deserves it.
He's got all the intangiblesthat you want uh to be to make
(44:01):
any organization better, andhe's got the physical skills and
he'll he'll make a fullrecovery and hopefully be
running full speed again by by apro day in uh little early
spring.
Rocky (44:12):
So, Coach, I gotta be honest with you.
I've been doing this Utica'spodcast with Coach Faz week in
and week out, and uh we got WolfHinnem and I will finish up
next week.
And at the end of it, I do thispick segment where I always I
I'll I'll try to pick the topnational games, and then I
always sneak in Colgate, andthen I always sneak in Syracuse.
And I gotta tell you, I'm gonnabe honest with you, there's a
couple games, the Lafayette gameI didn't pick you guys.
(44:34):
Fordham, I didn't pick youguys, but I root for every other
game except Fordham.
He went with us hard.
He goes, I gotta go with CoachFitz.
So like every week, you know,the games where him and I would
differentiate, I had to pick upa game on him because he was he
was riding with you.
But I know you guys have allthe coaching connections across
the country.
And you know, have you done anyscore watching to still be able
to follow like Utica?
(44:55):
And then you even Cortland, youknow, where you just came from,
they're back into the playoffsagain.
But um, do you get did you geta chance to to score watch and
follow any of those guys still?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (45:04):
Yeah, we do.
Yeah, I I follow, you know,follow everything.
Uh it's hard to harder to keeptrack of than than than I used
to, but um, yeah, we we have abunch of guys on staff.
Joe Giorbino is our is ouroffensive uh pass game
coordinator, wide receiverscoach, who uh is a Utica, Utica
grad.
Um Zach Boys, who playedquarterback for us at Cortland
(45:25):
and was the MVP of the StagBowl.
He's a quality control coachworking with me and the
quarterbacks here at Colgate.
So we're we're very tied in tothe uh to the D3 landscape.
We do we do like a fun, uh funpick 'em, um, pick'em segment
amongst our staff every uh everygame before the pregame
breakfast, just picking gamesfrom around the country and you
know, just a fun, a fun thing toyou know see.
(45:47):
Uh, you know, coaches arecompetitors.
So we we want to see who'sgonna who's gonna predict
predict who wins and loses andalways do some D3 games.
We have a couple guys on staffwho are D2, D2 guys from the
Midwest.
And so we pick a pick a coupleof D2 games, then some some FC
FCS games and FPS games.
So yeah, we keep we keep trackand Utica uh you know had a
(46:08):
great year.
What a what a great you knowthe what a great passing attack
they have uh they have thisyear.
Yeah.
So that was fun, fun to keeptrack of.
And um, and uh I believe theywon yesterday, did they not in
their in their bowl game?
Rocky (46:21):
They fell short.
They came back, they played uhRowan.
Uh it was 26 uh 26-20, I thinkwas the final score.
But uh they had a great year.
Now I think they won.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (46:31):
I'm sure they tried to throw it around
the around the field a lot inthat game, though.
That's which is which I whichthat has a special special spot
in my heart being a formerquarterback.
Rocky (46:41):
Well, coach, I know you you keep in touch with a lot of
even you got some of some ofyour friends coaching locally in
in high school.
And I know Coach Kramer is a afriend of yours.
He had a great year, and umCoach Smith at Whitesbrough had
a good year, and I know you'refriends with Coach DeCole, and
it's nice to see the coachingconnections with all you all you
local guys, and I know you guysall stay in touch.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:00):
Yeah, yeah, we do.
It's uh you know, it's you meetso many people over the years.
Football is a special game likethat, it brings brings people
together.
Um yeah, we're uh and you know,Peyton Way from from New
Harford is uh you know, we'rehe's a great, great, great
player, a couple guys from uhfrom that Whitesboro team who
you know who I would love to seein uh seeing seeing Colgate
(47:22):
Maroon.
Um but yeah, uh and CoachDracola.
I mean, he he uh he's been afriend for for a long, long
time.
And you know, he was agroomsman in my wedding, and I
was a groomsman at his wedding.
Um and so some some great uhjust great great guys, great
coaches, and you know, they theydo a great job.
Lifting football in central NewYork, section three, you know,
(47:42):
that's that's uh uh great to seethose guys, you know, New
Hartford and Whitesboro winningsectional titles.
It's a shame they don't playanymore.
I think they should schedule anon-I agree.
Rocky (47:53):
I agree.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:54):
That would be great for the area.
Rocky (47:55):
Bring the rivalries back, right?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:58):
No doubt, no doubt.
Rocky (47:59):
Well, coach, listen, we'll have to do it again.
I don't know, I know you'realways busy, but uh I I always
do a uh kind of a coach's uhcollege football uh show.
And uh if if we have it, I'lluh I'll reach out to if you have
time.
Love to have you come on andtalk some college football uh
with us.
But uh proud of you, and uhColgate's been so good to me
over the years, and Jordan andeverybody there have always been
(48:20):
great to me.
And uh I look forward to youand I talking some Colgate
football and more throughout theseason.
So I look forward to that aswell.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (48:27):
Anything you need, let me know.
And I appreciate what you do tocover football in the area,
high school and college, andappreciate your coverage of
Colgate.
Rocky (48:35):
Thanks, Coach.
I appreciate it.
We'll do it again, Sue.
Happy holidays.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (48:38):
Thank you, happy Thanksgiving.
Take care.
Rocky (48:40):
So that was Coach Kurt Fitzpatrick, and uh I I said it
before the season started whenhe got the job.
I said he is going to turn thisprogram around in a heartbeat.
And I know as he said, youknow, five wins, you want to win
every game that you play, butthey were in a lot of games.
They had a lead late in some ofthese games.
Um so for him and that staff tocome in and do what he did in
(49:01):
in year one um was fantastic.
So thanks to uh Coach Fitz foruh for jumping on with me here
this morning on Sportswatch.
Um I'll let you everybody knowwhen the final episode of the
Utica University FootballPodcast will be.
Um I think Coach and I areplanning on doing it next week,
but I have to see because I'mdown in my basement, is where my
(49:22):
studio is, and we're gettingour kitchen remodeled.
So right above me, the ceiling,I think they have to take some
of the ceiling off, which meansI gotta move some of my stuff.
So I might be without equipmentfor a few days, but I'll see
when it is and I'll I'll makesure that uh that I make it
happen.
I'll let everybody know.
We'll finish out the year withCoach Foz.
But um I want to make sure Ithank Coach Schneider for coming
(49:43):
on with me this morning.
He's always been great to me aswell.
Um, thank Coach Fitz for comingon.
And uh I did reach out and Iwas gonna tell Coach Fitz this,
but Coach Langle, the basketballcoach, is gonna be coming on
with me as well.
Uh so we'll be talking somecollege college hoops with Coach
Matt Langle next week, righthere on the show.
We'll get more high schoolsports, more high school
basketball with the boys, girls.
(50:04):
We'll see if we can get CoachMedisis on to talk RFA
basketball, who they all get setto start here over the next
week or two.
So we'll talk more umthroughout the next couple
weeks.
So hopefully you enjoyed theshow.
I appreciate everybodyfollowing me across all social
media channels.
Thanks for making the rock pilewhat it is today, and thanks
for following the Mohawk ValleySports Watch.
Have a good weekend, everybody.
Welcome to the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch.
Thanks for making us part ofyour Sunday morning here with
the coach, Rocky Krigliano.
And it's good to be back hereon the Mohawk Valley Sports
Watch.
Good lineup for you thismorning here in just a little
bit.
We'll have friend of the showcoach John Snyder, the Notre
Dame girls head basketballcoach.
We'll talk to him in just a fewminutes.
And then at the bottom of thehour, we'll talk to first year
(00:58):
head football coach at Colgate.
Just won yesterday.
Finished off a good season forCoach Fitz in his first year
there at the helm of the RedRaiders.
So we'll talk to Coach at about9.30.
And then we might have Peggs.
We might have the stat man.
We might have the whole crew onhere this morning.
Not 100% sure, but the showmust go on.
It's good to be back.
I just want to run through afew scores from yesterday.
(01:21):
Want to give a shout out toCoach Foz and the Utica Pioneers
for finishing out a greatseason.
They fell just a little bitshort yesterday in their bowl
game to Rowan.
They made a comeback.
They made a game of it late,but uh they fell 26-20.
Uh that was the ECAC bowl gamethat they hosted yesterday at
Gaetano Stadium.
So congrats to Coach and theteam on a fantastic season.
(01:43):
And I'll let you know when nextweek we'll wrap up the final
show with Coach on Inside UticaUniversity Podcast.
Across section three, uhfootball, uh Tayoga beat
Lowville 28-14.
So Lowville season comes to anend in Class D.
Hats off to them, though, 11-1,um, a fantastic season.
(02:04):
They beat Dodgeville in theSection 3 finals, but their
season comes to an end in theregionals.
Moving on in the Class Aregional game, Union Endicott
46, Whitesboro 22.
Whitesboro season comes to anend as well.
They finished 10-2, so congratsto Coach Smith and the
Whitesboro boys on another10-win season and another
(02:24):
Section 3 title.
And then on Saturday, there wasa slate of games, Chenango
Forks.
Well, I got to tip my hat toChenango Forks because my
company, we do the busting forthem.
Um, they've always been good tome and my and my Bernie team.
Uh, they beat General Brown inthe Class C game, 47-24.
The eight-man um state uhsemifinal game, Morrisville
(02:48):
eating a section three, beatTaconic Hills 56-21.
Christian Brothers uh CBA beatElmira Southside.
I think that score was 42-7.
So if you're watching, I didn'tsee the final, but I believe it
was 42-7 in favor of thebrothers last night against
Elmira.
So they will move on again.
A quest for another statechampionship.
(03:08):
And then a friend of the show,Coach Kramer and the Spartans.
They rallied late.
They were down 20 points.
They rallied late to take thelead under two minutes to go.
And Owigo, Free Academy, kickeda game winning field goal to
beat the Spartans 36-34.
What a show put on by PeytonWay and Johnny Fatulo last night
(03:28):
for New Hartford.
The New Hartford season comesto an end after an 11-win
season.
And I think Coach over the lastthree years is like 30-3.
So a fantastic run with thatgroup of kids and uh section
three title.
I know they're probably nothappy and disappointed this
morning when they wake up, buthats off, a fantastic season for
the Spartans of New Hartford.
(03:49):
And then Colgate, as I said, atthe bottom of the 9 o'clock
hour, we'll talk to KurtFitzpatrick and his first year
at the home.
They beat Buck Down on seniorday yesterday at home 38-19.
So they finish off the year at5-7.
It's a team that last year onlywon one game in his first year
at the home.
They were competitive in a lotof games.
There were some games that theyhad a good chance late in.
(04:11):
They gave up some leads late,but to come back after a season
like last year and win fivegames with this group.
Colgate is in good hands withCoach Fitz.
Um, there's no doubt about it.
I think Colgate's a fantasticfit for him and his coaching
staff.
I want to give a shout out toCoach Cahill, the new harf or
the New York Mills native, uh,and his Lehigh team last night.
They they beat Lafayette in therivalry game, who I think game
(04:34):
day.
Um, and they they mentioned iton um ESPN yesterday, that it
was an option to go for gameday.
They did pick the game.
Lehigh Lafayette is one of theoldest rivalries in the country
at the Division I level.
And uh Coach Cahill and theguys won, so they punched their
ticket.
They finish 11-0, and we'll getto the FCF playoffs.
(04:56):
So congratulations to CoachCahill.
He's another coach that uh hasbeen on this show numerous
times.
And I'm sure we'll have him onagain here throughout the
playoffs.
Um there's another former uhcoach that I played for, Coach
Rich Naggy's the defensivecoordinator there, so I want to
give Coach a shout out.
And then former Colgate headcoach, Coach Hunt, he's the
offensive coordinator there, soI want to give Coach Coach a
(05:17):
shout out uh as well.
So those are some of thescores, and I see we got Coach
Snyder on, so why don't we bringCoach on?
He's a little early, but it'salways good to be early when
you're a coach.
So let's uh let's pull him onhere this morning with me.
Coach, how are you, my friend?
I'm doing well.
Good morning.
Good morning to you.
It's uh when I whenever I seeyour face, I'm like, it's gotta
(05:39):
be girls' basketball seasonbecause you're always the first
coach I have on.
So it's always good to catchup, coach.
Coach John Snyder (05:44):
Yeah, it's an exciting time for sure.
Great, great to be here.
Thanks.
Rocky (05:48):
It's hard to believe it's already here, though.
I feel like I get into thefootball season, and before I
know it, I'm like, well, thehigh school season just ended.
College, we have one more weekof the regular season, and then
we get to wait for the playoffsand all that.
But then when we get late inthe year and in football, that
means the start of hoop season.
So we go from one to the other.
Coach John Snyder (06:04):
So always time flies faster and faster, it
feels like every year.
Rocky (06:08):
It sure does.
So, coach, let's talk first.
Um, I feel like I've beensaying this to you for since
I've been I've been talking withyou on the show, but uh, you
know, it's it's it's sodifferent when you're the you're
the team that everybody wantsto beat, and you know um coming
off the section three titlesthat every team you guys play,
non-conference, which we'll getinto your schedule in a little
(06:29):
bit, you're gonna get their bestshot no matter what.
Coach John Snyder (06:32):
Yeah, you have to be prepared, you know,
you have to be focused, uh, youhave to embrace that challenge.
And we've done a pretty goodjob of it uh the last couple
years.
So uh, you know, it's it'sexciting, it's great, and you
know, we look forward to thechallenge.
Rocky (06:47):
Yeah, and coach, I know I've asked you this, and you
guys always play anon-conference, a tough
non-conference schedule.
Uh, then you get into theTri-Valley League, which we'll
get into in a little bit too.
But, you know, when I looked atthe schedule last year, and I
know I had talked to you aboutthe schedule last year, you
know, Aquinas was there who'sone of the best programs.
Shaker was there, you guysplayed Greenwich, and then it
seemed like every every gameafter you played those games,
(07:10):
you guys went on a huge, hugerun.
I think after the Aquinas loss,coach, I think you guys won
like eight or nine straightheading into um sectionals.
But talk to us about thatnon-conference schedule, how
much that helps you guysthroughout the year.
Coach John Snyder (07:23):
Yeah, it's something we really focus on and
and try to challenge ourselves.
You know, we we believe we havea good group.
We hope that we can continue toperform at a high level.
We have big goals and toprepare ourselves for those
things.
We we try to seek out anychallenge that we can get.
So um, you know, our league isa wonderful league, but we also
try to challenge ourselves uhoutside the league and play
(07:44):
bigger schools and schools fromdifferent areas uh as much as we
can, you know, just to seedifferent styles, uh, you know,
different levels of physicality,um, and just get us prepared.
Rocky (07:56):
And coach, I think uh too, looking back to is it, you
know, state championship, beento a final four, you've won
back-to-back section, sectionthree titles.
Do you or the girls feel anyadded pressure, you know, year
in and year out with, you know,you got you got some girls back
who will get into the roster ina little bit, but do you guys
feel any extra pressure beingthat you you've been to the
final four, state championship,section three titles?
(08:18):
Any extra stress weigh on yourguy's shoulders?
Coach John Snyder (08:22):
You know, I don't know if it's it's stress.
You know, there's certainly anervous anxiety, I think, that's
natural.
Like we talk about embracing,like if you don't feel some
nerves or I guess some stress,however you want to say it, you
know, you probably don't careenough, you know.
So um we've been fortunate todeal well with with those
situations.
You know, again, you try to putin the work, you try to to go
through the the everyday detailsthat prepare you for those
(08:45):
moments.
And, you know, last year we gotbitten, you know, it shows you
how lucky we were to some extenton our state championship run.
You have to be really good andyou have to have some things
break your way.
Um, but you just try to be asprepared as you can be for those
those tough moments.
Rocky (09:00):
And coach, this year um, you know, you'll return both the
trinkises, and then you gotsome young young girls that uh,
you know, play some key rolesfor you as well.
Talk to us about this roster,and some of the girls will be
we'll be hearing their namesthroughout the season.
Coach John Snyder (09:14):
Sure.
I mean, everything starts withthe Trinkis girls.
Uh, you know, everybody knowstheir names.
Um, you don't really need totalk about them too much.
They're special kids and greatplayers.
Um, you know, we had two younggirls uh come up and play for us
a lot last year, but we do havefive seniors, you know, besides
Aaron and Ella.
Uh we have Emma Johnson, who'splayed a lot of minutes for us
(09:34):
even in the state championshipgame a few years ago.
Tessa R.
Curie, Jenna Heron.
So led by the seniors for sure.
You know, it'll be a tough run.
Uh, you know, the final runhere will be emotional, I'm
sure, um, to with that group whowas a big part of our state
championship.
But then, you know, last year,a lot of people, you talk about
pressure and things.
We had that target on our backfrom the state championship, but
(09:54):
we started two freshmen lastyear, um, you know, and it was a
transition year moving up toclass A, and you know, still
were able to get that sectionaltitle.
So that was a really big thingfor us.
I think we dealt with thatstress and pressure with some
new faces and people in newroles.
And, you know, this year it'severybody's back.
Everybody who played minutesfor us last year is back.
So um hopefully we can keepthat focus, you know, keep you
(10:17):
know, our mindset right uhbecause as you say, everyone
gets better, you know, and andthe challenge for us only grows
because the target gets bigger.
Rocky (10:26):
So and coach, how does this year's team compare to?
I know every every coach wouldsay every every team is
different.
As you just said, a lot of thisteam is back from a year ago
that played some minutes foryou, which is which is awesome.
But how does the team makeupthis year differentiate from
your team last year?
Coach John Snyder (10:42):
Okay, I think those two younger girls, Lily
Johnson, our point guard, and uhJules Otis, uh, who plays a lot
of minutes for us to like guardforward, you know, their growth
is big, you know, as talentedand good as they were as
freshmen, and they've got a lotof experience, they were
freshmen, and you know, some ofthose things showed up at
different times, but they have alot of confidence.
I think that confidence isgrowing, uh, you know, and they
(11:03):
experience strength just as youget a little bit older.
Uh, you know, so we're lookingfor big things for them.
And you know, again, Ella, Ellais unique.
She just committed to St.
Bonaventure's uh St.
Bonaventure.
Uh, so she's a division oneathlete, she's a special player.
You know what you're gonna getfrom her.
It's it's kind of everybodyaround her.
And I I think, again, peoplewill target Ella.
(11:24):
And I think we did a prettygood job last year of showing
that we're a lot more than her.
Uh, obviously, we wouldn't wantto play without her, but uh,
but but we have a lot of greatplayers around her too, and and
how all those kids step up andand continue to improve will be
huge for us.
Rocky (11:39):
And coach, you mentioned the TVL League, and uh the TVL
league's always good top tobottom.
But talk to us about thisyear's TVL League.
Who are some teams, you know,on the up and coming?
And and um is there any any anyteams in there that should push
you guys?
Coach John Snyder (11:53):
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of great teams in
our half of the Tri Valley, youknow, Rome, where you you
certainly are connected to, hassome great young young ladies uh
that are continuing to improve,they're getting older.
Um, you know, I think they'reincredibly talented.
It'll be a big challenge.
You know, New Hartford is inclass A with us.
They're they're probably one ofthe favorites in class A.
Um, you know, in our in our ownleague, right there across from
(12:16):
us.
I expect them to be a very goodseed.
They gave us, you know, a greatgame last year uh when we
played them.
So um a lot of challenges outthere.
Whitesboro's had got some greatplayers coming back on our half
of the league.
And uh, you know, again, everyeverybody in the league's good.
It's it's historically goodprograms.
And uh, you know, again, nobodyknew who Ella was until she
(12:37):
came on the scene.
You know, there's there'salways young up and coming
players, and you know, everybodykind of thinks you have
everybody back, so it's justgonna be a you know you know a
walkthrough again, and it's farfrom the case.
And you know, I know what's outthere, and I know you know kids
that are really working at itand make that jump uh as they
move up through the grades, youknow.
So I expect a lot of toughchallenges for us.
Rocky (12:59):
And coach, what's this team got to do maybe different
than last year's team to to notonly win another Section Three
title and make a deep run intothe state playoff?
Coach John Snyder (13:08):
Yeah, I mean, I think the big difference from
our state championship team,you know, partially was that
age, you know, we lost fourseniors off that team compared
to last year.
And I think, you know, being alittle bit younger, uh again,
that physicality is different.
Uh, you know, have somebodythat's an enforcer out there for
you a little bit, you know, youknow, you need that sometimes.
(13:28):
Um, so improving that, youknow, our our defensive
mentality, just being a littletougher, uh dealing with teams
that try to beat us up a littlebit, a little bit better.
Again, that's where we go outand try and play some of those
bigger schools who who have somebigger, stronger, faster
athletes uh to challenge us andget used to that pressure.
Um, you know, those are thethings we need to continue to
(13:48):
work on and get better at.
Rocky (13:50):
And coach, I know we we've talked about the Trinkis
Girls quite a bit, and we'vetalked about them for the last
so many years and a big part ofyour program.
But let's just talk a littlebit about Ella.
I know Ella did, as youmentioned, sign to play at St.
Bonaventures, and the wholeTrinkis Girls have been
fantastic for uh for theprogram.
But can you just talk a littlebit about how special of a
player she is and just the typeof person that she is?
Coach John Snyder (14:12):
Yeah, I mean, that's the thing that it starts
with is the person that she is,you know.
That's uh and it leads into theplayer that she is, just a
hardworking, you know, wonderfulkid, unselfish, um, you know,
so talented.
The thing I talk about withElla is people don't realize how
good she is, is that you know,if she has a bad shooting night,
she's probably gonna go get you25 points just because she
(14:32):
chases every ball.
She gets every I mean, herrebounding stats are
unbelievable.
Uh, you know, the effort thatshe puts in on every single play
is what differentiates her.
I mean, and then you know,she's a really good shooter too,
and she gets a lot ofattention, so she doesn't get as
many open looks, you know, lastyear, especially.
Um, but you know, she startshitting three pointers, and and
(14:53):
man, it's a tough night for theopponent.
So it's nice to it's nice tohave her on your side.
Rocky (14:57):
So and coach, are you guys tipping it off at the start
here?
Is it the zebra classic you areplaying in next week?
Coach John Snyder (15:03):
Yeah, we're really quick here.
So uh we got a big challengewith Liverpool coming up, um,
you know, end of next week.
Uh so they're you know,obviously a perennial power.
They're two-time uh, you know,in the state championship game
in triple A.
Uh, so big school, greatprogram, great coach, great
athletes.
Uh, so that's a big challengefor us right off the bait, right
(15:23):
off the bat, and we'll, youknow, be a good measuring stick
for us.
Rocky (15:26):
Well, I look forward to uh getting a chance to see it
during the season.
And uh I know we'll have you onagain throughout the season,
but I always appreciate it.
And one thing, coach, that'sbeen really cool is you know,
the community's been behind youguys for a long time.
And to see the communitysupport, talk to us what that
means to you and your program.
Coach John Snyder (15:45):
It's a huge thing.
I mean, Notre Dame is a reallya close-knit family type place.
You know, I went to schoolthere, my kids went to school
there.
A lot of connections, you know,just throughout the area and
even beyond people that haveleft that still touch base and
reach back out to us.
You know, we're taking a tripto Florida as kind of a thank
you to my five seniors thisyear.
So we're gonna play some gamesdown there against some very big
schools that are good.
(16:06):
We're playing Marion fromIllinois in uh the first round
of that tournament.
And uh, you know, people thathave supported us in our runs,
the fan support, you know, evenwhen we're down when things
aren't great, uh, you know, andwhen you have a tough loss, but
just so many people theresupporting us.
It's a wonderful community andand great for our girls.
And you know, our girls try togive we try to give back to the
(16:27):
community as well.
So it's you know just a greatinteraction.
Rocky (16:30):
Well, I got you making a deep run.
I think we're all lookingforward to uh the season.
And uh again, coach, Ihopefully I'll get a chance to
see you at one of the games thisyear, and uh we'll definitely
do it again.
But I appreciate you alwayscoming on with me to talk some
hoops.
Coach John Snyder (16:42):
Yeah, I'd love to do it.
Thank you so much.
Rocky (16:45):
Thanks, Coach.
Coach John Snyder (16:46):
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Rocky (16:48):
So that was Coach John Snyder, the head coach at uh
Notre Dame, who's uh who's beencoming out with us now for I
think probably the last two orthree years, and he's been
always so gracious to come outwith me.
I love talking to him.
I love talking to himthroughout the season, and I
know we'll do it again uh soon.
He's got a special group.
Um I think they can makeanother deep run and chase a not
only a Section 3 title, but Ithink they can chase a state
(17:09):
championship as well.
So thanks to Coach for uh fortuning on here uh with me this
morning.
So up next at about 9.30, we'llhave Coach Fitzpatrick on.
Really excited to talk to CoachFitz.
I the last time I talked toCoach Fitz uh is when he was at
Cortland.
He was also at uh SUNYMorrisville.
He's a Utica uh Utica guy thatwas on Coach Faz's staff uh as
(17:30):
well.
So we will talk to him at about9.30.
So uh more to come here from umthe Mohawk Valley Sports Watch.
I do also want to run through,I don't know um last night a lot
of people were on me.
I'm gonna run through some ofthe uh the scores here um across
uh college football.
(17:50):
And I was really happy to seelast night.
I was watching the Penn Stategame, and I root for Penn State
during the year, except whenthey play Michigan.
Um the head coach, the interimhead coach is Terry Smith, who
uh was a wide receiver at PennState.
Um his dad played at PennState.
Um he was on the staff withCoach Franklin.
Um the game before, I think itwas they beat Michigan State,
(18:12):
they carried him off the field,and then last night, man, was
like out of a movie, if youdidn't see it.
If you didn't see it, I think Iposted on my Facebook page just
a clip of Coach walking offinto the tunnel.
The entire stadium was yelling,Terry, Terry.
The players love him.
Um some of the the old players,Michael Robinson, who I think
was doing a game for NBC lastnight um at halftime, said the
(18:37):
alumni um are pushing for TerrySmith.
And I don't know what PennState's gonna do.
I think that's the crazy thingwith these coaches, is a lot of
the guys, um the big namecoaches, and I think Lane
Kiffin's still gonna stay, butthere's rumors out there that
LSU's gonna offer him um ninetythousand dollars, uh which would
(18:57):
be absolutely crazy.
Um, but that's what I that'swhat I'm hearing.
But I think a lot of thosecoaches um right now are
deciding to stay.
Um, and I think that that sayssomething because they're
getting bigger deals.
But I think if you're PennState right now, and it to me,
at least it shows or seems likeI don't know if Pat Kraft had a
(19:20):
plan for who the next coach wasgoing to be unless he's gotten
shot down.
Because all these coaches, MattRule staying at Nebraska, um
Lane Kiffin's not coming to PennState, um, but a lot of these
guys' names, I keep hearing BobChesney, who I said on the
podcast um last week with SteveCully, is I said, I think Bob
Chesney would be a fantasticfit.
(19:40):
But after watching the lastcouple weeks, Terry Smith's
gotten Penn State to play reallygood football, they're
motivated, they're inspired.
But is Penn State gonna lookfor a big name guy?
Um, or you're gonna look for aPenn State guy?
You know, I think that's alwaysthe question I would ask myself
is, you know, do you want theguy that that bleeds blue and
white uh through and through andis a true Penn State guy?
(20:02):
And a lot of those uh recruitswould probably stay.
The only thing I would probablyhave to go back and question is
I probably would have to say ifthey give it to Terry Smith,
and I don't know if they will, Ithink it's a good story if they
do, does he keep all thecoaches to where basically it's
Franklin's coaches, Franklin'srecruits, uh-huh, just a new
(20:24):
head coach, which sometimesgives a team a f a fresh look,
or does Terry Smith make anychanges?
Because I think offensivelythey looked better.
Um I think Penn State's wentback to let's run the football,
let's not get too fancy.
Um, and those Nate Singletonand Katron Allen last night in
the last two, three weeks of theseason have been fantastic for
Penn State.
(20:44):
And I think defensively, that'sthe defense I think that all of
us, including myself, whopicked Penn State to start the
season as my pick to win thenational championship, because I
thought they were built likeOhio State.
Thought they were built likethe Buckeyes last year that
brought everybody back.
I thought they were built likethe Michigan team two years ago
that won a national championshipwith the seniors and the
(21:06):
fifth-year seniors that wereback.
So I had picked Penn State.
I don't know what happened.
I don't know what happened.
It spiraled downhill, and thenTerry Smith comes on board as
the interim and gets his teamplaying well.
They got a chance next week.
If they can win next week, theyhave a chance to um go to a
bowl game.
And I would guarantee you thatK Trine Allen, Nate Singleton,
(21:27):
and all those players don't optout if they go to a bowl game.
And I think that'll tell yousomething about the type of
person and coach that TerrySmith is.
Some of the scores from lastnight, Ohio State will take that
11-0 record in T game nextSaturday at high noon.
Fox will have it.
Um my jersey comes out.
(21:47):
We're on a four-game win streakagainst Ohio State.
Um, nobody's gonna giveMichigan a chance, probably
including myself.
Um, but nobody gave him achance last year as a
20-something point dog.
Uh, went on the road inColumbus and beat Ohio State.
Um, my wife and I will be ondifferent couches next week.
We won't talk to each othernext week for probably the day.
Um, but again, she's gotbragging rights because not only
(22:10):
did Ohio State win the nationalchampionship last year, I had
bragging rights to sayMichigan's beat them four years
in a row.
And I'll say this if Michiganwins, I don't think Ohio State
plays for the Big Ten titlegame, so they can spoil that.
If Ohio State beats Michigan,Michigan, I don't think, will
get into the college footballplayoffs.
I think if Michigan wins, theyget into the playoff and they
(22:31):
spoil Ohio State's, I wouldn'tsay their season, but their
chances to play for another BigTen title.
If Ohio State wins, they'llplay Indiana in the Big Ten
title game.
So they've looked apart.
I don't think they've beenchallenged all year because of
the schedule, but they're stilldoing what they're doing.
They're beating everybody ontheir schedule, and they are
doing it at a high level.
So Ohio State 42-9 over Rutgersyesterday.
(22:55):
That game was close athalftime, 14-3.
Um AM 48-0 over Samford.
Georgia beat Charlotte 35-3.
Oregon in a good game at homeagainst Lincoln Riley's USC
team, who I think USC was a lotbetter this year.
I think USC is going to end upwith nine wins better than a
year ago, but is 9-3 good enoughfor USC?
(23:15):
Is Lincoln Riley a candidatefor any of these big jobs?
I think they are starting tofit the part.
They're running the ball a lotmore.
Um, but Oregon looked goodyesterday at home.
Oregon will finish the seasonoff next week with a chance to
go 11-1, and they'll be in thecollege football playoff.
So moving on down the line,Oklahoma's 17-6 over Missouri.
(23:36):
John Mateer back.
I think he's getting better,but that defense for Oklahoma is
really good.
Um and hats off to BrentVenables because if he wins next
week, he's in the collegefootball playoff.
And Venables was a guy whosename was on the hot seat at
Oklahoma.
And here he's got Oklahoma, Ithink, a game away from being in
the college football playoff.
(23:57):
Notre Dame, I know the Syracusefans don't like me.
Preseason, I picked Syracuse togo 4-8.
Now I'm even thinking, I don'tknow if they can beat Boston
College.
I don't think Syracuse can beatanybody at this point.
I don't even know if Syracusecan beat CBA at this point.
70-7 was the score yesterday atNotre Dame.
I think it was like 21-0 beforethe offense of Notre Dame even
(24:20):
stepped on the field.
That game was 49-0 at halftime.
49-0.
I think that's the worst lossin Syracuse history.
Giving up 70 points.
I know it's a really good NotreDame team.
A really good team.
I'm not taking anything awayfrom Marcus Freeman because I
think Notre Dame's gonna, ifthey win out, um I think it's
got a good chance to get to theplayoff.
(24:41):
But Syracuse, man, they havehit rock bottom.
There's no doubt about it.
And I know a lot of people aregoing to talk about the Angeli
thing, and I I don't disagreewith any Syracuse fan or Alum at
all.
Angeli went down, this teamcompletely collapsed.
But I said this for the lastcouple weeks.
The biggest thing that I'mdisappointed in with Syracuse is
(25:06):
I don't think the rock I don'tthink the players got any
better.
You know, I I don't want to usethe Bill Belichick comparison
because North Carolina got beatto Duke yesterday, but I'm going
to here for a minute because Ithink if I look at like North
Carolina, they were really badto start the year.
They've been in games to endthe year.
I think they've gotten betterin a lot of areas at North
(25:29):
Carolina, and I'm just usingNorth Carolina as an example.
And I look at Syracuse and Isay, where'd they get any
better?
The quarterback position, howFran Brown's handled, it's been
a complete joke.
Complete joke, completedisaster how he's handled it,
um, which tells me they were100% all in at Angeli.
And I know he said he's goingto come back.
But what's that do for therecruits?
Because Fran Brown can recruit,there's no doubt about it.
(25:51):
I said last year, and I when Iwas talking to Scott Patoniak um
a few weeks ago on the show, Isaid, you know, last year's
schedule for Syracuse was arather easy one, and then this
year it's been a tougherschedule.
But it's like Fran can recruitthat we all know.
We're not we're not gettingaround that.
He's got good recruiters onthat staff.
I'm not impressed with thein-game management.
(26:13):
I'm not impressed so far asthat as a head coach.
I'm just gonna say, I'm gonnathrow it out there.
Has nothing to do with losingyesterday, has nothing to do
with their record.
For me, it has everything to dowith there's been no player
development this year atSyracuse.
And one coach that knows aboutthat, they played Syracuse.
Coach Fitz is going to join mehere in just a few moments.
(26:34):
So um we'll move on here withscores.
Alabama beat Eastern Illinois56-0.
BYU 26-14 over Cincinnati.
I believe if BYU wins nextweek, they are in the Big 12
title game.
Um, and hats off to BYU.
Utah comes from behind.
They scored late to beat KansasState, 5147.
(26:55):
Miami 34-17 over Virginia Tech.
Vandy, 45-17 win over Kentucky.
Pittsburgh in a big win.
I did not see Pittsburghbeating Georgia Tech.
They dominated this game fromthe start.
They were up 21-0 to start thegame.
They never looked back.
And tip your hat to PattonArduozzi, who got a lot of heat
for saying, well, Notre Dame canbeat us 100 to nothing.
(27:17):
All we need to do is win thosenext two games, which are ACC
games, and there's a really goodshot.
Pittsburgh plays for the ACCchampionship.
Moving on, Texas, 52-37 overArkansas, Archman threw for 389
and four scores.
He's gotten better throughoutthe year.
I still don't think, even ifTexas beats AM next week with
(27:40):
three losses, I still thinkTexas is on the outside looking
in.
Some people think they got ashot to get in.
I don't see it.
Um, I don't I think there'sfour teams ahead of them in the
SEC that'll get in.
Uh, but a 9-3 season for Texas,eh, Sark, Sark got a little
jumpy when uh Desmond Howardcame out and said, don't be
surprised if the universityparts ways mutually with Steve
(28:02):
Sarkeesian at the end of theyear.
I think it'd be a mistake, butwe'll see.
Michigan, I think it's the bestMichigan's looked all year.
They ran the ball well.
Uh Bryce Underwood threw theball well.
He threw for 215 and twoscores.
They ran the ball well.
They need to play defense nextweek because that is going to be
the game.
And they get them in Ann Arbor.
They beat Maryland 45-20.
(28:23):
Tennessee beats Florida 31-11.
Wisconsin and um Luke Fickle.
They beat the old squad down,or Brett Bielama's old squad 27
to 10.
And this is a game too.
I feel like the coaches wherethey got support.
Like the Wisconsin AD came outand said, We're we're back in
(28:45):
Luke Fickle.
And I think it's a good movebecause I think too many of
these schools, they get rid ofcoaches, you recycle coaches,
you got to rebuild these teamswith the portal.
But one of the things I alwaysfind fascinating about college
football is when an AD fires acoach, like the next day you
hear, we're going to invest morein the program.
We're going to put more moneyinto it.
Well, why the hell didn't youdo that when the prior coach was
(29:08):
there?
Right?
Like, why didn't you invest allthis money when the prior coach
why are you firing a coach tonow say you need to invest more
money?
I never, never understood thatat all, but I'm a big Luke
Fickle guy.
I think he's, I think the kidshave played hard for him, and
I'm happy to see that uh CoachFickle's going to get another
year.
They had a big win over atIllinois' team that was uh
(29:29):
picked high in the Big Ten, whoright now looks like they're
going to finish at 8-4.
TCU beat Houston.
Many think Sonny Dykes is onhis way out at TCU.
I think that would be anotherbad move because I think Sonny
Dykes has done a really good jobat TCU.
Tulane, 37 13.
John Summerl seems to be theguy that I keep hearing for the
(29:51):
LSU or Florida job.
Uh we'll see how that playsout.
They beat Temple, and thenCoach Prime's team moves to one
and seven in the Big 12 as Theyfall to Arizona State 4217.
So without further ado, I don'twant to keep Coach Fitz on
hanging too long here, so I'mgoing to bring him in on here
with me now.
Coach, how are you, my friends?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:13):
Hi, hi Rocky.
How are you?
Rocky (30:15):
Doing good, my man.
Been a long time since I uh gota chance to catch up to you.
So I'm looking forward to this.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:20):
I appreciate you having me on.
It's uh it's been a while.
Maybe maybe after the nationalchampionship at Cortland, we
talked, I think.
Yes.
Uh yeah, I remember that.
Rocky (30:29):
I was in uh I was in a hotel room watching that game
late, and my wife says, We'rewatching the Cortland game.
I said, Yeah, we're gonna watchthe Cortland game.
They're playing for a nationalchampionship.
I appreciate that.
Yeah.
No, no problem at all.
So, coach, listen,congratulations.
Um, you know, a huge bounceback year from where the the
program was a year ago.
You know, you come in in yearone, uh, five five wins on the
(30:51):
season.
I know it's not where you wantto be, but this program, man,
under one year with you, isheading in the right direction.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (30:57):
Well, thank you.
I appreciate you saying that.
I think uh obviously, you know,we want to win every game we
play.
So, you know, to to uh yeah, II I wish we could have done
more, but I'm I'm proud of theprogress of the team.
You know, I I talk to our teamall all the time about being
input focused, inputs notoutputs, and that's that's kind
of the theme of our or themantra of our team and and how I
(31:19):
coach.
And I feel like we got we gotbetter and made progress as the
season went on.
And um, you know, I'm soexcited for the future.
Uh the way we finishedyesterday against Bucknell.
I think we had some someinjuries uh this season that you
know took us a while toregroup.
You know, uh we had some somereally talented guys go down,
(31:41):
which happens in football, andyou know, not making excuses for
that.
And you know, I'm proud of theway we kind of regrouped and and
found our found our identitymidway through the year and you
know, found found a way tostring together uh some some
good wins and uh over someconference teams, tough
conference teams.
You know, anytime you beat beata team like Holy Cross on the
road, you know, those are it'sit's hard to do in this league.
(32:03):
The Patriot League is a is agreat, great football league,
and you know, proud of theprogress we made and excited,
excited to build on uh build onthis season and head into the
future.
Rocky (32:12):
Coach, when you got hired at at Colgate, I said, man,
what a great fit for you knowfor you uh with with your ties
this way.
But when you look back at itnow, what what attracted you to
most of this Colgate job?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (32:25):
Well, I I think you know when when I was
uh a young assistant coach forfor for Coach Fagiano there at
Utica College or UticaUniversity now, Utica College at
the time, um we would we wouldcome up to Colgate uh and
growing up in I grew up inFulton, you know, growing up in
central New York, you you know,you always knew about Colgate.
(32:45):
Um I wasn't smart enough to goto go here as a as a student as
a student.
Um but uh you know you hearabout Colgate and there's just
just the tough, the tough,gritty football teams.
You know, I remember being Iwas in college uh watching, I
watched the 2003 nationalchampionship game.
I remember where I was.
Um you know, we were home forfor uh you know Christmas break.
(33:06):
I remember watching that gameand thinking, wow, this is a
team in you know, this is theteam in central New York playing
for a national championship atthe at the one double A level at
that time.
And um it was you know, uh andso when when the job came open
and there was mutual interest,just the history and tradition
of Colgate.
Um the Patriot League, I thinkis is is is you know a sweet
(33:29):
spot for me in in collegefootball, and that you can
recruit you know division onecaliber athletes, talented
athletes, but the educationstill matters, you know.
Our in the Patriot League,where you get your degree from
still matters a lot and factorsin into those decisions.
I think so.
The blend of student athlete,like this, there's still a
purity.
Uh there's still a purity inthe Patriot League, in the Ivy
(33:52):
League.
Like, you know, it's it's ait's a blend of student
athletes, not all, you know, ourguys love football, but they
also you know want to be doctorsand lawyers and work on Wall
Street and and understand thevalue of being at Colgate for
those reasons.
And to me, that's that that'syou know, that's uh there's
still a purity to it.
And and uh and so that thatthat's why this job was so
(34:12):
attractive to me.
Also, I'm a central New Yorker,so staying staying close to
home.
Uh family is extremelyimportant to me.
I've been fortunate my wholecareer to be in central New
York.
Um, and uh that's really not bydesign, but just kind of how it
happened.
And you know, I feel like thisis a great fit for my family and
I.
Rocky (34:29):
Well, you mentioned that 2003 team, so I played against
that team.
Uh, I'm a Fordham grad,unfortunately.
Don't hold it against me.
I talk a lot of Colgatefootball and Patriot League, so
go easy on me.
But uh I played against thatteam.
I graduated in 2002 fromFordham, and that was a really
good Colgate team that playedfor a national championship.
And I think when I look back atyou know the the Patriot
(34:50):
League, and I say this all thetime, and and obviously I cover
a lot of the Patriot League, butI always say that the Patriot
League is really good footballtop to bottom.
And I even think now you addRichmond in the mix, um, you add
the coaches that are in thisPatriot League.
And I think even this year,when I look at it, you know,
Lafayette losing yesterday toLehigh, the Patriot League this
year has a chance to get twoteams in.
(35:11):
I don't know if they will, butthey have a really good chance
to get two teams in.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, I uh we we played
Lafayette and Lehighback-to-back weeks.
I think those two teams arevery evenly, very evenly
matched.
Um Lafayette, they're two oftheir losses are to FBS teams.
They lost to Bowling Green,they lost to Oregon State, and
they they were leading OregonState at halftime a couple weeks
ago.
Um, that was the week before,two weeks before we played them,
(35:37):
a week before we played them.
I mean, they're an impressiveteam.
The league talked any givenweek.
Um, though, you know, it's uhit's a great league.
I think with Richmond coming innext year, Villanova and
William and Mary come into theleague.
You know, uh the Patriot Leagueis gonna be one of the
preeminent leagues in in FCS, ifyou know, on the East Coast,
(35:58):
maybe the pre-eminent league onthe East Coast and multiple bid
league.
Um it's great football, likeyou said.
I think bringing all thosestoried programs into our
conference raises our recruitingprofile.
Uh, I think you know this isgonna be a league where where it
that the that's attractive tohighly competitive football
players who want to get a greateducation and who value that.
(36:19):
And uh, you know, I thinkyou're gonna see Patriot League
football continue to get betterand better and better and more
competitive nationally uh as theyears go on.
Rocky (36:28):
And coach, I've always talked about the Colgate
non-conference schedule, sayingColgate always plays just about
anybody, not scared to playanybody, and whether it's the
FCS or the FBS, but you know,you guys played Mammoth that is
gonna be a playoff team.
Villanova's probably gonna be aplayoff team um this year.
Lafayette, you know, like Isaid, could be a playoff team.
But talk to us a little bitabout that non-conference
(36:49):
schedule.
I know you went up to Syracuseand played, uh, which was which
was pretty cool, but talk to usabout that non-conference
schedule.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (36:57):
Yeah, that's one one thing when I when
I was interviewing for the job,um talking about scheduling
with our athletic director, ouradministration, our alumni.
Uh playing a toughnon-conference schedule is
something that's very importantto to uh to it's something that
Colgate's always done.
When you look at look at thehistory of Colgate, you know,
we're we're playing the playingthe best people that that we
(37:18):
can.
Uh I think that's kind of theethos of Colgate football, the
underdog, the chip on theirshoulder, the we'll play
anybody, anywhere, anytime.
Um, I love that mentality.
Uh, I think that that that kindof carried through through our
season here as we as we you knowrebuild, rebuild our program.
But um, yeah, the the schedule,I think uh Jordan Doroshenko,
(37:38):
our sid can correct me if I'm ifI'm wrong here, but I believe
this is the uh the most rankedteams Colgate's ever played in
the season.
Um and so you know we're uh Ithink that that helped build our
team.
We played a played a toughschedule.
We're gonna now we're gonnaplay a tough schedule every year
because all a lot of theseteams are in in league now with
Villanova and William and Maryand Richmond.
And you know, playing Syracusethis year.
(38:00):
You know, we were playingSyracuse when Angeli, when Steve
Angeli was healthy and theywere humming and he was the
leading passer in the country.
And you know, that's um yeah, II wouldn't have had it any
other way.
I think.
I think you know, playinglesser opponents, maybe we could
have got as many wins andlosses, but I don't think we
more maybe we could have gottenmore wins, but I don't think we
would be as good a team as weare right now because of the
(38:21):
challenges and the tests that wehad.
And so I think that'll the thetough schedule will will pay off
in the future.
If you're a competitor, uhschedule like Colgate plays uh
is exactly what you want.
Rocky (38:33):
Coach, you've you've you've won everywhere you've
been.
And when you got this job, Isaid there's no doubt in my mind
that Coach Fitz is going torebuild this program and and win
here, which is is is awesome.
What goes into that for you?
You know, knowing that you haveto come in and rebuild a
program.
Again, you've talked about alot of history.
They've played for a nationalchampionship, they've had a lot
(38:53):
of good years.
But when I go back and I lookat Colgate, maybe over the last
five or six years, I thinkthey've only won maybe 20 games
in that time frame.
What goes into it from amindset for you to rebuilding
this program and getting it backon track?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (39:07):
Um, I think you know, one thing that
was important to me was I Ididn't want to make any
assumptions about how thingswere.
And and uh, you know, I justbelieve in in building a team,
you know, a positive teamculture that's built around
belief, optimism, um, you know,mental, a mental toughness to
the to the way that we play.
(39:29):
Uh you know, there's really nosecret to winning.
It's it's it's uh you gotta putit, you gotta put in the work
and uh and and build it, buildit one at a time.
You know, we we had uh youknow, I inherited, we we
inherited um some really goodstudent athletes, outstanding
young men um who were here.
And so those guys were uh Itried tried to blend.
(39:51):
Obviously, we're gonna do somethings uh in a new way with it
with a new coach and a newstaff, and you know, but also
there were so many great uhtraditions and history here that
I wanted to honor.
And I felt like you know, wecan blend those do those two
things.
And you know, winning winningis a lot as I told our team this
year when we were starting towin some games and we beat beat
(40:12):
Fordham, uh, we beat Cornell andyou know winning is winning is
a result of something.
You know, it's it's not thewinning you should focus on,
it's the something.
It's the it's the the processof your preparation, your and
and and and how you practice andyou know building those habits
and all those those habits leadto lead to winning.
And so I think we made hugestrides in that, you know, and
(40:32):
that that's really I think thisthe secret to to winning games
is uh just just being you knowdaily, you know, building the
habits that are that are elite,building the habits that that
champions have.
And you you have to have thosehabits before you become a
champion.
And and so we've laid reallystrong foundation in that way.
And you know, I feel um I feellike I I uh as a head coach,
(40:55):
been there, uh coachchampionship teams, and I you
know, some of those traits I'mstarting to see pop up in in our
players and the way we preparedlate, late in the season, um
how we deal with diversity, likeall those things, you know, we
we've we've gotten a lot betterat and we'll continue to build
on the offseason and you knowjust keep trying to raise it,
raise it, raise the bar one morenotch uh every day.
(41:17):
And yeah, I'm getting chillsjust thinking about winter
conditioning.
I can't wait to get get it getin you know January, February,
and just start start grindingwith the with the players.
You know, last year I was stillliving in I was living in um in
the Cortland in Tully, justnorth of Cortland and driving to
to Hamilton every day.
And it seemed like it snowedevery day last January.
Trying to get to those 6 a.m.
(41:39):
those 6 a.m.
runs and I couldn't get thereevery day because I have young
kids and you know, I just feellike I didn't know the team
well.
And now I can't wait for thisthis winter conditioning because
you know we I feel like we canreally make the most out of uh
out of the opportunity and andand really build really build
our team and build on build onthis past season.
Rocky (41:57):
Coach, you had a special wide receiver who I
unfortunately the injury uh gotthe best of him late in the
season for you, but one of thebest receivers in the country
and one that we've all followedhere across the country.
But talk to us about howspecial of a player Trey Van uh
Saunders is for you guys.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (42:12):
Yeah, Trey, what what a heartbreaking
injury.
Um, you know, you he is such agreat player.
I mean, he he could have playedat any in any school in the
country, uh FBF, FBS, FCS.
Um terrific young man.
So as a as a person, you know,outstanding student, you know,
takes he's an econ major here,which is one of the hard hardest
(42:34):
majors at Colgate, 3.7 GPA,just like off the field leader,
two-time captain, and then onthe field through he got injured
in the second play of our sixthgame.
So he basically played fivegames and and had 50 catches for
700 yards and six touchdowns.
And like, you know, he's juston he's an unguardable player,
(42:54):
um, and was a such a greatleader for our team and uh gave
a lot of the gave a lot of histeammates confidence when he was
out there because you know tohis teammates, Trey was
invincible.
Um, and then when he went whenhe went down, uh it was one of
those one of those injuries thatwhen it happened, everyone in
the stadium knew that the seasonwas over for him.
And um, you know, that thatthat took us so that that's you
(43:16):
know what I referenced a fewminutes ago about finding our
new identity.
You know, that you know, I'mproud of the with the way our
team and really led by Trey.
You know, he was, you know, bythe end of that game, he was
back on the sideline on crutchesand encouraging his teammates.
He was on the headset the restof the season, you know, when
when uh after he had he hadsurgery to to get fixed up.
And um he was we put him on aheadset.
(43:37):
He was coaching the receiversduring during games and
traveling with the team.
And you know, he just he meansa lot, means a lot to our team.
He's gonna be an outstandingplayer.
You know, we've had you knowcontact with you know pretty
much our uh every NFL team aboutTrey.
They've been been in watchinghim practice, watching the film,
and he's gonna have a chance toplay at the next level.
He deserves it.
He's got all the intangiblesthat you want uh to be to make
(44:01):
any organization better, andhe's got the physical skills and
he'll he'll make a fullrecovery and hopefully be
running full speed again by by apro day in uh little early
spring.
Rocky (44:12):
So, Coach, I gotta be honest with you.
I've been doing this Utica'spodcast with Coach Faz week in
and week out, and uh we got WolfHinnem and I will finish up
next week.
And at the end of it, I do thispick segment where I always I
I'll I'll try to pick the topnational games, and then I
always sneak in Colgate, andthen I always sneak in Syracuse.
And I gotta tell you, I'm gonnabe honest with you, there's a
couple games, the Lafayette gameI didn't pick you guys.
(44:34):
Fordham, I didn't pick youguys, but I root for every other
game except Fordham.
He went with us hard.
He goes, I gotta go with CoachFitz.
So like every week, you know,the games where him and I would
differentiate, I had to pick upa game on him because he was he
was riding with you.
But I know you guys have allthe coaching connections across
the country.
And you know, have you done anyscore watching to still be able
to follow like Utica?
(44:55):
And then you even Cortland, youknow, where you just came from,
they're back into the playoffsagain.
But um, do you get did you geta chance to to score watch and
follow any of those guys still?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (45:04):
Yeah, we do.
Yeah, I I follow, you know,follow everything.
Uh it's hard to harder to keeptrack of than than than I used
to, but um, yeah, we we have abunch of guys on staff.
Joe Giorbino is our is ouroffensive uh pass game
coordinator, wide receiverscoach, who uh is a Utica, Utica
grad.
Um Zach Boys, who playedquarterback for us at Cortland
(45:25):
and was the MVP of the StagBowl.
He's a quality control coachworking with me and the
quarterbacks here at Colgate.
So we're we're very tied in tothe uh to the D3 landscape.
We do we do like a fun, uh funpick 'em, um, pick'em segment
amongst our staff every uh everygame before the pregame
breakfast, just picking gamesfrom around the country and you
know, just a fun, a fun thing toyou know see.
(45:47):
Uh, you know, coaches arecompetitors.
So we we want to see who'sgonna who's gonna predict
predict who wins and loses andalways do some D3 games.
We have a couple guys on staffwho are D2, D2 guys from the
Midwest.
And so we pick a pick a coupleof D2 games, then some some FC
FCS games and FPS games.
So yeah, we keep we keep trackand Utica uh you know had a
(46:08):
great year.
What a what a great you knowthe what a great passing attack
they have uh they have thisyear.
Yeah.
So that was fun, fun to keeptrack of.
And um, and uh I believe theywon yesterday, did they not in
their in their bowl game?
Rocky (46:21):
They fell short.
They came back, they played uhRowan.
Uh it was 26 uh 26-20, I thinkwas the final score.
But uh they had a great year.
Now I think they won.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (46:31):
I'm sure they tried to throw it around
the around the field a lot inthat game, though.
That's which is which I whichthat has a special special spot
in my heart being a formerquarterback.
Rocky (46:41):
Well, coach, I know you you keep in touch with a lot of
even you got some of some ofyour friends coaching locally in
in high school.
And I know Coach Kramer is a afriend of yours.
He had a great year, and umCoach Smith at Whitesbrough had
a good year, and I know you'refriends with Coach DeCole, and
it's nice to see the coachingconnections with all you all you
local guys, and I know you guysall stay in touch.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:00):
Yeah, yeah, we do.
It's uh you know, it's you meetso many people over the years.
Football is a special game likethat, it brings brings people
together.
Um yeah, we're uh and you know,Peyton Way from from New
Harford is uh you know, we'rehe's a great, great, great
player, a couple guys from uhfrom that Whitesboro team who
you know who I would love to seein uh seeing seeing Colgate
(47:22):
Maroon.
Um but yeah, uh and CoachDracola.
I mean, he he uh he's been afriend for for a long, long
time.
And you know, he was agroomsman in my wedding, and I
was a groomsman at his wedding.
Um and so some some great uhjust great great guys, great
coaches, and you know, they theydo a great job.
Lifting football in central NewYork, section three, you know,
(47:42):
that's that's uh uh great to seethose guys, you know, New
Hartford and Whitesboro winningsectional titles.
It's a shame they don't playanymore.
I think they should schedule anon-I agree.
Rocky (47:53):
I agree.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:54):
That would be great for the area.
Rocky (47:55):
Bring the rivalries back, right?
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (47:58):
No doubt, no doubt.
Rocky (47:59):
Well, coach, listen, we'll have to do it again.
I don't know, I know you'realways busy, but uh I I always
do a uh kind of a coach's uhcollege football uh show.
And uh if if we have it, I'lluh I'll reach out to if you have
time.
Love to have you come on andtalk some college football uh
with us.
But uh proud of you, and uhColgate's been so good to me
over the years, and Jordan andeverybody there have always been
(48:20):
great to me.
And uh I look forward to youand I talking some Colgate
football and more throughout theseason.
So I look forward to that aswell.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (48:27):
Anything you need, let me know.
And I appreciate what you do tocover football in the area,
high school and college, andappreciate your coverage of
Colgate.
Rocky (48:35):
Thanks, Coach.
I appreciate it.
We'll do it again, Sue.
Happy holidays.
Coach Curt Fitzpatrick (48:38):
Thank you, happy Thanksgiving.
Take care.
Rocky (48:40):
So that was Coach Kurt Fitzpatrick, and uh I I said it
before the season started whenhe got the job.
I said he is going to turn thisprogram around in a heartbeat.
And I know as he said, youknow, five wins, you want to win
every game that you play, butthey were in a lot of games.
They had a lead late in some ofthese games.
Um so for him and that staff tocome in and do what he did in
(49:01):
in year one um was fantastic.
So thanks to uh Coach Fitz foruh for jumping on with me here
this morning on Sportswatch.
Um I'll let you everybody knowwhen the final episode of the
Utica University FootballPodcast will be.
Um I think Coach and I areplanning on doing it next week,
but I have to see because I'mdown in my basement, is where my
(49:22):
studio is, and we're gettingour kitchen remodeled.
So right above me, the ceiling,I think they have to take some
of the ceiling off, which meansI gotta move some of my stuff.
So I might be without equipmentfor a few days, but I'll see
when it is and I'll I'll makesure that uh that I make it
happen.
I'll let everybody know.
We'll finish out the year withCoach Foz.
But um I want to make sure Ithank Coach Schneider for coming
(49:43):
on with me this morning.
He's always been great to me aswell.
Um, thank Coach Fitz for comingon.
And uh I did reach out and Iwas gonna tell Coach Fitz this,
but Coach Langle, the basketballcoach, is gonna be coming on
with me as well.
Uh so we'll be talking somecollege college hoops with Coach
Matt Langle next week, righthere on the show.
We'll get more high schoolsports, more high school
basketball with the boys, girls.
(50:04):
We'll see if we can get CoachMedisis on to talk RFA
basketball, who they all get setto start here over the next
week or two.
So we'll talk more umthroughout the next couple
weeks.
So hopefully you enjoyed theshow.
I appreciate everybodyfollowing me across all social
media channels.
Thanks for making the rock pilewhat it is today, and thanks
for following the Mohawk ValleySports Watch.
Have a good weekend, everybody.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.