November 5, 2025 • 44 mins
We dig into a statement win over St. John Fisher, celebrate a defense that stifles the run and kills third downs, and explain how our offense controls games with protection, tempo, and the Raven package. We preview Hartwick, honor veterans and seniors, and lay out the path to more football.
• defense limiting Fisher’s run and total yards
• strip-sack turning point and front rotation
• third-down disguises and coverage variety
• offensive line’s no-sack streak and pocket comfort
• Raven package wrinkles and red zone efficiency
• receivers’ YAC and unselfish blocking
• special teams consistency and middle eight mindset
• Hartwick scouting: balanced offense and staff ties
• rankings, NPI context, and 1-0 focus
• senior day, community support, and culture stories
• weekly picks and coaching carousel notes
• closing thanks and local sports updates
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:35):
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on the Rock Pile Podcast,
where we bring episode number 10of Inside Utica University
Football Podcast with head coachBlees Faziano was just telling
Coach it's hard to believe.
We have this week and then onemore week of the regular season.
And hopefully we get anotherweek and maybe a couple more
weeks after that, but we'll takeit week to week here.
(00:57):
Excited to talk to Coach abouttheir big win last week over St.
John Fisher.
They'll return home this weekwhere they've been really good
at home all season.
They're 4-0 at home, and thenthey'll finish next week on the
road at Brockport, who we'lltalk about that.
Brockport and Cortland, a biggame this week in the Empire 8.
So some implications of theEmpire 8, how things will turn
(01:18):
out.
But as Coach just said, we gotto worry about this week and
going 1-0.
So thanks to everybody tuningin tonight.
And as always, the viewershiphas been fantastic throughout
the season.
I appreciate everybody tuningin.
We're just over 4,000 totalfollowers across all social
media platforms.
So everything has beenfantastic.
I can't thank the followersenough.
If you're watching on YouTubetonight, make sure to hit the
(01:39):
subscribe button and continue tofollow me across any of your
social media platforms and muchmore.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on now.
Coach, how are you?
Coach Faggiano (01:51):
Excellent, Rock.
Good to see you.
Rocky (01:53):
Good to see you.
And uh as we are saying, biggames this week, Brockport and
Cortland.
We can get into someimplications of the Empire 8,
how things will finish.
But hard to believe, Coach,we're heading into the last two
weeks of the season.
Coach Faggiano (02:08):
That's crazy.
It goes quick.
It goes quick.
So it's uh had some crazyweather at practice today.
It's probably the worst weatherday.
The weather's been pretty goodthis fall, but um we did you
know technically typically don'tlike going in the dome.
We want to be able to beoutside and get our work done.
But uh, you know, it's wild tobe you know, two weeks in the
eight left, and still still alot to be uh to be determined,
(02:31):
you know.
Rocky (02:31):
Well, coach, we were saying, you know, throughout the
season of doing this show withyou, the the weather has been
fantastic.
We've had great, great Saturdaygames, and uh I'm looking at
the weather for this week.
It looks a little iffy onSaturday, but uh it's home where
you guys have been really goodat home this season, Coach.
And really, you guys have beengood at home in the in the last
two to three years.
Coach Faggiano (02:52):
It's a great place to play.
Uh you know, our guys reallybuy into you know giving back to
the community every game.
It's fun that we can talkabout, you know, hey, okay,
what's what's this home gameabout?
You know, and I really enjoythat.
Our guys enjoy it.
You know, to jump right in itthis Saturday is uh I know we're
gonna talk about last week, butthis Saturday is the GPO
Federal Credit Union uh VeteransDay game.
(03:13):
And it really it supports aunique program at Citroen, and
the military program over atCitrin.
Citroen is run by a UticaUniversity alum, Jackie
Warmouth, does a great jobthere.
So something we look forwardto.
We'll have 30 veterans uh andall their families will be
hosted by GPO in the tents.
Uh we'll have a couple vetscome to practice, talk to the
guys, it's always a treat.
(03:34):
And uh, and then actually thisyear is the first year we had
the National Guard, our localNational Guard, is going to uh
present our nation's colors, andthat that's cool.
We're looking forward to havingthem and and they're gonna join
the folks in the tent.
So a lot of good thingshappening uh this weekend.
Rocky (03:49):
Coach, big win last week for you guys, 31-7, and your
your defense has been extremelywell all season, and we know
your offense has been the topsin the league.
But man, talk to us aboutdefensively the effort you guys
had defensively.
You held Fisher, I think justabout 60-something yards
rushing, and I think just alittle bit over 200 yards of
total offense, but your defensewas flying around.
Coach Faggiano (04:12):
They they played very well, you know, played
very well, got the ball back uhyou know to our offense.
That that's our goal.
Uh, get the ball back to theoffense as many times as
possible.
Um I really thought a bigturning point in the game, you
know, where we didn't get adidn't get a first down.
We decided to punt it, and acouple plays later, Mason Morano
was uh we'll talk about here ina minute.
(04:33):
Uh great hustle play.
Kind of got knocked around inthe play, but just kept hustling
to the ball and went to tackleorder back, and you didn't see
him come and strips it.
We recover it, go right downand score to go up.
I think at that point it was togo up three scores, I think.
And that was like a huge littleturning point in the game.
And uh they're playing at ahigh level, no doubt.
(04:54):
They're running the ball.
Um, you know, uh teams arehaving a hard time running the
football again, uh having to getin those where they have to
throw the ball.
And um, you know, they'replaying well as far as the you
know, I work with the D-line,I'm proud of the D line as a
group.
Uh they played outstanding.
Rocky (05:10):
Yeah, coach, I've been impressed with your D-line all
year.
How just how fast your D-linecan move.
Um, and they've been reallygood against the run.
Like I said, you held Fisher toI think it was about 65 yards
of rushing uh when they've beenaveraging well over 150.
But I've been really impressedwith the athleticism of your
guys up front.
They can move.
Coach Faggiano (05:30):
And we like to have guys like that.
We do our best to recruit guyslike that.
And you know, what's nice isall of them.
We rotate a good amount ofguys, we try to keep them
healthy.
Certainly, Jordan Davis ishaving a tremendous year, had a
big game this game.
Um, again, I'm I'm not you youprobably have Mason stats from
the game.
I I think I know he has likefour TFLs.
unknown (05:48):
Yep.
Coach Faggiano (05:48):
Three or four breakups.
Four and then three or fourpass breakups, which is like DB
stats, and then had the forcefumble.
Um, you know, uh Nick DeForestuh played really well this game
as well, our local guy out ofHolland Patton.
And you know, and then werotate some guys, you know.
We rotate Austin DeGrode inthere and makes plays.
Christian Param Rome made somebig plays when he had an
(06:10):
opportunity.
Jerome Nemhart goes in there.
Um, and then that that buckposition, um, you know, Mason
Muscari, you know, is kind ofthat hybrid where he's a
linebacker, but he's a defensiveend, but he's a linebacker and
kind of helps everywhere.
Yeah, he had a sack himself,and and he's a really good
Speciams player, too.
He's making most of the tackleson the kickoff and doing a nice
(06:31):
job.
Uh, you know, and his otherspecial teams, he's on.
It's something that he enjoys.
So um, you know, that's big.
That can be the differencemaker.
Takes the pressure off uh Coachuh J Mack calling the defense
and and in the secondary.
Rocky (06:43):
Coach, how much has it helped you guys that you're able
to play and rotate and get someof the young guys uh that game
experience?
That when we started theseason, they didn't have a lot
of experience coming in, butyou've been able to rotate and
get guys in.
How much has that helped youthroughout the season?
Coach Faggiano (06:57):
Well, I mean, it's particularly how we how we
play, you know, we really focusrunning to the football.
And then just the style ofoffense, as you see.
You know, the D-line getsgassed, you know, and they're
throwing bubble screens and alldifferent stuff to the field and
trying to tire the D-line out.
You know, that's like a gate,like a legit game plan by a lot
of offensive coordinators.
And so you got to keep thoseguys fresh, uh, you know, so
(07:18):
they can play at that at thathigh level.
So um, you know, certainlywe've been pleased with Austin
and Christian as freshmen, howthey've really progressed uh,
you know, throughout the yearfor sure.
Um, that's kind of unique tohave two freshmen play as much
as those guys have.
But I'll tell you, I think it'sa credit to the upperclassmen,
you know what I mean, takingthem under their wing.
Uh, you know, JD, as we callJordan Davis, uh Mason, uh, you
(07:40):
know, Moranowitz and uh andJerome.
Like those three guys havereally done a good job.
Like they're teaching thoseguys every day and you know, and
really built a good cultureamongst the positional group.
Rocky (07:49):
Coach, the other area defensively, you guys have been
really good this year.
You guys have been able to getoff the field on third down, and
you held Fisher at a one andnine on third down, but you
really have been doing a goodjob of getting off the field on
third down throughout theseason.
Coach Faggiano (08:01):
I mean, that you know, we were thinking, I can't
remember a one and nine onthird down.
You know what I mean?
Like that was a prettyimpressive stand.
That might be a school record.
I can't think of a timeanywhere that I've coached that
I've held a team to just one.
And so that's you know again,credit to the secondary, um, you
know, the whole group and CoachJ Mac putting them in good
positions and trying to keep theoffense off balance.
(08:22):
And uh, you know, I think ityou know that's the key, is that
we don't just sit in onecoverage the whole game.
We're trying to mix it up.
I think it's important to dothat, you know, because a good
OC is gonna attack coverages ifhe knows what you're in.
And um, you know, being able tomix that up is has been been
big for us for sure.
Rocky (08:41):
And coach offensively, you guys have led the umpire
eight in total offense thisseason, even coming into to this
week's matchup with Hartwick.
But you guys dominated the timeof possession here.
I think you were like 33minutes to 26 in your guys'
favor.
You had three big scoringdrives that were long drives um
with this game.
But talk to us a little bitoffensively.
(09:01):
You guys were able to controlit.
Coach Faggiano (09:03):
Well, this is the third straight week.
The offensive line hasn't givenup a sack, but they're playing
at a very high level.
Uh Tyler uh is very comfortablein the pocket.
So we're we're doing, you know,we've we've improved these last
few weeks, uh dealing withpressure.
Uh, but you know, we're gonnasee some pressure again
Saturday.
Um, you know, uh then andthey're running the ball.
You know, Aze ran the ballwell.
(09:23):
Um our Raven package continuesto be strong.
Did I have a couple wrinklesthis week uh where we ball to
Logan Frederick on the on themotion, uh, gave the ball to
Tyler Hall because you knowmaybe the defense is keying on
the quarterback, which is a vastmajority of the time where you
know uh Tyler Hall's in therekind of lead blocking for Matt.
And um this was, I felt our ourbest game that we you know, we
(09:47):
talked to the guys, it's reallynot about the other team, it's
about how we performed.
And I felt that to date, youknow, and you always want to be
at your best at the end of theseason, right?
Uh, this was our best overallperformance in all aspects.
Special teams played well.
You know, Nico made up fourextra points, made a nice field
goal, nice job kicking offagain.
Um, you know, Devin Taylor dida really good job punting.
He's he's done a nice job atwhat you know, whatever we need
(10:08):
him to do.
If it's more of a base punt,he's also can rugby punt, has
done that as well.
Um, and then Billy Boss hasdone a nice job snapping for us.
You know, you you don't get tomention the snapper much.
You know, we gave him our specsplayer of the week two weeks
ago to recognize him.
Um, young man from St.
August team, Florida.
And our punter's from Tampa,Florida.
So our punter and our longsnapper are the Florida boys,
(10:29):
which is kind of fun.
But uh that specialist grouphas done it, been really solid
for us and done a good job thisyear.
Rocky (10:34):
And Coach, even in the red zone, you guys were three
for three in the red zone.
And again, you you've you'veran out a couple different
packages uh, you know, with yourrun game with that Raven
package, but three for three inthe red zone, too.
I mean, I you can't ask foranything more.
Coach Faggiano (10:48):
No, they you know they got again playing at a
high level.
Uh Coach Klaus doing a greatjob, uh putting our guys in in
you know positions to besuccessful.
Um, you know, the one time, ofcourse, they they you know want
to score a touchdown.
We got the field goal.
That's important to go up uhthat extra score, uh, you know,
for sure.
And it's just good that youknow for Nico to get that
opportunity to go out there.
Um, our quarterback, you know,Tyler's playing well, man.
(11:12):
You know, he's playing well,making good decisions.
Um, and just the receiverscontinue to block for each
other.
You know, our our yards aftercatch, I know, is pretty
impressive the last coupleweeks.
It might not be a long pass,uh, but work working underneath
coverage, and whether it be toyou know to Logan or to Bryce or
to Chanferrani or to Velez orwhoever it might be in the game
(11:32):
at the time, those guys aredoing a nice job blocking for
each other and then getting theyards after catch.
Rocky (11:36):
Yeah, they definitely don't seem like they're a
selfish group at all.
Uh, you know, those widereceivers with Antonio and Bryce
who combined for 145 yards witha coach.
I know we talked about LoganFrederick.
You told us a story about him,but man, he has been a beast for
you guys.
Eight catches, 129 yards, twotouchdowns.
Man, he's been special.
Coach Faggiano (11:55):
Well, we we were kind of we our SID Jordan
Lambert does a great job.
So we were laughing that likehe could have got the D3
national team of the week again.
But I think they're getting,you know, what they call it, uh
uh you know, they're kind oftired of voting for him, you
know, because they they give it,which is fine.
They gave it to the air.
Rocky (12:09):
I thought he was gonna get it again.
I forgot.
Coach Faggiano (12:12):
Because the young man, which is great,
another young man got the award,but his stats were way better.
You know, like voter fatigue.
That's what Jordan called it.
Ah, they had voter fatigue.
But um, again, you know,blocking, doing whatever we ask
of him.
Certainly, you know, Bryce, youknow, uh has gotten some
attention, and that's alwaysinteresting when are they
rolling the coverage to him?
Are they playing a man withinthe coverage?
(12:33):
We've seen both of that.
And when you know Bryce can dothat, it frees up Logan, it
frees up our other receivers forsure.
Rocky (12:39):
And it's nice to have a weapon like Logan, too, who's
who's really another receiver ina in a big body, but to be able
to spread it out betweenAntonio, Bryce, and Logan if
they if they double one.
And there's been games whereBryce has only had three or four
catches, but Antonio and Loganhave kind of picked up the
slack.
So to have those three guys,special group.
Coach Faggiano (12:58):
No doubt.
Function high level, runningour our pass game at a high
level, and uh, you know, they'rethey're fun to watch, you know.
In the defense, we talk aboutit's hey, get the ball back to
those guys that you know, youknow, anytime you can get a get
off the field and give ouroffense another opportunity, is
uh it's fun to watch.
Like, and I really liked justhow it happened in this game
where you know uh Fisher winsthe toss and defers, and we go
(13:20):
right down the field and score,which is big, you know.
And and where in Fisher'sCortland game, they got the ball
first, and Fisher had a 15-yarddrive.
And even though they didn't getany points, like I think
Cortland only had onepossession, it was actually a
15-minute drive, I should say.
And like Cortland, I think,only had one possession in the
first quarter, right?
So like we kind of flipped thatscript um, you know, for us in
(13:40):
this game to be able to havethat time of possession, which
is big.
So as much as we might, youknow, throw the ball and the
passing statistics are there,um, you know, we're it's a high
percentage pass game, you know.
What some boats are asking theperimeter like an outside run,
really.
Rocky (13:55):
You're a defensive guy.
So I gotta ask you thisquestion.
Coin tosses, start the game.
Are you a defer guy put the Don the field, or do you do you
want the ball on offense?
Coach Faggiano (14:04):
100% defer guy.
Rocky (14:06):
Defer guy.
Coach Faggiano (14:06):
You know, I think I think one thing that I
bought into as a head coach andand you know, and learned uh,
you know, they they talk aboutthe middle eight.
And I think that's one thingthat we've been very, very good
at the middle eight, scoringbefore half, scoring first
drive, the second half.
If you were to look at thosestats, I think they're they're
pretty high.
And that's the only time youcan score back to back.
unknown (14:27):
Right.
Coach Faggiano (14:27):
And that's I think in the game of football,
sometimes uh you know, offenseand defense coordinators change
when they're up or down a couplescores, right?
Sometimes I get impatient,things like that.
So, you know, trying to getthat that extra uh you know, get
up on a score on someone isbig.
So that's the only way you cando that.
So I'm a big defer guy.
Rocky (14:46):
So, coach, you mentioned the you know, right before the
half, and you guys have beenreally good.
You you had a two-minute drillat the end of this first half
again, and it seems like you'rescoring right before the half in
a couple games, but you guysput together a really good
two-minute drill.
Coach Faggiano (15:01):
You know, uh, I mean, they they're just they
know they've been workingtogether, they know each other
very well.
Uh, the the play calling's beenon point.
You know, hey, if they're gonnaget you know, play a two-high
shell, we're doing this.
They're gonna go close themiddle, we're going to that.
And then we see a lot of threehigh shell, right?
And being able to manipulatethat.
So um, you know, max coveragestuff.
So I think that that we've donea nice job of trying to do our
(15:24):
best to prepare, hey, what arethe best pass passes?
You know, on two of ourtouchdowns, we double moved
their safeties and they're kindof giving more of that cover two
look or a little two-man.
And uh, I mean, the the onepass teller through to Bryce was
the absolute laser and hit themalmost right out of the break
right before half.
That was great.
And it was the same thing was adouble move um on that
Frederick had on his on one ofhis touchdowns.
(15:46):
So um, you know, kudos to thoseguys for putting them in good
positions and the guys executingat a high level.
Rocky (15:51):
Coach, you guys have had some good quarterbacks come
through UC over the years, um,some really good ones over the
years.
How special is is Tyler andwhat separates him from some of
the other ones you've had there?
Because you've had some goodones.
Coach Faggiano (16:05):
Oh, yeah, you go back to you know when we uh
recruited Andrew Banquet andyoung man through for 10,000
yards in his four years, right?
He's in their hall of fame andhad some great quarterbacks over
the years.
You know, I think you know,Tyler, you know, you talk about
just being hungry to play, youknow, and I think he takes you,
he'll take you back to me.
He hasn't played in so long.
And we were, you know,throughout the season, I meet
(16:27):
with the captains every week,and and as long as you know,
along with my men, my menteesthat I that I mentor, and and
uh, you know, this is justTyler's, you know, what eighth
game in like three years, youknow.
So he he's continued to growand improve every week and just
loves playing the game offootball.
And uh and he really fits us,you know, he's a blue-collar
family, he's a tough kid.
He fits Yudika.
We laugh about uh, you know,uh, you know, uh he's proud of
(16:50):
his Polish heritage.
We had some good conversationsabout that.
And um, you know, uh he's justa tough kid, and he he really uh
our guys you know welcomed him,you know, at open arms.
And and I'll tell you what,like I have to give a shout out
to to coach uh Danelovic andjust the culture in the
quarterback room.
Like Springball was acompetition, man.
Brett Fuller brought it, youknow, and and unfortunately, uh,
(17:13):
you know, Brett had an injury afew weeks back and he's gonna
have to have surgery duringfinals week, you know.
Um, and uh, you know, everyoneknows he's been out now for a
few weeks, but like the way thatthose guys battled and how they
brought him in, and he's justlike, man, this is yeah, you
know, you hear about thepositive culture, and then when
you get a transfer and and theykind of tell you, like, wait a
(17:33):
minute, you guys really havesomething special here.
You know, that's something thatwe're really proud of at Utica.
It's just the culture we haveon our program, you know, how we
treat these guys, they transferin.
Um, and you know, we we have astory, you know, Braden was the
same thing.
And I think that was a bigthing with Tyler was you know,
hearing Brayden talk about hisexperience coming in as well.
So um, he's having fun outthere, getting better every
(17:53):
week, just like everyone else.
Rocky (17:55):
And Coach In comes Heartwick this week at three and
five, one and five in theEmpire Eight.
And I want to first start withwith Coach Rogers, obviously his
first season with some Uticaties.
And I'm I'm just I know youknow Coach Rogers well.
Coach Faggiano (18:09):
Well, he's the best, you know.
Uh uh coach coach's son, youknow, his dad uh for years,
great job at Bishop Ludden.
I would love going to visitwith him.
You know, Matt had a great, youknow, uh not always easy time.
You know, he started out, wehad him play receivers freshman
year, his sophomore year.
He wanted to move back toquarterback, uh, you know,
played JV for the two years, andthen worked his way up into
(18:30):
that backup quarterback role.
And and uh just and then heplayed he played tennis, uh was
a salutatorian at the school,was second second best academic
uh GPA at Utica.
Um, and uh become a greatcollege coach.
You know, we he spent some timeafter he graduated with us, you
know became GA with us rightaway, hired him right out of
right when he graduated.
(18:51):
Great job for us for two years,and went on to Wilkes and then
to Morrisville with Coach Raby,uh, who's now the head coach at
Fisher.
And then he went back to Wilkesand then uh and then you know
took the head job at Hartwick,which was wild.
And uh, I mean you could telland you you you may have the
stats in front of you.
I'm pretty sure theirquarterback might be third in
passing in the conference, and Idon't think he's been sacked
(19:12):
very much.
And that's just a great five.
Sorry, top five, and then hehasn't been sacked very much,
one of the least sackedquarterbacks in the league.
And you know, so that you knowMatt's putting uh and it was a
transfer quarterback from WestCon.
I forget when he transferred.
I think he transferred lastyear, didn't play as much last
year as this year, and uh youknow Matt's doing a really good
job with him and utilizing theirplayers.
Rocky (19:32):
And coach, they've been in some games.
I mean, they've been in sometough games, and you know, that
it hasn't been hasn't gone theirway, but I mean three wins
overall, they got the one in theEmpire 8.
But some of the scores, whenyou look at it, they've been in
a lot a lot more games than Ithink people think.
Coach Faggiano (19:48):
Oh, for sure.
Like they they played Fisherhome 21-21 in the third, well
into the third quarter untilFisher pulled away late after a
turnover, I believe.
And um, you know, so I knowthat was a big game.
They were pretty fired up.
That was a fun game to watch,you know, watch those guys
battle.
You could tell, you know, uhjust you know, just what good
coaching will do, you know whatI mean, and and kind of
invigorate a program.
And uh Matt brought another GAof ours, Christian uh Luganier
(20:12):
on the staff down there, and anduh Christian played at Cortland
um and you know, good youngcoach, and he's our special
teams coordinator.
Uh he brought Tyler Elmore overwith him from uh Morrisville to
be his OC.
So they have a really goodyoung staff.
And you can see, like, I mean,the Hardwick, I always say the
same things, like they alwaysplay tough, they always play
hard, they're tough kids.
And and now you see a littlebit extra juice.
(20:34):
Uh, you see them in really goodpositions and offense, defense,
and special teams to besuccessful.
And they're they're makingplays every game.
Yeah, making plays every game.
So I know they'll they're gonnacome give us their best.
Rocky (20:45):
I know I asked you this question.
I know you got a lot of yourfellow coaches now that are that
are coaching in high school,um, and you got a lot of guys
that have come through Utica inthe college rank, and we're
talking about one here now.
How's how much does that meanto you to see a lot of these
young guys having the successthat are basically your coach
entry that were part of yoursuccess?
Coach Faggiano (21:06):
Well, that's hard to answer.
I mean, it's kind of like Iwould answer that the way my
guys answer when you when theyyou ask our players what does
football mean, and they sayeverything.
If you ask me what that meansto me, it's everything, you
know, and that's something thatI take a lot of pride in.
Uh sometimes get a littleemotional about.
And I just remember being ayoung coach like it was
(21:27):
yesterday, yeah, even thougheven though it wasn't, yeah, and
uh just had the good fortune tobe around some like icons in
college football, right?
Like Jim Butterfield at Ithaca,Bob Ford at Albany, yeah, Paul
Vosberg at St.
John Fisher, Mike Welch atIthaca, like these guys are
icons.
And I just you know soaked itup and and and took took uh you
(21:50):
know, I think it was just athing recently on Twitter.
Someone talked about all goodcoaches do is steal it from
someone else.
I think the the the quote fromthe coach, well, I forget where
it was now.
He said, Yeah, if you're makingup plays, they're probably not
very good if you you know if youcreated them yourself, you
know, you gotta steal them fromsomeone else.
But uh, you know, interestinglyupdated it because I realized
that I was missing a reallyimportant head coach on there.
(22:12):
And actually, I gotta givecredit, my dad, of course,
noticed it.
But Terrell Cunningham, Monroe,I think is maybe the top, one
of the top-ranked high schoolprograms in New York State.
Oh, wow.
And and Terrell wasn't onthere, and I had to get Terrell
on there.
I did not know that.
Uh, and his son Pootie,nickname is Pootie, is our
starting quarterback and has gotmultiple like Division I
offers.
And Tyrrell was at Utica when Iarrived.
(22:34):
I I got the pleasure to coachTerrell for two years, and then
he played with Laz Morgan, who'sthe head coach at Buff State.
And um, that really means a lotto me, you know what I mean?
And and you know, it can be areal pain in the butt, you know,
when Coach Fitz goes toCortland and all of a sudden,
you know, Cortland's, you know,because you know they they you
know, when Coach Fitz went toCortland, I think Bradport had
beaten him like eight years in arow before Coach Fitz showed
(22:55):
up, you know, and then you know,Coach Raj at Hartwick, and that
makes it a little tough uh, youknow, on the pioneers when
their teams get better, butultimately that's what we're in
it for, right?
We're educators, and um, youknow, uh, and just I just I just
had such a great experience asa player, and every day I try to
like shape that experience formy players.
(23:17):
I know our coaches um you knowmaybe pick some things up and
and and impact other people.
So I think that's a that's thethe long-lasting um I don't want
to use words.
These I don't they're too bigto use, but just it means a lot
to me.
Leave it at that.
Rocky (23:32):
Well, I just think it's cool because I have so I know a
lot of the high school guys, butthen as as we've done this show
throughout the season, I I feellike every time we we're
talking about a team you guysare playing or you know,
previewing a team, it's like,well, they came through Utica.
They came through they youknow, and that that's cool.
That's that's really cool.
Coach Faggiano (23:49):
We're gonna do it, we're gonna do it next week
too.
All right.
Rocky (23:51):
So we'll save it.
Coach Faggiano (23:54):
Coach Fox.
Coach Fox.
Hey, Coach Fox, play some gooddefense this weekend, my guy.
Rocky (23:59):
So, coach, if we get if we get back to Hartwick, they
they're kind of split 50-50.
They have a junior running backthat's just over 600 yards.
It looks like they run like torun the football.
They're averaging just underabout 150 yards a game.
It's a junior running back atKeel Williams.
What what does he bring?
And again, I think they'reabout 50-50, coach.
They throw for a couplehundred, they like to run the
ball, so they're they're prettybalanced.
Coach Faggiano (24:21):
Well, I and I think well, you know, well
coached and good football teamsare.
You know what I mean?
And I'll tell you what, he'squick twitch, and he'll make you
miss.
And uh, we got to be gap sound.
If you jump your gap, you know,he's gonna hit it in the zone
game.
They do a nice job with that.
Uh, you know, their line are isquicker, and I they have a good
combination of running likezone and some gap scheme with
their run game.
And I really think you know,with the balance is it's all the
(24:43):
play action, right, and themotions and trying to get the
mess with the linebackers' eyes.
So we're just doing our bestjob that we can to not let all
the motions and the in the andthe formations.
And again, it goes back to, youknow, I'm not surprised that
that he's running, you know,maybe some of the same core pass
concepts to run concepts out ofa million formations and
(25:04):
unbalanced and fib and motions,and and that's what you do.
You know, you're trying to findan advantage uh in that and
making sure that defenses areprepared.
So um, you know, it doesn'tsurprise me that that that
Matt's doing a nice job withthat and and Tyler, you know,
and Tyler Almore OC.
Rocky (25:19):
And coach, we were talking before we came on that
there's a big game this week,too.
I know your guys' game thisweek, and then you got Brockport
and Cortland.
And how do you keep the guysfocused?
Because I mean, I'm the guybehind the scenes looking at the
scores and what's ahead saying,well, we get through this week,
next week could be winner getsin, um, and maybe the loser gets
a bowl game.
(25:40):
But how do you keep your kidsfocused on this game this week,
not looking ahead to next weekand how big that game's gonna
be?
Coach Faggiano (25:47):
You know, I think we go back to just our our
past and what we've learned,you know, whether it be
particularly this season, youknow, and we know that uh when
it's really on us, you know whatI mean?
When when other teams saythey're moving the ball on
offense, it's because we'remaking mistakes on defense, or
if our offense doesn't score,it's like even this last week.
We had a you know a penalty anda drop pass, which isn't like
(26:07):
us, and then those times we'redriving to score again.
So, you know, um I talked aboutit this week, you know.
I don't mind telling them, Isaid this is where we're at.
Now I kind of really waiteduntil after Fisher, right?
Because I kind of knew thatthat's really when the time when
I knew that it would reallymatter, right?
So I explained to them aboutNPI and the NCAA power index.
(26:28):
I explained to them what thatwas.
I explained to them that youknow, you got because I know
they're looking at it, right?
Maybe not understanding, and wetook make a huge jump.
And I explained to them saidthat there's 13 pool C's, we
jump to the 19th ranked in thatpool, and if we continue to win,
and the teams that we playcontinue to win, that's just
(26:48):
gonna keep going up without adoubt.
That's gonna keep going up thatnumber, and we'll just we're
not gonna know until after thelast game where we're at.
So we so that's certainly onthe table.
The next thing is uh if youknow, say you know, say we were
able to win out, um you know, uhyou know, ECAC bowl games are
things I've always believed in,being able to play extra
(27:10):
football, uh, potentially youknow, you talk about doing
something we've never donebefore.
We played in I think it's fivebowl games, but never one at
home.
And how great that would be fora university for the city of
Utica.
You know, we want you know, heyman, empty out the city of
Utica to come and support us fora home bowl game against
(27:31):
whoever they were to match usup.
So again, I talked through allthat, and they all know none of
that matters if we don't beatHartwick, right?
And focus on that and like knowand have to understand like we
don't want a Alfred orMorrisville because there were
way too many misses in thosegames, right?
This week we want it to looklike Fisher the best that we
can.
Um, you know, it's really aboutus and how we perform and how
(27:54):
we execute the game plan.
And the guys are really boughtinto it.
You know, we had a we had a uhokay practice Tuesday, way
better practice today.
I know we'll finish strong thisweek.
Again, it's our senior day.
We're honoring 24 seniors, andthen we talk about like the
important again, the the seniorday, they all laughed.
I'll give you a littleanecdote.
So I said I go senior day iskind of like your wedding.
(28:14):
Okay, you get married, it's notabout you and your wife, it's
about everybody else having agood time, and they all laughed
at me.
Yeah, I said senior day isabout your parents, right?
It's about your parents walkingon the field with you, right?
And it's and and for us, it'sabout winning the game, right?
And and not getting caught toomuch in that emotion.
But like your parents are proudof you that you played four
years of college football, whichis a very rare, uncommon thing
(28:37):
to say that you played fouryears of college football,
whatever your your role waswithin the program, and all
roles are important andcritical.
Uh that that you know, so we welaughed about that.
So they kind of know hey, it'sa big game Saturday, the
veterans are coming, it's seniorday.
Hartwick has got a bunch ofUtica guys on their staff, and
we get to love, we love playingfootball together.
And we this team really wantsto keep playing because we think
(29:01):
we would be pretty dangerous inthe playoffs if we had that
opportunity the way that we'replaying right now.
So, you know, not gonna be easyin these last two weeks, but
they know what they know what'son the line.
So, you know, because of somethings we did earlier in the
year, particularly the losing toHobart and Cortland, every
game's been a playoff game,right?
Every game's been like all weaccomplished last week was a
winning season, right?
(29:22):
Which is one of our things wewon six games, okay.
Ud had a winning season, okay.
We're bull eligible.
Okay, next, right?
Then we want to continue to winso we can go and do special
things because division three,like you just you don't want to
be turning your gear in, right?
You want to be that one ofthose teams that gets to
continue to play play football.
So so that that's certainlytheir goal, and I think they've
(29:44):
done a good job of that.
Good job of just kind ofputting their sights uh on the
Hawks this week.
Rocky (29:49):
And coach, what two games left in the regular season?
And you look back and where theseason started, what did you
learn about this team?
Coach Faggiano (29:57):
Oh, they're fun.
You know, all right, I'll giveyou another Other side, I'll
give you another side note.
So I've coached a long time, aswe all know.
And this was the first time Ihad the offensive line and the
starting quarterbacktrick-or-treat at my house.
Okay.
So I had so it really went downvery it went down very funny,
right?
So I'm you know giving out thecandy to the kids, about a half
hour goes by, it's all done.
(30:18):
So we're just watching a littletelevision, and then you know,
I see a large human being in ahoodie, ding dong ditch, right?
And we're like, what's goingon?
My wife goes to the picturewindow, she looks, she goes,
There's someone here for you.
I go, What are you talkingabout?
So I go out to the door,there's no one that goes,
there's no one in the door.
She goes, Go outside.
And then the whole old line andTyler come running at me and
(30:40):
their practice jerseys,trick-or-treat.
And I laugh, I laugh, I laughso hard.
They're like, This is a fungroup.
That's just one example ofmany.
Um, now maybe I'll give you oneother one.
Like, so we're we're I don'tknow if I talked about this, but
we're at uh for the WJ trip andwe're in the hotel and there's
karaoke in the hotel.
Did I talk to you about this?
Rocky (31:01):
You you gave me parts of the story.
Coach Faggiano (31:03):
Did I give you part of it?
Okay, I ma'am.
I just that that that's whatthis group is.
You know, there's there's agroup of people that that are
doing karaoke that we'llprobably say are my age and
older, right?
That had a blast with a bunchof Utica kids for about an hour
before they had bed check-in,right?
So that those are our guys.
They're a really good group ofguys, they're fun, uh, they're
high energy, um, and they'rereally fun to coach.
(31:25):
So that's how I certainly wouldcharacterize these guys is
they're they're a lot of fun.
Rocky (31:29):
And coach, your group too, I was trying to go back
through over the last five orsix years, but you got a group
this year that offense anddefensively, your team's in a
top three and four for bothcategories.
Offense, you're leading theleague in total offense.
And I think defensively, coach,I think you guys are like um
two or three um defensively.
So I was trying to go back tosee when that's happened, but
(31:51):
again, this group this year,your tops in both categories.
Coach Faggiano (31:55):
Well, I tell you, in 22, I I know that
statistically, I don't think thedefense was as high as that.
The offense, I think, was, youknow, but um that's great.
I think it's just uh, you know,we have a great conference, you
know.
So anytime that you can dothat, um you know, as a credit,
you know, there's as we againwe're we're young and we're
trying to win the conference,still an outside chance of
(32:18):
having a share of it this year.
And all these teams wereplaying like Fisher's won the
conference before.
Alfred's won the conferencebefore, right?
These are good programs, youknow, they have long traditions.
So, you know, um they they'vereally done a good job of taking
it one game at a time.
Our coaches have done a greatjob preparing them.
Um and we just we're in a goodrhythm right now, you know, as a
(32:38):
program.
Good rhythm.
Um, you know, academically, theweight room, you know, the
whole program, you know, and anduh the campus is excited about
it, you know, so that everyonekind of knows that we have a
good football team and uh youknow, we kind of hold our
destiny, you know.
We just gotta keep keepchipping away at it.
Rocky (32:55):
So, Coach, you and I are 26 and 20.
We are dead even.
Um we are 26 and 20.
There's some good games thisweek.
Um, I want to start with thisone.
This is I I haven't pickedmine.
Normally I have mine picked onmy paper, but I don't have mine
picked tonight because I've goneback and forth.
BYU that's undefeated.
(33:16):
Uh they're in the they releaseda 12-team playoff.
They're in it right now atTexas Tech.
Does have the loss.
What's kind of shocking to meis Texas Tech is giving BYU 10
and a half.
I love BYU.
I think they're physical.
I love their coach, but couldthey go into Texas Tech and get
a win?
Coach Faggiano (33:36):
Uh yes, I'm going BYU.
Rocky (33:38):
Oh, you're gonna go BYU.
All right.
Coach Faggiano (33:41):
The one last week that got me was the
Vanderbilt.
Rocky (33:43):
Yeah, same.
Same.
Coach Faggiano (33:45):
That's you could we were we both the same on
that one?
Rocky (33:48):
Yeah, the only difference I think you and I had, and I'll
have to look, I think it wasthe Syracuse game.
unknown (33:53):
Ah.
Rocky (33:53):
I think we are I think we were opposites on Syracuse.
Um I I want to go with BYU, butI'm gonna actually roll uh with
Texas Tech.
I'm gonna go with the hometeam, but I I wouldn't be
surprised if BYU beats them.
BYU to me plays like a Big Ten.
They want to run the football,they're physical, and I love
their head coach.
Coach Faggiano (34:12):
And they're doing a great job.
Rocky (34:14):
All right, here's another one.
This could be a this could be atrap game.
Texas AM, a lot of talk.
Um the Mike Elko could be onhis way to Penn State.
They're 8-0.
Um, they're gonna go toMissouri.
Missouri's actually getting sixand a half.
Any chance Missouri gets one athome?
Coach Faggiano (34:34):
This one definitely could be a trap, but
I'm gonna go AM.
Rocky (34:39):
I am I'm I'm gonna go with AM as well.
I love Eli Drinkowicz.
I think he's right now, he'srumored to be the next coach at
Florida, so we'll see if thatplays any distraction.
That's what I've heard.
Nothing confirmed as of yet.
All right, Oregon at Iowa.
Iowa was getting five and ahalf, and uh Iowa's been scoring
some points this year.
(34:59):
I know the knock has been onIowa that they can't really
throw the football there, theyjust play good defense.
Um, but I think Iowa's playingmuch better.
You think Iowa's got a shot tobeat him?
Or you like the Ducks?
Coach Faggiano (35:10):
Well, I'll tell you what, I went I went against
Oregon once and then watchedthat game and watched them play.
So we're gonna we're gonnawe're gonna go with Oregon this
this week.
Rocky (35:18):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Um I am gonna be pulling forIowa.
Um, coach Tom Myslinski um thatI had the opportunity to play,
not play for, he was the linecoach when I was at RFA.
His son, his grandson, Michael,um, I believe is either the
starting center or the rightguard for Iowa.
Um, Tom Myzlinski's grandson.
(35:38):
Yep.
So I'm I'm gonna pull for Iowa,but I think the ducks are too
much.
I love Dan Lanning, but uhwe'll we'll pull for Iowa in
this one.
Coach Faggiano (35:46):
He's got some good videos out there of him
talking to the guys.
He's a fiery guy.
Rocky (35:51):
Oh, yeah.
All right, coach.
Coach Fitz, Colgate.
Listen, Fitzy's winning somegames this year.
I don't think anybody thoughtColgate was going to be as
competitive.
Um, they're gonna playLafayette, who's undefeated um
in the Patriot League.
They're hopefully they're notlooking ahead Lafayette to
Lafayette Lehigh, that rivalrygame.
Um Colgate, 4-5 at Lafayette.
Coach Faggiano (36:15):
Oh, Colgate all day.
All day of going with Fitz andJabino and crew.
Rocky (36:19):
I really want to ride with Colgate, but Lafayette's
good this year.
They're uh their two losseswere to two FBS schools.
So um I'm gonna poll for CoachFitz, but I am gonna roll with
um with Lafayette.
I think the Lafayette Lehighgame at the end of the year is
gonna be a special game thisyear.
Coach Faggiano (36:37):
I'm glad to hear you say, and we were talking
earlier that what we said Lehighwas ranked fourth.
Rocky (36:42):
Yeah, they're fourth right now in the FCS.
Coach Faggiano (36:44):
Kudos to that staff and Coach Kahill.
Rocky (36:49):
He's doing a fantastic job there.
But uh credit Coach Fitz, too,man.
I don't think anybody thoughtthey'd have the success he was
gonna have in year one.
Coach Faggiano (36:57):
Yeah, they though they lost what's the
heart, the hard one, theheartbreaker was Georgetown.
Rocky (37:02):
Yes, yes, right.
Coach Faggiano (37:03):
That was the heartbreaker one.
And then and then did they losetheir one of their best
offensive players for the year?
I know that's right.
Rocky (37:09):
I think they lost a line receiver.
I don't know if they lost astud receiver.
I I don't think so.
Um I could be wrong, though.
Coach Faggiano (37:16):
The receiver, but hopefully they get them
back.
Rocky (37:19):
All right, so this one is probably gonna be an obvious
one, Coach.
Syracuse still has not lookedvery good offensively.
Um, Miami's dropped two games,and Miami right now is out of
the beat out of the playoff, andI don't think there's a way for
them to get in.
Um, Miami right now, minus 28and a half.
The Syracuse have a shot tokeep it close.
Coach Faggiano (37:40):
They lost SMU, right?
Miami.
Right.
That was crazy.
No, I got they gotta go.
Uh my competitive side, as muchas I love Fran Brown, uh, with
you and I in our records here.
I'm gonna have to go uh go Migo.
Rocky (37:54):
I would say, come on, coach, pitch Syracuse.
I can pick up maybe another onethis week.
Coach Faggiano (37:57):
I gotta go Miami.
Rocky (37:58):
I'm peeking at the right time.
Coach Faggiano (38:00):
But I think everyone needs to make sure
they're be patient with FranBrown.
I think he's an outstandingcoach, he's got a great staff,
they're gonna be fine.
Rocky (38:07):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Angeli went down.
I mean, some of those games, ifhe if he didn't go down, I
think this season would be a lotdifferent for Syracuse.
Coach Faggiano (38:14):
A lot different.
That position's prettyimportant in the quarterback
spot, no doubt.
Rocky (38:20):
So, coach, none of these coaching dominoes have fell just
yet, but a lot of these guys,uh that Rattley or Rettley, the
guy from um SMU who was up forsome of those other jobs, he um
he just signed a long-termcontract to stay at SMU.
Obviously, Signetti signed tostay at Indiana, but you're
seeing a lot of these coaches inthe universities paying them
(38:41):
now to stay, which I think isgreat.
But now that just goes towonder who's gonna get these big
jobs?
There's so many big jobs umthat are open.
I just saw that um the rumornow, and it and I'm not gonna
take credit for it, but I didsay it the day after Coach
Franklin got got fired.
I thought Virginia Tech wouldbe a great spot for him.
And right now I just saw onTwitter that it looks like
(39:03):
they're working out a deal.
He's gonna be the next headcoach at Virginia Tech.
I think it's a great spot forhim.
I saw these dominoes, yeah.
Coach Faggiano (39:10):
You see those posts, you don't know if it's
like, is it real, is it notreal?
But I just I saw that, and youknow, uh, you know, hey, he's
getting in some good weatherdown there, you know.
Rocky (39:19):
Well, coach, I think it's nice to see these guys where I
know you say don't some of thesecoaches that chase the money
and they go from like maybebowling green to a mid-tier job,
and it's it's obviously it's astep up for him.
But you know, the guys likeLane Kiffin were making eight,
nine million dollars a year,they're happy where they're at.
The go chase another four orfive million dollars.
I say, you know, is it worth itwhen you're happy where you're
(39:41):
at and you've built some ofthese programs up now with the
transfer portal?
It's nice to see these guysstaying long term now.
Coach Faggiano (39:48):
For sure.
You know, I mean it's good tosee some of the schools, you
know, keeping their coachesthere.
I think that's the biggestthing.
It's like having longevity.
Um, I think in any anyprofession, you know, having the
administration behind you is isso critical and important.
Um, you know, and VirginiaTech's got some great, great
history, you know.
So um, yeah, you know,certainly wish him well.
I've always very much enjoyedhearing him talk and thought he
(40:11):
did a great job at Penn Stateand uh, you know, and
particularly during you knowduring some difficult times.
You know, all those, you know,uh with everything that happened
there with with Coach Paternoand all the situations I had
there, like those guys helpedcontinue to keep that program a
proud program.
Because I always was a big PennState you know fan as a kid, so
and and a big Joe Pa fan.
So certainly wish him well atthe Virginia Tech.
Rocky (40:33):
Yeah, I always say be careful what you wish for when
you get rid of some of thesecoaches, like the way that we've
seen this season.
So, well, coach, listen, get goget one this week.
Look forward to talking to youagain next week.
And uh fear of the moose asalways.
Coach Faggiano (40:46):
Hey, thanks for having us, and thanks everyone
for listening.
Fear of the moose.
Rocky (40:50):
Thanks, Coach.
So happy to have Coach Faz on.
I cannot believe it.
It's this week and next week ofthe regular season for these
guys, and then I'm crossingfingers.
They they can win out with achance to go to the division
three playoffs.
If not, hopefully they'll get athey'll get a bowl game as
Coach was just talking, but oneweek at a time.
(41:11):
So I want to make sure I thankall the listeners, all the
followers, um, for following usacross all the social media
channels, iHeartRadio, uh,Spotify, you name it, uh, for
following us here on InsideUtica University Football
Podcast.
As I say here on the Rock Pileof The Rock Pile is where dreams
become reality.
But before we finish, I havesome news to break.
(41:33):
The Mohawk Valley Sports Watchwill return on Sunday morning
this week at 9 a.m.
Uh talk to a friend of theshow, longtime friend of the
show, Scott Petoniak's gonnajoin me.
The alum is gonna join me.
We're gonna talk some Syracusefootball.
We'll talk some Buffalo Billsfootball.
As Scott's been a longtimewriter for the Buffalo Bills.
(41:55):
I'm excited to have Scott on.
And I'm not gonna release thehigh school guys' names yet
because I want them to winfirst.
Um, but we will have some highschool football coaches on on
Sunday morning as well.
Uh some local coaches are stillplaying uh here this week with
a chance if if they win, theypunch their ticket to the
(42:15):
Section 3 finals.
I also want to congratulateRome Free Academy field hockey
um for winning another title.
Those games were supposed to beplayed tonight, but because of
the weather, the games, theregional games were moved to
tomorrow night, uh, right atCamden.
I got to make sure Icongratulate my sister Shannon
too on a good year.
Her Camden girls fell um to VVSin overtime, one nothing.
(42:38):
It was a great game to watch.
She's got a really young team.
She's got an eighth-gradegoalie that's really young.
Um, so Shannon, if you'rewatching, um, as I've told you,
head up.
You've got a young group.
Your team's going to be therefor many more years uh to come.
So I want to make sure Icongratulate my sister uh as
well.
So I'll finally finish it upagain.
Thanks for tuning in tonight tothe Rock Pile on Inside Unica
(43:00):
University football podcast.
The Rock Pile is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good evening, everybody.
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on the Rock Pile Podcast,
where we bring episode number 10of Inside Utica University
Football Podcast with head coachBlees Faziano was just telling
Coach it's hard to believe.
We have this week and then onemore week of the regular season.
And hopefully we get anotherweek and maybe a couple more
weeks after that, but we'll takeit week to week here.
(00:57):
Excited to talk to Coach abouttheir big win last week over St.
John Fisher.
They'll return home this weekwhere they've been really good
at home all season.
They're 4-0 at home, and thenthey'll finish next week on the
road at Brockport, who we'lltalk about that.
Brockport and Cortland, a biggame this week in the Empire 8.
So some implications of theEmpire 8, how things will turn
(01:18):
out.
But as Coach just said, we gotto worry about this week and
going 1-0.
So thanks to everybody tuningin tonight.
And as always, the viewershiphas been fantastic throughout
the season.
I appreciate everybody tuningin.
We're just over 4,000 totalfollowers across all social
media platforms.
So everything has beenfantastic.
I can't thank the followersenough.
If you're watching on YouTubetonight, make sure to hit the
(01:39):
subscribe button and continue tofollow me across any of your
social media platforms and muchmore.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on now.
Coach, how are you?
Coach Faggiano (01:51):
Excellent, Rock.
Good to see you.
Rocky (01:53):
Good to see you.
And uh as we are saying, biggames this week, Brockport and
Cortland.
We can get into someimplications of the Empire 8,
how things will finish.
But hard to believe, Coach,we're heading into the last two
weeks of the season.
Coach Faggiano (02:08):
That's crazy.
It goes quick.
It goes quick.
So it's uh had some crazyweather at practice today.
It's probably the worst weatherday.
The weather's been pretty goodthis fall, but um we did you
know technically typically don'tlike going in the dome.
We want to be able to beoutside and get our work done.
But uh, you know, it's wild tobe you know, two weeks in the
eight left, and still still alot to be uh to be determined,
(02:31):
you know.
Rocky (02:31):
Well, coach, we were saying, you know, throughout the
season of doing this show withyou, the the weather has been
fantastic.
We've had great, great Saturdaygames, and uh I'm looking at
the weather for this week.
It looks a little iffy onSaturday, but uh it's home where
you guys have been really goodat home this season, Coach.
And really, you guys have beengood at home in the in the last
two to three years.
Coach Faggiano (02:52):
It's a great place to play.
Uh you know, our guys reallybuy into you know giving back to
the community every game.
It's fun that we can talkabout, you know, hey, okay,
what's what's this home gameabout?
You know, and I really enjoythat.
Our guys enjoy it.
You know, to jump right in itthis Saturday is uh I know we're
gonna talk about last week, butthis Saturday is the GPO
Federal Credit Union uh VeteransDay game.
(03:13):
And it really it supports aunique program at Citroen, and
the military program over atCitrin.
Citroen is run by a UticaUniversity alum, Jackie
Warmouth, does a great jobthere.
So something we look forwardto.
We'll have 30 veterans uh andall their families will be
hosted by GPO in the tents.
Uh we'll have a couple vetscome to practice, talk to the
guys, it's always a treat.
(03:34):
And uh, and then actually thisyear is the first year we had
the National Guard, our localNational Guard, is going to uh
present our nation's colors, andthat that's cool.
We're looking forward to havingthem and and they're gonna join
the folks in the tent.
So a lot of good thingshappening uh this weekend.
Rocky (03:49):
Coach, big win last week for you guys, 31-7, and your
your defense has been extremelywell all season, and we know
your offense has been the topsin the league.
But man, talk to us aboutdefensively the effort you guys
had defensively.
You held Fisher, I think justabout 60-something yards
rushing, and I think just alittle bit over 200 yards of
total offense, but your defensewas flying around.
Coach Faggiano (04:12):
They they played very well, you know, played
very well, got the ball back uhyou know to our offense.
That that's our goal.
Uh, get the ball back to theoffense as many times as
possible.
Um I really thought a bigturning point in the game, you
know, where we didn't get adidn't get a first down.
We decided to punt it, and acouple plays later, Mason Morano
was uh we'll talk about here ina minute.
(04:33):
Uh great hustle play.
Kind of got knocked around inthe play, but just kept hustling
to the ball and went to tackleorder back, and you didn't see
him come and strips it.
We recover it, go right downand score to go up.
I think at that point it was togo up three scores, I think.
And that was like a huge littleturning point in the game.
And uh they're playing at ahigh level, no doubt.
(04:54):
They're running the ball.
Um, you know, uh teams arehaving a hard time running the
football again, uh having to getin those where they have to
throw the ball.
And um, you know, they'replaying well as far as the you
know, I work with the D-line,I'm proud of the D line as a
group.
Uh they played outstanding.
Rocky (05:10):
Yeah, coach, I've been impressed with your D-line all
year.
How just how fast your D-linecan move.
Um, and they've been reallygood against the run.
Like I said, you held Fisher toI think it was about 65 yards
of rushing uh when they've beenaveraging well over 150.
But I've been really impressedwith the athleticism of your
guys up front.
They can move.
Coach Faggiano (05:30):
And we like to have guys like that.
We do our best to recruit guyslike that.
And you know, what's nice isall of them.
We rotate a good amount ofguys, we try to keep them
healthy.
Certainly, Jordan Davis ishaving a tremendous year, had a
big game this game.
Um, again, I'm I'm not you youprobably have Mason stats from
the game.
I I think I know he has likefour TFLs.
unknown (05:48):
Yep.
Coach Faggiano (05:48):
Three or four breakups.
Four and then three or fourpass breakups, which is like DB
stats, and then had the forcefumble.
Um, you know, uh Nick DeForestuh played really well this game
as well, our local guy out ofHolland Patton.
And you know, and then werotate some guys, you know.
We rotate Austin DeGrode inthere and makes plays.
Christian Param Rome made somebig plays when he had an
(06:10):
opportunity.
Jerome Nemhart goes in there.
Um, and then that that buckposition, um, you know, Mason
Muscari, you know, is kind ofthat hybrid where he's a
linebacker, but he's a defensiveend, but he's a linebacker and
kind of helps everywhere.
Yeah, he had a sack himself,and and he's a really good
Speciams player, too.
He's making most of the tackleson the kickoff and doing a nice
(06:31):
job.
Uh, you know, and his otherspecial teams, he's on.
It's something that he enjoys.
So um, you know, that's big.
That can be the differencemaker.
Takes the pressure off uh Coachuh J Mack calling the defense
and and in the secondary.
Rocky (06:43):
Coach, how much has it helped you guys that you're able
to play and rotate and get someof the young guys uh that game
experience?
That when we started theseason, they didn't have a lot
of experience coming in, butyou've been able to rotate and
get guys in.
How much has that helped youthroughout the season?
Coach Faggiano (06:57):
Well, I mean, it's particularly how we how we
play, you know, we really focusrunning to the football.
And then just the style ofoffense, as you see.
You know, the D-line getsgassed, you know, and they're
throwing bubble screens and alldifferent stuff to the field and
trying to tire the D-line out.
You know, that's like a gate,like a legit game plan by a lot
of offensive coordinators.
And so you got to keep thoseguys fresh, uh, you know, so
(07:18):
they can play at that at thathigh level.
So um, you know, certainlywe've been pleased with Austin
and Christian as freshmen, howthey've really progressed uh,
you know, throughout the yearfor sure.
Um, that's kind of unique tohave two freshmen play as much
as those guys have.
But I'll tell you, I think it'sa credit to the upperclassmen,
you know what I mean, takingthem under their wing.
Uh, you know, JD, as we callJordan Davis, uh Mason, uh, you
(07:40):
know, Moranowitz and uh andJerome.
Like those three guys havereally done a good job.
Like they're teaching thoseguys every day and you know, and
really built a good cultureamongst the positional group.
Rocky (07:49):
Coach, the other area defensively, you guys have been
really good this year.
You guys have been able to getoff the field on third down, and
you held Fisher at a one andnine on third down, but you
really have been doing a goodjob of getting off the field on
third down throughout theseason.
Coach Faggiano (08:01):
I mean, that you know, we were thinking, I can't
remember a one and nine onthird down.
You know what I mean?
Like that was a prettyimpressive stand.
That might be a school record.
I can't think of a timeanywhere that I've coached that
I've held a team to just one.
And so that's you know again,credit to the secondary, um, you
know, the whole group and CoachJ Mac putting them in good
positions and trying to keep theoffense off balance.
(08:22):
And uh, you know, I think ityou know that's the key, is that
we don't just sit in onecoverage the whole game.
We're trying to mix it up.
I think it's important to dothat, you know, because a good
OC is gonna attack coverages ifhe knows what you're in.
And um, you know, being able tomix that up is has been been
big for us for sure.
Rocky (08:41):
And coach offensively, you guys have led the umpire
eight in total offense thisseason, even coming into to this
week's matchup with Hartwick.
But you guys dominated the timeof possession here.
I think you were like 33minutes to 26 in your guys'
favor.
You had three big scoringdrives that were long drives um
with this game.
But talk to us a little bitoffensively.
(09:01):
You guys were able to controlit.
Coach Faggiano (09:03):
Well, this is the third straight week.
The offensive line hasn't givenup a sack, but they're playing
at a very high level.
Uh Tyler uh is very comfortablein the pocket.
So we're we're doing, you know,we've we've improved these last
few weeks, uh dealing withpressure.
Uh, but you know, we're gonnasee some pressure again
Saturday.
Um, you know, uh then andthey're running the ball.
You know, Aze ran the ballwell.
(09:23):
Um our Raven package continuesto be strong.
Did I have a couple wrinklesthis week uh where we ball to
Logan Frederick on the on themotion, uh, gave the ball to
Tyler Hall because you knowmaybe the defense is keying on
the quarterback, which is a vastmajority of the time where you
know uh Tyler Hall's in therekind of lead blocking for Matt.
And um this was, I felt our ourbest game that we you know, we
(09:47):
talked to the guys, it's reallynot about the other team, it's
about how we performed.
And I felt that to date, youknow, and you always want to be
at your best at the end of theseason, right?
Uh, this was our best overallperformance in all aspects.
Special teams played well.
You know, Nico made up fourextra points, made a nice field
goal, nice job kicking offagain.
Um, you know, Devin Taylor dida really good job punting.
He's he's done a nice job atwhat you know, whatever we need
(10:08):
him to do.
If it's more of a base punt,he's also can rugby punt, has
done that as well.
Um, and then Billy Boss hasdone a nice job snapping for us.
You know, you you don't get tomention the snapper much.
You know, we gave him our specsplayer of the week two weeks
ago to recognize him.
Um, young man from St.
August team, Florida.
And our punter's from Tampa,Florida.
So our punter and our longsnapper are the Florida boys,
(10:29):
which is kind of fun.
But uh that specialist grouphas done it, been really solid
for us and done a good job thisyear.
Rocky (10:34):
And Coach, even in the red zone, you guys were three
for three in the red zone.
And again, you you've you'veran out a couple different
packages uh, you know, with yourrun game with that Raven
package, but three for three inthe red zone, too.
I mean, I you can't ask foranything more.
Coach Faggiano (10:48):
No, they you know they got again playing at a
high level.
Uh Coach Klaus doing a greatjob, uh putting our guys in in
you know positions to besuccessful.
Um, you know, the one time, ofcourse, they they you know want
to score a touchdown.
We got the field goal.
That's important to go up uhthat extra score, uh, you know,
for sure.
And it's just good that youknow for Nico to get that
opportunity to go out there.
Um, our quarterback, you know,Tyler's playing well, man.
(11:12):
You know, he's playing well,making good decisions.
Um, and just the receiverscontinue to block for each
other.
You know, our our yards aftercatch, I know, is pretty
impressive the last coupleweeks.
It might not be a long pass,uh, but work working underneath
coverage, and whether it be toyou know to Logan or to Bryce or
to Chanferrani or to Velez orwhoever it might be in the game
(11:32):
at the time, those guys aredoing a nice job blocking for
each other and then getting theyards after catch.
Rocky (11:36):
Yeah, they definitely don't seem like they're a
selfish group at all.
Uh, you know, those widereceivers with Antonio and Bryce
who combined for 145 yards witha coach.
I know we talked about LoganFrederick.
You told us a story about him,but man, he has been a beast for
you guys.
Eight catches, 129 yards, twotouchdowns.
Man, he's been special.
Coach Faggiano (11:55):
Well, we we were kind of we our SID Jordan
Lambert does a great job.
So we were laughing that likehe could have got the D3
national team of the week again.
But I think they're getting,you know, what they call it, uh
uh you know, they're kind oftired of voting for him, you
know, because they they give it,which is fine.
They gave it to the air.
Rocky (12:09):
I thought he was gonna get it again.
I forgot.
Coach Faggiano (12:12):
Because the young man, which is great,
another young man got the award,but his stats were way better.
You know, like voter fatigue.
That's what Jordan called it.
Ah, they had voter fatigue.
But um, again, you know,blocking, doing whatever we ask
of him.
Certainly, you know, Bryce, youknow, uh has gotten some
attention, and that's alwaysinteresting when are they
rolling the coverage to him?
Are they playing a man withinthe coverage?
(12:33):
We've seen both of that.
And when you know Bryce can dothat, it frees up Logan, it
frees up our other receivers forsure.
Rocky (12:39):
And it's nice to have a weapon like Logan, too, who's
who's really another receiver ina in a big body, but to be able
to spread it out betweenAntonio, Bryce, and Logan if
they if they double one.
And there's been games whereBryce has only had three or four
catches, but Antonio and Loganhave kind of picked up the
slack.
So to have those three guys,special group.
Coach Faggiano (12:58):
No doubt.
Function high level, runningour our pass game at a high
level, and uh, you know, they'rethey're fun to watch, you know.
In the defense, we talk aboutit's hey, get the ball back to
those guys that you know, youknow, anytime you can get a get
off the field and give ouroffense another opportunity, is
uh it's fun to watch.
Like, and I really liked justhow it happened in this game
where you know uh Fisher winsthe toss and defers, and we go
(13:20):
right down the field and score,which is big, you know.
And and where in Fisher'sCortland game, they got the ball
first, and Fisher had a 15-yarddrive.
And even though they didn't getany points, like I think
Cortland only had onepossession, it was actually a
15-minute drive, I should say.
And like Cortland, I think,only had one possession in the
first quarter, right?
So like we kind of flipped thatscript um, you know, for us in
(13:40):
this game to be able to havethat time of possession, which
is big.
So as much as we might, youknow, throw the ball and the
passing statistics are there,um, you know, we're it's a high
percentage pass game, you know.
What some boats are asking theperimeter like an outside run,
really.
Rocky (13:55):
You're a defensive guy.
So I gotta ask you thisquestion.
Coin tosses, start the game.
Are you a defer guy put the Don the field, or do you do you
want the ball on offense?
Coach Faggiano (14:04):
100% defer guy.
Rocky (14:06):
Defer guy.
Coach Faggiano (14:06):
You know, I think I think one thing that I
bought into as a head coach andand you know, and learned uh,
you know, they they talk aboutthe middle eight.
And I think that's one thingthat we've been very, very good
at the middle eight, scoringbefore half, scoring first
drive, the second half.
If you were to look at thosestats, I think they're they're
pretty high.
And that's the only time youcan score back to back.
unknown (14:27):
Right.
Coach Faggiano (14:27):
And that's I think in the game of football,
sometimes uh you know, offenseand defense coordinators change
when they're up or down a couplescores, right?
Sometimes I get impatient,things like that.
So, you know, trying to getthat that extra uh you know, get
up on a score on someone isbig.
So that's the only way you cando that.
So I'm a big defer guy.
Rocky (14:46):
So, coach, you mentioned the you know, right before the
half, and you guys have beenreally good.
You you had a two-minute drillat the end of this first half
again, and it seems like you'rescoring right before the half in
a couple games, but you guysput together a really good
two-minute drill.
Coach Faggiano (15:01):
You know, uh, I mean, they they're just they
know they've been workingtogether, they know each other
very well.
Uh, the the play calling's beenon point.
You know, hey, if they're gonnaget you know, play a two-high
shell, we're doing this.
They're gonna go close themiddle, we're going to that.
And then we see a lot of threehigh shell, right?
And being able to manipulatethat.
So um, you know, max coveragestuff.
So I think that that we've donea nice job of trying to do our
(15:24):
best to prepare, hey, what arethe best pass passes?
You know, on two of ourtouchdowns, we double moved
their safeties and they're kindof giving more of that cover two
look or a little two-man.
And uh, I mean, the the onepass teller through to Bryce was
the absolute laser and hit themalmost right out of the break
right before half.
That was great.
And it was the same thing was adouble move um on that
Frederick had on his on one ofhis touchdowns.
(15:46):
So um, you know, kudos to thoseguys for putting them in good
positions and the guys executingat a high level.
Rocky (15:51):
Coach, you guys have had some good quarterbacks come
through UC over the years, um,some really good ones over the
years.
How special is is Tyler andwhat separates him from some of
the other ones you've had there?
Because you've had some goodones.
Coach Faggiano (16:05):
Oh, yeah, you go back to you know when we uh
recruited Andrew Banquet andyoung man through for 10,000
yards in his four years, right?
He's in their hall of fame andhad some great quarterbacks over
the years.
You know, I think you know,Tyler, you know, you talk about
just being hungry to play, youknow, and I think he takes you,
he'll take you back to me.
He hasn't played in so long.
And we were, you know,throughout the season, I meet
(16:27):
with the captains every week,and and as long as you know,
along with my men, my menteesthat I that I mentor, and and
uh, you know, this is justTyler's, you know, what eighth
game in like three years, youknow.
So he he's continued to growand improve every week and just
loves playing the game offootball.
And uh and he really fits us,you know, he's a blue-collar
family, he's a tough kid.
He fits Yudika.
We laugh about uh, you know,uh, you know, uh he's proud of
(16:50):
his Polish heritage.
We had some good conversationsabout that.
And um, you know, uh he's justa tough kid, and he he really uh
our guys you know welcomed him,you know, at open arms.
And and I'll tell you what,like I have to give a shout out
to to coach uh Danelovic andjust the culture in the
quarterback room.
Like Springball was acompetition, man.
Brett Fuller brought it, youknow, and and unfortunately, uh,
(17:13):
you know, Brett had an injury afew weeks back and he's gonna
have to have surgery duringfinals week, you know.
Um, and uh, you know, everyoneknows he's been out now for a
few weeks, but like the way thatthose guys battled and how they
brought him in, and he's justlike, man, this is yeah, you
know, you hear about thepositive culture, and then when
you get a transfer and and theykind of tell you, like, wait a
(17:33):
minute, you guys really havesomething special here.
You know, that's something thatwe're really proud of at Utica.
It's just the culture we haveon our program, you know, how we
treat these guys, they transferin.
Um, and you know, we we have astory, you know, Braden was the
same thing.
And I think that was a bigthing with Tyler was you know,
hearing Brayden talk about hisexperience coming in as well.
So um, he's having fun outthere, getting better every
(17:53):
week, just like everyone else.
Rocky (17:55):
And Coach In comes Heartwick this week at three and
five, one and five in theEmpire Eight.
And I want to first start withwith Coach Rogers, obviously his
first season with some Uticaties.
And I'm I'm just I know youknow Coach Rogers well.
Coach Faggiano (18:09):
Well, he's the best, you know.
Uh uh coach coach's son, youknow, his dad uh for years,
great job at Bishop Ludden.
I would love going to visitwith him.
You know, Matt had a great, youknow, uh not always easy time.
You know, he started out, wehad him play receivers freshman
year, his sophomore year.
He wanted to move back toquarterback, uh, you know,
played JV for the two years, andthen worked his way up into
(18:30):
that backup quarterback role.
And and uh just and then heplayed he played tennis, uh was
a salutatorian at the school,was second second best academic
uh GPA at Utica.
Um, and uh become a greatcollege coach.
You know, we he spent some timeafter he graduated with us, you
know became GA with us rightaway, hired him right out of
right when he graduated.
(18:51):
Great job for us for two years,and went on to Wilkes and then
to Morrisville with Coach Raby,uh, who's now the head coach at
Fisher.
And then he went back to Wilkesand then uh and then you know
took the head job at Hartwick,which was wild.
And uh, I mean you could telland you you you may have the
stats in front of you.
I'm pretty sure theirquarterback might be third in
passing in the conference, and Idon't think he's been sacked
(19:12):
very much.
And that's just a great five.
Sorry, top five, and then hehasn't been sacked very much,
one of the least sackedquarterbacks in the league.
And you know, so that you knowMatt's putting uh and it was a
transfer quarterback from WestCon.
I forget when he transferred.
I think he transferred lastyear, didn't play as much last
year as this year, and uh youknow Matt's doing a really good
job with him and utilizing theirplayers.
Rocky (19:32):
And coach, they've been in some games.
I mean, they've been in sometough games, and you know, that
it hasn't been hasn't gone theirway, but I mean three wins
overall, they got the one in theEmpire 8.
But some of the scores, whenyou look at it, they've been in
a lot a lot more games than Ithink people think.
Coach Faggiano (19:48):
Oh, for sure.
Like they they played Fisherhome 21-21 in the third, well
into the third quarter untilFisher pulled away late after a
turnover, I believe.
And um, you know, so I knowthat was a big game.
They were pretty fired up.
That was a fun game to watch,you know, watch those guys
battle.
You could tell, you know, uhjust you know, just what good
coaching will do, you know whatI mean, and and kind of
invigorate a program.
And uh Matt brought another GAof ours, Christian uh Luganier
(20:12):
on the staff down there, and anduh Christian played at Cortland
um and you know, good youngcoach, and he's our special
teams coordinator.
Uh he brought Tyler Elmore overwith him from uh Morrisville to
be his OC.
So they have a really goodyoung staff.
And you can see, like, I mean,the Hardwick, I always say the
same things, like they alwaysplay tough, they always play
hard, they're tough kids.
And and now you see a littlebit extra juice.
(20:34):
Uh, you see them in really goodpositions and offense, defense,
and special teams to besuccessful.
And they're they're makingplays every game.
Yeah, making plays every game.
So I know they'll they're gonnacome give us their best.
Rocky (20:45):
I know I asked you this question.
I know you got a lot of yourfellow coaches now that are that
are coaching in high school,um, and you got a lot of guys
that have come through Utica inthe college rank, and we're
talking about one here now.
How's how much does that meanto you to see a lot of these
young guys having the successthat are basically your coach
entry that were part of yoursuccess?
Coach Faggiano (21:06):
Well, that's hard to answer.
I mean, it's kind of like Iwould answer that the way my
guys answer when you when theyyou ask our players what does
football mean, and they sayeverything.
If you ask me what that meansto me, it's everything, you
know, and that's something thatI take a lot of pride in.
Uh sometimes get a littleemotional about.
And I just remember being ayoung coach like it was
(21:27):
yesterday, yeah, even thougheven though it wasn't, yeah, and
uh just had the good fortune tobe around some like icons in
college football, right?
Like Jim Butterfield at Ithaca,Bob Ford at Albany, yeah, Paul
Vosberg at St.
John Fisher, Mike Welch atIthaca, like these guys are
icons.
And I just you know soaked itup and and and took took uh you
(21:50):
know, I think it was just athing recently on Twitter.
Someone talked about all goodcoaches do is steal it from
someone else.
I think the the the quote fromthe coach, well, I forget where
it was now.
He said, Yeah, if you're makingup plays, they're probably not
very good if you you know if youcreated them yourself, you
know, you gotta steal them fromsomeone else.
But uh, you know, interestinglyupdated it because I realized
that I was missing a reallyimportant head coach on there.
(22:12):
And actually, I gotta givecredit, my dad, of course,
noticed it.
But Terrell Cunningham, Monroe,I think is maybe the top, one
of the top-ranked high schoolprograms in New York State.
Oh, wow.
And and Terrell wasn't onthere, and I had to get Terrell
on there.
I did not know that.
Uh, and his son Pootie,nickname is Pootie, is our
starting quarterback and has gotmultiple like Division I
offers.
And Tyrrell was at Utica when Iarrived.
(22:34):
I I got the pleasure to coachTerrell for two years, and then
he played with Laz Morgan, who'sthe head coach at Buff State.
And um, that really means a lotto me, you know what I mean?
And and you know, it can be areal pain in the butt, you know,
when Coach Fitz goes toCortland and all of a sudden,
you know, Cortland's, you know,because you know they they you
know, when Coach Fitz went toCortland, I think Bradport had
beaten him like eight years in arow before Coach Fitz showed
(22:55):
up, you know, and then you know,Coach Raj at Hartwick, and that
makes it a little tough uh, youknow, on the pioneers when
their teams get better, butultimately that's what we're in
it for, right?
We're educators, and um, youknow, uh, and just I just I just
had such a great experience asa player, and every day I try to
like shape that experience formy players.
(23:17):
I know our coaches um you knowmaybe pick some things up and
and and impact other people.
So I think that's a that's thethe long-lasting um I don't want
to use words.
These I don't they're too bigto use, but just it means a lot
to me.
Leave it at that.
Rocky (23:32):
Well, I just think it's cool because I have so I know a
lot of the high school guys, butthen as as we've done this show
throughout the season, I I feellike every time we we're
talking about a team you guysare playing or you know,
previewing a team, it's like,well, they came through Utica.
They came through they youknow, and that that's cool.
That's that's really cool.
Coach Faggiano (23:49):
We're gonna do it, we're gonna do it next week
too.
All right.
Rocky (23:51):
So we'll save it.
Coach Faggiano (23:54):
Coach Fox.
Coach Fox.
Hey, Coach Fox, play some gooddefense this weekend, my guy.
Rocky (23:59):
So, coach, if we get if we get back to Hartwick, they
they're kind of split 50-50.
They have a junior running backthat's just over 600 yards.
It looks like they run like torun the football.
They're averaging just underabout 150 yards a game.
It's a junior running back atKeel Williams.
What what does he bring?
And again, I think they'reabout 50-50, coach.
They throw for a couplehundred, they like to run the
ball, so they're they're prettybalanced.
Coach Faggiano (24:21):
Well, I and I think well, you know, well
coached and good football teamsare.
You know what I mean?
And I'll tell you what, he'squick twitch, and he'll make you
miss.
And uh, we got to be gap sound.
If you jump your gap, you know,he's gonna hit it in the zone
game.
They do a nice job with that.
Uh, you know, their line are isquicker, and I they have a good
combination of running likezone and some gap scheme with
their run game.
And I really think you know,with the balance is it's all the
(24:43):
play action, right, and themotions and trying to get the
mess with the linebackers' eyes.
So we're just doing our bestjob that we can to not let all
the motions and the in the andthe formations.
And again, it goes back to, youknow, I'm not surprised that
that he's running, you know,maybe some of the same core pass
concepts to run concepts out ofa million formations and
(25:04):
unbalanced and fib and motions,and and that's what you do.
You know, you're trying to findan advantage uh in that and
making sure that defenses areprepared.
So um, you know, it doesn'tsurprise me that that that
Matt's doing a nice job withthat and and Tyler, you know,
and Tyler Almore OC.
Rocky (25:19):
And coach, we were talking before we came on that
there's a big game this week,too.
I know your guys' game thisweek, and then you got Brockport
and Cortland.
And how do you keep the guysfocused?
Because I mean, I'm the guybehind the scenes looking at the
scores and what's ahead saying,well, we get through this week,
next week could be winner getsin, um, and maybe the loser gets
a bowl game.
(25:40):
But how do you keep your kidsfocused on this game this week,
not looking ahead to next weekand how big that game's gonna
be?
Coach Faggiano (25:47):
You know, I think we go back to just our our
past and what we've learned,you know, whether it be
particularly this season, youknow, and we know that uh when
it's really on us, you know whatI mean?
When when other teams saythey're moving the ball on
offense, it's because we'remaking mistakes on defense, or
if our offense doesn't score,it's like even this last week.
We had a you know a penalty anda drop pass, which isn't like
(26:07):
us, and then those times we'redriving to score again.
So, you know, um I talked aboutit this week, you know.
I don't mind telling them, Isaid this is where we're at.
Now I kind of really waiteduntil after Fisher, right?
Because I kind of knew thatthat's really when the time when
I knew that it would reallymatter, right?
So I explained to them aboutNPI and the NCAA power index.
(26:28):
I explained to them what thatwas.
I explained to them that youknow, you got because I know
they're looking at it, right?
Maybe not understanding, and wetook make a huge jump.
And I explained to them saidthat there's 13 pool C's, we
jump to the 19th ranked in thatpool, and if we continue to win,
and the teams that we playcontinue to win, that's just
(26:48):
gonna keep going up without adoubt.
That's gonna keep going up thatnumber, and we'll just we're
not gonna know until after thelast game where we're at.
So we so that's certainly onthe table.
The next thing is uh if youknow, say you know, say we were
able to win out, um you know, uhyou know, ECAC bowl games are
things I've always believed in,being able to play extra
(27:10):
football, uh, potentially youknow, you talk about doing
something we've never donebefore.
We played in I think it's fivebowl games, but never one at
home.
And how great that would be fora university for the city of
Utica.
You know, we want you know, heyman, empty out the city of
Utica to come and support us fora home bowl game against
(27:31):
whoever they were to match usup.
So again, I talked through allthat, and they all know none of
that matters if we don't beatHartwick, right?
And focus on that and like knowand have to understand like we
don't want a Alfred orMorrisville because there were
way too many misses in thosegames, right?
This week we want it to looklike Fisher the best that we
can.
Um, you know, it's really aboutus and how we perform and how
(27:54):
we execute the game plan.
And the guys are really boughtinto it.
You know, we had a we had a uhokay practice Tuesday, way
better practice today.
I know we'll finish strong thisweek.
Again, it's our senior day.
We're honoring 24 seniors, andthen we talk about like the
important again, the the seniorday, they all laughed.
I'll give you a littleanecdote.
So I said I go senior day iskind of like your wedding.
(28:14):
Okay, you get married, it's notabout you and your wife, it's
about everybody else having agood time, and they all laughed
at me.
Yeah, I said senior day isabout your parents, right?
It's about your parents walkingon the field with you, right?
And it's and and for us, it'sabout winning the game, right?
And and not getting caught toomuch in that emotion.
But like your parents are proudof you that you played four
years of college football, whichis a very rare, uncommon thing
(28:37):
to say that you played fouryears of college football,
whatever your your role waswithin the program, and all
roles are important andcritical.
Uh that that you know, so we welaughed about that.
So they kind of know hey, it'sa big game Saturday, the
veterans are coming, it's seniorday.
Hartwick has got a bunch ofUtica guys on their staff, and
we get to love, we love playingfootball together.
And we this team really wantsto keep playing because we think
(29:01):
we would be pretty dangerous inthe playoffs if we had that
opportunity the way that we'replaying right now.
So, you know, not gonna be easyin these last two weeks, but
they know what they know what'son the line.
So, you know, because of somethings we did earlier in the
year, particularly the losing toHobart and Cortland, every
game's been a playoff game,right?
Every game's been like all weaccomplished last week was a
winning season, right?
(29:22):
Which is one of our things wewon six games, okay.
Ud had a winning season, okay.
We're bull eligible.
Okay, next, right?
Then we want to continue to winso we can go and do special
things because division three,like you just you don't want to
be turning your gear in, right?
You want to be that one ofthose teams that gets to
continue to play play football.
So so that that's certainlytheir goal, and I think they've
(29:44):
done a good job of that.
Good job of just kind ofputting their sights uh on the
Hawks this week.
Rocky (29:49):
And coach, what two games left in the regular season?
And you look back and where theseason started, what did you
learn about this team?
Coach Faggiano (29:57):
Oh, they're fun.
You know, all right, I'll giveyou another Other side, I'll
give you another side note.
So I've coached a long time, aswe all know.
And this was the first time Ihad the offensive line and the
starting quarterbacktrick-or-treat at my house.
Okay.
So I had so it really went downvery it went down very funny,
right?
So I'm you know giving out thecandy to the kids, about a half
hour goes by, it's all done.
(30:18):
So we're just watching a littletelevision, and then you know,
I see a large human being in ahoodie, ding dong ditch, right?
And we're like, what's goingon?
My wife goes to the picturewindow, she looks, she goes,
There's someone here for you.
I go, What are you talkingabout?
So I go out to the door,there's no one that goes,
there's no one in the door.
She goes, Go outside.
And then the whole old line andTyler come running at me and
(30:40):
their practice jerseys,trick-or-treat.
And I laugh, I laugh, I laughso hard.
They're like, This is a fungroup.
That's just one example ofmany.
Um, now maybe I'll give you oneother one.
Like, so we're we're I don'tknow if I talked about this, but
we're at uh for the WJ trip andwe're in the hotel and there's
karaoke in the hotel.
Did I talk to you about this?
Rocky (31:01):
You you gave me parts of the story.
Coach Faggiano (31:03):
Did I give you part of it?
Okay, I ma'am.
I just that that that's whatthis group is.
You know, there's there's agroup of people that that are
doing karaoke that we'llprobably say are my age and
older, right?
That had a blast with a bunchof Utica kids for about an hour
before they had bed check-in,right?
So that those are our guys.
They're a really good group ofguys, they're fun, uh, they're
high energy, um, and they'rereally fun to coach.
(31:25):
So that's how I certainly wouldcharacterize these guys is
they're they're a lot of fun.
Rocky (31:29):
And coach, your group too, I was trying to go back
through over the last five orsix years, but you got a group
this year that offense anddefensively, your team's in a
top three and four for bothcategories.
Offense, you're leading theleague in total offense.
And I think defensively, coach,I think you guys are like um
two or three um defensively.
So I was trying to go back tosee when that's happened, but
(31:51):
again, this group this year,your tops in both categories.
Coach Faggiano (31:55):
Well, I tell you, in 22, I I know that
statistically, I don't think thedefense was as high as that.
The offense, I think, was, youknow, but um that's great.
I think it's just uh, you know,we have a great conference, you
know.
So anytime that you can dothat, um you know, as a credit,
you know, there's as we againwe're we're young and we're
trying to win the conference,still an outside chance of
(32:18):
having a share of it this year.
And all these teams wereplaying like Fisher's won the
conference before.
Alfred's won the conferencebefore, right?
These are good programs, youknow, they have long traditions.
So, you know, um they they'vereally done a good job of taking
it one game at a time.
Our coaches have done a greatjob preparing them.
Um and we just we're in a goodrhythm right now, you know, as a
(32:38):
program.
Good rhythm.
Um, you know, academically, theweight room, you know, the
whole program, you know, and anduh the campus is excited about
it, you know, so that everyonekind of knows that we have a
good football team and uh youknow, we kind of hold our
destiny, you know.
We just gotta keep keepchipping away at it.
Rocky (32:55):
So, Coach, you and I are 26 and 20.
We are dead even.
Um we are 26 and 20.
There's some good games thisweek.
Um, I want to start with thisone.
This is I I haven't pickedmine.
Normally I have mine picked onmy paper, but I don't have mine
picked tonight because I've goneback and forth.
BYU that's undefeated.
(33:16):
Uh they're in the they releaseda 12-team playoff.
They're in it right now atTexas Tech.
Does have the loss.
What's kind of shocking to meis Texas Tech is giving BYU 10
and a half.
I love BYU.
I think they're physical.
I love their coach, but couldthey go into Texas Tech and get
a win?
Coach Faggiano (33:36):
Uh yes, I'm going BYU.
Rocky (33:38):
Oh, you're gonna go BYU.
All right.
Coach Faggiano (33:41):
The one last week that got me was the
Vanderbilt.
Rocky (33:43):
Yeah, same.
Same.
Coach Faggiano (33:45):
That's you could we were we both the same on
that one?
Rocky (33:48):
Yeah, the only difference I think you and I had, and I'll
have to look, I think it wasthe Syracuse game.
unknown (33:53):
Ah.
Rocky (33:53):
I think we are I think we were opposites on Syracuse.
Um I I want to go with BYU, butI'm gonna actually roll uh with
Texas Tech.
I'm gonna go with the hometeam, but I I wouldn't be
surprised if BYU beats them.
BYU to me plays like a Big Ten.
They want to run the football,they're physical, and I love
their head coach.
Coach Faggiano (34:12):
And they're doing a great job.
Rocky (34:14):
All right, here's another one.
This could be a this could be atrap game.
Texas AM, a lot of talk.
Um the Mike Elko could be onhis way to Penn State.
They're 8-0.
Um, they're gonna go toMissouri.
Missouri's actually getting sixand a half.
Any chance Missouri gets one athome?
Coach Faggiano (34:34):
This one definitely could be a trap, but
I'm gonna go AM.
Rocky (34:39):
I am I'm I'm gonna go with AM as well.
I love Eli Drinkowicz.
I think he's right now, he'srumored to be the next coach at
Florida, so we'll see if thatplays any distraction.
That's what I've heard.
Nothing confirmed as of yet.
All right, Oregon at Iowa.
Iowa was getting five and ahalf, and uh Iowa's been scoring
some points this year.
(34:59):
I know the knock has been onIowa that they can't really
throw the football there, theyjust play good defense.
Um, but I think Iowa's playingmuch better.
You think Iowa's got a shot tobeat him?
Or you like the Ducks?
Coach Faggiano (35:10):
Well, I'll tell you what, I went I went against
Oregon once and then watchedthat game and watched them play.
So we're gonna we're gonnawe're gonna go with Oregon this
this week.
Rocky (35:18):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Um I am gonna be pulling forIowa.
Um, coach Tom Myslinski um thatI had the opportunity to play,
not play for, he was the linecoach when I was at RFA.
His son, his grandson, Michael,um, I believe is either the
starting center or the rightguard for Iowa.
Um, Tom Myzlinski's grandson.
(35:38):
Yep.
So I'm I'm gonna pull for Iowa,but I think the ducks are too
much.
I love Dan Lanning, but uhwe'll we'll pull for Iowa in
this one.
Coach Faggiano (35:46):
He's got some good videos out there of him
talking to the guys.
He's a fiery guy.
Rocky (35:51):
Oh, yeah.
All right, coach.
Coach Fitz, Colgate.
Listen, Fitzy's winning somegames this year.
I don't think anybody thoughtColgate was going to be as
competitive.
Um, they're gonna playLafayette, who's undefeated um
in the Patriot League.
They're hopefully they're notlooking ahead Lafayette to
Lafayette Lehigh, that rivalrygame.
Um Colgate, 4-5 at Lafayette.
Coach Faggiano (36:15):
Oh, Colgate all day.
All day of going with Fitz andJabino and crew.
Rocky (36:19):
I really want to ride with Colgate, but Lafayette's
good this year.
They're uh their two losseswere to two FBS schools.
So um I'm gonna poll for CoachFitz, but I am gonna roll with
um with Lafayette.
I think the Lafayette Lehighgame at the end of the year is
gonna be a special game thisyear.
Coach Faggiano (36:37):
I'm glad to hear you say, and we were talking
earlier that what we said Lehighwas ranked fourth.
Rocky (36:42):
Yeah, they're fourth right now in the FCS.
Coach Faggiano (36:44):
Kudos to that staff and Coach Kahill.
Rocky (36:49):
He's doing a fantastic job there.
But uh credit Coach Fitz, too,man.
I don't think anybody thoughtthey'd have the success he was
gonna have in year one.
Coach Faggiano (36:57):
Yeah, they though they lost what's the
heart, the hard one, theheartbreaker was Georgetown.
Rocky (37:02):
Yes, yes, right.
Coach Faggiano (37:03):
That was the heartbreaker one.
And then and then did they losetheir one of their best
offensive players for the year?
I know that's right.
Rocky (37:09):
I think they lost a line receiver.
I don't know if they lost astud receiver.
I I don't think so.
Um I could be wrong, though.
Coach Faggiano (37:16):
The receiver, but hopefully they get them
back.
Rocky (37:19):
All right, so this one is probably gonna be an obvious
one, Coach.
Syracuse still has not lookedvery good offensively.
Um, Miami's dropped two games,and Miami right now is out of
the beat out of the playoff, andI don't think there's a way for
them to get in.
Um, Miami right now, minus 28and a half.
The Syracuse have a shot tokeep it close.
Coach Faggiano (37:40):
They lost SMU, right?
Miami.
Right.
That was crazy.
No, I got they gotta go.
Uh my competitive side, as muchas I love Fran Brown, uh, with
you and I in our records here.
I'm gonna have to go uh go Migo.
Rocky (37:54):
I would say, come on, coach, pitch Syracuse.
I can pick up maybe another onethis week.
Coach Faggiano (37:57):
I gotta go Miami.
Rocky (37:58):
I'm peeking at the right time.
Coach Faggiano (38:00):
But I think everyone needs to make sure
they're be patient with FranBrown.
I think he's an outstandingcoach, he's got a great staff,
they're gonna be fine.
Rocky (38:07):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Angeli went down.
I mean, some of those games, ifhe if he didn't go down, I
think this season would be a lotdifferent for Syracuse.
Coach Faggiano (38:14):
A lot different.
That position's prettyimportant in the quarterback
spot, no doubt.
Rocky (38:20):
So, coach, none of these coaching dominoes have fell just
yet, but a lot of these guys,uh that Rattley or Rettley, the
guy from um SMU who was up forsome of those other jobs, he um
he just signed a long-termcontract to stay at SMU.
Obviously, Signetti signed tostay at Indiana, but you're
seeing a lot of these coaches inthe universities paying them
(38:41):
now to stay, which I think isgreat.
But now that just goes towonder who's gonna get these big
jobs?
There's so many big jobs umthat are open.
I just saw that um the rumornow, and it and I'm not gonna
take credit for it, but I didsay it the day after Coach
Franklin got got fired.
I thought Virginia Tech wouldbe a great spot for him.
And right now I just saw onTwitter that it looks like
(39:03):
they're working out a deal.
He's gonna be the next headcoach at Virginia Tech.
I think it's a great spot forhim.
I saw these dominoes, yeah.
Coach Faggiano (39:10):
You see those posts, you don't know if it's
like, is it real, is it notreal?
But I just I saw that, and youknow, uh, you know, hey, he's
getting in some good weatherdown there, you know.
Rocky (39:19):
Well, coach, I think it's nice to see these guys where I
know you say don't some of thesecoaches that chase the money
and they go from like maybebowling green to a mid-tier job,
and it's it's obviously it's astep up for him.
But you know, the guys likeLane Kiffin were making eight,
nine million dollars a year,they're happy where they're at.
The go chase another four orfive million dollars.
I say, you know, is it worth itwhen you're happy where you're
(39:41):
at and you've built some ofthese programs up now with the
transfer portal?
It's nice to see these guysstaying long term now.
Coach Faggiano (39:48):
For sure.
You know, I mean it's good tosee some of the schools, you
know, keeping their coachesthere.
I think that's the biggestthing.
It's like having longevity.
Um, I think in any anyprofession, you know, having the
administration behind you is isso critical and important.
Um, you know, and VirginiaTech's got some great, great
history, you know.
So um, yeah, you know,certainly wish him well.
I've always very much enjoyedhearing him talk and thought he
(40:11):
did a great job at Penn Stateand uh, you know, and
particularly during you knowduring some difficult times.
You know, all those, you know,uh with everything that happened
there with with Coach Paternoand all the situations I had
there, like those guys helpedcontinue to keep that program a
proud program.
Because I always was a big PennState you know fan as a kid, so
and and a big Joe Pa fan.
So certainly wish him well atthe Virginia Tech.
Rocky (40:33):
Yeah, I always say be careful what you wish for when
you get rid of some of thesecoaches, like the way that we've
seen this season.
So, well, coach, listen, get goget one this week.
Look forward to talking to youagain next week.
And uh fear of the moose asalways.
Coach Faggiano (40:46):
Hey, thanks for having us, and thanks everyone
for listening.
Fear of the moose.
Rocky (40:50):
Thanks, Coach.
So happy to have Coach Faz on.
I cannot believe it.
It's this week and next week ofthe regular season for these
guys, and then I'm crossingfingers.
They they can win out with achance to go to the division
three playoffs.
If not, hopefully they'll get athey'll get a bowl game as
Coach was just talking, but oneweek at a time.
(41:11):
So I want to make sure I thankall the listeners, all the
followers, um, for following usacross all the social media
channels, iHeartRadio, uh,Spotify, you name it, uh, for
following us here on InsideUtica University Football
Podcast.
As I say here on the Rock Pileof The Rock Pile is where dreams
become reality.
But before we finish, I havesome news to break.
(41:33):
The Mohawk Valley Sports Watchwill return on Sunday morning
this week at 9 a.m.
Uh talk to a friend of theshow, longtime friend of the
show, Scott Petoniak's gonnajoin me.
The alum is gonna join me.
We're gonna talk some Syracusefootball.
We'll talk some Buffalo Billsfootball.
As Scott's been a longtimewriter for the Buffalo Bills.
(41:55):
I'm excited to have Scott on.
And I'm not gonna release thehigh school guys' names yet
because I want them to winfirst.
Um, but we will have some highschool football coaches on on
Sunday morning as well.
Uh some local coaches are stillplaying uh here this week with
a chance if if they win, theypunch their ticket to the
(42:15):
Section 3 finals.
I also want to congratulateRome Free Academy field hockey
um for winning another title.
Those games were supposed to beplayed tonight, but because of
the weather, the games, theregional games were moved to
tomorrow night, uh, right atCamden.
I got to make sure Icongratulate my sister Shannon
too on a good year.
Her Camden girls fell um to VVSin overtime, one nothing.
(42:38):
It was a great game to watch.
She's got a really young team.
She's got an eighth-gradegoalie that's really young.
Um, so Shannon, if you'rewatching, um, as I've told you,
head up.
You've got a young group.
Your team's going to be therefor many more years uh to come.
So I want to make sure Icongratulate my sister uh as
well.
So I'll finally finish it upagain.
Thanks for tuning in tonight tothe Rock Pile on Inside Unica
(43:00):
University football podcast.
The Rock Pile is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good evening, everybody.
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The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.