November 11, 2025 • 34 mins
We break down a dominant win over Hartwick, then map the path to a playoff berth through Brockport with clear keys: turnovers, field position, and discipline. We share program stories that show why this team believes it can travel, execute, and be a tough out in November.
• Hartwick recap and defensive takeaways
• Three interceptions and a scoop-and-score
• Fast offensive starts and efficient passing
• Raven package wrinkles and a 97-yard run
• O-line surge and sack-free streak since Cortland
• Special teams returns and role players stepping up
• Senior Day, Veterans tribute, and program culture
• Tyler’s records chase and scheme fit
• Scouting Brockport’s front and explosive weapons
• Run defense emphasis and limiting big plays
• NPI math, Pool C hopes, and ECAC fallback
• Scheduling philosophy and strength-of-schedule payoffs
• Keys to winning on the road: turnovers, hidden yardage, discipline
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:32):
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on The Rock Pile.
It is inside Utica UniversityFootball Podcast, episode number
11.
Here to airs tonight.
And usually I get coach towardsthe end of the week, so I'll
have to ask him how the earlyweek of uh practice is going for
him.
I'll have them talk.
They got the Mohawk Valley, theAll-Star game is being held at
(00:54):
Utica University this week.
We'll talk to Coach about that.
A big event for this area waswe feature all the top local
athletes that unfortunatelytheir seasons came to an end.
So some of the teams that arestill playing don't get an
opportunity to play in thisgame, but we'll talk to Coach
about that and more.
We're going to talk aboutcoaches last week's game against
Hartwick.
We'll get into this week's gameagainst Brockport, playoff
(01:16):
implications, and much morehere.
Uh tonight in the background,you can't see it.
I got uh the Akron and KentState game on, two Fordham alum,
both quarterbacks uh atFordham, uh Mark Carney, the
head coach at Kent State, andJoe Moorhead, the coach at uh
Akron, both going head to headtonight.
So I got that on in front ofme, so I'm taking a peek at that
game.
(01:36):
If you're following me onYouTube, subscribe to the
channel.
If you got a chance to tune inlast weekend to the Mohawk
Valley Sports Watch, we'll beback again this week.
We'll talk some hockey withUtica University head coach Gary
Heenan.
We'll also be talking someroam-free academy field hockey
with Coach McKenzie Williams,who they just finished out their
season uh in the regionals.
They won another section threetitle.
(01:57):
They finished 18 and one.
And we'll also bring on,hopefully, both guys win this
week.
Uh Whitesboro's in the sectionthree finals.
Coach Um Kramer and NewHartford is in the section three
finals.
Hopefully, we'll get anotheropportunity to talk to both
coaches here this weekend.
So make sure to tune in onSunday morning at 9 o'clock.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on now.
(02:20):
Coach, how are you tonight?
Coach Faggiano (02:25):
You know, the weather, weather, a crazy day
today.
We're doing all right.
We were able to practice insidetoday.
So you have me in the officetonight.
Rocky (02:34):
Well, I was just gonna I asked you before we came in, I
said outside our insights.
I think the forecast for thisweekend is gonna be a little
cold.
I saw maybe a chance of rain,but that's that's typical
football, isn't it?
Coach Faggiano (02:44):
Yeah, I think I think Saturday out in Rochester
will be okay.
Rocky (02:49):
So, coach, let's uh let's dive in.
We'll spend a little bit oftime on the Hartwick game.
I want to talk to you aboutthis week's Brockport game,
playoff implications, the Empire8 uh heating up and and much
more.
Uh so let's start defensively.
You guys can't again, anothergreat game defensively for your
team.
Uh, I believe you held themdown to just 136 yards of off
(03:10):
total offense that they had.
So defensively, you guys areflying around again.
Coach Faggiano (03:16):
You know, uh, we had a great week of prep.
Um, you know, their quarterbackwas up in the top half and
passing in the conference.
You know, uh, you know, wealways talk about other scores.
You know, they they were 21-21at home versus Fisher in the
third quarter.
Uh Coach Rogers is doing a goodjob in his first year there, so
we really prepared the guys andthey came out flying around.
I mean, three interceptionswere huge, um, you know,
(03:37):
disguising coverages.
Uh, you know, the fumblerecovery for the touchdown, Nick
DeForest.
That was a great, greatfootball play, great hustle
play.
Um, you know, at one point theywere 0 for 9 on third down,
which is that's hard to do forany college team.
So definitely liked how thedefense came out to play.
Rocky (03:53):
And coach, uh the the back end as well, three
interceptions for you guys,triggered by that defensive
pressure you got on thequarterback.
But three interceptions.
Um, I think what Luke had Lukehad one, IT had one, and I think
Eli had the other one, right?
For you guys to three.
Coach Faggiano (04:07):
They did.
Yeah, we and we we and we movewe dropped another.
So JD almost had one, ourdefensive lineman almost had
one.
We we were teasing them he'sgot to sell it a little better.
But uh just they just droppedit uh on a screen pass that he
that he sniffed out.
So again, um they played hardand just talked to the guys
about you know learning from ourseason.
(04:29):
Uh, we liked how we startedagainst Alfred, we liked how we
started against Morrisville,didn't like how we finished
those games.
And uh this is a game wherewe're able to play.
Uh, we're able to play at ahigh level and then be able to
get some guys in the game.
You know, some seniors thatwere backups got to be able to
play, uh, some underclassmen gota chance to play.
And it's it's just good for themorale of your program when
you're able to do that.
(04:49):
And that's not an easy thing todo.
Rocky (04:51):
And coach, I was just gonna say the last couple games
you've been able to get off to areally fast start on offense,
which has been good because youyou were able to get a lot of
guys in the game that maybehaven't played as much.
But talk to us about what goesinto that quick start.
Coach Faggiano (05:06):
Just the confidence the offense has right
now.
Offensive line's playing at ahigh level.
Um, you know, Aze averaged, andI say Aze in the offensive
line, averaged seven yards acarry, you know what I mean?
And our in our pass game, uh,you know, very efficient uh pass
game is huge, you know.
And I think being able to kindof take what the defense gives
you.
I mean, Tyler threw fourtouchdown passes, which was
(05:29):
wild.
Um, you know, our Raven pack,you know, you talk about
flipping a situation, you know,we we don't feel a punt.
And then we had a penalty.
So I think we're on our and Ithink we're in our maybe our
five-yard line or three-yardline, and uh we're in our Raven
package, MP's out there.
And doesn't he rip off a97-yard run, which was with the
whole place was going crazy.
(05:50):
They catch him at the three,you know, get three more yards.
That's the longest run uh fromscrimmage uh in in school
history, and then turns around acouple plays later and out of
that same package threw atouchdown pass, which was nice.
So that's the first we've donethat.
So trying to show somediversity in that that Raven
package where you know peopleare keying in on the quarterback
run and trying to do somedifferent things in that.
(06:11):
So that's been a good uh a goodpackage, and I was really
excited for him.
And then then Nazir Smith comesin and throws a touchdown pass
to Tony Dorzinski, both thoseguys' first career touchdowns.
Um, you know, so there's therewas some fun stuff to watch on
offense for sure, and you know,guys came to play.
Rocky (06:27):
Coach, I know we've talked about Tyler.
I mean, he's leading theleague.
You guys are leading the leaguein total offense, and he's
leading the league in passingyards.
With you know, he's got fourmore touchdowns this past week.
But talk, it doesn't start.
You can't talk about theyardage and all that without the
play of the old line.
And this was, I think, thefourth game for you guys.
They haven't allowed a sacksince the Cortland game, so that
(06:47):
old line is playing better andbetter each week for you guys.
Coach Faggiano (06:50):
They are, you know what I mean.
You know, Coach Klaus doing agreat job prepping them, and and
uh, you know, and then we'realso trying to get rid of the
ball uh quickly as well, youknow, and and uh you know we'll
have a challenge on our handscoming up this week.
Uh, you know, probably theprobably one of the best, if not
the best, defensive lines we'regonna play on Saturday versus
Brockport.
And uh, you know, so we'rewe're prepping for those guys.
(07:10):
But uh their O line's playingreally well.
Um, and then uh you know I gotto give a shout to our special
teams.
We have a young man that'sbattled for four years and and
is a senior, uh, has kind offound a role uh as a tight end
in the Raven package and specialteams and Vinny Bernardo.
Uh, you know, they were theywere bloop kicking.
And so we set up a return sothat he had two returns for 42
(07:31):
yards, the sidelines goingcrazy, had a couple tackles on
to kick off.
And it's just nice to see a guylike not everyone gets to be a
you know a starter for two orthree years, let alone.
And so Vinny's really beengreat in our program, plays the
cross here.
Um, so we were pretty fired upfor him to have a big day.
Rocky (07:48):
And triggering that O-line too, coach, you had your
best rushing attack this season.
I think you had 257 yardsrushing, which was the best of
this season.
So again, um, I know anotherarea where you always talk about
the RPOs and you go with theother team gives you, but with
that offensive line playing theway they did, it was nice to see
you guys being able to run theball.
Coach Faggiano (08:06):
No doubt about it.
They're playing at a highlevel.
Um, they were fired up.
It was our senior day.
We honored our 24 seniors.
Um uh the school did a greatjob with that.
It was our Veterans Day game.
You know, we had 30 veteransand their families.
Uh kudos to Nick Mayhew andCourtney Walchuski from uh GPO
Federal Credit Union.
Um, they had a great time, youknow, in the end zone.
(08:29):
And then we had for the firsttime, we had the Army National
Guard uh do the do the presentour colors, and then it was
really unique that one of ourplayers, Nick DeStefano, who
took some time off from schoolto go in the National Guard, was
out there.
The guys were all fired up.
He'll be back with us thisspring and he'll be back playing
football in the fall.
Um so there was, you know,again, uh, like your typical
(08:49):
Udica home game, a lot of thingsgoing on around outside the
game.
We had one of our professorssing the national anthem, uh,
Robert Swanskowski is thedirector of our criminal justice
program.
So the guy the guy's ramped upto play.
Rocky (09:00):
And coach the one negative I'll say though, you
did have the 10 penalties.
I didn't want to bring it upwith Jed.
You're gonna bring thepenalties.
I gotta bring out the good andthe bad, right?
But uh 10 penalties down theroad against good teams.
Got to cut back on them, right?
Coach Faggiano (09:12):
Got to cut back on that.
The two I was two of them, Iwas upset.
You know, we gave them 30 yardson their touchdown drive at the
end of the game.
Wasn't really happy with thosethose two gentlemen.
We addressed that.
But um, yeah, we definitelycan't be doing that.
I think you know, going intoSaturday, you know, you talk
about a big big football games,hidden yardage, right?
Whether it be field position,special teams, or penalties are
(09:32):
definitely big.
And you know, you definitelygot to find a way to be the more
disciplined team on uh onSaturday.
Rocky (09:38):
So Coach Ty, I was reading the the recaps of uh the
games there, which your your IDguy does a nice job.
But he's six in completions,he's 32 shy uh of being the
all-time leader.
He's second in passing yardswith almost 3,000.
He's 244 yards away.
He's third in passingtouchdowns, he's got 27, he's
(09:58):
four away.
So we I know we've talked abouthim all season.
You've talked very highlyhighly of him, but again, what
he's doing for you guysoffensively, putting up the
numbers is unheard of.
Coach Faggiano (10:09):
You know, he's he's he's he's it's just he fits
us, you know.
You know, Tyler and his familyum had a great senior day.
Uh there were a few of them outthere that we were kind of
smiling that.
We hope it's not their lastsenior day.
Because there's a few of them,Tyler included, that have an
extra reeligibility.
Um, but you know what?
He's doing great in school.
(10:30):
Uh he fits the offensivescheme.
They're doing a great job.
Uh Coach uh uh Zanelovics, ourpassing game coordinator, Coach
Kowis, our OC putting him ingreat positions.
Our receivers are doing a greatjob for him.
And uh he's he's having ablast.
You know, anytime you know, youif you get a chance to talk to
him, you know, he had a rough goof it, his two stops from
Albany, Robert Morris, and justyou know, really hadn't had fun
(10:50):
in football since his hisAquinas days, you know.
And so uh he's having fun andgetting better every week, and
it's a pleasure to coach andlove meeting with him every
week.
And uh he's having fun.
He's having fun and and uhwants to play some extra
football.
Right now we're in a we're on aroll.
Um it was great to beundefeated at home, and uh now
we got to grid it out this week.
Rocky (11:10):
Yeah, so let's talk about this week.
So Brackport's coming off theloss to um to Cortland last
week.
But as you and I were talkingbriefly before we came on the
air, they had four turnovers,and all those turnovers resulted
in touchdowns.
Um and against Cortland,against good teams, you can't do
that.
But they did hold Cortland andwas I looked at this the numbers
and I said, well, geez,Cortland must have put up a lot
of points.
(11:30):
I had to read the game recap tosee the turnovers, but they
held them the 250 yards of totaloffense.
unknown (11:36):
They did.
Coach Faggiano (11:37):
I mean, Brockport's got a great defense.
Um, their defense coordinator,Mike Fox, uh, played for me uh
at St.
John Fisher back in the day,um, was our intern when I was
there, and then when I left tobecome the head coach here,
became the defense coordinatorof Fisher.
Uh, he's been at Brockportquite some time with Coach
Mangone.
Um, and uh they've got a reallygood defense, no doubt about
(11:58):
it.
And uh they can make plays.
They got some dudes.
Rocky (12:02):
Yeah, coach and scoring offense, you guys are both uh
top top three in the league.
They're averaging 37 a game.
You're averaging 37.6, butdefensively, they're one of the
top two defenses.
They they only give up about 56yards a game on the ground.
So you guys are gonna have yourhands full up front.
But you said their D-line'sreally good.
Coach Faggiano (12:20):
D-line's very good.
Um, they definitely have someexplosive players on offense.
Um, that's gonna be a key istrying to try to limit those
explosive plays.
That's always a big part offootball as well.
And they've got those guys onnumber five, mana, receiver.
Um, number two, the runningback.
I say as very those guys arereally good players.
They can take a ball to thehouse at any time.
Uh the quarterback does a nicejob managing the game, has got a
(12:43):
strong arm.
So uh they have a Wildcatquarterback that comes in the
game as well.
That gives you anotherchallenge.
Uh their offensive line's bigand well coached by Coach
Potter.
Those guys can, they're prettyathletic.
I think they're one of themost, I always say they're one
of the more athletic offensivelines, uh, whether it be in
their in their uh in the rungame or in the pass game.
So um, again, they've beenpretty consistent.
They've been one of the topteams in the Empire 8.
(13:04):
And uh, I know it's theirsenior day, I believe.
Uh kickoffs at two.
Um, I think we're gonna have abig crowd there.
Uh, you know, obviously a lotof Brockport alums out in
Rochester, but there's also alot of Utica, Utica alums out
there as well.
And you got, you know, we havea lot of guys in our team from
Rochester, our startingquarterback, our head football
coach, our offensivecoordinator, our passaging
coordinator, all from all fromRochester.
(13:25):
So I know our families will bethere, and uh, you know, you
know, sure it's gonna be a greatfootball game.
Rocky (13:31):
Yeah, coach, and you're talking about the running back
Isaiah Simmons for them.
They're coming in as a teamaveraging over 200 yards a game.
And that's been one of theareas um you guys offensively
outside of this past week, youknow, running the butt.
But again, those RPOs, ifyou've talked about, you go with
the team gives you.
But this is a team that likesto run the football, and you
guys defensively have playedwell all year against the run.
Coach Faggiano (13:52):
You know, we have.
You know, again, it's and it'sall about it's all about that
matchup on any given Saturday,right?
And and uh, you know, we weplayed, you know I can think
about okay, who are the topteams that we've played, you
know, WJ, RPI, Early, Hobart,Cortland, and then we kind of
kind of learned some lessons,good and bad, from those games
that'll help prepare us for youknow for this one.
(14:13):
And I guess again, I likeregardless of the score last
past week.
I liked how we played and uhand the attention to detail that
our guys had in the game plan.
That's going to be reallyimportant, you know, going into
Saturday, just having thatattention to detail in all three
phases of our game.
Rocky (14:29):
And coach, we were talking again before we came on
the air of the playoffimplications.
And I know again, we don't wantto look ahead, but you know,
you guys get it.
You have the opportunity thisweek.
If you can find a way to go toBrockport and win, you got a
really good chance to get in.
And as I was saying, I waslooking at some of these
predictions, and they got W andJ who who clinched a spot.
They won the president'sconference.
(14:49):
Um, and they got RPI right nowas in if they can win.
And those are two teams thatyou played early in this season
and you beat both of them, andyou got an opportunity again
here to get a chance with a winto sneak in.
Coach Faggiano (15:02):
Well, again, that won't be the first or last
time I promote our conference.
And the Empire Eight is one ofthe best conferences in the
country, and all you have to dois look at their playoff
performances over the years,right?
Whether it's Cortland, whetherit's Brockport, whether it's
whether it's when we went in,right?
Everyone was surprised.
No, it's like at that time wewere a nine and one Empire 8
team and we beat Susquehanna.
(15:23):
You know, we're prepared justfrom the wars in the Empire
Eight that we that we play everyweek, you know.
So, you know, uh, I know I'vebeen really appreciative of you
and having us on the show andgetting the the the word out
there and all the people thatare listening appreciate
everyone out there and they wantto know our our our situation.
And it's just like I told theplayers, right?
We have a hard task at hand, wegot to go on the road and win.
(15:45):
But the thing is that winningon the road gets you more
points.
If we're fine, if we can find away to do that, you get more
points than if it was a homewin.
We want all the teams we playedthis season to win.
That's a number okay, that'sreally important.
And if we do that, I think wehave a great chance of being
like that last team that getsin.
And uh and think that we woulddo really well in the tournament
(16:06):
if we had a chance to get inthere.
Um if we miss it, we miss it,right?
We can't control that.
All we can control is is whatwe do on Saturday.
Well, the nice thing is I wastelling you earlier a couple
years ago, I didn't find outtill almost midnight that in the
old way of doing things that wegot in, uh, I think the MPI
will be out.
I think it was out by seven,eight o'clock on Saturday night.
(16:27):
And so it's like you know thenbecause they'll tell you, okay,
these are the 13 teams and thepool C's that have the MPI
number.
They go right, and that'swhat's nice.
It takes the human element outof it.
And that's a system I know youknow, every couple of years
they'll look at it.
I think it's a really goodsystem being on the committee.
Um, and then if we're not, ifwe don't get in, then on Monday
we'll find out I think it'seither noon or one.
(16:49):
And I think if we're eight andtwo, if we're for if we're able
to do that, if we're able toearn that, then we for the first
time we could have a home uhECAC bowl game because we put in
free CACs, a bunch of teams putin about 10 teams, and even as
the week goes on, I haven'tlooked this week yet, but I know
some teams were adding in, likeI think Fisher was gonna put
in, they hadn't put in yet.
But I think at the end of theday, an eight-one team with our
(17:12):
NPI, you know, we probably weprobably would earn a home game.
We were very close to that acouple years ago.
We were eight and two.
Yeah, we didn't get the homegame.
They made us go out to Hobart,who was also eight and two.
So you never know, butcertainly um, you know, that
would be huge in Utica.
Let's get all of the Utica tocome out to a home game here at
Gaetano if we're able to getanother game.
But um, I know our guys are allfocused on on Brockport and the
(17:36):
game plan.
Uh, they know it's a goodfootball team.
We're playing a physicalfootball team, a well-coached
team, and um you know, a coupleof the best teams in the Empire
Right now that are playing.
And uh, you know, both of themhave lost to Cortland and and
want to finish their season on apositive note, you know, so
it's gonna be a great game.
And uh, I know our ultimatelyour guys want to get in that
tourney, want to get it, we'regonna get a chance.
Rocky (17:56):
Yeah, as I was telling you when we were talking
offline, I said I was talking toa couple guys this past week,
and uh I said, man, I said ifCoach Fawz and Utica can find a
way to get in, they're gonna bea tough out for anybody.
I don't even care who you playin the first round.
If you got to go on the roadsomewhere, you guys will be a
tough out for anybody.
So hopefully you guys get thatopportunity because I think your
guys' conference, the teamsthat you guys have played, um
(18:19):
are uh right now are positioningthemselves to get in.
Coach Faggiano (18:23):
We we we played a very good schedule.
Again, if you look back, youknow it's funny now you can talk
about that.
You look back in the summerwhen the schedule came out, and
like we didn't really pick that.
The league picked it.
So, okay, we get Hobart RPI,two of the best M play rate.
I said, Okay, Unica football,man.
We're must be getting better.
We just we drew two of the topteams, right?
And then, you know, uh, youknow, we had lost the union game
(18:44):
week one, and uh to pick up Wand J was a great, great
opportunity and a game thatpeople were watching, and
obviously they're they're havinga great season since then and
they've won their conference.
So um, you know, uh again weget in and we look back, and it
was because we played a goodopponent.
So my college coach always toldme if you wanna you wanna you
wanna win at a high level, yougotta play good people, you
(19:05):
gotta play good opponents.
So um even a lot of our alumnihit me up and like, coach, our
non-conference is a littledifferent than back in you know,
200 uh nine or ten, you know, acouple of the guys, you know,
and uh so they're glad to see usdo that and have some success
with that.
So um yeah, you know, just likeI said, it's about a fun group
uh to coach, and uh I don't wantit to I don't want it to end.
(19:28):
I want to keep rolling withthese guys.
What there's 200 and 242 teamsin division three, and uh we
know we don't want to turn ourequipment in.
And I want to be able to keepplaying some football.
Rocky (19:39):
And coach, I know you you know coach Coach Main Golden
this week for Brackport has hada has had a great he's done a
great job at Brackport since hewas an assistant there, long
time OC there before become thehead coach, but they've been in
the NCAA tournament, um, playedin some ECA uh AC Bowl games as
well.
So I know you'd probably knowhim well, but he's done a great
job there.
Coach Faggiano (19:58):
Done done a nice job there.
Uh himself, Coach Potter, CoachFox, do a great job.
You know, um again, I kind ofyou know I got to know him
pretty well too.
You know, he's lived lived inmy hometown with Henrietta now,
and his boys play for my almamater.
I both play quarterback, andand uh and Henrietta was doing
great this year, you know.
So I ran into a bunch of camps,I always run into him
(20:20):
recruiting, and uh, you know,uh, you know, he's done a nice
job out there, and you know,they got some great facilities
and got some good footballplayers, and our guys are
excited for the opportunity.
This is a game that you knowwhen they did the schedule, we
saw, okay, this would this isgoing to be the last game of the
year.
It's first time we played themlast game of the year.
Uh it was it was one that theywere excited uh to play because
(20:40):
they're they're they're havebeen consistently been one of
the best teams, right?
And like the last four or fiveyears, the Cortland Brockport
game's been like the conferencechampionship, you know.
Rocky (20:50):
So coach, you got a comment here from yeah, we just
swear to get to that.
You got a comment from Code RedClips 4195 says, I'll be there,
coach.
I go every year as I wasfortunate enough to play for
both Utica in 07, Brockport in09.
I refer to it as Brudica.
Good luck, coach.
Coach Faggiano (21:09):
Appreciate the appreciate the note.
That's wild.
We got to see he left before Igot here.
See, if you would have waited,I would have kept him here.
Rocky (21:18):
We got the Utica Yeti.
Um, let's go Pioneers, which iscool.
We get to a lot of the Yetigames.
My son likes to go to those.
Um, coach, on the high schoollevel, I know um this week, um,
and actually Jake had asked meto help coach it, but
unfortunately, I'm not going tobe around else.
I would have loved to.
But uh, you got the high schoolall-stars uh your way uh
(21:38):
tomorrow night, right at thefield?
Coach Faggiano (21:40):
Uh Thursday night.
Rocky (21:42):
Thursday night.
Thursday night.
Coach Faggiano (21:44):
It's Thursday night.
And uh hopefully the weather,hopefully the snow melts here
pretty soon.
Uh the second year we've hostedthe All-Star game.
Uh it was great hosting it lastyear.
Um, you know, it was also greatthat some of those guys uh are
playing for us now.
You know, Logan Hewitt, CVA,Austin DeGroe, um who played in
that game.
Uh, you know, a couple otherguys were in the playoffs at
(22:05):
that time who are here, but umyou know, and then we're we're
gonna get a uh I can't talkabout that one quite yet, but
we're gonna get a young mantransfer that played in that
game this winter.
I don't know if I can talkabout that one yet, but we're
excited about that.
So uh all I know is that when Italk to the the players, you
know, and nothing against someof the other sites, but like
having on a college campus, theysaid was way much better.
(22:27):
Way way way better atmosphere,and they really enjoyed that.
So, you know, uh, you know,kudos to Coach St.
Lair, our athletic director,and and the folks here at Utica
to continue to support uh youknow Rich Delaberto and the
folks at Elevate.
They do a great job, and uh,you know, we're looking forward
to hosting that for sure.
Rocky (22:43):
And coach, before we get into our picks, which I will say
I I took a two-game cushion umas I had uh you had Colgate last
week and um in BYU.
So we'll get into those in aminute.
But I do want to ask you keysfor you this week.
I got an idea what you're gonnasay for keys to going up there
on the road and winning in atough environment.
But what are what would be somekeys for you guys to come out
(23:04):
there with a win?
Coach Faggiano (23:07):
You know, I mean it's pretty much the same for
me.
I think it comes down topossessions.
You have two two very goodfootball teams.
Um, you know, I think it comesdown to possessions, it comes
down to turnover margin, itcomes down to how the special
teams play in field position.
Um, again, they have guys thatare explosive, so you know, if
you give them a short field, youdon't want to do that, you
know.
And I think you know, we welearned some lessons in our in
(23:29):
our Hobart and Cortland gamethat you know Brockport learned
in their Cortland game as well,that you can't do those things.
I'm sure they're emphasizingthat as we are, and I think that
just plays out.
Um I think will be big.
You know, always always comesback to turnover special teams.
Um, the defenses, you know, wealways talk about, you know,
doing our very best to be thebest defense on Saturday and
(23:51):
just finding a way, finding away to win on the road for sure.
So those are always, I think,pretty consistent things, I
think, uh, you know, that arekey uh key elements to to big
the big college football games.
Rocky (24:03):
All right, coach.
So you're 29-22, and I am 31and 20.
So I got a two-game cushion onyou.
But you you you made somepicks, I think, with your heart,
and I kind of went against youweren't gonna pick against
Colgate.
I I I can't say you would have,but um, I unfortunately I
picked one up that week on you.
But uh, there's some good gamesthis week.
(24:24):
Um, we'll start with this one.
I think Clemson's played alittle bit better.
I keep hearing Dabbo Sweeneyrumored to um for Auburn
potentially that he leavesClemson.
They're four and five at umLouisville, that's seven and
two.
Louisville's at home.
They're a three and a halfpoint favorite at home.
Coach Faggiano (24:44):
Oh God, that's tough.
That's a tough pick here.
Rocky (24:47):
When you look at that, though, you see Clemson's only
four and five.
When would you ever think aClemson team would be under 500
this late in the year?
Crazy.
Coach Faggiano (24:56):
No, it's this where I was always intimidated
going to this week in the firstplace.
Because what did Clemson dolast week?
You're not gonna tell me I gotto need to.
Rocky (25:02):
Clemson won last week.
They won last week.
Coach Faggiano (25:04):
All right.
I'm gonna go Clemson.
I'm gonna go Clemson then.
Rocky (25:09):
I'm only gonna go Louisville because I like Jeff
Braum.
I think Jeff Brown's gonna getone of these SEC jobs.
Um so I'm kind of pulling forhim, but I like Dabo too.
I think Dabo's kind of gotten araw deal a little bit.
So you're gonna go Clemson.
Coach Faggiano (25:23):
It's a different time right now.
Rocky (25:24):
It is big time, big time.
All right, this should be agood game, too.
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh.
Um Pitts 7-2, Notre Dame 7-2right now.
Notre Dame they have in thecollege football playoff.
They just did the announcementtonight of the of the 12 teams.
Love Marcus Freeman.
I think Pitts went under theradar, but Pitts a 12 and a half
(25:45):
point dog at home.
Any chance Pitt can pull oneoff.
Coach Faggiano (25:50):
Uh I'm gonna go heart strings, go Notre Dame.
I've always been Notre Damefan.
Rocky (25:54):
Yep, I'm with you.
I like Notre Dame.
I love Marcus Freeman, eventhough he's a buck guy.
I do love Marcus Freeman,though.
So I'm gonna go Notre Dame.
All right.
This one, I think Alabama'splaying as good as anybody,
Coach.
Oklahoma's 7-2.
That Venables defense againstAlabama at home.
Alabama's a six and a halfpoint favorite.
I'm gonna pick Alabama.
(26:14):
I do like them this week.
I think they're playing as goodas anybody.
Who you got?
Coach Faggiano (26:18):
I'll go Alabama as well.
Rocky (26:22):
It's funny how Kalen DeBoer lost that first game of
the year to Florida State, andthey've won eight in a row, and
now they look like the Alabama.
I think everybody thought theywere gonna be coming into uh the
season.
And they wanted to throw KalenDe Boer out at Alabama after
losing one game.
Coach Faggiano (26:37):
I just think it's so it's so hard to go
undefeated.
You know what I mean?
And it's so hard to win collegefootball games.
And then these these teams, youknow, this isn't like they got
the same team for the last twoor three years.
They got all these new guys outthere and they're learning how
to play together, they'relearning their strengths and
weaknesses.
You know, I think of us, youknow, I think it took us a
little bit to kind of figure outwho we were and you know what
(26:57):
what our best play calls were onoffense and defense, and what
coverages were the best for ourdefense, what what plays on
offense were the best.
It takes your time to find yourteam out.
Rocky (27:05):
And coach, I think like the some of the conferences,
even at the division one level,and I'll we'll use the umpire
eight, but some of theconferences that may not get all
the recognition, they might notget all the exposure.
If you lose two games, it'salmost like, well, you're out of
it compared to these otherconferences that are you know
like the SEC may have a teamwith three losses, four losses
that may get in the playoff overa one or to non-power four.
(27:28):
So I think it's crazy how theytalk about that, you know, every
year with these conferences.
Coach Faggiano (27:34):
It's it's at least at least at least in ours,
at least in division three,it's not it's a it's a numbering
system and it is what it is,which I like that.
Rocky (27:41):
You guys have a good system.
I do like that.
So this one's good.
Iowa should have beat Oregonlast week.
Iowa played really good lastweek against Oregon.
Dan Lennon found a way.
Now they go to Lincoln Rileyand USC, who many think that if
USC finds a way to win out, theycould get into the playoff at
10 and 2.
They still got to play Oregon.
Um USC minus six and a half.
(28:03):
I should have go with USC.
I like Lincoln Riley.
I think they find a way here tobeat Iowa.
Coach Faggiano (28:09):
I agree.
Go on USC.
Rocky (28:11):
Hey, we're both agreeing on that.
Coach Faggiano (28:12):
When I was watching that game, I was gonna
beat who did you pick last week?
Did you have Oregon or no?
Rocky (28:17):
Uh I did have Oregon last week.
Coach Faggiano (28:19):
Yeah, okay.
Just hold my breath on thatone.
Rocky (28:22):
Well, I I usually come down here on Sunday nights to
just kind of set things up andstart going through the picks.
I'm like, did I have that?
What games did I pick up on,Coach?
I thought I picked BYU lastweek.
All right, let's see.
What do we got here?
I got two left for us.
This will be a good game.
I think Texas right now.
I think Arch Manon's playingreally well here the last couple
weeks.
Texas has a good shot.
(28:42):
If they win out, get to the SECchampionship game to get in.
Georgia's finding ways, Coach,to win games late.
They've been close.
They always find a way.
They're at home, minus six anda half.
Any chance Texas goes in andbeats Georgia?
Coach Faggiano (28:57):
No, I go Georgia.
Rocky (28:59):
I uh I'm with you.
I like I do like that.
Coach Faggiano (29:02):
The way they're playing.
Again, what you know, aftertheir loss, you know, the way
they're playing, I'd besurprised if they're not in the
four.
When it all gets going, they'reout in the final four.
Rocky (29:12):
Yeah, I would agree.
I would agree big time.
All right, the last one,Syracuse is off this week.
So I got to go with Colgate andLehigh, two two local guys.
I love Coach Cahill.
Again, Colgate put Coach, theyscored, what, 40 last week and
lost to Lafayette?
I think I think it was like 59to 42.
So Colgate can score.
(29:33):
Um, and I think they'll find away to score against Lehigh.
But coach, I think this Lehighteam could win a national
championship.
I only put this game on becauseI know you're gonna pick
Colgate because you're not gonnapick against Coach Fitz.
So I could pick up another gamehere.
Do you realize I got a strategythis madness here when I do
that?
You know what?
When you're the host of theshow, I got things going through
(29:56):
my head.
I can't put Syracuse becausethey're on a bye.
Coach Faggiano (30:00):
With the first four or five weeks when I had a
couple games on you, that wasn'tgonna last.
So for multiple reasons.
But I'm I'm I'm gonna I'm gonnabe consistent.
I'm going with I'm going withthe gate and the upset.
All right.
I listen, I'm very happy thatwith Coach Cahill and what
they're doing to Lehigh andCoach Hunt on his staff, they're
doing an amazing job.
Um, but we're gonna go we'regonna go with my guys at the
(30:21):
gate and the upset.
Rocky (30:22):
All right, and that's at Colgate, too.
I'm trying to think Saturday.
What do we got going onSaturday?
I don't know if I want to gosit in the cold on Saturday.
I think we're gonna go watchCoach Kramer in uh New Hartford.
They play at three o'clock onSaturday uh at the dome.
And um, I know we talked aboutit, Coach, but a lot of those
local guys that that you knowwell that are still playing, uh
Whitesboro's playing for theSection 3 finals against ESM.
(30:42):
It'd be nice to see these localguys uh win another one to keep
it.
Coach Faggiano (30:49):
Is it it's Dodgebill, Dodgeville as well,
right?
Dodgeville, Whitesboro, andNorthford on Mone.
Rocky (30:54):
Uh no, uh Dodgeville, yes, they're playing Lowville,
who uh Lowville's the top C, butit's those two, and then uh
Whitesboro ESM and New Hartfordand uh ITC.
So should be three good games.
Coach Faggiano (31:07):
Yeah, bring it home, bring it home to the
valley, guys.
Let's go.
Rocky (31:10):
Well, coach, listen, I'll be uh I'll be fouling the game
on Saturday.
Bring it home, and thenhopefully we'll get a chance
next week to talk playoffs andwhere you're going.
If not, if you're in an ECACgame, we'll talk that, but let's
hope we can take care ofbusiness this Saturday on the
road at Brockport.
Coach Faggiano (31:24):
Appreciate you.
Fear the moose.
Rocky (31:26):
All right, coach.
Stay stay warm.
So that was Coach Fazziano.
I've had a really good time uhtalking UC football and um
always great to talk with him.
He's he's always so full ofenergy and uh just just really
enjoy it uh with him and best ofluck.
If they get in, I I said thison the air with him a few times.
If they get into thetournament, I do not care who
(31:50):
they play, they are going to bea tough out for somebody.
You're not gonna want to seeUtica University on your line of
who you're playing if you're aplayoff team because they are
going to score uh and they willbe fun to watch.
But they got to take care ofbusiness uh on Saturday against
a really good Brockport teamthat's really good defensively.
(32:10):
They're really good on offense,so it should be a really good
game Saturday at Brockport.
Make sure to tune in Sundaymorning at 9 o'clock.
We're gonna talk UC Hockey withhead coach Gary Heenan, who
they are home this week on.
They're home Saturday night atthe Ald.
I will be there.
Um matter of fact, I think theyplay Brockport this Saturday.
So UC Football plays Brockportand UC Hockey does as well.
(32:32):
Um they're home on Saturday.
I'll have Coach on at about9.10.
And then around 9.30, I'm gonnatalk to McKenzie Williams.
She is the head field hockeycoach here uh at Rome Free
Academy, who they just uh wonanother Section 3 title.
They were just got beat thispast weekend uh in the regional
finals.
Um they finish out 18-1.
So we'll talk to Coach and morehere Sunday morning on the
(32:56):
Mohawk Valley Sports Watch thatreturned last week.
So I'm happy to be back Sundaymorning.
So, on behalf of the Rock Piletonight, thanks to Coach Faziano
here for inside UticaUniversity Football.
I appreciate everybody tuningin tonight.
Stay warm.
We'll see you Sunday morningright here on the Mohawk Valley
Sports Watch.
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on The Rock Pile.
It is inside Utica UniversityFootball Podcast, episode number
11.
Here to airs tonight.
And usually I get coach towardsthe end of the week, so I'll
have to ask him how the earlyweek of uh practice is going for
him.
I'll have them talk.
They got the Mohawk Valley, theAll-Star game is being held at
(00:54):
Utica University this week.
We'll talk to Coach about that.
A big event for this area waswe feature all the top local
athletes that unfortunatelytheir seasons came to an end.
So some of the teams that arestill playing don't get an
opportunity to play in thisgame, but we'll talk to Coach
about that and more.
We're going to talk aboutcoaches last week's game against
Hartwick.
We'll get into this week's gameagainst Brockport, playoff
(01:16):
implications, and much morehere.
Uh tonight in the background,you can't see it.
I got uh the Akron and KentState game on, two Fordham alum,
both quarterbacks uh atFordham, uh Mark Carney, the
head coach at Kent State, andJoe Moorhead, the coach at uh
Akron, both going head to headtonight.
So I got that on in front ofme, so I'm taking a peek at that
game.
(01:36):
If you're following me onYouTube, subscribe to the
channel.
If you got a chance to tune inlast weekend to the Mohawk
Valley Sports Watch, we'll beback again this week.
We'll talk some hockey withUtica University head coach Gary
Heenan.
We'll also be talking someroam-free academy field hockey
with Coach McKenzie Williams,who they just finished out their
season uh in the regionals.
They won another section threetitle.
(01:57):
They finished 18 and one.
And we'll also bring on,hopefully, both guys win this
week.
Uh Whitesboro's in the sectionthree finals.
Coach Um Kramer and NewHartford is in the section three
finals.
Hopefully, we'll get anotheropportunity to talk to both
coaches here this weekend.
So make sure to tune in onSunday morning at 9 o'clock.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on now.
(02:20):
Coach, how are you tonight?
Coach Faggiano (02:25):
You know, the weather, weather, a crazy day
today.
We're doing all right.
We were able to practice insidetoday.
So you have me in the officetonight.
Rocky (02:34):
Well, I was just gonna I asked you before we came in, I
said outside our insights.
I think the forecast for thisweekend is gonna be a little
cold.
I saw maybe a chance of rain,but that's that's typical
football, isn't it?
Coach Faggiano (02:44):
Yeah, I think I think Saturday out in Rochester
will be okay.
Rocky (02:49):
So, coach, let's uh let's dive in.
We'll spend a little bit oftime on the Hartwick game.
I want to talk to you aboutthis week's Brockport game,
playoff implications, the Empire8 uh heating up and and much
more.
Uh so let's start defensively.
You guys can't again, anothergreat game defensively for your
team.
Uh, I believe you held themdown to just 136 yards of off
(03:10):
total offense that they had.
So defensively, you guys areflying around again.
Coach Faggiano (03:16):
You know, uh, we had a great week of prep.
Um, you know, their quarterbackwas up in the top half and
passing in the conference.
You know, uh, you know, wealways talk about other scores.
You know, they they were 21-21at home versus Fisher in the
third quarter.
Uh Coach Rogers is doing a goodjob in his first year there, so
we really prepared the guys andthey came out flying around.
I mean, three interceptionswere huge, um, you know,
(03:37):
disguising coverages.
Uh, you know, the fumblerecovery for the touchdown, Nick
DeForest.
That was a great, greatfootball play, great hustle
play.
Um, you know, at one point theywere 0 for 9 on third down,
which is that's hard to do forany college team.
So definitely liked how thedefense came out to play.
Rocky (03:53):
And coach, uh the the back end as well, three
interceptions for you guys,triggered by that defensive
pressure you got on thequarterback.
But three interceptions.
Um, I think what Luke had Lukehad one, IT had one, and I think
Eli had the other one, right?
For you guys to three.
Coach Faggiano (04:07):
They did.
Yeah, we and we we and we movewe dropped another.
So JD almost had one, ourdefensive lineman almost had
one.
We we were teasing them he'sgot to sell it a little better.
But uh just they just droppedit uh on a screen pass that he
that he sniffed out.
So again, um they played hardand just talked to the guys
about you know learning from ourseason.
(04:29):
Uh, we liked how we startedagainst Alfred, we liked how we
started against Morrisville,didn't like how we finished
those games.
And uh this is a game wherewe're able to play.
Uh, we're able to play at ahigh level and then be able to
get some guys in the game.
You know, some seniors thatwere backups got to be able to
play, uh, some underclassmen gota chance to play.
And it's it's just good for themorale of your program when
you're able to do that.
(04:49):
And that's not an easy thing todo.
Rocky (04:51):
And coach, I was just gonna say the last couple games
you've been able to get off to areally fast start on offense,
which has been good because youyou were able to get a lot of
guys in the game that maybehaven't played as much.
But talk to us about what goesinto that quick start.
Coach Faggiano (05:06):
Just the confidence the offense has right
now.
Offensive line's playing at ahigh level.
Um, you know, Aze averaged, andI say Aze in the offensive
line, averaged seven yards acarry, you know what I mean?
And our in our pass game, uh,you know, very efficient uh pass
game is huge, you know.
And I think being able to kindof take what the defense gives
you.
I mean, Tyler threw fourtouchdown passes, which was
(05:29):
wild.
Um, you know, our Raven pack,you know, you talk about
flipping a situation, you know,we we don't feel a punt.
And then we had a penalty.
So I think we're on our and Ithink we're in our maybe our
five-yard line or three-yardline, and uh we're in our Raven
package, MP's out there.
And doesn't he rip off a97-yard run, which was with the
whole place was going crazy.
(05:50):
They catch him at the three,you know, get three more yards.
That's the longest run uh fromscrimmage uh in in school
history, and then turns around acouple plays later and out of
that same package threw atouchdown pass, which was nice.
So that's the first we've donethat.
So trying to show somediversity in that that Raven
package where you know peopleare keying in on the quarterback
run and trying to do somedifferent things in that.
(06:11):
So that's been a good uh a goodpackage, and I was really
excited for him.
And then then Nazir Smith comesin and throws a touchdown pass
to Tony Dorzinski, both thoseguys' first career touchdowns.
Um, you know, so there's therewas some fun stuff to watch on
offense for sure, and you know,guys came to play.
Rocky (06:27):
Coach, I know we've talked about Tyler.
I mean, he's leading theleague.
You guys are leading the leaguein total offense, and he's
leading the league in passingyards.
With you know, he's got fourmore touchdowns this past week.
But talk, it doesn't start.
You can't talk about theyardage and all that without the
play of the old line.
And this was, I think, thefourth game for you guys.
They haven't allowed a sacksince the Cortland game, so that
(06:47):
old line is playing better andbetter each week for you guys.
Coach Faggiano (06:50):
They are, you know what I mean.
You know, Coach Klaus doing agreat job prepping them, and and
uh, you know, and then we'realso trying to get rid of the
ball uh quickly as well, youknow, and and uh you know we'll
have a challenge on our handscoming up this week.
Uh, you know, probably theprobably one of the best, if not
the best, defensive lines we'regonna play on Saturday versus
Brockport.
And uh, you know, so we'rewe're prepping for those guys.
(07:10):
But uh their O line's playingreally well.
Um, and then uh you know I gotto give a shout to our special
teams.
We have a young man that'sbattled for four years and and
is a senior, uh, has kind offound a role uh as a tight end
in the Raven package and specialteams and Vinny Bernardo.
Uh, you know, they were theywere bloop kicking.
And so we set up a return sothat he had two returns for 42
(07:31):
yards, the sidelines goingcrazy, had a couple tackles on
to kick off.
And it's just nice to see a guylike not everyone gets to be a
you know a starter for two orthree years, let alone.
And so Vinny's really beengreat in our program, plays the
cross here.
Um, so we were pretty fired upfor him to have a big day.
Rocky (07:48):
And triggering that O-line too, coach, you had your
best rushing attack this season.
I think you had 257 yardsrushing, which was the best of
this season.
So again, um, I know anotherarea where you always talk about
the RPOs and you go with theother team gives you, but with
that offensive line playing theway they did, it was nice to see
you guys being able to run theball.
Coach Faggiano (08:06):
No doubt about it.
They're playing at a highlevel.
Um, they were fired up.
It was our senior day.
We honored our 24 seniors.
Um uh the school did a greatjob with that.
It was our Veterans Day game.
You know, we had 30 veteransand their families.
Uh kudos to Nick Mayhew andCourtney Walchuski from uh GPO
Federal Credit Union.
Um, they had a great time, youknow, in the end zone.
(08:29):
And then we had for the firsttime, we had the Army National
Guard uh do the do the presentour colors, and then it was
really unique that one of ourplayers, Nick DeStefano, who
took some time off from schoolto go in the National Guard, was
out there.
The guys were all fired up.
He'll be back with us thisspring and he'll be back playing
football in the fall.
Um so there was, you know,again, uh, like your typical
(08:49):
Udica home game, a lot of thingsgoing on around outside the
game.
We had one of our professorssing the national anthem, uh,
Robert Swanskowski is thedirector of our criminal justice
program.
So the guy the guy's ramped upto play.
Rocky (09:00):
And coach the one negative I'll say though, you
did have the 10 penalties.
I didn't want to bring it upwith Jed.
You're gonna bring thepenalties.
I gotta bring out the good andthe bad, right?
But uh 10 penalties down theroad against good teams.
Got to cut back on them, right?
Coach Faggiano (09:12):
Got to cut back on that.
The two I was two of them, Iwas upset.
You know, we gave them 30 yardson their touchdown drive at the
end of the game.
Wasn't really happy with thosethose two gentlemen.
We addressed that.
But um, yeah, we definitelycan't be doing that.
I think you know, going intoSaturday, you know, you talk
about a big big football games,hidden yardage, right?
Whether it be field position,special teams, or penalties are
(09:32):
definitely big.
And you know, you definitelygot to find a way to be the more
disciplined team on uh onSaturday.
Rocky (09:38):
So Coach Ty, I was reading the the recaps of uh the
games there, which your your IDguy does a nice job.
But he's six in completions,he's 32 shy uh of being the
all-time leader.
He's second in passing yardswith almost 3,000.
He's 244 yards away.
He's third in passingtouchdowns, he's got 27, he's
(09:58):
four away.
So we I know we've talked abouthim all season.
You've talked very highlyhighly of him, but again, what
he's doing for you guysoffensively, putting up the
numbers is unheard of.
Coach Faggiano (10:09):
You know, he's he's he's he's it's just he fits
us, you know.
You know, Tyler and his familyum had a great senior day.
Uh there were a few of them outthere that we were kind of
smiling that.
We hope it's not their lastsenior day.
Because there's a few of them,Tyler included, that have an
extra reeligibility.
Um, but you know what?
He's doing great in school.
(10:30):
Uh he fits the offensivescheme.
They're doing a great job.
Uh Coach uh uh Zanelovics, ourpassing game coordinator, Coach
Kowis, our OC putting him ingreat positions.
Our receivers are doing a greatjob for him.
And uh he's he's having ablast.
You know, anytime you know, youif you get a chance to talk to
him, you know, he had a rough goof it, his two stops from
Albany, Robert Morris, and justyou know, really hadn't had fun
(10:50):
in football since his hisAquinas days, you know.
And so uh he's having fun andgetting better every week, and
it's a pleasure to coach andlove meeting with him every
week.
And uh he's having fun.
He's having fun and and uhwants to play some extra
football.
Right now we're in a we're on aroll.
Um it was great to beundefeated at home, and uh now
we got to grid it out this week.
Rocky (11:10):
Yeah, so let's talk about this week.
So Brackport's coming off theloss to um to Cortland last
week.
But as you and I were talkingbriefly before we came on the
air, they had four turnovers,and all those turnovers resulted
in touchdowns.
Um and against Cortland,against good teams, you can't do
that.
But they did hold Cortland andwas I looked at this the numbers
and I said, well, geez,Cortland must have put up a lot
of points.
(11:30):
I had to read the game recap tosee the turnovers, but they
held them the 250 yards of totaloffense.
unknown (11:36):
They did.
Coach Faggiano (11:37):
I mean, Brockport's got a great defense.
Um, their defense coordinator,Mike Fox, uh, played for me uh
at St.
John Fisher back in the day,um, was our intern when I was
there, and then when I left tobecome the head coach here,
became the defense coordinatorof Fisher.
Uh, he's been at Brockportquite some time with Coach
Mangone.
Um, and uh they've got a reallygood defense, no doubt about
(11:58):
it.
And uh they can make plays.
They got some dudes.
Rocky (12:02):
Yeah, coach and scoring offense, you guys are both uh
top top three in the league.
They're averaging 37 a game.
You're averaging 37.6, butdefensively, they're one of the
top two defenses.
They they only give up about 56yards a game on the ground.
So you guys are gonna have yourhands full up front.
But you said their D-line'sreally good.
Coach Faggiano (12:20):
D-line's very good.
Um, they definitely have someexplosive players on offense.
Um, that's gonna be a key istrying to try to limit those
explosive plays.
That's always a big part offootball as well.
And they've got those guys onnumber five, mana, receiver.
Um, number two, the runningback.
I say as very those guys arereally good players.
They can take a ball to thehouse at any time.
Uh the quarterback does a nicejob managing the game, has got a
(12:43):
strong arm.
So uh they have a Wildcatquarterback that comes in the
game as well.
That gives you anotherchallenge.
Uh their offensive line's bigand well coached by Coach
Potter.
Those guys can, they're prettyathletic.
I think they're one of themost, I always say they're one
of the more athletic offensivelines, uh, whether it be in
their in their uh in the rungame or in the pass game.
So um, again, they've beenpretty consistent.
They've been one of the topteams in the Empire 8.
(13:04):
And uh, I know it's theirsenior day, I believe.
Uh kickoffs at two.
Um, I think we're gonna have abig crowd there.
Uh, you know, obviously a lotof Brockport alums out in
Rochester, but there's also alot of Utica, Utica alums out
there as well.
And you got, you know, we havea lot of guys in our team from
Rochester, our startingquarterback, our head football
coach, our offensivecoordinator, our passaging
coordinator, all from all fromRochester.
(13:25):
So I know our families will bethere, and uh, you know, you
know, sure it's gonna be a greatfootball game.
Rocky (13:31):
Yeah, coach, and you're talking about the running back
Isaiah Simmons for them.
They're coming in as a teamaveraging over 200 yards a game.
And that's been one of theareas um you guys offensively
outside of this past week, youknow, running the butt.
But again, those RPOs, ifyou've talked about, you go with
the team gives you.
But this is a team that likesto run the football, and you
guys defensively have playedwell all year against the run.
Coach Faggiano (13:52):
You know, we have.
You know, again, it's and it'sall about it's all about that
matchup on any given Saturday,right?
And and uh, you know, we weplayed, you know I can think
about okay, who are the topteams that we've played, you
know, WJ, RPI, Early, Hobart,Cortland, and then we kind of
kind of learned some lessons,good and bad, from those games
that'll help prepare us for youknow for this one.
(14:13):
And I guess again, I likeregardless of the score last
past week.
I liked how we played and uhand the attention to detail that
our guys had in the game plan.
That's going to be reallyimportant, you know, going into
Saturday, just having thatattention to detail in all three
phases of our game.
Rocky (14:29):
And coach, we were talking again before we came on
the air of the playoffimplications.
And I know again, we don't wantto look ahead, but you know,
you guys get it.
You have the opportunity thisweek.
If you can find a way to go toBrockport and win, you got a
really good chance to get in.
And as I was saying, I waslooking at some of these
predictions, and they got W andJ who who clinched a spot.
They won the president'sconference.
(14:49):
Um, and they got RPI right nowas in if they can win.
And those are two teams thatyou played early in this season
and you beat both of them, andyou got an opportunity again
here to get a chance with a winto sneak in.
Coach Faggiano (15:02):
Well, again, that won't be the first or last
time I promote our conference.
And the Empire Eight is one ofthe best conferences in the
country, and all you have to dois look at their playoff
performances over the years,right?
Whether it's Cortland, whetherit's Brockport, whether it's
whether it's when we went in,right?
Everyone was surprised.
No, it's like at that time wewere a nine and one Empire 8
team and we beat Susquehanna.
(15:23):
You know, we're prepared justfrom the wars in the Empire
Eight that we that we play everyweek, you know.
So, you know, uh, I know I'vebeen really appreciative of you
and having us on the show andgetting the the the word out
there and all the people thatare listening appreciate
everyone out there and they wantto know our our our situation.
And it's just like I told theplayers, right?
We have a hard task at hand, wegot to go on the road and win.
(15:45):
But the thing is that winningon the road gets you more
points.
If we're fine, if we can find away to do that, you get more
points than if it was a homewin.
We want all the teams we playedthis season to win.
That's a number okay, that'sreally important.
And if we do that, I think wehave a great chance of being
like that last team that getsin.
And uh and think that we woulddo really well in the tournament
(16:06):
if we had a chance to get inthere.
Um if we miss it, we miss it,right?
We can't control that.
All we can control is is whatwe do on Saturday.
Well, the nice thing is I wastelling you earlier a couple
years ago, I didn't find outtill almost midnight that in the
old way of doing things that wegot in, uh, I think the MPI
will be out.
I think it was out by seven,eight o'clock on Saturday night.
(16:27):
And so it's like you know thenbecause they'll tell you, okay,
these are the 13 teams and thepool C's that have the MPI
number.
They go right, and that'swhat's nice.
It takes the human element outof it.
And that's a system I know youknow, every couple of years
they'll look at it.
I think it's a really goodsystem being on the committee.
Um, and then if we're not, ifwe don't get in, then on Monday
we'll find out I think it'seither noon or one.
(16:49):
And I think if we're eight andtwo, if we're for if we're able
to do that, if we're able toearn that, then we for the first
time we could have a home uhECAC bowl game because we put in
free CACs, a bunch of teams putin about 10 teams, and even as
the week goes on, I haven'tlooked this week yet, but I know
some teams were adding in, likeI think Fisher was gonna put
in, they hadn't put in yet.
But I think at the end of theday, an eight-one team with our
(17:12):
NPI, you know, we probably weprobably would earn a home game.
We were very close to that acouple years ago.
We were eight and two.
Yeah, we didn't get the homegame.
They made us go out to Hobart,who was also eight and two.
So you never know, butcertainly um, you know, that
would be huge in Utica.
Let's get all of the Utica tocome out to a home game here at
Gaetano if we're able to getanother game.
But um, I know our guys are allfocused on on Brockport and the
(17:36):
game plan.
Uh, they know it's a goodfootball team.
We're playing a physicalfootball team, a well-coached
team, and um you know, a coupleof the best teams in the Empire
Right now that are playing.
And uh, you know, both of themhave lost to Cortland and and
want to finish their season on apositive note, you know, so
it's gonna be a great game.
And uh, I know our ultimatelyour guys want to get in that
tourney, want to get it, we'regonna get a chance.
Rocky (17:56):
Yeah, as I was telling you when we were talking
offline, I said I was talking toa couple guys this past week,
and uh I said, man, I said ifCoach Fawz and Utica can find a
way to get in, they're gonna bea tough out for anybody.
I don't even care who you playin the first round.
If you got to go on the roadsomewhere, you guys will be a
tough out for anybody.
So hopefully you guys get thatopportunity because I think your
guys' conference, the teamsthat you guys have played, um
(18:19):
are uh right now are positioningthemselves to get in.
Coach Faggiano (18:23):
We we we played a very good schedule.
Again, if you look back, youknow it's funny now you can talk
about that.
You look back in the summerwhen the schedule came out, and
like we didn't really pick that.
The league picked it.
So, okay, we get Hobart RPI,two of the best M play rate.
I said, Okay, Unica football,man.
We're must be getting better.
We just we drew two of the topteams, right?
And then, you know, uh, youknow, we had lost the union game
(18:44):
week one, and uh to pick up Wand J was a great, great
opportunity and a game thatpeople were watching, and
obviously they're they're havinga great season since then and
they've won their conference.
So um, you know, uh again weget in and we look back, and it
was because we played a goodopponent.
So my college coach always toldme if you wanna you wanna you
wanna win at a high level, yougotta play good people, you
(19:05):
gotta play good opponents.
So um even a lot of our alumnihit me up and like, coach, our
non-conference is a littledifferent than back in you know,
200 uh nine or ten, you know, acouple of the guys, you know,
and uh so they're glad to see usdo that and have some success
with that.
So um yeah, you know, just likeI said, it's about a fun group
uh to coach, and uh I don't wantit to I don't want it to end.
(19:28):
I want to keep rolling withthese guys.
What there's 200 and 242 teamsin division three, and uh we
know we don't want to turn ourequipment in.
And I want to be able to keepplaying some football.
Rocky (19:39):
And coach, I know you you know coach Coach Main Golden
this week for Brackport has hada has had a great he's done a
great job at Brackport since hewas an assistant there, long
time OC there before become thehead coach, but they've been in
the NCAA tournament, um, playedin some ECA uh AC Bowl games as
well.
So I know you'd probably knowhim well, but he's done a great
job there.
Coach Faggiano (19:58):
Done done a nice job there.
Uh himself, Coach Potter, CoachFox, do a great job.
You know, um again, I kind ofyou know I got to know him
pretty well too.
You know, he's lived lived inmy hometown with Henrietta now,
and his boys play for my almamater.
I both play quarterback, andand uh and Henrietta was doing
great this year, you know.
So I ran into a bunch of camps,I always run into him
(20:20):
recruiting, and uh, you know,uh, you know, he's done a nice
job out there, and you know,they got some great facilities
and got some good footballplayers, and our guys are
excited for the opportunity.
This is a game that you knowwhen they did the schedule, we
saw, okay, this would this isgoing to be the last game of the
year.
It's first time we played themlast game of the year.
Uh it was it was one that theywere excited uh to play because
(20:40):
they're they're they're havebeen consistently been one of
the best teams, right?
And like the last four or fiveyears, the Cortland Brockport
game's been like the conferencechampionship, you know.
Rocky (20:50):
So coach, you got a comment here from yeah, we just
swear to get to that.
You got a comment from Code RedClips 4195 says, I'll be there,
coach.
I go every year as I wasfortunate enough to play for
both Utica in 07, Brockport in09.
I refer to it as Brudica.
Good luck, coach.
Coach Faggiano (21:09):
Appreciate the appreciate the note.
That's wild.
We got to see he left before Igot here.
See, if you would have waited,I would have kept him here.
Rocky (21:18):
We got the Utica Yeti.
Um, let's go Pioneers, which iscool.
We get to a lot of the Yetigames.
My son likes to go to those.
Um, coach, on the high schoollevel, I know um this week, um,
and actually Jake had asked meto help coach it, but
unfortunately, I'm not going tobe around else.
I would have loved to.
But uh, you got the high schoolall-stars uh your way uh
(21:38):
tomorrow night, right at thefield?
Coach Faggiano (21:40):
Uh Thursday night.
Rocky (21:42):
Thursday night.
Thursday night.
Coach Faggiano (21:44):
It's Thursday night.
And uh hopefully the weather,hopefully the snow melts here
pretty soon.
Uh the second year we've hostedthe All-Star game.
Uh it was great hosting it lastyear.
Um, you know, it was also greatthat some of those guys uh are
playing for us now.
You know, Logan Hewitt, CVA,Austin DeGroe, um who played in
that game.
Uh, you know, a couple otherguys were in the playoffs at
(22:05):
that time who are here, but umyou know, and then we're we're
gonna get a uh I can't talkabout that one quite yet, but
we're gonna get a young mantransfer that played in that
game this winter.
I don't know if I can talkabout that one yet, but we're
excited about that.
So uh all I know is that when Italk to the the players, you
know, and nothing against someof the other sites, but like
having on a college campus, theysaid was way much better.
(22:27):
Way way way better atmosphere,and they really enjoyed that.
So, you know, uh, you know,kudos to Coach St.
Lair, our athletic director,and and the folks here at Utica
to continue to support uh youknow Rich Delaberto and the
folks at Elevate.
They do a great job, and uh,you know, we're looking forward
to hosting that for sure.
Rocky (22:43):
And coach, before we get into our picks, which I will say
I I took a two-game cushion umas I had uh you had Colgate last
week and um in BYU.
So we'll get into those in aminute.
But I do want to ask you keysfor you this week.
I got an idea what you're gonnasay for keys to going up there
on the road and winning in atough environment.
But what are what would be somekeys for you guys to come out
(23:04):
there with a win?
Coach Faggiano (23:07):
You know, I mean it's pretty much the same for
me.
I think it comes down topossessions.
You have two two very goodfootball teams.
Um, you know, I think it comesdown to possessions, it comes
down to turnover margin, itcomes down to how the special
teams play in field position.
Um, again, they have guys thatare explosive, so you know, if
you give them a short field, youdon't want to do that, you
know.
And I think you know, we welearned some lessons in our in
(23:29):
our Hobart and Cortland gamethat you know Brockport learned
in their Cortland game as well,that you can't do those things.
I'm sure they're emphasizingthat as we are, and I think that
just plays out.
Um I think will be big.
You know, always always comesback to turnover special teams.
Um, the defenses, you know, wealways talk about, you know,
doing our very best to be thebest defense on Saturday and
(23:51):
just finding a way, finding away to win on the road for sure.
So those are always, I think,pretty consistent things, I
think, uh, you know, that arekey uh key elements to to big
the big college football games.
Rocky (24:03):
All right, coach.
So you're 29-22, and I am 31and 20.
So I got a two-game cushion onyou.
But you you you made somepicks, I think, with your heart,
and I kind of went against youweren't gonna pick against
Colgate.
I I I can't say you would have,but um, I unfortunately I
picked one up that week on you.
But uh, there's some good gamesthis week.
(24:24):
Um, we'll start with this one.
I think Clemson's played alittle bit better.
I keep hearing Dabbo Sweeneyrumored to um for Auburn
potentially that he leavesClemson.
They're four and five at umLouisville, that's seven and
two.
Louisville's at home.
They're a three and a halfpoint favorite at home.
Coach Faggiano (24:44):
Oh God, that's tough.
That's a tough pick here.
Rocky (24:47):
When you look at that, though, you see Clemson's only
four and five.
When would you ever think aClemson team would be under 500
this late in the year?
Crazy.
Coach Faggiano (24:56):
No, it's this where I was always intimidated
going to this week in the firstplace.
Because what did Clemson dolast week?
You're not gonna tell me I gotto need to.
Rocky (25:02):
Clemson won last week.
They won last week.
Coach Faggiano (25:04):
All right.
I'm gonna go Clemson.
I'm gonna go Clemson then.
Rocky (25:09):
I'm only gonna go Louisville because I like Jeff
Braum.
I think Jeff Brown's gonna getone of these SEC jobs.
Um so I'm kind of pulling forhim, but I like Dabo too.
I think Dabo's kind of gotten araw deal a little bit.
So you're gonna go Clemson.
Coach Faggiano (25:23):
It's a different time right now.
Rocky (25:24):
It is big time, big time.
All right, this should be agood game, too.
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh.
Um Pitts 7-2, Notre Dame 7-2right now.
Notre Dame they have in thecollege football playoff.
They just did the announcementtonight of the of the 12 teams.
Love Marcus Freeman.
I think Pitts went under theradar, but Pitts a 12 and a half
(25:45):
point dog at home.
Any chance Pitt can pull oneoff.
Coach Faggiano (25:50):
Uh I'm gonna go heart strings, go Notre Dame.
I've always been Notre Damefan.
Rocky (25:54):
Yep, I'm with you.
I like Notre Dame.
I love Marcus Freeman, eventhough he's a buck guy.
I do love Marcus Freeman,though.
So I'm gonna go Notre Dame.
All right.
This one, I think Alabama'splaying as good as anybody,
Coach.
Oklahoma's 7-2.
That Venables defense againstAlabama at home.
Alabama's a six and a halfpoint favorite.
I'm gonna pick Alabama.
(26:14):
I do like them this week.
I think they're playing as goodas anybody.
Who you got?
Coach Faggiano (26:18):
I'll go Alabama as well.
Rocky (26:22):
It's funny how Kalen DeBoer lost that first game of
the year to Florida State, andthey've won eight in a row, and
now they look like the Alabama.
I think everybody thought theywere gonna be coming into uh the
season.
And they wanted to throw KalenDe Boer out at Alabama after
losing one game.
Coach Faggiano (26:37):
I just think it's so it's so hard to go
undefeated.
You know what I mean?
And it's so hard to win collegefootball games.
And then these these teams, youknow, this isn't like they got
the same team for the last twoor three years.
They got all these new guys outthere and they're learning how
to play together, they'relearning their strengths and
weaknesses.
You know, I think of us, youknow, I think it took us a
little bit to kind of figure outwho we were and you know what
(26:57):
what our best play calls were onoffense and defense, and what
coverages were the best for ourdefense, what what plays on
offense were the best.
It takes your time to find yourteam out.
Rocky (27:05):
And coach, I think like the some of the conferences,
even at the division one level,and I'll we'll use the umpire
eight, but some of theconferences that may not get all
the recognition, they might notget all the exposure.
If you lose two games, it'salmost like, well, you're out of
it compared to these otherconferences that are you know
like the SEC may have a teamwith three losses, four losses
that may get in the playoff overa one or to non-power four.
(27:28):
So I think it's crazy how theytalk about that, you know, every
year with these conferences.
Coach Faggiano (27:34):
It's it's at least at least at least in ours,
at least in division three,it's not it's a it's a numbering
system and it is what it is,which I like that.
Rocky (27:41):
You guys have a good system.
I do like that.
So this one's good.
Iowa should have beat Oregonlast week.
Iowa played really good lastweek against Oregon.
Dan Lennon found a way.
Now they go to Lincoln Rileyand USC, who many think that if
USC finds a way to win out, theycould get into the playoff at
10 and 2.
They still got to play Oregon.
Um USC minus six and a half.
(28:03):
I should have go with USC.
I like Lincoln Riley.
I think they find a way here tobeat Iowa.
Coach Faggiano (28:09):
I agree.
Go on USC.
Rocky (28:11):
Hey, we're both agreeing on that.
Coach Faggiano (28:12):
When I was watching that game, I was gonna
beat who did you pick last week?
Did you have Oregon or no?
Rocky (28:17):
Uh I did have Oregon last week.
Coach Faggiano (28:19):
Yeah, okay.
Just hold my breath on thatone.
Rocky (28:22):
Well, I I usually come down here on Sunday nights to
just kind of set things up andstart going through the picks.
I'm like, did I have that?
What games did I pick up on,Coach?
I thought I picked BYU lastweek.
All right, let's see.
What do we got here?
I got two left for us.
This will be a good game.
I think Texas right now.
I think Arch Manon's playingreally well here the last couple
weeks.
Texas has a good shot.
(28:42):
If they win out, get to the SECchampionship game to get in.
Georgia's finding ways, Coach,to win games late.
They've been close.
They always find a way.
They're at home, minus six anda half.
Any chance Texas goes in andbeats Georgia?
Coach Faggiano (28:57):
No, I go Georgia.
Rocky (28:59):
I uh I'm with you.
I like I do like that.
Coach Faggiano (29:02):
The way they're playing.
Again, what you know, aftertheir loss, you know, the way
they're playing, I'd besurprised if they're not in the
four.
When it all gets going, they'reout in the final four.
Rocky (29:12):
Yeah, I would agree.
I would agree big time.
All right, the last one,Syracuse is off this week.
So I got to go with Colgate andLehigh, two two local guys.
I love Coach Cahill.
Again, Colgate put Coach, theyscored, what, 40 last week and
lost to Lafayette?
I think I think it was like 59to 42.
So Colgate can score.
(29:33):
Um, and I think they'll find away to score against Lehigh.
But coach, I think this Lehighteam could win a national
championship.
I only put this game on becauseI know you're gonna pick
Colgate because you're not gonnapick against Coach Fitz.
So I could pick up another gamehere.
Do you realize I got a strategythis madness here when I do
that?
You know what?
When you're the host of theshow, I got things going through
(29:56):
my head.
I can't put Syracuse becausethey're on a bye.
Coach Faggiano (30:00):
With the first four or five weeks when I had a
couple games on you, that wasn'tgonna last.
So for multiple reasons.
But I'm I'm I'm gonna I'm gonnabe consistent.
I'm going with I'm going withthe gate and the upset.
All right.
I listen, I'm very happy thatwith Coach Cahill and what
they're doing to Lehigh andCoach Hunt on his staff, they're
doing an amazing job.
Um, but we're gonna go we'regonna go with my guys at the
(30:21):
gate and the upset.
Rocky (30:22):
All right, and that's at Colgate, too.
I'm trying to think Saturday.
What do we got going onSaturday?
I don't know if I want to gosit in the cold on Saturday.
I think we're gonna go watchCoach Kramer in uh New Hartford.
They play at three o'clock onSaturday uh at the dome.
And um, I know we talked aboutit, Coach, but a lot of those
local guys that that you knowwell that are still playing, uh
Whitesboro's playing for theSection 3 finals against ESM.
(30:42):
It'd be nice to see these localguys uh win another one to keep
it.
Coach Faggiano (30:49):
Is it it's Dodgebill, Dodgeville as well,
right?
Dodgeville, Whitesboro, andNorthford on Mone.
Rocky (30:54):
Uh no, uh Dodgeville, yes, they're playing Lowville,
who uh Lowville's the top C, butit's those two, and then uh
Whitesboro ESM and New Hartfordand uh ITC.
So should be three good games.
Coach Faggiano (31:07):
Yeah, bring it home, bring it home to the
valley, guys.
Let's go.
Rocky (31:10):
Well, coach, listen, I'll be uh I'll be fouling the game
on Saturday.
Bring it home, and thenhopefully we'll get a chance
next week to talk playoffs andwhere you're going.
If not, if you're in an ECACgame, we'll talk that, but let's
hope we can take care ofbusiness this Saturday on the
road at Brockport.
Coach Faggiano (31:24):
Appreciate you.
Fear the moose.
Rocky (31:26):
All right, coach.
Stay stay warm.
So that was Coach Fazziano.
I've had a really good time uhtalking UC football and um
always great to talk with him.
He's he's always so full ofenergy and uh just just really
enjoy it uh with him and best ofluck.
If they get in, I I said thison the air with him a few times.
If they get into thetournament, I do not care who
(31:50):
they play, they are going to bea tough out for somebody.
You're not gonna want to seeUtica University on your line of
who you're playing if you're aplayoff team because they are
going to score uh and they willbe fun to watch.
But they got to take care ofbusiness uh on Saturday against
a really good Brockport teamthat's really good defensively.
(32:10):
They're really good on offense,so it should be a really good
game Saturday at Brockport.
Make sure to tune in Sundaymorning at 9 o'clock.
We're gonna talk UC Hockey withhead coach Gary Heenan, who
they are home this week on.
They're home Saturday night atthe Ald.
I will be there.
Um matter of fact, I think theyplay Brockport this Saturday.
So UC Football plays Brockportand UC Hockey does as well.
(32:32):
Um they're home on Saturday.
I'll have Coach on at about9.10.
And then around 9.30, I'm gonnatalk to McKenzie Williams.
She is the head field hockeycoach here uh at Rome Free
Academy, who they just uh wonanother Section 3 title.
They were just got beat thispast weekend uh in the regional
finals.
Um they finish out 18-1.
So we'll talk to Coach and morehere Sunday morning on the
(32:56):
Mohawk Valley Sports Watch thatreturned last week.
So I'm happy to be back Sundaymorning.
So, on behalf of the Rock Piletonight, thanks to Coach Faziano
here for inside UticaUniversity Football.
I appreciate everybody tuningin tonight.
Stay warm.
We'll see you Sunday morningright here on the Mohawk Valley
Sports Watch.
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