November 25, 2025 • 45 mins
We look back on an 8-win season, a home ECAC berth, and a narrow loss that sharpened our edge for next year. We share what we learned, who set records, and how the culture turned joy and grit into momentum for 2026.
• Rowan bowl game swings and missed chances
• Defensive second-half fixes and secondary standouts
• Record-setting offense and O-line protection
• Tyler’s return plans and fifth-year decisions
• Awards, program growth, and tougher schedules
• Culture built on energy, fun, and accountability
• Honoring James Sallas and mental health focus
• JV pipeline, recruiting weekends, and spring plans
• Staff shoutouts and coaching development pathway
• Rivalry week picks and local coaching notes
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:31):
Welcome back, everyone, to the final episode of Inside
Utica University Football.
I'm Little C as always yourhost.
I'll have Coach Blaise Fazianohere in just a little bit.
Excited to uh to talk to Coach.
I felt like I kept saying thisthroughout the year, but I was
like, uh, we got two more weeksleft, one more week left, and
here we are now at the finalshow uh of the season.
(00:52):
It's been a really fun show.
Happy that uh coach uh allowedme to do this, and I know I'll
get into all that as we as wego.
If you're following on YouTube,make sure you hit subscribe,
share the channel.
I will say this, very happywith uh with the shows um across
all the shows throughout theseason, all social media
platforms, well over 40,000 uhviewers, and that's across all
(01:15):
the platforms.
Um iHeartRadio, Apple Podcastsfor the podcast listeners, and
then social media.
Uh we were about four or fivethousand views in all of them a
week, which is fantastic.
So for the first time doing it,hopefully we'll be able to uh
do it again next season uh withCoach.
So let me bring Coach on.
I'm experimenting tonight witha new software.
So Coach, let me uh let me justflip us here.
(01:38):
Now let me flip this.
There we go.
We're gonna roll with this onetonight.
We're gonna roll with the fearof the moose up on top tonight.
And uh well, coach, it's uhwe're down to the last one.
How'd that happen?
I have no idea.
(01:59):
Um football, I'm sure it goeseven faster for you once you're
into the season.
You guys officially start, andthe year just goes by so fast.
But imagine once you're in themiddle of it like you guys were,
it goes fast.
Coach Faggiano (02:12):
It really does.
You get in that routine, youknow, and you're like in your
own little bubble and uh and youlove it.
It takes a little bit to kindof transition, you know, and uh
all of us going back and makingsure we're good husbands and uh
and uh and and having a goodholiday here with Thanksgiving,
and then quickly, you know, it'sit's it's no rest for the
weary, right?
(02:32):
You gotta go recruit, gotta gohit the pavement.
Rocky (02:35):
So, coach, let's talk about the the game last week.
And as I said to you a littlebit before we came on live, as
you got you guys got down behindearly here to start the game,
and you guys battled back asexpected.
You guys have done it allseason, but you guys got off to
a little bit of a slow start.
You guys were down, I think itwas 19-7 at half.
Coach Faggiano (02:54):
It was, you know, it we're in a real big
kind of momentum.
There were a couple of bigmomentum shifters in the game
where we needed to swing it backour way.
And like one was where we had agreat punt, we punt it down to
the one, and then we let themdrive, and we let them out of
the black zone, and then theywent and scored before half,
right?
And like that's the thing thatwe like to do, right?
That's why we defer.
(03:14):
Hey, let's let's score beforehalf.
We're getting the ball to startthe second half, and um but the
the game uh lived up to allexpectations as far as like two
very good teams.
Um, it really felt like an NCAAplayoff game, and it and it's a
game, you know, as we is, youknow, not to not to not include
some games, but if you were tolike highlight four or five
(03:36):
games from the season and itreally kind of go at those films
that really kind of felt likeplayoff games, and those are
those games that in some caseswe were able to win, you know,
whether it'd been a Brockport orWNJ, and then some places we
lost, like a Hobart or in thisgame with Rowan.
So uh, but it was a great, itwas a great game, you know,
great game.
Like we we're coming firingback, and then we had again
(03:56):
another not like from theoffensive perspective, like we
get a great surprise onsidekick, Nico Duarte.
He's like so good at that,right?
They're they were back at 15yards and almost does it like
it's easy, right?
Like the ball at 11 yards justpops up into his arms, and then
we and then there we didn't takeadvantage of that, right?
We had a turnover right there.
So that was a tough scenario.
There's another time in thethird quarter where we're
(04:18):
driving down and we gave it overon down.
So like next thing you know, wefeel like all right, we got to
throw the ball a lot more tokind of get back in the game.
And geez, we did.
We did.
And you know, you hate to sayit, and you talk to the guys
like you have to play above acall, but man, we were you know,
I we may need to get into thereplay, I think, in the umpire.
I think in our conference calland that call for it, um,
(04:38):
because we had a good shot of uhuh Lorenzo Velez, and geez, I
really thought he was in.
Both feet were in to win thegame.
You know, we're out there to gokick the extra point, but it
was a great back and forth game.
You know, they blocked thefield goal, we blocked the field
goal an extra point.
Um you know, they're a goodphysical team.
Their number 28 was a you knowgood running back, who's tough
(04:58):
to tackle, um, and uh you know,just kind of kind of slipped
away from us.
But it was it was a heck of afootball game.
We had a nice crowd, and uh,you know, certainly a game that
you know leaves a bittersweettaste in your mouth.
You know, it's one that theguys that are coming back, which
we have a lot of guys, we couldtalk about that too.
A lot of guys coming back likeyou know, on our field at home,
first time to watch the otherteam get the trophy.
(05:21):
That's a tough one, right?
And that's just great, greatmotivation uh into the offseason
is what it is for all of us,for our coaches and for our
players.
No different than like GroveCity.
We go down to Grove City, theykind of kicked our teeth in.
We got our act together, youknow, we we we put the work in
and fouled it up with the 10-winseason, right?
So, like, you know, certainlyum uh very frustrating and and
(05:42):
you know, love our seniors and atough way for them to finish,
but it was a great game, nodoubt.
Rocky (05:47):
Coach, your your defense on the back end, the secondary,
Eli Douglas, and Mason were allover the place for you guys.
And I think you got you heldthem under 200 yards uh passing.
Talk to us about those two.
Big big days for both of them.
Coach Faggiano (05:59):
They did.
They played really well.
You know, they they werecertainly had a game plan to run
more on the perimeter in thefirst half.
It was more on the boundary inthe second half.
They kind of ran more to thefield.
Um, we did a much better ondefense in the second half.
We held them to the one score,um, you know, to kind of give
ourselves a chance, you know,fighting chance there in the
second half.
So, you know, defense kind ofcleaned some things up there
(06:20):
from the first half and and uhand gave us a chance to win.
Rocky (06:24):
Your three-headed monsters on the outside didn't
disappoint either.
You know, big players make bigplays in big games and Antonio
nine catches for a buck 23,Logan had 10 catches for a buck
oh eight, Bryce had 11 catchesfor 58.
He broke the single seasonrecord, an Empire 8 record, um,
with a thousand twenty-six uh 91catches for over a thousand
(06:45):
yards.
So those three guys didn'tdisappoint at all.
Coach Faggiano (06:48):
Not at all.
No, I played amazing, playedtough physical, um, you know,
great effort.
Uh, you know, ANO, we didn't wedidn't run the ball as much as
we would have liked Aze when hewas great in protection.
Uh the runs he had did reallywell.
Um, yeah, it was it was abattle.
It was it was uh on our turf,and and and you know, our guys
(07:10):
got the feel of what, hey, likeyou need our coaches too.
Like, all right, who are youplaying?
You don't know who you'replaying, boom.
You got three tapes, you gotthree films, and you got to
figure it out in that week,right?
And that's really like playofffootball, right?
Um, you know, and uh, you know,we're uh we're gonna be better
for it for sure.
Like you look back on theseason and the teams we've
played in the regular season androan and the postseason.
(07:31):
Um, you know, that's certainlya higher level of caliber than
you know, say 10 years ago ofteams we're playing overall,
week in and week out.
And uh, you know, you want tobe great, you got to play great,
great opponents.
And I think we've certainlydone that, and and the guys kind
of know, hey, this is what itlooks like when when you can
football, when we're on andwe're playing well, these are
some mistakes.
Like we had some really badpenalties.
(07:53):
There were some offsettingpenalties that I was mad about.
We're like, we need to walkaway so they get the 15-yard
penalty.
So some things that you knowcertainly you know we want to
work on, but you know, thosekind of games are the ones that
you that are gonna make youbetter, right?
Sometimes you learn the mostwhen you take a tough loss,
sometimes, unfortunately.
Rocky (08:10):
And Coach Tyler ended up setting the records for
completions yards and uh 33touchdowns, and he had over 67%
completion.
He threw for 357 and threescores, and I know we've talked
about him all year, but when youput him with those three guys
you have on the outside and anduh in Logan in that mix, man,
that group's been special allseason for you guys.
Coach Faggiano (08:31):
Well, no doubt, you know, and and and uh so glad
that Tyler and his familydecided uh to come to Utica last
winter.
Um he's a great young man, hereally fits us.
Um you know, we tease him,tough Polish kid that fits in in
Utica, New York, and and uh youknow, certainly control the
football, but so many otherlevels.
Like he's a strong leader, he'sa confident guy.
(08:52):
Um, you know, and it was great.
We you know, for those that arewondering, um, you know, him
and I had a meeting today andand told me that he'll be back
for 2026.
And you know, we're reallyexcited about that, you know.
Um you know, with the the funnydivision one rules versus
division three, you know, he'sgot to work a little something
out with the student teaching,kind of break it up so he can
have that that 10th semesterwith us.
And and then we're hoping thatthat will kind of trickle a
(09:15):
domino effect with LoganFrederick, who has another year
left.
That would be great.
Um Mason uh Mason Payton, uhnumber 15, starting corner, and
uh and uh Gavin Gretz, we're allguys that have that extra year,
and we certainly want all thoseguys to take it.
You know, so so the first thingI told Teller is now it's your
job to help us, you know,recruit our fifth-year guys and
make sure they stay, and then umyou know help us uh in the in
(09:38):
the recruiting process.
So that was some good newstoday for sure.
Rocky (09:41):
And coach, talk to us a little bit too.
You got your seniors on theO-line.
I think you have Carson and uhand Malzon.
Uh I think are your only twoseniors.
I could be wrong, but I thinkthey're the only two seniors.
But that group again, sixthconsecutive game, and you had a
lot of guys in units that wererecognized with the Empire 8
awards here at the end of theseason.
But talk to us another gamewhere the quarterback was
upright the entire game.
Coach Faggiano (10:02):
You know, and like that we threw it, we threw
it 63 times, which is a bit,right?
But you know, um, and notsacked.
I mean, they're and they're andthey it wasn't because Rowan
wasn't blitzing and twisting us,you know what I mean.
So uh, you know, Carson, yougotta love these guys.
You know, not everyone's builtto have patience and wait,
right?
And it's just a great lessonfor young guys, you know what I
(10:24):
mean?
That you know, whether theywant to leave or transfer or
decide not to play, like at youknow, at any place.
And you know, Carson is hisfirst year starting at center
and did a great job at center.
Great, great job.
You know, physical therapymajor.
Mulzan, this was his firstyear, and he kind of you know,
kind of played all over.
He played some center, someguard, you know, it really at
the end of spring, we kind ofmade that decision that, you
(10:44):
know what, this guy's gonna beour starting right tackle, you
know, had a had a great year.
Um, you know, uh, you know,gonna miss those guys.
They really, you know, the factthat they made the national
team of the week was amazing.
Like we have a uh we haven'tput it out yet, but there's a
picture.
We have a bulletin boardoutside of locker room, old
school bulletin board, andLambert Jordan gives us like a
little card stock color when thegraphics come out.
(11:05):
And this has to be by far themost decorated team in our
program's history between the D3National Team of the Week, the
Empire Eight players of the weekwas pretty amazing.
The records that we've broke,um our defense ended being one
of the top defenses in thecountry, and then the Empire
Eight.
Um, and usually that'ssomething that just Brockport's
always been, right?
(11:25):
Or Cortland, and we and we wereright there, I think, either
first or second in somecategories, but like, you know,
really came to play.
And just to, you know, I thinkoverall, you know, you got to go
back and very quickly look atlike last year, you know, five
and five, very disappointing.
You know, why did you know weknow one more win and we're
going to another bowl game.
Um, you know, and but it reallylike this team, and I have to
(11:49):
mention, you know, uh, it was atough way to end last year as
far as you know, we lost one ofour own, you know what I mean?
And and our guys really, youknow, dedicated this season to
James, to James Sallas, and andand kind of did it in our own
kind of, I don't want to sayquiet, but our own classy way
with the with the with theapproval of his parents, you
know.
And like, I don't know if yousaw, but all the little hash
(12:11):
marks on the 12 had orange Uaround them on our field, right?
Uh, we locked arms every homegame and made sure that RPA
announcer read a thing aboutJames and and um and and for
mental health, you know, andlike you know, when we beat
Fisher to kind of salvage youknow a five-and-five year and
still maybe get a bow game, andthen like that prayer with
(12:32):
Fisher at the end of the game,that was a pretty emotional
game, uh, you know, because wehad lost James and right around
that time.
And just the way our guysplayed and came together, like I
felt I told him in the teammeeting, I said you do the
football's back to where it'ssupposed to be.
And that you know, we finishedsecond in the Empire Eight.
Uh, we got our, you know,again, continued to make
history, right?
And just we kind of like chipaway at it, right?
(12:54):
It's not all at once, but we weuh you know finally earned the
opportunity to host an ECACgame, which was a big deal for
us.
And and our school did a greatjob with that.
You know, kudos to uh CoachSaint and Coach Renane and our
administration did a great joband just you know didn't go our
way.
Um, but when I saw like a lotof the young guys after the game
(13:14):
or guys that are coming back,like it just seemed like they
know that that this is a goodfootball team and we're gonna
build off of this season.
And it was it was great to getback to the eight wins and great
to get back to postseason.
And now they know that fine,you know, we're talking about
you know, not just having asuccessful season, but the
difference between okay, X, Y,and Z, how do we how are we a
top 25 team?
(13:35):
How are we a top 10 team in thecountry?
Which is exciting to talkabout, you know, and and it's
not just talk, like based uponwho we played this year and how
we played, the guys know thatthat's it's not just hoping and
wishing to be, it's like we knowthat's something that's
attainable.
Rocky (13:49):
So, coach, when you look back at the season as a whole,
what's the first word or maybethe emotion that comes to mind
for you?
I gotta say fun.
Coach Faggiano (13:59):
These these guys were fun, they brought juice to
practice.
I mean, we're out there on aWednesday, it's pouring sideways
rain.
Um, I think that week we wereplaying someone that we were
pretty confident we were gonnabeat.
And our guys are out theresinging and dancing and working
hard.
There's a lot of fun.
We've got some guys with a lotof energy, like the Nick
DeForest and Matt Polaris, toname a couple guys that'll be
(14:21):
back.
Like the energy they bring topractice, it just is contagious,
you know, and spreadsthroughout the team.
Um, you know, uh the way thatthey, you know, if you were to
talk to like a couple of thefreshmen who played, like an
Austin DeGrode or ChristianParmone, and you hear how those
guys talk about theupperclassmen and being a part
of it, like, you know, um thoughthose guys are emotional, the
(14:44):
Farold Hines, emotional afterthis last game.
Like, you know, they they'rethey're hungry for more, you
know, and so it definitely wasfun.
And um, you know, at times wewere a little, uh, I would say a
little young.
Uh I didn't want them to knowthat, but I think at times that
showed a little immaturity, wegotta mature more.
That starts with me, you know,holding those guys accountable.
(15:04):
Um, but uh it's gonna be fun.
Like there's so many guys whenwe got in the bus to WJ that
never played and never had anovernight trip.
And I did not tell them that,Rock.
Okay.
Just go play the game, right?
And um, you know, uh, that'sgonna be a wild week one game,
right?
WJ coming here.
So, you know, it'll beinteresting.
(15:25):
You know, we've got some uh,you know, it's the same schedule
next year, um, obviouslyflipped home and away.
And those home games are teamslike WJ, Hobart, Cortland,
Brockport, right?
So, like, all right, giddy up,you know, giddy up.
It's uh, you know, these wetalked about the New York D3
football.
So um, you know, our youngguys, I was so excited.
(15:48):
I was so pleased with adifference this year is we had
seven JV games, you know, so thepeople behind the scenes know
that.
But I mean, that's that's atleast three or four more games
than most schools, and then someschools maybe don't play JV or
only play a game or two.
So there's some really goodyoung talent that's gonna come
up from the JVs and and uh andfill some holes on guys, you
(16:09):
know, uh offense, defense, andspecial teams-wise for sure.
Um so that was tough becauseyou know, you they're all the
things that that we want, right?
We want to order rings and wewant the championship poster,
like you can see behind me here.
You know, we want to be in theUtica State, we're not gonna be
in the Utica St.
Patrick's Day parade.
I got the email the other day.
We're not walking because wedidn't win the game, right?
(16:30):
So that those are things wewant for our program.
So we're definitely gonna behungry uh as we go into the
offseason.
But like right now, they allknow they know me.
It's like, you know, get homefor Thanksgiving, spend time
with your family.
Um, you know, but they theyknow 20 20 26 has already
started for them with our teammeeting on Monday that we had.
And they'll get in the weightroom next week a little bit too.
Rocky (16:50):
So, coach, I know we talked, you had a lot of
defining moments this season foryou guys.
Is there a certain game or amoment you feel shifted the
momentum for the season?
Oh, that's a good question.
Coach Faggiano (17:01):
Um, I I I can't say that.
I think no doubt that the W andJ and RPI games collectively
gave us some confidence, right?
Um, and you know, so we were,you know, maybe some younger
teams, you know, you know, gointo some place and be
(17:22):
intimidated, right?
And we did, and we came toplay, you know what I mean?
And yeah, I can't I can't saythat.
I think the biggest thing Italk to the guys about is
football.
We go from feeling like theBrockport win, being like on
cloud nine, amazing win on theroad, all these crazy
conditions, and then the rightthat you know you talk about the
agony of defeat at home.
(17:42):
We got to win that home game,we got to find a way to win that
game.
Um, you know, but that's that'swhat football.
That's what football teachesall of us.
And you know, but uh yeah, Idon't know if there was one
really defined moment.
They they they knew uh afterthat second loss that we needed
to win out to have a chance togo to the tournament or have a
chance to um have a home gameright from the beginning.
(18:05):
So it was no surprise.
And they knew it was out of ourhands, and and they knew that
Hopkins losing didn't help us,and they knew Cortland and RPI
losing didn't help us, right?
Maybe we would have snuck inthere, which would have been
amazing.
But at the end of the day, weneeded to beat Hobart, we needed
to win the conference, right?
Needed to beat Cortland, andum, you know, I think again, as
you look at those games, um, andany given Saturday in the
(18:27):
Empire Eight, you'd better cometo play, right?
I told him, I said,Morrisville, they get the ball
back, and they're technicallythat was to drive to win the
game, and we just stopped them,right?
And Morrisville didn't win thegame this year.
They're a really good footballteam, they have good players,
just they had a tough year.
It happens, you know.
Within Hartwick, we come toplay, we play better, and then
we have the result.
(18:48):
We, you know, if you thinkyou're gonna do that, you know,
you certainly don't.
But if you execute at a highlevel and do things the right
way, all of a sudden you look atthe scoreboard and you're like,
wow, look at that.
You know, and and I reallythink our guys learned a lot.
I think that's one thing Iwould talk about.
These guys did learn a lotabout even like Tyler, first
time in the Empire 8.
Um, you know, and he he learnedthat that teams come to play,
(19:11):
and um, you know, it's gonna bepretty exciting to see how you
know he's gonna improve uh inour football program, and which
you can still how do you improvefrom being offensive player of
the year?
Well, he's a very competitiveguy and you know has a little
bad taste in his mouth after youknow losing that bowl game that
we that we uh had anopportunity to win.
So um, you know, I think he alot of our guys learned, but
(19:34):
hadn't played uh in big games,you know.
We played in some big gamesthat we can learn from and
taking the offseason.
Rocky (19:40):
Hey coach, you might have answered this question already.
I think you're gonna you guysare gonna graduate your uh 21 or
22 seniors, I think is what mynumber was.
I don't know if that soundsright or if I'm close.
You're close.
Um I know you talked about theteam and it was a fun group, but
is there is there something, acertain thing you'll remember
the most about just a seniorclass?
Um, you know, again, the seasonthat you guys had, you broke a
(20:02):
lot of records.
Offense was one of the was thebest in the conference, defense
was right there.
Um, all the awards.
Is there something you'llremember most about this class?
Coach Faggiano (20:11):
I mean, they're just some tough, gritty kids.
I mean, Bryce Palmer, you knowwhat I mean?
Like you felt like you, youknow, just fighting through this
season, you know, uh to puttogether a full season, um, you
know, kind of wriggled withinjuries over the last couple
years, you know.
Um, it was just great to seehim even through the season,
fight through some things.
(20:32):
I think Antonio Chanferranicoming back, you know, from
tearing his ACL, right?
And coming back from that, alot of people would say, oh, you
know, you want to be a cop or atrooper, you know, you got to
take care of your body, youknow.
And I I just I don't like whenpeople like, what are you
talking about?
Like we do all these crazythings in our lives.
We go skiing, we get on a weget on a snowmobile, we do all
(20:53):
these dangerous things, andpeople for some reason are
worried about football.
Like, these guys need football.
They have an extra year ofeligibility.
They know if they come to myoffice, I'm gonna tell them you
got to find a way to use it,right?
Because you're not playingfootball when you're old and
gray, like me.
There's no pickup football.
And so every time you get achance to play this game, you
know, you want to you know takeadvantage of it.
So I think I think of those twoguys for sure.
(21:16):
Um, I think you know a guy, uh,an unsung hero guy like a Vinny
Bernardo, right?
That like was a linebacker,wasn't working at linebacker,
asked to move the tight end, andthen his senior year earns a
spot in a Raven package, whichwas very successful, was a very,
very good special teams player.
I would tease him and call himlike he's my Vince Papal out
(21:38):
there.
Um but like you know, he had soyou know just a great got to
carry the flag out uh you knowum at the last game, like just
tremendous human being.
Like that's gonna make him sucha better person in life that
that he stuck it out his fouryears, even though he wasn't
always a starter and then had asenior year to remember, yeah,
(21:58):
for sure.
Um, you know, you know,certainly again, one of the one
of our best programs we've hadin our school history, right?
Uh, one of our best teams, Ishould say.
Uh, I can remember just so manyalumni going, Coach, it's not
the old days as far as thenon-league schedule.
Holy cow, you're playing someguys, right?
And then even in the bowl game,a couple of the guys are like,
what happened to when whenIthaca was the one seed, and
(22:20):
then we had to go play Ithaca asthe last seed, right?
And then we finally go and geta home game, and now that's now
they want to change how they dothings, and that's fine, which
you know they're there happenedfor a reason, right?
Like, yeah, I th I told theRowan coach I thought he should
have had a home game.
Like, what do you got to do toget a home game in the ECAC?
I'm gonna call and tease them alittle bit, like you know, and
(22:40):
then you see you know, Hobartand Brockport got home games,
and the coach from Rowan likethrow the N-Jack a bone here,
right?
We want those guys to put infor ECACs, but sorry, I'm
speaking my mind a little bitmore than maybe I've made
normal, but maybe made normally.
But um, yeah, so we so we uhright two years ago we're eight
and two, and they send us toHobart.
Like, what do we got to do?
(23:01):
So, so we were we were we werecertainly excited and fired up
to host.
And um, you know, again, we'rewe're programs in a good place,
and the kids are excited aboutwhere we're headed.
They'll talk talk with a few ofthem in the office today.
Rocky (23:15):
And coach, I think you already got this this one too.
This this answer to myquestion.
But as far as the you know, theprogram growth, as you said,
you told the team that you knowthe program's back, we're
heading in the right directionafter this season, and you know,
you set the bar this season andso high coming in next year.
If that group coming in nextyear has got a lot of uh lot of
work to do to even build fromthere, but what identity did
(23:36):
this team establish for futureyou next year's team and even
recruits coming in?
You know, what did this teamset for for those kids coming
in?
Coach Faggiano (23:45):
You know, I just think you're dealing with
adversity, right?
And just when if you were tohear, you know, after every
practice, uh we have one of ourplayers talk to the team, and
just the the amazing things andwords of wisdom they have for
the younger players, you know,and they've all had those tough
times, their freshman year andsophomore year, and they're here
they are as a junior, seniorstarter, um, or playing for the
(24:06):
first time or contributing, andand just encouraging those
younger guys to stick with itwhen it seems tough, when it's
tough, you're getting your buttbeat in the scout team, and
we've all been there, you know.
And I think that's that's whatmakes our guys different, you
know, just uh just watch howmuch they care uh about each
other and the program.
And and you just you can see itwhen you hear them talk about
(24:26):
the program, whether it be afterpractice or or in our uh our
Friday night meetings, which arepretty special, you know.
Um, I think that's it's alwaysabout relationships, you know,
and it's the relationships thatthey ultimately that they have
with each other, you know, thatcould they play with each other
and and they have with thecoaches.
Rocky (24:42):
So and coach, I know every year is is different for
the for the coaches, and Iwanted to ask you this one.
Did you learn anythingdifferent about yourself this
year with this group?
I know you you're the old guy,right?
You said at the start of theseason coaching.
Did you learn anythingdifferent this year?
Coach Faggiano (24:56):
You know, I thought I I try in the special
teams meeting, which I've beenrunning, uh, I just thanked the
group, you know, because thelast few years I've had someone
else on staff from Coach Lemmon,who's the OC at Fairmont State
now, Joey Lapani, who's back inhis high school at Hilton,
Brandon Woods that's coaching atBethune Cookman, those were our
last three special teamscoordinators.
(25:17):
And that that certainly takes alot off your plate.
And I was always involved,right?
But there's a lot of work inthere.
And so um having to take thaton so that you know uh offensive
and defensive coaches didn'thave to worry about it as much,
although they all have a part,was something I really enjoyed,
you know what I mean, andenjoyed uh you know, working
with those guys and and the gameplans week to week.
(25:39):
And then our young gradassistants certainly helped me
with the game, you know, makingthe scot reports every week.
And you know, that wassomething for me to get back to
doing is at the end of the day,I love coaching.
You know, there was uh one yearwhere I was more of a manager
type guy and walk around andcoach the running backs, I was
miserable.
And uh my good friend JohnSnell, who's the chair of the
(26:01):
NCAA committee, him and I weretalking at a stag bowl.
He's like, at the end of theday, he goes, as the head coach,
what do you do best and whatmakes you happy?
He goes, if you're happy,everyone else is happy.
And you surround yourself withpeople that do the things that
you're not as good at.
And some of the best advice Ihave ever got now from any
coach.
And so I enjoy coaching thatD-line and they played their
(26:22):
butts off this year.
They really did.
I enjoy coaching the specialteams uh more so this year uh
than I had in other years.
Uh we you know, we changed ourpractice schedule so I could
coach the long snappers, butthen also still coach special
teams because the way we used todo it, I was never at the
stations because that's when wewould do long snappers.
We actually changed our wholepractice schedule around um and
(26:44):
uh kind of stole it from theguys down at Colgate.
I don't mind saying that.
Uh and kind of liked how theywere doing things.
And um so I think that'ssomething that I learned.
I just enjoy working with theguys and love going to practice.
Rocky (26:57):
So, Coach, what would you like to say for the Pioneer
Nation, the Pioneer fans thisyear?
And and your your fans havebeen outstanding, whether it's
at the games, on social mediathat's backed you guys,
supported you guys, even on thisshow.
I think I've gained more fanswhen I see people now.
They say, You're the you're theguy that was doing the show
with Coach.
What would you like to say toall those people?
Coach Faggiano (27:18):
You know, you know, from the bottom of my
heart, thank you.
You know, we got you know,Pioneer Nation, our our 12-man
tailgate, our parents, ourfamily, our community support.
You know, we had tremendouscommunity support with our
corporate sponsorships and thepartnerships we have with some
of the local groups and justcreating memories.
I just saw the I didn't realizewe were gonna be in the new
first source commercial.
(27:39):
So make sure you check out thethat's you know, it's it's it
that was wild.
That was wild.
So Utica Football is in thefirst source commercial.
I didn't know that was gonnahappen.
Um, you know, I think you know,uh just thank you.
Like we have such a great gameday atmosphere, we have such a
great tailgate.
Our parents do a great job.
We had a group of moms thatwere taking pictures.
(28:00):
We have to be the mostphotographed team in Division
III, and so thank you to thatsquad of moms, did a great job.
Um, you know, uh, I was talkingto Gavin Gretsch's mom today
because we want Gavin to comeback.
And I said, well, we're notjust recruiting the right guard,
we're recruiting one of our12-man parents.
You know, she was so she so shewas laughing.
So um, and then all the alums,like you, I can't tell you guys
(28:23):
enough that you guys that arelistening that when you shoot me
that text on Friday night orSaturday morning, like um, her
Facebook message, like that'sthat's I live, that's what I
live for, are those things, andthat's why I coach.
So um, you know, guys, keepdoing that.
You know, keep doing that forsure.
Rocky (28:38):
So, coach, I'm gonna have to we're I I have games for us
to pick, and I'm gonna have toshoot Jim next week, and I'm
gonna post them up on socialmedia who wins this thing
because we are deadlocked.
We are 30.
That's wild.
I saw that we're tied.
Coach Faggiano (28:52):
There's no way I would have bet that I'd be
tied.
Not that I'm saying that youdid a bad job, Rock.
I'm just saying that knowingmyself, and I don't pay
attention.
You pay attention, okay?
I don't pay attention.
Rocky (29:02):
Well, that's what makes me feel even worse that I pays
attention.
Coach Faggiano (29:06):
It's straight, it's straight luck, okay?
Maybe I catch the game.
Rocky (29:09):
We both won the Syracuse game.
We both won that game.
I think they didn't cover thethe the 37 and a half or
whatever it was.
But I got a lot of big games.
It's rivalry week here.
Uh I know my household will beon separate couches on Saturday
for Michigan, Ohio State.
Um, Old Miss is uh the eggbowl, old Miss Mississippi
State, all the hype around LaneKiffen.
(29:30):
A lot of people are sayingmaybe Lane's the biggest troll
right now, getting moreattention.
He's gonna say he's gonna stayat Ole Miss.
Um this one's at MississippiState.
Mississippi State is gettingseven and a half at home.
You think the distractions aretoo much and Mississippi State
gets them?
Nah, I'll go old miss.
Yeah, I'm uh I'm with you.
(29:51):
I I say you think he's gonnaleave or you think he's gonna
stay?
Coach Faggiano (29:55):
Listen, that that's about as predictable as,
right?
Like some of the moves thathe's made, right?
And some of I I watched a thingon him recently about that.
Pretty wild, you know, and Ithink it's just so hard to like
you don't know.
People know it's him and hisfamily, right?
And there's different reasonswhy you make those kinds of
decisions.
A lot of times it's that you'retrying to do what's best for
(30:16):
your family, or they want tolive in a certain part of the
country, or you know, they havefamily somewhere.
I like to think, I'd like tothink I, you know, and maybe I'm
wrong, but that that goes intodecisions, and it's not just
about the money, but they'rethrowing around a lot of money
these days.
Rocky (30:31):
At this point, though, for him, it's like, how much
more money can you get?
He's got Ole Miss going to theplayoff.
I think what would be evenworse is if they win this game
and after the game they announceand say he's got to go talk to
the team and say, guys, I'mleaving.
I'm going to LSU.
And by the way, they're goingto play LSU next year, Ole Miss.
(30:51):
And it's like, he might noteven coach the team through the
playoffs.
I'm like, I don't know how youdo that, but again, I'm hearing
old or LSU's gonna offer him 90,95 million dollars.
I think he stays, but that's alot of money.
Coach Faggiano (31:04):
Man, that's crazy.
You can't even imagine theamount of money that's in
college football right now.
That's crazy.
Rocky (31:11):
No.
All right, the other one,Georgia, Georgia Tech.
So Georgia Tech just had theloss to Pitt.
So Narduzzi had said that uh hedidn't care if Notre Dame beat
him by 100.
He needs to win the last two,which he did.
Pitt was ready to play lastweek against Georgia Tech, but
they're a 13.5 point underdog athome to Georgia.
That's a lot of points in arivalry game.
(31:33):
Um, I don't know what happenedto them last week.
They didn't look very goodagainst Pitt.
Maybe they're overlooking youknow that game because of this
game.
I don't know if they can beatGeorgia.
I think Georgia right now isplaying as good as anybody.
But that's a lot of that's alot of.
I know we're not picking aspread in this game, but I think
if there was gonna be an upset,this would be the one.
Coach Faggiano (31:57):
So this will be the one that I'm either gonna
I'm gonna take you on or you'llbeat me because I'm gonna go
Georgia Tech.
Rocky (32:03):
How's that?
Are you?
I'm uh I'm I'm the opposite.
I think we're gonna be oppositeon a couple other ones.
I I know we're gonna go on acouple of these games, I think,
but I'm gonna take Georgia.
I think they're playing reallygood right now.
I think they're peaking at theright time.
This one could be a trap gamebecause I think if Archman plays
like he's been the last twoweeks, he looked really good
(32:24):
last week.
Now they were playing Arkansas.
This one's in Texas.
Texas is only a two and a halfpoint dog to AM, who's 11-0.
And I think AM wins, they're inthe FEC title game.
Um, if they lose, I thinkthere's a shot that a full miss
wins, they're in againstGeorgia.
But any chance that uh Texaspulls one out here, and many
(32:44):
think if they win and get thenine wins with this win, they
might sneak into the playoffssomehow.
I like AM.
I I don't think Texas can beatthem.
Right.
Man, I wouldn't be surprised.
Coach Faggiano (32:53):
Um I think on this one I'll go AM.
Rocky (32:57):
Yeah, okay.
I'm with you, but I but I couldsee this one if Arch plays
well.
Um, Texas has the athletes,that's for sure.
Um, but we'll see.
Coach Faggiano (33:06):
Like in these rivalry games, a lot of times,
those those point spreads, likethey they they could be a one
score.
Like the Georgia, say Georgiabeats Georgia Tech.
I don't think it'll be morethan a score.
Rocky (33:15):
No, me neither.
I think these games are allgonna be, and they're actually
all pretty decent spread.
Yeah.
Here's another one.
I haven't followed Arizona allyear.
Arizona State was close lastweek to Colorado until they
pulled away late.
Arizona State's plus one and ahalf at home.
I like state in this game, butI don't know too much about
Arizona this year.
Coach Faggiano (33:35):
Because I don't know much about either team, I'm
just gonna go with the rankedhome team, Arizona State.
Yeah.
Rocky (33:40):
I'm with you.
This is like one of the ones Ireally don't like.
Coach Faggiano (33:43):
They're on way too late.
Rocky (33:45):
Yeah.
All right, this is the one inmy household that uh so this
line, Michigan is now this linewent down to nine and a half
since I updated stuff lastnight.
Um, Michigan looked good lastweek.
Bryce Underwoods looked betterfor Michigan.
Ohio State's looked like awell-oiled machine that they
haven't played one close gameall year.
(34:05):
I'll say they really haven'tplayed anybody yet because they
didn't have to play Oregon thisyear, they didn't have to play
uh USC.
Uh but they're a 10 and a halfpoint favorite against Michigan.
Michigan's at home.
Can Michigan win this one againfor the fifth consecutive year?
Coach Faggiano (34:21):
No, Ohio State, Ohio State's gonna win.
Rocky (34:23):
So I'm gonna pick with my heart.
So I'm gonna probably give youa layup here.
I'm gonna pick Michigan.
I I can't go against uhMichigan.
Okay, last year, Coach Michiganwas a 24-point underdog and won
the game.
So you never know.
And I think it's supposed tosnow a little bit.
Um Ohio State's two receiversthere, the uh Jeremiah Smith and
(34:44):
Cardell Tate both did not playlast week.
I'm sure they're gonna playthis week.
I'm sure they'll find a way toget them on the field.
But right now they'requestionable uh for that game.
All right, we got two moregames here.
So Pitt looked really good lastweek um against Georgia Tech,
who I thought Georgia Tech wouldwin that game.
Miami looked really good lastweek.
(35:05):
Miami needs some help if theybeat Pitt to get into the ACC
title game.
And this is another one ofthose coaches.
Six and a half point dogs athome.
The way Pitts looked.
Pitt's physical.
Can Pitt get him at home, oryou like Miami?
This is a tough game.
Coach Faggiano (35:21):
Well, I I think the home field advantage is such
a big thing.
Um I'll go Miami.
Rocky (35:30):
Man, I really want to pick Pitt because I they're
physical.
They looked really good lastweek, but Miami's looked really
good the last couple weeks.
And I think Miami's on amission to get in and find a way
in.
I'm I'm I'm gonna go with you.
I'm gonna go Miami.
And then the last one actually,second to last one.
I got more on here because wegot to find some wins and losses
(35:52):
to break this tie.
This is another one.
This is a good one, too.
So Tennessee's minus two and ahalf.
So Vandy's getting two and ahalf in this game.
It's at uh at Tennessee.
Um I like Josh Hypo, but man,Vandy's on a mission, too, to
win 10 games at Vanderbilt.
It's crazy.
They used to be the bottom ofthe SEC, and then James Franklin
(36:13):
took Vandy, won some games, andthen he left.
And man, they looked prettygood this year.
You think Vandy gets it?
And then and then and then andthen NIL showed up, and then the
NIL showed up.
Coach Faggiano (36:23):
You know, Vandy's a great school, they
have some great alumni.
You know, like it's it's achance just change the change
the game.
Um, this could be interestingto see where you pick because we
could differ.
I'm gonna go Vandy.
Rocky (36:36):
Yeah, uh, I hate to say I'm with you on this one, but I
I like Vandy as well.
Um, to go in there and I don'tI don't know if Vandy's ever
went in there and beatenTennessee.
Um, I don't think they have,but uh I feel like Tennessee's
kind of like an under-the-radarteam.
I don't think Josh Heppel getsenough credit.
I think he's a great footballcoach.
All right, last one, the IronBowl.
(36:58):
Um Auburn.
This is a weird line to me ifyou follow gambling and lines.
So Auburn fires few freeze,they're looking for a coach.
They're under 500.
They're only getting five and ahalf at home to Alabama.
Any chance Auburn finds a way?
(37:19):
No, Alabama.
Yeah, I'm with you, but uh byyeah, but I do keep hearing,
coach, that uh I keep hearingthat Caelan DeBoore is a
candidate at Penn State.
I don't know if I buy it.
Um, I talked highly of uh BobChesney, who used to be at Holy
Cross.
Oh Bob Chesney's outstanding.
He's a uh standing head coach,no doubt.
(37:39):
Yep, he's the one that I keephearing, unless they give it to
uh Terry Smith, the interim headcoach for Penn State, who man.
It was like out of a movieSaturday night for Penn State.
They were chanting, you know,the we want Terry, we want
Terry.
Um, and he played there, thealumni won him, but I don't know
if he's the flashy guy uh forPenn State.
You think he gets a shot at it?
(38:00):
I know they're gonna interviewhim.
Coach Faggiano (38:02):
Well, that's good.
That's good.
Like you never know.
You didn't you don't know whatthe school's looking for.
Yeah, that's the thing youdon't know.
What's the what's the peoplethat the people that hold the
control, uh the big timeboosters, the athletic
department, the AD, thepresident.
You know, what are they lookingfor?
Are they looking for a leader?
Are they looking for a playcaller?
(38:22):
You know, someone's gonna getthem that that star quarterback
recruit kind of thing, which hasbeen that's been a trend for
sure.
Yep.
Um they know what they'relooking for.
Rocky (38:35):
Coach, I gave uh Coach Fitz uh I told him to give you a
shout out that uh you knowCoach Faz picked you all season
in the picks.
Um so I picked up a couple ofgames and I said, I gotta be
honest with you, I didn't pick,I didn't, I didn't pick you.
Um, but uh he was he was greatlast Sunday on the show, and um
he went he had another win.
They ended on a good note, sohe's got them going in the right
(38:55):
direction.
Coach Faggiano (38:55):
He did.
They're uh it's not gonna takethem long at all.
So I know they're recruiting,they're recruiting very well.
And I think it's reallyexciting that that that that we
the the matching of the time ofwe have some really good local
players that can play at thatlevel and that are choosing to
go play at Colgate for guys thatI that that I know and trust
that are gonna do a great job.
(39:16):
And I think anytime you can getyour you know, that's gonna
help your crowds, you know whatI mean?
That's gonna be great for homegames, and so yeah, um, you
know, excited to watch uh youknow guys like Kevin George, you
know, play there someday forsure.
Rocky (39:29):
So, coach, closing thoughts from you on on the
season, and uh no, the show'sbeen fun again.
I know I thanked you last week,but uh hopefully we'll get a
chance to do this again nextyear.
I hope we get a chance to maybetalk in the spring, you know,
heading in the spring ball withyou.
But uh again, I mean it.
Um I can't thank you enough.
You helped me uh go inside theprogram, which was great, and uh
(39:51):
build a lot of relationshipsoutside with a lot of people I
didn't know.
And uh I really, really can'tthank you enough, Coach.
Coach Faggiano (39:57):
Uh it feels mutual.
Uh definitely got you know, youknow, we have to do this in the
future.
I think doing something in thespring would be great, kind of
giving an idea on some, maybesome recruits that we could talk
about that are coming in andhow spring practice is going.
Um, you know, I want to thankmy coach and staff.
Uh, can't do it alone.
I have a tremendous coach andstaff.
Uh Coach Klaus, uh, CoachDenilovic, Coach McClendon, or
(40:18):
three full-time coaches, youknow, our four grad assistants,
you know, uh Coach Kraft, CoachPolito, Coach Karras, uh those
guys, those guys all play forus, right?
Just tremendous coach CoachGessner.
We got to thank Coach JabinoFong, came from Bethune Cookman.
Great job with those wideouts,right?
You know, fifth, fifth, fifthranked uh passing offense in the
(40:40):
country, in the nation, I guesswe have.
It's pretty crazy.
I looked at some of the statstoday.
Um, you know, and then uh andthen Griffin Murphy, our running
back coach, helped me a lotwith special teams from
Michigan, did a great job.
And like all these guys, it wastheir first time coaching, all
five of them, and just did atremendous job.
Uh, you know, Coach Oliverloved having him on staff from
you know from VBS and hisexperience and knowledge.
(41:02):
Uh a few times he spoke to theteam this year, which is on
point, and uh did a great, greatjob.
Um, and so we have a really,really strong coaching staff,
and all of our we had all of ouryoung phys ed guys helping us
this year, all volunteeringwhile they're finishing their
master's degree.
And uh they all did a greatjob.
We call them the YCA rock, theYoung Coaches Academy.
(41:22):
And so every year, every yearwe're gonna have a group of guys
that are you know getting theirfifth year, because at Utica,
you get your Phys Ed with youget your master's, your health,
and your phys ed all in in fiveyears.
And then for the longest time,our guys were like using their
COVID eligibility and playing,you know, the Novellos and Dan
Amadis and Joe Lapani's in theworld.
But now, so now these guys theycan coach with us and get that
(41:45):
on their resume.
So um, so really appreciativeof all those guys for sure.
Rocky (41:49):
And Coach Springball, when's the spring session start
for you guys?
I know you said the kids willgo home, enjoy Thanksgiving,
they'll get some lifts in nextweek.
But when do you guys get backinto it?
Coach Faggiano (41:57):
Yeah, so we're we're back um that week, I think
it's the week before MartinLuther King.
I think Martin Luther King's alittle later this year, might be
on the 20th or 21st.
I think we're back the 15th.
And we're back one week in thatfirst week of team meeting, get
two days of wait since, andwe're hosting recruits.
And we always have recruits uhon official visits at either
home basketball games or homehockey games, which are great
(42:20):
atmospheres.
Um we'll recruit left, and ouraccountability program is huge.
It's a big competition amongstthe team.
Uh, you can gain or losepoints.
Uh, we encourage them, they getpoints for being in campus
clubs and organizations, fordoing community service, for
going to different sportingevents.
Uh, it's really at the heart ofwhat we do.
Um, and uh yeah, then we thenwe start to get ready for spring
(42:43):
ball.
The spring practices don'tstart till after spring break,
which is uh after St.
Paddy's Day.
And so it goes comes comesquick.
Rocky (42:51):
Well, coach, listen, I'll uh I'll I know I'll message
you, text you throughout the uhthe offseason.
I'll have to put up our picksnext week to see who uh who won.
I got a special little prizefor the winner.
So if it's you got somethingcoming uh your way.
But uh again, thank you so muchfor everything.
And uh I know we'll be in touchthroughout the offseason.
Coach Faggiano (43:09):
Cool.
Thank you so much.
As always, fear the moose,everyone.
Rocky (43:12):
Thanks, Coach.
So that was awesome.
I cannot believe that we wentthat long.
And I, you know, I'll be honestwith you.
I said the views um well over40,000, which was fantastic.
And the people that thatfollowed us, I've met more
people that I didn't know, whichis which is awesome.
Um, it's all aboutrelationships.
I know coach spoke aboutrelationships throughout the
(43:33):
season, but uh it was absolutelyawesome to do uh a show with
him.
And again, he's been good to methroughout the year, throughout
my career, really.
So I can't thank Coach enoughfor everything he's done.
So um I'll let everybody knowon Sunday uh we'll be talking to
Colgate men's basketball coachMatt Langle's gonna join me on
Sunday, and I'll have a coupleother local guests on the Mohawk
(43:53):
Valley Sports Watch.
So on behalf of the entire showhere, the Rock Pile, the Mohawk
Valley Sports Watch, I hopeeverybody appreciated and
enjoyed um Inside UticaUniversity Football Podcast with
Coach Faziano and myself.
So have a good evening,everybody, and happy
Thanksgiving.
Welcome back, everyone, to the final episode of Inside
Utica University Football.
I'm Little C as always yourhost.
I'll have Coach Blaise Fazianohere in just a little bit.
Excited to uh to talk to Coach.
I felt like I kept saying thisthroughout the year, but I was
like, uh, we got two more weeksleft, one more week left, and
here we are now at the finalshow uh of the season.
(00:52):
It's been a really fun show.
Happy that uh coach uh allowedme to do this, and I know I'll
get into all that as we as wego.
If you're following on YouTube,make sure you hit subscribe,
share the channel.
I will say this, very happywith uh with the shows um across
all the shows throughout theseason, all social media
platforms, well over 40,000 uhviewers, and that's across all
(01:15):
the platforms.
Um iHeartRadio, Apple Podcastsfor the podcast listeners, and
then social media.
Uh we were about four or fivethousand views in all of them a
week, which is fantastic.
So for the first time doing it,hopefully we'll be able to uh
do it again next season uh withCoach.
So let me bring Coach on.
I'm experimenting tonight witha new software.
So Coach, let me uh let me justflip us here.
(01:38):
Now let me flip this.
There we go.
We're gonna roll with this onetonight.
We're gonna roll with the fearof the moose up on top tonight.
And uh well, coach, it's uhwe're down to the last one.
How'd that happen?
I have no idea.
(01:59):
Um football, I'm sure it goeseven faster for you once you're
into the season.
You guys officially start, andthe year just goes by so fast.
But imagine once you're in themiddle of it like you guys were,
it goes fast.
Coach Faggiano (02:12):
It really does.
You get in that routine, youknow, and you're like in your
own little bubble and uh and youlove it.
It takes a little bit to kindof transition, you know, and uh
all of us going back and makingsure we're good husbands and uh
and uh and and having a goodholiday here with Thanksgiving,
and then quickly, you know, it'sit's it's no rest for the
weary, right?
(02:32):
You gotta go recruit, gotta gohit the pavement.
Rocky (02:35):
So, coach, let's talk about the the game last week.
And as I said to you a littlebit before we came on live, as
you got you guys got down behindearly here to start the game,
and you guys battled back asexpected.
You guys have done it allseason, but you guys got off to
a little bit of a slow start.
You guys were down, I think itwas 19-7 at half.
Coach Faggiano (02:54):
It was, you know, it we're in a real big
kind of momentum.
There were a couple of bigmomentum shifters in the game
where we needed to swing it backour way.
And like one was where we had agreat punt, we punt it down to
the one, and then we let themdrive, and we let them out of
the black zone, and then theywent and scored before half,
right?
And like that's the thing thatwe like to do, right?
That's why we defer.
(03:14):
Hey, let's let's score beforehalf.
We're getting the ball to startthe second half, and um but the
the game uh lived up to allexpectations as far as like two
very good teams.
Um, it really felt like an NCAAplayoff game, and it and it's a
game, you know, as we is, youknow, not to not to not include
some games, but if you were tolike highlight four or five
(03:36):
games from the season and itreally kind of go at those films
that really kind of felt likeplayoff games, and those are
those games that in some caseswe were able to win, you know,
whether it'd been a Brockport orWNJ, and then some places we
lost, like a Hobart or in thisgame with Rowan.
So uh, but it was a great, itwas a great game, you know,
great game.
Like we we're coming firingback, and then we had again
(03:56):
another not like from theoffensive perspective, like we
get a great surprise onsidekick, Nico Duarte.
He's like so good at that,right?
They're they were back at 15yards and almost does it like
it's easy, right?
Like the ball at 11 yards justpops up into his arms, and then
we and then there we didn't takeadvantage of that, right?
We had a turnover right there.
So that was a tough scenario.
There's another time in thethird quarter where we're
(04:18):
driving down and we gave it overon down.
So like next thing you know, wefeel like all right, we got to
throw the ball a lot more tokind of get back in the game.
And geez, we did.
We did.
And you know, you hate to sayit, and you talk to the guys
like you have to play above acall, but man, we were you know,
I we may need to get into thereplay, I think, in the umpire.
I think in our conference calland that call for it, um,
(04:38):
because we had a good shot of uhuh Lorenzo Velez, and geez, I
really thought he was in.
Both feet were in to win thegame.
You know, we're out there to gokick the extra point, but it
was a great back and forth game.
You know, they blocked thefield goal, we blocked the field
goal an extra point.
Um you know, they're a goodphysical team.
Their number 28 was a you knowgood running back, who's tough
(04:58):
to tackle, um, and uh you know,just kind of kind of slipped
away from us.
But it was it was a heck of afootball game.
We had a nice crowd, and uh,you know, certainly a game that
you know leaves a bittersweettaste in your mouth.
You know, it's one that theguys that are coming back, which
we have a lot of guys, we couldtalk about that too.
A lot of guys coming back likeyou know, on our field at home,
first time to watch the otherteam get the trophy.
(05:21):
That's a tough one, right?
And that's just great, greatmotivation uh into the offseason
is what it is for all of us,for our coaches and for our
players.
No different than like GroveCity.
We go down to Grove City, theykind of kicked our teeth in.
We got our act together, youknow, we we we put the work in
and fouled it up with the 10-winseason, right?
So, like, you know, certainlyum uh very frustrating and and
(05:42):
you know, love our seniors and atough way for them to finish,
but it was a great game, nodoubt.
Rocky (05:47):
Coach, your your defense on the back end, the secondary,
Eli Douglas, and Mason were allover the place for you guys.
And I think you got you heldthem under 200 yards uh passing.
Talk to us about those two.
Big big days for both of them.
Coach Faggiano (05:59):
They did.
They played really well.
You know, they they werecertainly had a game plan to run
more on the perimeter in thefirst half.
It was more on the boundary inthe second half.
They kind of ran more to thefield.
Um, we did a much better ondefense in the second half.
We held them to the one score,um, you know, to kind of give
ourselves a chance, you know,fighting chance there in the
second half.
So, you know, defense kind ofcleaned some things up there
(06:20):
from the first half and and uhand gave us a chance to win.
Rocky (06:24):
Your three-headed monsters on the outside didn't
disappoint either.
You know, big players make bigplays in big games and Antonio
nine catches for a buck 23,Logan had 10 catches for a buck
oh eight, Bryce had 11 catchesfor 58.
He broke the single seasonrecord, an Empire 8 record, um,
with a thousand twenty-six uh 91catches for over a thousand
(06:45):
yards.
So those three guys didn'tdisappoint at all.
Coach Faggiano (06:48):
Not at all.
No, I played amazing, playedtough physical, um, you know,
great effort.
Uh, you know, ANO, we didn't wedidn't run the ball as much as
we would have liked Aze when hewas great in protection.
Uh the runs he had did reallywell.
Um, yeah, it was it was abattle.
It was it was uh on our turf,and and and you know, our guys
(07:10):
got the feel of what, hey, likeyou need our coaches too.
Like, all right, who are youplaying?
You don't know who you'replaying, boom.
You got three tapes, you gotthree films, and you got to
figure it out in that week,right?
And that's really like playofffootball, right?
Um, you know, and uh, you know,we're uh we're gonna be better
for it for sure.
Like you look back on theseason and the teams we've
played in the regular season androan and the postseason.
(07:31):
Um, you know, that's certainlya higher level of caliber than
you know, say 10 years ago ofteams we're playing overall,
week in and week out.
And uh, you know, you want tobe great, you got to play great,
great opponents.
And I think we've certainlydone that, and and the guys kind
of know, hey, this is what itlooks like when when you can
football, when we're on andwe're playing well, these are
some mistakes.
Like we had some really badpenalties.
(07:53):
There were some offsettingpenalties that I was mad about.
We're like, we need to walkaway so they get the 15-yard
penalty.
So some things that you knowcertainly you know we want to
work on, but you know, thosekind of games are the ones that
you that are gonna make youbetter, right?
Sometimes you learn the mostwhen you take a tough loss,
sometimes, unfortunately.
Rocky (08:10):
And Coach Tyler ended up setting the records for
completions yards and uh 33touchdowns, and he had over 67%
completion.
He threw for 357 and threescores, and I know we've talked
about him all year, but when youput him with those three guys
you have on the outside and anduh in Logan in that mix, man,
that group's been special allseason for you guys.
Coach Faggiano (08:31):
Well, no doubt, you know, and and and uh so glad
that Tyler and his familydecided uh to come to Utica last
winter.
Um he's a great young man, hereally fits us.
Um you know, we tease him,tough Polish kid that fits in in
Utica, New York, and and uh youknow, certainly control the
football, but so many otherlevels.
Like he's a strong leader, he'sa confident guy.
(08:52):
Um, you know, and it was great.
We you know, for those that arewondering, um, you know, him
and I had a meeting today andand told me that he'll be back
for 2026.
And you know, we're reallyexcited about that, you know.
Um you know, with the the funnydivision one rules versus
division three, you know, he'sgot to work a little something
out with the student teaching,kind of break it up so he can
have that that 10th semesterwith us.
And and then we're hoping thatthat will kind of trickle a
(09:15):
domino effect with LoganFrederick, who has another year
left.
That would be great.
Um Mason uh Mason Payton, uhnumber 15, starting corner, and
uh and uh Gavin Gretz, we're allguys that have that extra year,
and we certainly want all thoseguys to take it.
You know, so so the first thingI told Teller is now it's your
job to help us, you know,recruit our fifth-year guys and
make sure they stay, and then umyou know help us uh in the in
(09:38):
the recruiting process.
So that was some good newstoday for sure.
Rocky (09:41):
And coach, talk to us a little bit too.
You got your seniors on theO-line.
I think you have Carson and uhand Malzon.
Uh I think are your only twoseniors.
I could be wrong, but I thinkthey're the only two seniors.
But that group again, sixthconsecutive game, and you had a
lot of guys in units that wererecognized with the Empire 8
awards here at the end of theseason.
But talk to us another gamewhere the quarterback was
upright the entire game.
Coach Faggiano (10:02):
You know, and like that we threw it, we threw
it 63 times, which is a bit,right?
But you know, um, and notsacked.
I mean, they're and they're andthey it wasn't because Rowan
wasn't blitzing and twisting us,you know what I mean.
So uh, you know, Carson, yougotta love these guys.
You know, not everyone's builtto have patience and wait,
right?
And it's just a great lessonfor young guys, you know what I
(10:24):
mean?
That you know, whether theywant to leave or transfer or
decide not to play, like at youknow, at any place.
And you know, Carson is hisfirst year starting at center
and did a great job at center.
Great, great job.
You know, physical therapymajor.
Mulzan, this was his firstyear, and he kind of you know,
kind of played all over.
He played some center, someguard, you know, it really at
the end of spring, we kind ofmade that decision that, you
(10:44):
know what, this guy's gonna beour starting right tackle, you
know, had a had a great year.
Um, you know, uh, you know,gonna miss those guys.
They really, you know, the factthat they made the national
team of the week was amazing.
Like we have a uh we haven'tput it out yet, but there's a
picture.
We have a bulletin boardoutside of locker room, old
school bulletin board, andLambert Jordan gives us like a
little card stock color when thegraphics come out.
(11:05):
And this has to be by far themost decorated team in our
program's history between the D3National Team of the Week, the
Empire Eight players of the weekwas pretty amazing.
The records that we've broke,um our defense ended being one
of the top defenses in thecountry, and then the Empire
Eight.
Um, and usually that'ssomething that just Brockport's
always been, right?
(11:25):
Or Cortland, and we and we wereright there, I think, either
first or second in somecategories, but like, you know,
really came to play.
And just to, you know, I thinkoverall, you know, you got to go
back and very quickly look atlike last year, you know, five
and five, very disappointing.
You know, why did you know weknow one more win and we're
going to another bowl game.
Um, you know, and but it reallylike this team, and I have to
(11:49):
mention, you know, uh, it was atough way to end last year as
far as you know, we lost one ofour own, you know what I mean?
And and our guys really, youknow, dedicated this season to
James, to James Sallas, and andand kind of did it in our own
kind of, I don't want to sayquiet, but our own classy way
with the with the with theapproval of his parents, you
know.
And like, I don't know if yousaw, but all the little hash
(12:11):
marks on the 12 had orange Uaround them on our field, right?
Uh, we locked arms every homegame and made sure that RPA
announcer read a thing aboutJames and and um and and for
mental health, you know, andlike you know, when we beat
Fisher to kind of salvage youknow a five-and-five year and
still maybe get a bow game, andthen like that prayer with
(12:32):
Fisher at the end of the game,that was a pretty emotional
game, uh, you know, because wehad lost James and right around
that time.
And just the way our guysplayed and came together, like I
felt I told him in the teammeeting, I said you do the
football's back to where it'ssupposed to be.
And that you know, we finishedsecond in the Empire Eight.
Uh, we got our, you know,again, continued to make
history, right?
And just we kind of like chipaway at it, right?
(12:54):
It's not all at once, but we weuh you know finally earned the
opportunity to host an ECACgame, which was a big deal for
us.
And and our school did a greatjob with that.
You know, kudos to uh CoachSaint and Coach Renane and our
administration did a great joband just you know didn't go our
way.
Um, but when I saw like a lotof the young guys after the game
(13:14):
or guys that are coming back,like it just seemed like they
know that that this is a goodfootball team and we're gonna
build off of this season.
And it was it was great to getback to the eight wins and great
to get back to postseason.
And now they know that fine,you know, we're talking about
you know, not just having asuccessful season, but the
difference between okay, X, Y,and Z, how do we how are we a
top 25 team?
(13:35):
How are we a top 10 team in thecountry?
Which is exciting to talkabout, you know, and and it's
not just talk, like based uponwho we played this year and how
we played, the guys know thatthat's it's not just hoping and
wishing to be, it's like we knowthat's something that's
attainable.
Rocky (13:49):
So, coach, when you look back at the season as a whole,
what's the first word or maybethe emotion that comes to mind
for you?
I gotta say fun.
Coach Faggiano (13:59):
These these guys were fun, they brought juice to
practice.
I mean, we're out there on aWednesday, it's pouring sideways
rain.
Um, I think that week we wereplaying someone that we were
pretty confident we were gonnabeat.
And our guys are out theresinging and dancing and working
hard.
There's a lot of fun.
We've got some guys with a lotof energy, like the Nick
DeForest and Matt Polaris, toname a couple guys that'll be
(14:21):
back.
Like the energy they bring topractice, it just is contagious,
you know, and spreadsthroughout the team.
Um, you know, uh the way thatthey, you know, if you were to
talk to like a couple of thefreshmen who played, like an
Austin DeGrode or ChristianParmone, and you hear how those
guys talk about theupperclassmen and being a part
of it, like, you know, um thoughthose guys are emotional, the
(14:44):
Farold Hines, emotional afterthis last game.
Like, you know, they they'rethey're hungry for more, you
know, and so it definitely wasfun.
And um, you know, at times wewere a little, uh, I would say a
little young.
Uh I didn't want them to knowthat, but I think at times that
showed a little immaturity, wegotta mature more.
That starts with me, you know,holding those guys accountable.
(15:04):
Um, but uh it's gonna be fun.
Like there's so many guys whenwe got in the bus to WJ that
never played and never had anovernight trip.
And I did not tell them that,Rock.
Okay.
Just go play the game, right?
And um, you know, uh, that'sgonna be a wild week one game,
right?
WJ coming here.
So, you know, it'll beinteresting.
(15:25):
You know, we've got some uh,you know, it's the same schedule
next year, um, obviouslyflipped home and away.
And those home games are teamslike WJ, Hobart, Cortland,
Brockport, right?
So, like, all right, giddy up,you know, giddy up.
It's uh, you know, these wetalked about the New York D3
football.
So um, you know, our youngguys, I was so excited.
(15:48):
I was so pleased with adifference this year is we had
seven JV games, you know, so thepeople behind the scenes know
that.
But I mean, that's that's atleast three or four more games
than most schools, and then someschools maybe don't play JV or
only play a game or two.
So there's some really goodyoung talent that's gonna come
up from the JVs and and uh andfill some holes on guys, you
(16:09):
know, uh offense, defense, andspecial teams-wise for sure.
Um so that was tough becauseyou know, you they're all the
things that that we want, right?
We want to order rings and wewant the championship poster,
like you can see behind me here.
You know, we want to be in theUtica State, we're not gonna be
in the Utica St.
Patrick's Day parade.
I got the email the other day.
We're not walking because wedidn't win the game, right?
(16:30):
So that those are things wewant for our program.
So we're definitely gonna behungry uh as we go into the
offseason.
But like right now, they allknow they know me.
It's like, you know, get homefor Thanksgiving, spend time
with your family.
Um, you know, but they theyknow 20 20 26 has already
started for them with our teammeeting on Monday that we had.
And they'll get in the weightroom next week a little bit too.
Rocky (16:50):
So, coach, I know we talked, you had a lot of
defining moments this season foryou guys.
Is there a certain game or amoment you feel shifted the
momentum for the season?
Oh, that's a good question.
Coach Faggiano (17:01):
Um, I I I can't say that.
I think no doubt that the W andJ and RPI games collectively
gave us some confidence, right?
Um, and you know, so we were,you know, maybe some younger
teams, you know, you know, gointo some place and be
(17:22):
intimidated, right?
And we did, and we came toplay, you know what I mean?
And yeah, I can't I can't saythat.
I think the biggest thing Italk to the guys about is
football.
We go from feeling like theBrockport win, being like on
cloud nine, amazing win on theroad, all these crazy
conditions, and then the rightthat you know you talk about the
agony of defeat at home.
(17:42):
We got to win that home game,we got to find a way to win that
game.
Um, you know, but that's that'swhat football.
That's what football teachesall of us.
And you know, but uh yeah, Idon't know if there was one
really defined moment.
They they they knew uh afterthat second loss that we needed
to win out to have a chance togo to the tournament or have a
chance to um have a home gameright from the beginning.
(18:05):
So it was no surprise.
And they knew it was out of ourhands, and and they knew that
Hopkins losing didn't help us,and they knew Cortland and RPI
losing didn't help us, right?
Maybe we would have snuck inthere, which would have been
amazing.
But at the end of the day, weneeded to beat Hobart, we needed
to win the conference, right?
Needed to beat Cortland, andum, you know, I think again, as
you look at those games, um, andany given Saturday in the
(18:27):
Empire Eight, you'd better cometo play, right?
I told him, I said,Morrisville, they get the ball
back, and they're technicallythat was to drive to win the
game, and we just stopped them,right?
And Morrisville didn't win thegame this year.
They're a really good footballteam, they have good players,
just they had a tough year.
It happens, you know.
Within Hartwick, we come toplay, we play better, and then
we have the result.
(18:48):
We, you know, if you thinkyou're gonna do that, you know,
you certainly don't.
But if you execute at a highlevel and do things the right
way, all of a sudden you look atthe scoreboard and you're like,
wow, look at that.
You know, and and I reallythink our guys learned a lot.
I think that's one thing Iwould talk about.
These guys did learn a lotabout even like Tyler, first
time in the Empire 8.
Um, you know, and he he learnedthat that teams come to play,
(19:11):
and um, you know, it's gonna bepretty exciting to see how you
know he's gonna improve uh inour football program, and which
you can still how do you improvefrom being offensive player of
the year?
Well, he's a very competitiveguy and you know has a little
bad taste in his mouth after youknow losing that bowl game that
we that we uh had anopportunity to win.
So um, you know, I think he alot of our guys learned, but
(19:34):
hadn't played uh in big games,you know.
We played in some big gamesthat we can learn from and
taking the offseason.
Rocky (19:40):
Hey coach, you might have answered this question already.
I think you're gonna you guysare gonna graduate your uh 21 or
22 seniors, I think is what mynumber was.
I don't know if that soundsright or if I'm close.
You're close.
Um I know you talked about theteam and it was a fun group, but
is there is there something, acertain thing you'll remember
the most about just a seniorclass?
Um, you know, again, the seasonthat you guys had, you broke a
(20:02):
lot of records.
Offense was one of the was thebest in the conference, defense
was right there.
Um, all the awards.
Is there something you'llremember most about this class?
Coach Faggiano (20:11):
I mean, they're just some tough, gritty kids.
I mean, Bryce Palmer, you knowwhat I mean?
Like you felt like you, youknow, just fighting through this
season, you know, uh to puttogether a full season, um, you
know, kind of wriggled withinjuries over the last couple
years, you know.
Um, it was just great to seehim even through the season,
fight through some things.
(20:32):
I think Antonio Chanferranicoming back, you know, from
tearing his ACL, right?
And coming back from that, alot of people would say, oh, you
know, you want to be a cop or atrooper, you know, you got to
take care of your body, youknow.
And I I just I don't like whenpeople like, what are you
talking about?
Like we do all these crazythings in our lives.
We go skiing, we get on a weget on a snowmobile, we do all
(20:53):
these dangerous things, andpeople for some reason are
worried about football.
Like, these guys need football.
They have an extra year ofeligibility.
They know if they come to myoffice, I'm gonna tell them you
got to find a way to use it,right?
Because you're not playingfootball when you're old and
gray, like me.
There's no pickup football.
And so every time you get achance to play this game, you
know, you want to you know takeadvantage of it.
So I think I think of those twoguys for sure.
(21:16):
Um, I think you know a guy, uh,an unsung hero guy like a Vinny
Bernardo, right?
That like was a linebacker,wasn't working at linebacker,
asked to move the tight end, andthen his senior year earns a
spot in a Raven package, whichwas very successful, was a very,
very good special teams player.
I would tease him and call himlike he's my Vince Papal out
(21:38):
there.
Um but like you know, he had soyou know just a great got to
carry the flag out uh you knowum at the last game, like just
tremendous human being.
Like that's gonna make him sucha better person in life that
that he stuck it out his fouryears, even though he wasn't
always a starter and then had asenior year to remember, yeah,
(21:58):
for sure.
Um, you know, you know,certainly again, one of the one
of our best programs we've hadin our school history, right?
Uh, one of our best teams, Ishould say.
Uh, I can remember just so manyalumni going, Coach, it's not
the old days as far as thenon-league schedule.
Holy cow, you're playing someguys, right?
And then even in the bowl game,a couple of the guys are like,
what happened to when whenIthaca was the one seed, and
(22:20):
then we had to go play Ithaca asthe last seed, right?
And then we finally go and geta home game, and now that's now
they want to change how they dothings, and that's fine, which
you know they're there happenedfor a reason, right?
Like, yeah, I th I told theRowan coach I thought he should
have had a home game.
Like, what do you got to do toget a home game in the ECAC?
I'm gonna call and tease them alittle bit, like you know, and
(22:40):
then you see you know, Hobartand Brockport got home games,
and the coach from Rowan likethrow the N-Jack a bone here,
right?
We want those guys to put infor ECACs, but sorry, I'm
speaking my mind a little bitmore than maybe I've made
normal, but maybe made normally.
But um, yeah, so we so we uhright two years ago we're eight
and two, and they send us toHobart.
Like, what do we got to do?
(23:01):
So, so we were we were we werecertainly excited and fired up
to host.
And um, you know, again, we'rewe're programs in a good place,
and the kids are excited aboutwhere we're headed.
They'll talk talk with a few ofthem in the office today.
Rocky (23:15):
And coach, I think you already got this this one too.
This this answer to myquestion.
But as far as the you know, theprogram growth, as you said,
you told the team that you knowthe program's back, we're
heading in the right directionafter this season, and you know,
you set the bar this season andso high coming in next year.
If that group coming in nextyear has got a lot of uh lot of
work to do to even build fromthere, but what identity did
(23:36):
this team establish for futureyou next year's team and even
recruits coming in?
You know, what did this teamset for for those kids coming
in?
Coach Faggiano (23:45):
You know, I just think you're dealing with
adversity, right?
And just when if you were tohear, you know, after every
practice, uh we have one of ourplayers talk to the team, and
just the the amazing things andwords of wisdom they have for
the younger players, you know,and they've all had those tough
times, their freshman year andsophomore year, and they're here
they are as a junior, seniorstarter, um, or playing for the
(24:06):
first time or contributing, andand just encouraging those
younger guys to stick with itwhen it seems tough, when it's
tough, you're getting your buttbeat in the scout team, and
we've all been there, you know.
And I think that's that's whatmakes our guys different, you
know, just uh just watch howmuch they care uh about each
other and the program.
And and you just you can see itwhen you hear them talk about
(24:26):
the program, whether it be afterpractice or or in our uh our
Friday night meetings, which arepretty special, you know.
Um, I think that's it's alwaysabout relationships, you know,
and it's the relationships thatthey ultimately that they have
with each other, you know, thatcould they play with each other
and and they have with thecoaches.
Rocky (24:42):
So and coach, I know every year is is different for
the for the coaches, and Iwanted to ask you this one.
Did you learn anythingdifferent about yourself this
year with this group?
I know you you're the old guy,right?
You said at the start of theseason coaching.
Did you learn anythingdifferent this year?
Coach Faggiano (24:56):
You know, I thought I I try in the special
teams meeting, which I've beenrunning, uh, I just thanked the
group, you know, because thelast few years I've had someone
else on staff from Coach Lemmon,who's the OC at Fairmont State
now, Joey Lapani, who's back inhis high school at Hilton,
Brandon Woods that's coaching atBethune Cookman, those were our
last three special teamscoordinators.
(25:17):
And that that certainly takes alot off your plate.
And I was always involved,right?
But there's a lot of work inthere.
And so um having to take thaton so that you know uh offensive
and defensive coaches didn'thave to worry about it as much,
although they all have a part,was something I really enjoyed,
you know what I mean, andenjoyed uh you know, working
with those guys and and the gameplans week to week.
(25:39):
And then our young gradassistants certainly helped me
with the game, you know, makingthe scot reports every week.
And you know, that wassomething for me to get back to
doing is at the end of the day,I love coaching.
You know, there was uh one yearwhere I was more of a manager
type guy and walk around andcoach the running backs, I was
miserable.
And uh my good friend JohnSnell, who's the chair of the
(26:01):
NCAA committee, him and I weretalking at a stag bowl.
He's like, at the end of theday, he goes, as the head coach,
what do you do best and whatmakes you happy?
He goes, if you're happy,everyone else is happy.
And you surround yourself withpeople that do the things that
you're not as good at.
And some of the best advice Ihave ever got now from any
coach.
And so I enjoy coaching thatD-line and they played their
(26:22):
butts off this year.
They really did.
I enjoy coaching the specialteams uh more so this year uh
than I had in other years.
Uh we you know, we changed ourpractice schedule so I could
coach the long snappers, butthen also still coach special
teams because the way we used todo it, I was never at the
stations because that's when wewould do long snappers.
We actually changed our wholepractice schedule around um and
(26:44):
uh kind of stole it from theguys down at Colgate.
I don't mind saying that.
Uh and kind of liked how theywere doing things.
And um so I think that'ssomething that I learned.
I just enjoy working with theguys and love going to practice.
Rocky (26:57):
So, Coach, what would you like to say for the Pioneer
Nation, the Pioneer fans thisyear?
And and your your fans havebeen outstanding, whether it's
at the games, on social mediathat's backed you guys,
supported you guys, even on thisshow.
I think I've gained more fanswhen I see people now.
They say, You're the you're theguy that was doing the show
with Coach.
What would you like to say toall those people?
Coach Faggiano (27:18):
You know, you know, from the bottom of my
heart, thank you.
You know, we got you know,Pioneer Nation, our our 12-man
tailgate, our parents, ourfamily, our community support.
You know, we had tremendouscommunity support with our
corporate sponsorships and thepartnerships we have with some
of the local groups and justcreating memories.
I just saw the I didn't realizewe were gonna be in the new
first source commercial.
(27:39):
So make sure you check out thethat's you know, it's it's it
that was wild.
That was wild.
So Utica Football is in thefirst source commercial.
I didn't know that was gonnahappen.
Um, you know, I think you know,uh just thank you.
Like we have such a great gameday atmosphere, we have such a
great tailgate.
Our parents do a great job.
We had a group of moms thatwere taking pictures.
(28:00):
We have to be the mostphotographed team in Division
III, and so thank you to thatsquad of moms, did a great job.
Um, you know, uh, I was talkingto Gavin Gretsch's mom today
because we want Gavin to comeback.
And I said, well, we're notjust recruiting the right guard,
we're recruiting one of our12-man parents.
You know, she was so she so shewas laughing.
So um, and then all the alums,like you, I can't tell you guys
(28:23):
enough that you guys that arelistening that when you shoot me
that text on Friday night orSaturday morning, like um, her
Facebook message, like that'sthat's I live, that's what I
live for, are those things, andthat's why I coach.
So um, you know, guys, keepdoing that.
You know, keep doing that forsure.
Rocky (28:38):
So, coach, I'm gonna have to we're I I have games for us
to pick, and I'm gonna have toshoot Jim next week, and I'm
gonna post them up on socialmedia who wins this thing
because we are deadlocked.
We are 30.
That's wild.
I saw that we're tied.
Coach Faggiano (28:52):
There's no way I would have bet that I'd be
tied.
Not that I'm saying that youdid a bad job, Rock.
I'm just saying that knowingmyself, and I don't pay
attention.
You pay attention, okay?
I don't pay attention.
Rocky (29:02):
Well, that's what makes me feel even worse that I pays
attention.
Coach Faggiano (29:06):
It's straight, it's straight luck, okay?
Maybe I catch the game.
Rocky (29:09):
We both won the Syracuse game.
We both won that game.
I think they didn't cover thethe the 37 and a half or
whatever it was.
But I got a lot of big games.
It's rivalry week here.
Uh I know my household will beon separate couches on Saturday
for Michigan, Ohio State.
Um, Old Miss is uh the eggbowl, old Miss Mississippi
State, all the hype around LaneKiffen.
(29:30):
A lot of people are sayingmaybe Lane's the biggest troll
right now, getting moreattention.
He's gonna say he's gonna stayat Ole Miss.
Um this one's at MississippiState.
Mississippi State is gettingseven and a half at home.
You think the distractions aretoo much and Mississippi State
gets them?
Nah, I'll go old miss.
Yeah, I'm uh I'm with you.
(29:51):
I I say you think he's gonnaleave or you think he's gonna
stay?
Coach Faggiano (29:55):
Listen, that that's about as predictable as,
right?
Like some of the moves thathe's made, right?
And some of I I watched a thingon him recently about that.
Pretty wild, you know, and Ithink it's just so hard to like
you don't know.
People know it's him and hisfamily, right?
And there's different reasonswhy you make those kinds of
decisions.
A lot of times it's that you'retrying to do what's best for
(30:16):
your family, or they want tolive in a certain part of the
country, or you know, they havefamily somewhere.
I like to think, I'd like tothink I, you know, and maybe I'm
wrong, but that that goes intodecisions, and it's not just
about the money, but they'rethrowing around a lot of money
these days.
Rocky (30:31):
At this point, though, for him, it's like, how much
more money can you get?
He's got Ole Miss going to theplayoff.
I think what would be evenworse is if they win this game
and after the game they announceand say he's got to go talk to
the team and say, guys, I'mleaving.
I'm going to LSU.
And by the way, they're goingto play LSU next year, Ole Miss.
(30:51):
And it's like, he might noteven coach the team through the
playoffs.
I'm like, I don't know how youdo that, but again, I'm hearing
old or LSU's gonna offer him 90,95 million dollars.
I think he stays, but that's alot of money.
Coach Faggiano (31:04):
Man, that's crazy.
You can't even imagine theamount of money that's in
college football right now.
That's crazy.
Rocky (31:11):
No.
All right, the other one,Georgia, Georgia Tech.
So Georgia Tech just had theloss to Pitt.
So Narduzzi had said that uh hedidn't care if Notre Dame beat
him by 100.
He needs to win the last two,which he did.
Pitt was ready to play lastweek against Georgia Tech, but
they're a 13.5 point underdog athome to Georgia.
That's a lot of points in arivalry game.
(31:33):
Um, I don't know what happenedto them last week.
They didn't look very goodagainst Pitt.
Maybe they're overlooking youknow that game because of this
game.
I don't know if they can beatGeorgia.
I think Georgia right now isplaying as good as anybody.
But that's a lot of that's alot of.
I know we're not picking aspread in this game, but I think
if there was gonna be an upset,this would be the one.
Coach Faggiano (31:57):
So this will be the one that I'm either gonna
I'm gonna take you on or you'llbeat me because I'm gonna go
Georgia Tech.
Rocky (32:03):
How's that?
Are you?
I'm uh I'm I'm the opposite.
I think we're gonna be oppositeon a couple other ones.
I I know we're gonna go on acouple of these games, I think,
but I'm gonna take Georgia.
I think they're playing reallygood right now.
I think they're peaking at theright time.
This one could be a trap gamebecause I think if Archman plays
like he's been the last twoweeks, he looked really good
(32:24):
last week.
Now they were playing Arkansas.
This one's in Texas.
Texas is only a two and a halfpoint dog to AM, who's 11-0.
And I think AM wins, they're inthe FEC title game.
Um, if they lose, I thinkthere's a shot that a full miss
wins, they're in againstGeorgia.
But any chance that uh Texaspulls one out here, and many
(32:44):
think if they win and get thenine wins with this win, they
might sneak into the playoffssomehow.
I like AM.
I I don't think Texas can beatthem.
Right.
Man, I wouldn't be surprised.
Coach Faggiano (32:53):
Um I think on this one I'll go AM.
Rocky (32:57):
Yeah, okay.
I'm with you, but I but I couldsee this one if Arch plays
well.
Um, Texas has the athletes,that's for sure.
Um, but we'll see.
Coach Faggiano (33:06):
Like in these rivalry games, a lot of times,
those those point spreads, likethey they they could be a one
score.
Like the Georgia, say Georgiabeats Georgia Tech.
I don't think it'll be morethan a score.
Rocky (33:15):
No, me neither.
I think these games are allgonna be, and they're actually
all pretty decent spread.
Yeah.
Here's another one.
I haven't followed Arizona allyear.
Arizona State was close lastweek to Colorado until they
pulled away late.
Arizona State's plus one and ahalf at home.
I like state in this game, butI don't know too much about
Arizona this year.
Coach Faggiano (33:35):
Because I don't know much about either team, I'm
just gonna go with the rankedhome team, Arizona State.
Yeah.
Rocky (33:40):
I'm with you.
This is like one of the ones Ireally don't like.
Coach Faggiano (33:43):
They're on way too late.
Rocky (33:45):
Yeah.
All right, this is the one inmy household that uh so this
line, Michigan is now this linewent down to nine and a half
since I updated stuff lastnight.
Um, Michigan looked good lastweek.
Bryce Underwoods looked betterfor Michigan.
Ohio State's looked like awell-oiled machine that they
haven't played one close gameall year.
(34:05):
I'll say they really haven'tplayed anybody yet because they
didn't have to play Oregon thisyear, they didn't have to play
uh USC.
Uh but they're a 10 and a halfpoint favorite against Michigan.
Michigan's at home.
Can Michigan win this one againfor the fifth consecutive year?
Coach Faggiano (34:21):
No, Ohio State, Ohio State's gonna win.
Rocky (34:23):
So I'm gonna pick with my heart.
So I'm gonna probably give youa layup here.
I'm gonna pick Michigan.
I I can't go against uhMichigan.
Okay, last year, Coach Michiganwas a 24-point underdog and won
the game.
So you never know.
And I think it's supposed tosnow a little bit.
Um Ohio State's two receiversthere, the uh Jeremiah Smith and
(34:44):
Cardell Tate both did not playlast week.
I'm sure they're gonna playthis week.
I'm sure they'll find a way toget them on the field.
But right now they'requestionable uh for that game.
All right, we got two moregames here.
So Pitt looked really good lastweek um against Georgia Tech,
who I thought Georgia Tech wouldwin that game.
Miami looked really good lastweek.
(35:05):
Miami needs some help if theybeat Pitt to get into the ACC
title game.
And this is another one ofthose coaches.
Six and a half point dogs athome.
The way Pitts looked.
Pitt's physical.
Can Pitt get him at home, oryou like Miami?
This is a tough game.
Coach Faggiano (35:21):
Well, I I think the home field advantage is such
a big thing.
Um I'll go Miami.
Rocky (35:30):
Man, I really want to pick Pitt because I they're
physical.
They looked really good lastweek, but Miami's looked really
good the last couple weeks.
And I think Miami's on amission to get in and find a way
in.
I'm I'm I'm gonna go with you.
I'm gonna go Miami.
And then the last one actually,second to last one.
I got more on here because wegot to find some wins and losses
(35:52):
to break this tie.
This is another one.
This is a good one, too.
So Tennessee's minus two and ahalf.
So Vandy's getting two and ahalf in this game.
It's at uh at Tennessee.
Um I like Josh Hypo, but man,Vandy's on a mission, too, to
win 10 games at Vanderbilt.
It's crazy.
They used to be the bottom ofthe SEC, and then James Franklin
(36:13):
took Vandy, won some games, andthen he left.
And man, they looked prettygood this year.
You think Vandy gets it?
And then and then and then andthen NIL showed up, and then the
NIL showed up.
Coach Faggiano (36:23):
You know, Vandy's a great school, they
have some great alumni.
You know, like it's it's achance just change the change
the game.
Um, this could be interestingto see where you pick because we
could differ.
I'm gonna go Vandy.
Rocky (36:36):
Yeah, uh, I hate to say I'm with you on this one, but I
I like Vandy as well.
Um, to go in there and I don'tI don't know if Vandy's ever
went in there and beatenTennessee.
Um, I don't think they have,but uh I feel like Tennessee's
kind of like an under-the-radarteam.
I don't think Josh Heppel getsenough credit.
I think he's a great footballcoach.
All right, last one, the IronBowl.
(36:58):
Um Auburn.
This is a weird line to me ifyou follow gambling and lines.
So Auburn fires few freeze,they're looking for a coach.
They're under 500.
They're only getting five and ahalf at home to Alabama.
Any chance Auburn finds a way?
(37:19):
No, Alabama.
Yeah, I'm with you, but uh byyeah, but I do keep hearing,
coach, that uh I keep hearingthat Caelan DeBoore is a
candidate at Penn State.
I don't know if I buy it.
Um, I talked highly of uh BobChesney, who used to be at Holy
Cross.
Oh Bob Chesney's outstanding.
He's a uh standing head coach,no doubt.
(37:39):
Yep, he's the one that I keephearing, unless they give it to
uh Terry Smith, the interim headcoach for Penn State, who man.
It was like out of a movieSaturday night for Penn State.
They were chanting, you know,the we want Terry, we want
Terry.
Um, and he played there, thealumni won him, but I don't know
if he's the flashy guy uh forPenn State.
You think he gets a shot at it?
(38:00):
I know they're gonna interviewhim.
Coach Faggiano (38:02):
Well, that's good.
That's good.
Like you never know.
You didn't you don't know whatthe school's looking for.
Yeah, that's the thing youdon't know.
What's the what's the peoplethat the people that hold the
control, uh the big timeboosters, the athletic
department, the AD, thepresident.
You know, what are they lookingfor?
Are they looking for a leader?
Are they looking for a playcaller?
(38:22):
You know, someone's gonna getthem that that star quarterback
recruit kind of thing, which hasbeen that's been a trend for
sure.
Yep.
Um they know what they'relooking for.
Rocky (38:35):
Coach, I gave uh Coach Fitz uh I told him to give you a
shout out that uh you knowCoach Faz picked you all season
in the picks.
Um so I picked up a couple ofgames and I said, I gotta be
honest with you, I didn't pick,I didn't, I didn't pick you.
Um, but uh he was he was greatlast Sunday on the show, and um
he went he had another win.
They ended on a good note, sohe's got them going in the right
(38:55):
direction.
Coach Faggiano (38:55):
He did.
They're uh it's not gonna takethem long at all.
So I know they're recruiting,they're recruiting very well.
And I think it's reallyexciting that that that that we
the the matching of the time ofwe have some really good local
players that can play at thatlevel and that are choosing to
go play at Colgate for guys thatI that that I know and trust
that are gonna do a great job.
(39:16):
And I think anytime you can getyour you know, that's gonna
help your crowds, you know whatI mean?
That's gonna be great for homegames, and so yeah, um, you
know, excited to watch uh youknow guys like Kevin George, you
know, play there someday forsure.
Rocky (39:29):
So, coach, closing thoughts from you on on the
season, and uh no, the show'sbeen fun again.
I know I thanked you last week,but uh hopefully we'll get a
chance to do this again nextyear.
I hope we get a chance to maybetalk in the spring, you know,
heading in the spring ball withyou.
But uh again, I mean it.
Um I can't thank you enough.
You helped me uh go inside theprogram, which was great, and uh
(39:51):
build a lot of relationshipsoutside with a lot of people I
didn't know.
And uh I really, really can'tthank you enough, Coach.
Coach Faggiano (39:57):
Uh it feels mutual.
Uh definitely got you know, youknow, we have to do this in the
future.
I think doing something in thespring would be great, kind of
giving an idea on some, maybesome recruits that we could talk
about that are coming in andhow spring practice is going.
Um, you know, I want to thankmy coach and staff.
Uh, can't do it alone.
I have a tremendous coach andstaff.
Uh Coach Klaus, uh, CoachDenilovic, Coach McClendon, or
(40:18):
three full-time coaches, youknow, our four grad assistants,
you know, uh Coach Kraft, CoachPolito, Coach Karras, uh those
guys, those guys all play forus, right?
Just tremendous coach CoachGessner.
We got to thank Coach JabinoFong, came from Bethune Cookman.
Great job with those wideouts,right?
You know, fifth, fifth, fifthranked uh passing offense in the
(40:40):
country, in the nation, I guesswe have.
It's pretty crazy.
I looked at some of the statstoday.
Um, you know, and then uh andthen Griffin Murphy, our running
back coach, helped me a lotwith special teams from
Michigan, did a great job.
And like all these guys, it wastheir first time coaching, all
five of them, and just did atremendous job.
Uh, you know, Coach Oliverloved having him on staff from
you know from VBS and hisexperience and knowledge.
(41:02):
Uh a few times he spoke to theteam this year, which is on
point, and uh did a great, greatjob.
Um, and so we have a really,really strong coaching staff,
and all of our we had all of ouryoung phys ed guys helping us
this year, all volunteeringwhile they're finishing their
master's degree.
And uh they all did a greatjob.
We call them the YCA rock, theYoung Coaches Academy.
(41:22):
And so every year, every yearwe're gonna have a group of guys
that are you know getting theirfifth year, because at Utica,
you get your Phys Ed with youget your master's, your health,
and your phys ed all in in fiveyears.
And then for the longest time,our guys were like using their
COVID eligibility and playing,you know, the Novellos and Dan
Amadis and Joe Lapani's in theworld.
But now, so now these guys theycan coach with us and get that
(41:45):
on their resume.
So um, so really appreciativeof all those guys for sure.
Rocky (41:49):
And Coach Springball, when's the spring session start
for you guys?
I know you said the kids willgo home, enjoy Thanksgiving,
they'll get some lifts in nextweek.
But when do you guys get backinto it?
Coach Faggiano (41:57):
Yeah, so we're we're back um that week, I think
it's the week before MartinLuther King.
I think Martin Luther King's alittle later this year, might be
on the 20th or 21st.
I think we're back the 15th.
And we're back one week in thatfirst week of team meeting, get
two days of wait since, andwe're hosting recruits.
And we always have recruits uhon official visits at either
home basketball games or homehockey games, which are great
(42:20):
atmospheres.
Um we'll recruit left, and ouraccountability program is huge.
It's a big competition amongstthe team.
Uh, you can gain or losepoints.
Uh, we encourage them, they getpoints for being in campus
clubs and organizations, fordoing community service, for
going to different sportingevents.
Uh, it's really at the heart ofwhat we do.
Um, and uh yeah, then we thenwe start to get ready for spring
(42:43):
ball.
The spring practices don'tstart till after spring break,
which is uh after St.
Paddy's Day.
And so it goes comes comesquick.
Rocky (42:51):
Well, coach, listen, I'll uh I'll I know I'll message
you, text you throughout the uhthe offseason.
I'll have to put up our picksnext week to see who uh who won.
I got a special little prizefor the winner.
So if it's you got somethingcoming uh your way.
But uh again, thank you so muchfor everything.
And uh I know we'll be in touchthroughout the offseason.
Coach Faggiano (43:09):
Cool.
Thank you so much.
As always, fear the moose,everyone.
Rocky (43:12):
Thanks, Coach.
So that was awesome.
I cannot believe that we wentthat long.
And I, you know, I'll be honestwith you.
I said the views um well over40,000, which was fantastic.
And the people that thatfollowed us, I've met more
people that I didn't know, whichis which is awesome.
Um, it's all aboutrelationships.
I know coach spoke aboutrelationships throughout the
(43:33):
season, but uh it was absolutelyawesome to do uh a show with
him.
And again, he's been good to methroughout the year, throughout
my career, really.
So I can't thank Coach enoughfor everything he's done.
So um I'll let everybody knowon Sunday uh we'll be talking to
Colgate men's basketball coachMatt Langle's gonna join me on
Sunday, and I'll have a coupleother local guests on the Mohawk
(43:53):
Valley Sports Watch.
So on behalf of the entire showhere, the Rock Pile, the Mohawk
Valley Sports Watch, I hopeeverybody appreciated and
enjoyed um Inside UticaUniversity Football Podcast with
Coach Faziano and myself.
So have a good evening,everybody, and happy
Thanksgiving.
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