September 10, 2025 • 33 mins
Coach Faggiano reflects on Utica University's impressive road victory against Washington & Jefferson in their season opener, highlighting quarterback Tyler Szalkowaski's record-breaking 528-yard passing performance and the team's exceptional character both on and off the field.
• Traveling well as a team with many first-time collegiate players showing maturity and discipline
• Holding Washington & Jefferson to just 91 yards rushing while forcing key turnovers
• Three receivers each tallying over 100 yards receiving with a touchdown apiece
• Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Thomas earning national recognition with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery
• Need to address 133 penalty yards before the upcoming home opener
• The Believe Bowl this Saturday night against RPI will feature special tributes and an "orange out"
• Team will honor the memory of former player James Salas who passed away last year
Join us this Saturday at 6pm for the Believe Bowl at Gaetano Stadium. Tickets are just $5, and it's not too late to join the 12th Man Tailgate Booster Club for the full gameday experience!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:00):
Thank you for watching.
Coach Faggiano (00:34):
Good evening everybody.
Welcome to the second episodeof Inside Utica University
Football with head coach BlazeFaggiano, who will join me in
just a little bit.
If you're tuning in tonight,make sure to hit subscribe on
YouTube.
We're across all social mediaplatforms tonight Facebook, You
Tube , Twitter, LinkedIn andTikTok.
Of course, if you have anyquestions, comments for Coach,
we'll pull him on.
(00:54):
I'll try to pull as manycomments and questions over as I
can.
I was joking with him.
I was supposed to have my UCgear on tonight.
I was going to be all deckedout and my shirt's not in yet,
but I'll have it.
So I got my RFA shirt on.
Our Modify team tonight had ouropening win of the season, so
congratulations to the kids.
(01:14):
Nice first win of the seasonfor the kids here in Rome.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on.
Let me just switch us up.
Coach, there we are.
How are you tonight?
Rocky (01:27):
Excellent, excellent.
I look forward to this everyweek.
Coach Faggiano (01:31):
Well, Coach, we'll get into the fun picks at
the end.
But you were 3-2, but I went3-2 as well.
I was kind of hoping I would doa little bit better the first
week, but we each tied.
Let's put it that way, we're50-50.
Rocky (01:43):
I'll take it.
Coach Faggiano (01:45):
Not.
We each tied.
Let's put it that way, we're50-50.
I'll take it Not bad.
So, coach, great opening weekfor you guys, great first game
of the season and somerecord-breaking performances
we'll get into.
But early thoughts, commentsfrom the opening week from you.
Rocky (01:56):
I was proud of how our guys traveled.
You know that's a long ways outto Pittsburgh.
You know and appreciate.
You know.
Shout out to UB and coach Lembo.
Uh, they were very gracioushosts.
We practiced in their indoorfacility which one of our
players dad's designed, whichwas really cool.
Mitch dates from the Buffaloarea.
His dad designed the buildingand so we kind of broke it up,
(02:17):
got some Wegmans subs.
You know, being a Rochester guy, I don't know when Utica or
Albany ever going to get Wegmans.
I don't know when Utica orAlbany ever going to get weapons
?
I don't know.
But you know it was a bit of atrip.
You know, and I'll tell you,you don't tell the guy, you
never tell him the things, somethings that you know, and almost
three-quarters of the guys onthis trip one never traveled and
(02:38):
two never played varsityfootball.
And here we are opening up withthe president.
Know the the presidentconference champs, right long
trip.
But when everyone had a tie atdinner, I was like you know,
we're gonna be okay.
Right, everyone had a tie atdinner.
We looked sharp, they traveledwell.
Uh, you know, I'm like our guys, we just have so much energy.
There was a little inside,there was a karaoke in the hotel
(03:02):
, okay, and there had to be like30, 40 people, all probably a
little older than me.
We'll say right, and I findthis out the next day from the
parents and they just couldn'tget over our guys with the
people there.
All the people were rooting forus to win.
The next day Our guys weresinging karaoke and when 10
o'clock hit and bed checks at1030, they just scattered, boom,
(03:23):
they all went to to bed and theparents just couldn't get over
our guys and how they were.
And you know, when I had heardthat the next day, I said you
know, we're going to, we'redefinitely going to play with
some passion and some energy onSaturday and it was one heck of
a football game and you knowglad it was on TV.
You know a lot of the pioneererNation got to watch the game
and tune in and it was prettycrazy, like now.
(03:47):
I'm going to start with thenegative first.
You know we had 133 yards inpenalties so we got to get that
fixed.
I promise everyone we will,because I told the guys if we
would have said, okay, we'regoing to give WNJ 133 yards and
go there and win, you probablywouldn't bet on that Right and
so all things correctable.
You know a lot of like.
(04:08):
You know let's make sure we'replaying whistle to whistle.
You know what I mean and.
But our guys played hard and Iguess again you watch the tape
but they were a very goodfootball team.
I'll be very surprised if theydon't have a winning season, win
their conference, go topostseason.
Coach Faggiano (04:25):
Really well, coach, postseason, win their
conference, go to postseason,they really will.
Coach team Coach Sirianni isgreat and Coach, so we'll get
into Tyler's performance here injust a little bit, because that
was a great performance,throwing for over 500 yards.
And I know, coach, I know whatyour answer is going to be when
I say this, but as a coach and Iwas going through some of the
numbers for you guys you hadalmost 600 yards of total off
but over 500 were through theair and only 65 yards rushing.
(04:47):
But I know as a coach,whichever way you guys need to
play to win games, you'll do,but talk to us about that.
Rocky (04:53):
most of your yards were through the air well, that's
funny too, because you know inthe rpo world right, we're
calling a run, but it could be apass right and and they were
very good up front and they'repacking it in for the run Right,
and they really kind of stayedpretty consistent on that the
whole game.
They were going to take away therun and then we kind of I think
(05:15):
kind of wore down on them, worethem down a little bit, excuse
me, you know, later in the gameand had some really good rushing
yards.
And AJ Frazier ran hard andJanai Strong, when he got in,
ran hard.
He got a big first down.
It wasn't like we weren'ttrying to run the ball.
In this RPO world it could be arun, it could be a pass.
You do lean on the quarterbackto make those decisions on the
field, for sure.
Coach Faggiano (05:36):
Coach, you guys are really good on third down.
I think you guys are like 6 outof 10 or 7 out of 10 on third
down.
That's huge too, especially onthe road.
Rocky (05:44):
That's huge Turnovers.
We won the turnover battle, wonthe time of possession, even
though the defense gave up somepoints.
They played some really gooddefense.
I mean, they couldn't run thefootball.
It really got them out of youknow.
They couldn't run the footballand they had two outstanding
receivers that were 1,000-yardreceivers before that.
We really kind of kept them incheck for most of the game until
(06:05):
that kind of that last drive.
They scored, you know, and um,but we had the tail of the tape
was, you know, penalties andjust some missed assignments and
it could have been even adifferent, different picture.
So all things that werecorrectable and I just told the
guys I mean to be able to have agame like that were certainly
not error-free and things thatwe can learn from and still win,
and win on the road against aquality opponent, um, you know,
(06:29):
that's something to be said for,you know, just for the efforts
of our coaches and our playersin that that week one game and
coach, you mentioned thepenalties.
Coach Faggiano (06:35):
I was going to bring that up for you and I kind
of had an idea what your answerwas going to be, and I know you
said you'll fix it.
How do you fix that?
How do you fix that as a coach?
Rocky (06:43):
well, yeah, I can't say all of it on the air, but no, we
fix it, we address.
You know, you address it on anindividual basis and say, one
guy had a few more penalties.
You bring him in, you show himthe highlights of the of the,
not highlights of the penalties,and how we got to get these
fixed.
And it's not acceptable.
And, and you know, I think acouple of the guys after
watching the tape, reallythey're playing so hard they're
(07:04):
not even realizing that they'renot playing to the whistle.
You know, when we're likelanding on the ball carrier
who's on the ground, or we'retackling a guy out of bounds and
it's like a hustle penalty,right, they're not trying to be
malicious, just they got to play, they got to find a saw wood,
right.
You know they can't play toohigh, they can't play too low
and they got to play between thewhistles.
They're definitely things thatare correctable.
Coach Faggiano (07:31):
Coach, the defense played really well too.
I know you gave up a lot ofpoints, like you said, but
anytime you can hold a teamunder 100 yards rushing and win
that battle, normally you've gota chance to win games and your
defense did that.
I think you guys held them towhat?
90 or 91 yards, I think it was.
Rocky (07:41):
It was.
It was like it was 91.
I think it was.
It was.
It was like it was 91.
And again, they're a bigphysical team.
You know, well-coached team,talent, all over the board.
They're special teams, like youknow.
That's the thing that was greatabout our team.
Like the first kickoff, youknow, we don't do well, we don't
execute.
They give a huge kick returnand they score right.
Our guys didn't blink, theykept battling, kept battling.
(08:03):
We cleaned some things up, madesome adjustments and again, I
think you know you don't talkabout this, but there's only two
guys on our defense thatstarted last year.
Three you know Jordan Davis,eli Douglas and Renaldo Lewis.
Right, there's a lot of newfaces and special teams.
That goes that way too.
Most of the guys in specialteams, those were their first
(08:23):
plays, you know.
So you know there, not worryabout it, it's just different.
The pressure week one was onthe road performing.
Now the pressure is going to bebelievable, you know, like
Tyler knows from talking toBraden.
Now Coach Zanolovic, hisquarterback coach, like it's
going to be rocking Saturdaynight, okay, at the believable,
(08:44):
and like being able to blockthat out right and not looking
at the stands, at the crazy herdand all the fans just really
focusing on your job.
So there's always differentdistractions.
It's just a matter of just kindof focusing in on your job each
play.
Coach Faggiano (08:57):
And, coach, you mentioned you had some
first-time starters for you thatdidn't play a lot of football
for you last year and especiallynow you go on the road opening
week, you're down right out ofthe gate, right, they punch one
in on you guys.
Was there any panic by thecoaching staff to say, oh God,
here we go?
You know it's a new group ofguys.
Was there any panic at anypoint?
Rocky (09:16):
You know none at all.
You know, and you know CoachMcClendon does a great job with
those guys hey, sudden change,we have to go out and win that.
We have to hold them to a fieldgoal and win that.
Sudden change right, suddenchanges can come from turnovers,
they can come from, you know, abig special teams play right
and you know, I think the wayour guys handle that, you know,
is a really good sign of thingsto come ahead.
Coach Faggiano (09:39):
Yeah, and I want to talk a little bit about your
sophomore linebacker too.
I think led your team intackles Isaiah Thomas, I think
he had what 12 tackles.
A pass breakup, a fumblerecovery was all over the field
for you guys.
You had some other players thatplayed well too but talk to us
a little bit about isaiah.
Rocky (09:59):
You know it's funny too.
In defense we have so many guysthat were like x something, so
like it was that we call it goesby it isaiah thomas.
And so it was um, a runningback in high school so we were
teasing him on his fumblerecovery like where's the
running back?
You got to go score on thisplay and he returned it a good,
a good 25 yards and I think thatwas a huge play momentum in our
favor to give our offense greatfield position and go ahead.
But, like Nick DeForest out ofHolland, patton was the one that
(10:20):
makes the tackle and strips theball for IT to pick up.
And those are things we work onall the time take away, scoop
and score.
It's just a tremendous person.
He's on our leadership council,he's a strong leader and you
know it's just about beingconfident.
He battled all spring andbattled into camp for that
starting spot.
(10:40):
It was a close battle.
I think.
Just each day and every rep hegets, the more confidence he has
within the defense.
Coach Faggiano (10:47):
What was the message, coach, after the game?
Now you said you had to go onthe road against a really good
team to open the season.
Now you've got to come homewith a lot of pressure because
again it's going to be rocking.
Like you said, there'll be alot of people.
I think the early weather itlooks like it's supposed to be a
nice day, so we should have agood day for some football.
But that's a little bit morepressure too.
What was the message to theguys for this week?
Rocky (11:08):
Well, you know, from after the game they were just so
excited Like they knew, youknow, and we kind of have a good
chip on our shoulder like Uticaagainst the world and you know
all the D3.
There's a huge D3 fan base outthere and podcasts like yourself
that cover D3 football andacross the country.
And you know, no one had uswinning that game right.
(11:29):
But we knew we could win thatgame.
And at the end of the game Isaid everyone's going to be
surprised but we are notsurprised because we know that
we have a very good team.
They're a very good team.
At the end of the day it'sabout the team and you know.
And then I told him, you know,to the victor goes the spoils,
right.
And so we I don't believe wehave ever had two D3 national
team kind of players of the week.
(11:50):
And so for Tyler Zolkowski andIsaiah Thomas to represent our
university and community on anational level on d3footballcom
is outstanding.
You know it was outstanding.
And then Tyler was OffensivePlayer of the Week in the Empire
8.
You know we have a greatfootball conference, as you
mentioned on our show last week.
So you know the kids know it'sBelieve Bowl week and you know,
(12:13):
just to jump into that, like,believe Bowl is a very special
game for us because it's likeour game to give back to the
community.
You know, and we don't have atraditional rival right and we
kind of have no one likes us, wedon't like them right, we don't
really like anybody, butthere's no traditional rival
like you have in some schools,or we're not playing for a shoe
or a cup or those types ofthings and and, uh, the believe
(12:35):
bowl has been different teamsover the years.
You know, and, uh, you know,our program's mantra is uncommon
and we try to put on commonpeople, like first responders,
uh, like our folks that arehonorary captains.
We had our press conferencetoday should be on social media,
on facebook.
We had our press conference,the master videoito Hyundai
showroom today Shout out toFrank and Colleen and their
(12:56):
family there and we had our twohonorary captains there today,
victor and Nancy, and they weregreat, got their jerseys today
and you know, so it's about them.
So our guys are pretty amped upfor the orange out on Saturday
night for sure.
So it's always what you knowwhat's next.
So it is always something big.
And I remember when, when coachMcLennan first got hired, he's
like why is every home game gotto be like the Superbowl?
(13:18):
I said well, cause it's got toprepare us.
You know every one of our homegames or something huge happened
in the tents packed in the endzone and you know it's kind of
just kind of who we are.
Coach Faggiano (13:27):
Coach, I will tell you and agree with you.
There's a lot of those other d3podcasts out there and I follow
a lot of the guys and, uh, whenthey do.
There was one of them I don'tknow who it was, I gotta look
but they did like theirpredictions and they had you
guys getting blown out by likethree touchdowns right, I think
it was that someone tell me itwas the hansen one I don't know
if that was the one there,there's a, there's, there's two
(13:48):
really good ones.
I follow the guys, you know theyof different teams.
Rocky (13:52):
Yeah, there's a lot of good guys.
The Dingo Talk guy is a goodguy.
He played.
Coach Faggiano (13:54):
D3 football.
Rocky (13:56):
He's a good dude.
Coach Faggiano (13:57):
One of them had you guys like 56 to like 21 or
like something crazy, and I waslike man, what do they watch?
Rocky (14:06):
Same guys that had us not a chance to beat Susquehanna in
the playoffs.
So you know, fortunately we'vehad a couple good trips to
Pennsylvania as of late.
Coach Faggiano (14:16):
The state's been good to Utica.
Rocky (14:18):
For sure.
Coach Faggiano (14:19):
So, coach, talk to us about Tyler.
I know we talked to him lastweek.
You spoke very highly of him,had a great camp.
Good kid transfer for you 528yards passing.
I was more impressed with the28 completions and all his stats
were great, but the 28completions, um, and all his
stats were great, but the 28completions talk about how
special performance that he have.
Rocky (14:38):
you know he had a great performance.
The o-line played very well.
If you only had two sacks umand protecting them, uh, you
know, uh.
And to have three receivers allwith over 100 yards and
receptions right and all three atouchdown each, and that's not
including gabe's's Wallacetouchdown and the 73 yards that
that Logan Frederick had, youknow, and like there's a great
(14:59):
little story there, like who'sLogan Frederick?
Well, you know, little falls,high school family moved around
a bit One time was in Virginiaand Pennsylvania, comes home to
the area and wants to be as aphysical therapist right Playing
receiver for the last few years, and then anytime a young man
just makes a commitment.
We kind of had a feeling thathe could be a tight end and he
(15:20):
worked hard in the weight roomand made that commitment and boy
, you know, we're, we're, we'refortunate to have him.
He did it.
Just a great, great story, youknow.
But you know, antonio everyonehas eyes on Antonio had a great
game.
Tyshawn, taylor, bryce, palmer,those guys all played lights
out.
(15:40):
And he spread the ball aroundthe whole surrounding cast for
sure.
Coach Faggiano (15:43):
So, Coach, this week Rensselaer comes into town.
They're coming off a win inWeek 1, 26-9.
And it was again funny becauseI was looking to see some of the
guys on their team.
Their quarterback's father wasthe running back coach at
Fordham when I played the theMaddio kid, the quarterback.
So I was looking through that.
I said he's, I know him.
Talk to us about you know what?
Do you know?
(16:03):
What's the scouting report onRensselaer?
What do they bring to the table?
Rocky (16:07):
and you can help me.
Is his dad, because there's thebrothers.
Is his dad the head coach atSomers?
Coach Faggiano (16:12):
I think his dad is the coach at Maholpec,
maholpec.
Okay, that's what it is, yougot it.
Rocky (16:19):
That's right.
And then his uncle is the headcoach at Somers.
Coach Faggiano (16:22):
Yes.
Rocky (16:24):
And then this kid's grandfather is a god.
Coach DiMatteo got an award atthe AFCA a couple years ago.
But the quarterback, who runstheir offense very well, they're
very.
They have some really goodskill players.
The running back and receiverpositions, offensive lines, big.
They're going to use thequarterback in the one game.
(16:44):
Some certainly, you know teamsare going to, you know, really
try to run the football againstus and keep our offense off the
field.
You know.
You know they're very good atrunning screens and I think
those are the kinds of things.
You know.
Our defense, you know we'venever been the biggest defense
but we've always been fast, andso we know when you're a fast
defense you're going to seemisdirection and you're going to
(17:06):
see screens and see thosethings.
Coach Isernia has done a greatjob there.
It wasn't too long ago you, theybeat Cortland in the playoffs
one year.
The year before I thinkCortland won the whole thing
right.
So I mean very good program,well-coached.
One of their newest coaches,justin Higgins, was on our staff
(17:29):
and was head coach atMorrisville and Keystone and
moved his family back to Albany.
He's from the North Country andyou know, so he knows us a
little bit, and so they're againvery well coached, really good
football team Traditionally winand they traditionally go to
postseason.
You know and that's the type ofprogram that we aspire to be
that you know every year thatwe're going to win and every
(17:51):
year we're going to find a wayto get to postseason.
That's what RPI is.
So you know, definitely a goodchallenge.
And they won there.
They won there.
They played for some big gamewith WPI I'm not sure what the
name is and then I know the endof the year, it's the shoes game
, I think, with Union.
Coach Faggiano (18:06):
Yeah, I think it's the transit trophy.
Rocky (18:09):
Oh, there you go.
Thank you, yeah, so they playedin that big game and they look
good on film for sure, coach.
Coach Faggiano (18:15):
What conference are they in?
They're Liberty League, theLiberty okay.
Rocky (18:18):
So liberty league, the liberty okay rpi's with hobart
and in st lawrence and u of rand ithaca, that's.
That's the union, that's theliberty league so it was no.
Coach Faggiano (18:27):
I don't know if I'm going to pronounce this
right.
Was it worcester polytechnicinstitute who they played?
Rocky (18:32):
correct.
Yeah, wpi.
Uh, their head coach, chrisrobertson, was uh our start in
safety at ualbany back when Iga'd there, you know 94.
He's been the head coach therequite some time and runs a good
program.
One of our senior who graduatedtight end is actually getting
his master's in engineering atWPI right now.
So really good engineeringschool as RPI is.
Coach Faggiano (18:55):
Yeah, and I was going back through some of their
game stuff.
They only gave up about 47yards on the ground and it
looked like they're a prettygood size, so everything you're
saying it looked like.
I mean I was just looking onpaper trying to find some clips
of their last game it looks likethey had some good size up
front.
Does the game plan change atall for you guys this week?
Are you going to try to spreadthe ball?
I know you want to give yourgame plan out over the air here,
but no, does anything changefor you guys?
Rocky (19:16):
well, you know, you, you prepare for what you see on film
, and then you prepare for whatyou see on film, and then you
prepare for what you think youmay not see on film.
There's a trap in the film.
We found over the last fewyears that we go and play
someone and they're doingsomething that wasn't on film
the last three weeks.
So I think that's what we tryto do as coaches is really
challenge our guys throughoutthe week, put the pressure on
(19:38):
them so the game's easy.
So we're throwing everything atour offense the kitchen sink,
so just keep those guys on theirtoes.
Coach Faggiano (19:47):
And I know you mentioned the Blue Bull.
How special that is.
I would imagine the kids willbe fired up for that game.
They probably won't need a lotto get them fired up for that.
It should be a full packedhouse.
I would think the weather'ssupposed to be nice.
Rocky (19:59):
Should be a packed house.
We love the night games.
Six o'clock starts so byhalftime definitely we'll be
under the lights there atGaetano and love having the
night games.
I know the students love it,the community loves it.
I believe they started airingthe commercial on TV.
We made a little commercial topromote the game.
It should be on WKTV over thenext few days.
(20:22):
Again, tickets are only $5, youknow.
And if you're at the ticketbooth and wanting to get season
tickets, there are only 20, youknow.
So you, so you get kind of anextra game in there and there's
still time to join the 12th man,you know.
So if you haven't joined our12th man tailgate booster club
and you did it before the game,we would still have time to make
sure that you had your tailgatepasses at the gate waiting for
(20:45):
you when you got there.
So I know the parents are firedup.
You know, for our first homegame, tailgate, you know our
guys will walk through thetailgate after our team meal and
the parking lot will probablybe packed, and go on our pioneer
walk before the game.
I know they're amped up forthat.
Coach Faggiano (21:02):
Coach, I know we talked about the indoor
facility for you guys and what agreat recruiting tool it is,
but I mean talk about the homefield, like the setting, I mean
the atmosphere.
It's as good as any collegeprogram in the country.
It's a great atmosphere youknow.
Rocky (21:14):
I think a couple things.
One, the fact that we don'thave a track around this
football stadium.
The stands are right on top ofyou.
Coach Faggiano (21:21):
Yeah.
Rocky (21:22):
And you know, although on paper I think it says it only
seats 1,200, in a game likethere, like everyone's standing
on the deck, you know, andthere's at least 2,000 people in
the stands, and then a gamelike tomorrow, I think there's
already 150 people will be inthe tent and then it gets three
or four deep around the fence,you know.
So we even have a hard timegauging how many people are
(21:45):
there.
But I believe and talk to otherSID, like when we have the
night games or homecoming, wecan get at least 3,000 to 4,000
people at the games and it'spretty loud and it's a fun
atmosphere for sure.
Coach Faggiano (21:58):
And Coach, I know the night games.
I always like playing at nightand the kids do as well.
But knowing that you have tokind of wait the day to get
things started the kids, youknow.
I'm sure you got a routine forthe kids before leading up to
the nighttime, but do you preferthe night game or do you like
that those afternoon games?
Rocky (22:13):
I'd like to have at least one night game and I like to do
it early, you know and it is along way we get them up.
We have like a littlewalkthrough at 10 o'clock on
Saturday.
It's not even a walkthrough.
They pretty much go out andthrow the football around and
relax, you know, just to get upand get moving.
You know, I know they, you knowwatch watch some college
football.
You know you know watch the.
A lot of them will watch a D3game.
(22:33):
That's on, you know, until weare our team meals at two right.
So we have our, our team meal,you know, four hours before.
You know.
So we have some great, you knowgame day traditions.
You know Saturday we're goingto remember number 12, james
Salas, who we lost last year,and I know thoughts and prayers
are always with James and hisfamily and you know we'll have
(22:57):
his logo in our program.
We'll have some mental healthawareness items in the program
and pretty sure there'll be a 12jersey on the bench.
So to honor him and his familyand great family.
Real tough time for his family,unimaginable time for his
(23:18):
family a year ago and for ourprogram and to watch our guys
come together in a difficulttime.
Um certainly made him stronger.
So you know we've got all kindsof things going on, even
outside the bleeple.
Uh, that we're gonna, you know,honor james as well, so I want
to make a mention to that areyou ready to do?
Coach Faggiano (23:36):
you ready to pick some teams?
Rocky (23:38):
you know I am.
I've actually got it pulled up.
I was looking at it trying toget a head start well, you don't
know the games I'm going tothrow out.
I'll take three and two.
I'm feeling good all right, allright.
Coach Faggiano (23:47):
The first one I got.
I don't know if anybody'splaying as good as south florida
right now.
Two, two ranked wins.
This is a big game um.
South florida at miami, miami'sat 18 and a half point favored
in this game.
You think there there's anyshot?
South Florida can pull anotherone off.
Rocky (24:05):
I think there is a shot.
This is a tough one, you know,because our defense coordinator
coached at South Florida for afew years with I'm going to
blank for a minute, it'll cometo me the head coach was head
coach at Louisville, who coachedLamar Hunt, or Lamar Jackson.
Lamar Jackson.
Sorry, Charlie Strong.
Coach Faggiano (24:28):
Love Charlie Strong, great guy.
Rocky (24:30):
Great guy.
Last I knew him was he coachingin Alabama.
I kind of lost track of him.
Yeah, this is tough you knowwhat I'm going to go home team.
I'm going to go with Miami onthat one.
Coach Faggiano (24:44):
See, if we were picking with the spreads, I'd
say I would take South Floridagetting the 18.5, because I
don't think Miami is going toblow them out.
Rocky (24:51):
No, I don't think so either.
We're not doing that.
You said that.
Coach Faggiano (24:54):
No spreads straight up.
I'm going to go with Miami.
I think they have betterplayers.
But listen, I'm not going to besurprised if South Florida wins
this game.
I mean, if South Florida wins,that's three ranked teams right
out of the gate, boise, state,florida, on the road.
Now they got to go on the roadat Miami.
But I'm with you.
I do like Miami in this game.
Coach, this was one I think youdid not have last week.
(25:18):
I think you went against LaneKiffin and the boys at Ole Miss
Not doing it this week.
Arkansas-ole Miss.
This is at Ole Miss.
People say this year LaneKiffin has is better than the
team he had a year ago.
But Jackson Dart, of course,was on that team a year ago.
Any chance Arkansas gets him.
Rocky (25:36):
I don't know.
We have an order of who goesfirst on this one, because we
don't influence each other.
I don't know how it goes.
Coach Faggiano (25:45):
I'll let you.
I'm on the lane train so I knowwho I'm going to go with in
this game.
I don't know much aboutArkansas.
Rocky (25:47):
You're definitely prepared, I am not prepared.
Coach Faggiano (25:49):
I'm going to go Ole Miss.
I'll go Ole Miss here.
You're going to go Ole Miss aswell.
And then, of course, I feel badfor Billy Napier, because I
like Billy Nap napier.
I think he's he's a good coach.
A lot of pressure, uh, atflorida finished the season,
while last year, which theydecided to bring him back, loses
the south florida.
Now they want him out.
They're already saying thatjohn gruden's probably going to
(26:11):
be the next coach of of florida.
But I think florida scheduleslike lsu, georgia, like I think
they go like four or five rankedteams in a row.
So so now you lose last week atNow you've got to go on the
road at LSUNine-and-a-half-point favorite
Coach, who do you like LSU?
Rocky (26:29):
All right, you said that one, a lot of confidence in that
one.
I was watching that show, theSEC show.
The kids got me on that andthey were, yeah, and I forget
what it was at, was that onPrime or was that on Netflix, I
forget where I saw that, but Iwas watching some LSU stuff.
I think LSU is pretty fired upright now.
They have some good momentum.
Coach Faggiano (26:49):
Yeah, I like the quarterback.
I like Garrett Nussmeyer there,the quarterback this year.
All right, we're on the samepage there.
Notre Dame, notre Dame at home,the Texas A&M this is a tough
one too, because everybody's gotNotre Dame from that opening
loss of the season and a reallygood game and I'm not really
sure what to expect from A&M.
(27:10):
Well coached, both teams arewell coached.
I love Marcus Freeman, theyoung guy.
Six and a half points favoritewho does A&M beat?
I don't know who A&M beat lastweek.
I don't think they've playedanybody.
I don't know who A&M beat lastweek.
I don't think they've playedanybody.
I think they beat Duke and thenI think they beat a non-ranked
team.
So I mean Notre Dame, obviouslythe first game of the season.
(27:30):
They got beat.
Rocky (27:31):
Yeah, I think I'll go with my heart.
I'm going to go with Notre Dame.
Coach Faggiano (27:37):
Okay, I'm a little scared because so far
we're on the same team.
So far I don't know if that'sgood or bad.
And then I think this is goingto be the game of the week.
A lot of people say no, butVandy's 2-0.
I don't know how Vandy's notranked.
I love what they're doing, Ilove their quarterback over
there, but I'm a big ShaneBeamer guy.
This one's in.
Rocky (27:57):
South Carolina.
Yeah, it's the Shane Beamers.
I got to watch him a little bitbecause the one game they
covered on that show was SouthCarolina LSU a year ago and
South Carolina had a chance tobeat them.
I think here I've got to goSouth Carolina.
Coach Faggiano (28:12):
Yeah, I'm with you.
I thought the game last weekwhen they beat Virginia Tech and
his dad was on the field withthem, they gave the game ball to
his dad.
I thought was really cool andthey kind of aired it.
When Shane grew up, obviouslyplayed for dad, I thought was
really cool and they kind ofaired it.
When shane grew up, obviouslyplayed for dad and then uh was a
coach for dad and um, it wasreally cool to see that.
And lenore sellers are thequarterback who's phenomenal um
(28:33):
gave frank the game boy.
I thought was pretty cool.
So I'm gonna ride with beamerboy.
Rocky (28:37):
I love shane beamer well you could just tell from you
know that you know not not beingaround him enough, like I
haven't, like hopefully he'llstart speaking at the convention
and things and I can go bearound him, listen to him.
I heard his dad a few times,like at least three or four
times, um, but definitely canrelate to how the, the culture
that he has and how he talks andcoaches players.
(28:58):
Uh, in that show I watched andI was that I was a fan right
away.
Coach Faggiano (29:02):
And he was another coach a couple years ago
.
I mean he was kind of on thehot seat because they lost like
three or four games and he's hadtwo really good seasons and I
think they're going to be rightthere this year in the SEC.
So we're on the same page,coach.
We have all the same five teams.
So we'll see how we end up.
And I know we were talking alittle bit and just just briefly
we'll get your thoughts, coachFitz.
(29:23):
They're going to go to Syracuseplay tomorrow, and I was saying
they they've been in games, um,and I know he'll get that thing
turned around, but they'll playat Syracuse, which would be
great for great for the kids andgreat recruiting tool, right
great exposure.
Rocky (29:36):
You know great exposure and it's nice.
It's a local game and you knowum.
I'll tell you what they're.
They're going to make plays.
They're going to have plays ontheir highlight tape at the end
of the year against Orange.
Now I think the biggest thingthat happens in those games at
the different levels is the lineplay.
I think that's one of thebiggest things.
(29:56):
If Syracuse is able to run theball, I think that'll be tough,
but Coach Fitz always finds away to score points.
His DC is outstanding.
So I'm very confident they'regoing to make some plays and
certainly make it interestingand give the Orange their best
for sure.
Coach Faggiano (30:13):
And Sert, you said the nice come-from-behind
win last week against UConn.
So a good win for the Orange.
Rocky (30:19):
They did.
How about running the team?
He's awesome.
I listened to all hisinterviews.
He's as authentic and genuineof a guy like oh man.
His interviews are great.
Coach Faggiano (30:32):
I don't think I've ever seen that.
Have you ever seen that after agame at any level?
Rocky (30:35):
I don't know.
I thought it was like Iremember the Titans kind of like
era time thing to do.
It was it was wild, it was wild.
But but then you hear the guystalk in the interviews and they
love it.
Coach Faggiano (30:47):
They love it, they want to be like.
Rocky (30:48):
they want discipline, they want to be held accountable
.
They know they didn't play well, you know.
So kudos to coach, for you knowsticking to who he is for sure
coach, listen, I hope I getchance to see you this weekend.
Coach Faggiano (31:00):
If I do, I'll say hi, of course, and good luck
this weekend and look forwardto catching up with you next
week.
Rocky (31:05):
Thanks a lot.
Coach Faggiano (31:13):
All right, coach , we'll see you.
So that was Coach Blaze Faziano.
I love talking to him.
I love doing this show weekly.
I'm glad we ended up figuringsomething out to make it happen,
because I love talking footballwith him.
He's a great guy, always beengreat to me and also was great
to my dad as well when my dadwas coaching.
So I'm on down Saturday night 6o'clock.
The Believe Bowl UticaUniversity Should be a great
(31:34):
game.
It's going to be a great nightfor football, so get on out to
the stadium and let's watch somecollege football.
So if you're watching tonight,make sure to hit subscribe on
YouTube.
Follow me on YouTube, twitter,linkedin, all the social media
platforms, iheartradio, you nameit Apple Podcast I'm on there
and I'll post all the playbacksand the cut-ups as well.
(31:54):
So, on behalf of myself, coachFoss, tonight on Inside Utica
University Podcast, episode 2,thanks for tuning in to the Rock
Pile, which is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good.
Thank you for watching.
Coach Faggiano (00:34):
Good evening everybody.
Welcome to the second episodeof Inside Utica University
Football with head coach BlazeFaggiano, who will join me in
just a little bit.
If you're tuning in tonight,make sure to hit subscribe on
YouTube.
We're across all social mediaplatforms tonight Facebook, You
Tube , Twitter, LinkedIn andTikTok.
Of course, if you have anyquestions, comments for Coach,
we'll pull him on.
(00:54):
I'll try to pull as manycomments and questions over as I
can.
I was joking with him.
I was supposed to have my UCgear on tonight.
I was going to be all deckedout and my shirt's not in yet,
but I'll have it.
So I got my RFA shirt on.
Our Modify team tonight had ouropening win of the season, so
congratulations to the kids.
(01:14):
Nice first win of the seasonfor the kids here in Rome.
So without further ado, let'sbring Coach on.
Let me just switch us up.
Coach, there we are.
How are you tonight?
Rocky (01:27):
Excellent, excellent.
I look forward to this everyweek.
Coach Faggiano (01:31):
Well, Coach, we'll get into the fun picks at
the end.
But you were 3-2, but I went3-2 as well.
I was kind of hoping I would doa little bit better the first
week, but we each tied.
Let's put it that way, we're50-50.
Rocky (01:43):
I'll take it.
Coach Faggiano (01:45):
Not.
We each tied.
Let's put it that way, we're50-50.
I'll take it Not bad.
So, coach, great opening weekfor you guys, great first game
of the season and somerecord-breaking performances
we'll get into.
But early thoughts, commentsfrom the opening week from you.
Rocky (01:56):
I was proud of how our guys traveled.
You know that's a long ways outto Pittsburgh.
You know and appreciate.
You know.
Shout out to UB and coach Lembo.
Uh, they were very gracioushosts.
We practiced in their indoorfacility which one of our
players dad's designed, whichwas really cool.
Mitch dates from the Buffaloarea.
His dad designed the buildingand so we kind of broke it up,
(02:17):
got some Wegmans subs.
You know, being a Rochester guy, I don't know when Utica or
Albany ever going to get Wegmans.
I don't know when Utica orAlbany ever going to get weapons
?
I don't know.
But you know it was a bit of atrip.
You know, and I'll tell you,you don't tell the guy, you
never tell him the things, somethings that you know, and almost
three-quarters of the guys onthis trip one never traveled and
(02:38):
two never played varsityfootball.
And here we are opening up withthe president.
Know the the presidentconference champs, right long
trip.
But when everyone had a tie atdinner, I was like you know,
we're gonna be okay.
Right, everyone had a tie atdinner.
We looked sharp, they traveledwell.
Uh, you know, I'm like our guys, we just have so much energy.
There was a little inside,there was a karaoke in the hotel
(03:02):
, okay, and there had to be like30, 40 people, all probably a
little older than me.
We'll say right, and I findthis out the next day from the
parents and they just couldn'tget over our guys with the
people there.
All the people were rooting forus to win.
The next day Our guys weresinging karaoke and when 10
o'clock hit and bed checks at1030, they just scattered, boom,
(03:23):
they all went to to bed and theparents just couldn't get over
our guys and how they were.
And you know, when I had heardthat the next day, I said you
know, we're going to, we'redefinitely going to play with
some passion and some energy onSaturday and it was one heck of
a football game and you knowglad it was on TV.
You know a lot of the pioneererNation got to watch the game
and tune in and it was prettycrazy, like now.
(03:47):
I'm going to start with thenegative first.
You know we had 133 yards inpenalties so we got to get that
fixed.
I promise everyone we will,because I told the guys if we
would have said, okay, we'regoing to give WNJ 133 yards and
go there and win, you probablywouldn't bet on that Right and
so all things correctable.
You know a lot of like.
(04:08):
You know let's make sure we'replaying whistle to whistle.
You know what I mean and.
But our guys played hard and Iguess again you watch the tape
but they were a very goodfootball team.
I'll be very surprised if theydon't have a winning season, win
their conference, go topostseason.
Coach Faggiano (04:25):
Really well, coach, postseason, win their
conference, go to postseason,they really will.
Coach team Coach Sirianni isgreat and Coach, so we'll get
into Tyler's performance here injust a little bit, because that
was a great performance,throwing for over 500 yards.
And I know, coach, I know whatyour answer is going to be when
I say this, but as a coach and Iwas going through some of the
numbers for you guys you hadalmost 600 yards of total off
but over 500 were through theair and only 65 yards rushing.
(04:47):
But I know as a coach,whichever way you guys need to
play to win games, you'll do,but talk to us about that.
Rocky (04:53):
most of your yards were through the air well, that's
funny too, because you know inthe rpo world right, we're
calling a run, but it could be apass right and and they were
very good up front and they'repacking it in for the run Right,
and they really kind of stayedpretty consistent on that the
whole game.
They were going to take away therun and then we kind of I think
(05:15):
kind of wore down on them, worethem down a little bit, excuse
me, you know, later in the gameand had some really good rushing
yards.
And AJ Frazier ran hard andJanai Strong, when he got in,
ran hard.
He got a big first down.
It wasn't like we weren'ttrying to run the ball.
In this RPO world it could be arun, it could be a pass.
You do lean on the quarterbackto make those decisions on the
field, for sure.
Coach Faggiano (05:36):
Coach, you guys are really good on third down.
I think you guys are like 6 outof 10 or 7 out of 10 on third
down.
That's huge too, especially onthe road.
Rocky (05:44):
That's huge Turnovers.
We won the turnover battle, wonthe time of possession, even
though the defense gave up somepoints.
They played some really gooddefense.
I mean, they couldn't run thefootball.
It really got them out of youknow.
They couldn't run the footballand they had two outstanding
receivers that were 1,000-yardreceivers before that.
We really kind of kept them incheck for most of the game until
(06:05):
that kind of that last drive.
They scored, you know, and um,but we had the tail of the tape
was, you know, penalties andjust some missed assignments and
it could have been even adifferent, different picture.
So all things that werecorrectable and I just told the
guys I mean to be able to have agame like that were certainly
not error-free and things thatwe can learn from and still win,
and win on the road against aquality opponent, um, you know,
(06:29):
that's something to be said for,you know, just for the efforts
of our coaches and our playersin that that week one game and
coach, you mentioned thepenalties.
Coach Faggiano (06:35):
I was going to bring that up for you and I kind
of had an idea what your answerwas going to be, and I know you
said you'll fix it.
How do you fix that?
How do you fix that as a coach?
Rocky (06:43):
well, yeah, I can't say all of it on the air, but no, we
fix it, we address.
You know, you address it on anindividual basis and say, one
guy had a few more penalties.
You bring him in, you show himthe highlights of the of the,
not highlights of the penalties,and how we got to get these
fixed.
And it's not acceptable.
And, and you know, I think acouple of the guys after
watching the tape, reallythey're playing so hard they're
(07:04):
not even realizing that they'renot playing to the whistle.
You know, when we're likelanding on the ball carrier
who's on the ground, or we'retackling a guy out of bounds and
it's like a hustle penalty,right, they're not trying to be
malicious, just they got to play, they got to find a saw wood,
right.
You know they can't play toohigh, they can't play too low
and they got to play between thewhistles.
They're definitely things thatare correctable.
Coach Faggiano (07:31):
Coach, the defense played really well too.
I know you gave up a lot ofpoints, like you said, but
anytime you can hold a teamunder 100 yards rushing and win
that battle, normally you've gota chance to win games and your
defense did that.
I think you guys held them towhat?
90 or 91 yards, I think it was.
Rocky (07:41):
It was.
It was like it was 91.
I think it was.
It was.
It was like it was 91.
And again, they're a bigphysical team.
You know, well-coached team,talent, all over the board.
They're special teams, like youknow.
That's the thing that was greatabout our team.
Like the first kickoff, youknow, we don't do well, we don't
execute.
They give a huge kick returnand they score right.
Our guys didn't blink, theykept battling, kept battling.
(08:03):
We cleaned some things up, madesome adjustments and again, I
think you know you don't talkabout this, but there's only two
guys on our defense thatstarted last year.
Three you know Jordan Davis,eli Douglas and Renaldo Lewis.
Right, there's a lot of newfaces and special teams.
That goes that way too.
Most of the guys in specialteams, those were their first
(08:23):
plays, you know.
So you know there, not worryabout it, it's just different.
The pressure week one was onthe road performing.
Now the pressure is going to bebelievable, you know, like
Tyler knows from talking toBraden.
Now Coach Zanolovic, hisquarterback coach, like it's
going to be rocking Saturdaynight, okay, at the believable,
(08:44):
and like being able to blockthat out right and not looking
at the stands, at the crazy herdand all the fans just really
focusing on your job.
So there's always differentdistractions.
It's just a matter of just kindof focusing in on your job each
play.
Coach Faggiano (08:57):
And, coach, you mentioned you had some
first-time starters for you thatdidn't play a lot of football
for you last year and especiallynow you go on the road opening
week, you're down right out ofthe gate, right, they punch one
in on you guys.
Was there any panic by thecoaching staff to say, oh God,
here we go?
You know it's a new group ofguys.
Was there any panic at anypoint?
Rocky (09:16):
You know none at all.
You know, and you know CoachMcClendon does a great job with
those guys hey, sudden change,we have to go out and win that.
We have to hold them to a fieldgoal and win that.
Sudden change right, suddenchanges can come from turnovers,
they can come from, you know, abig special teams play right
and you know, I think the wayour guys handle that, you know,
is a really good sign of thingsto come ahead.
Coach Faggiano (09:39):
Yeah, and I want to talk a little bit about your
sophomore linebacker too.
I think led your team intackles Isaiah Thomas, I think
he had what 12 tackles.
A pass breakup, a fumblerecovery was all over the field
for you guys.
You had some other players thatplayed well too but talk to us
a little bit about isaiah.
Rocky (09:59):
You know it's funny too.
In defense we have so many guysthat were like x something, so
like it was that we call it goesby it isaiah thomas.
And so it was um, a runningback in high school so we were
teasing him on his fumblerecovery like where's the
running back?
You got to go score on thisplay and he returned it a good,
a good 25 yards and I think thatwas a huge play momentum in our
favor to give our offense greatfield position and go ahead.
But, like Nick DeForest out ofHolland, patton was the one that
(10:20):
makes the tackle and strips theball for IT to pick up.
And those are things we work onall the time take away, scoop
and score.
It's just a tremendous person.
He's on our leadership council,he's a strong leader and you
know it's just about beingconfident.
He battled all spring andbattled into camp for that
starting spot.
(10:40):
It was a close battle.
I think.
Just each day and every rep hegets, the more confidence he has
within the defense.
Coach Faggiano (10:47):
What was the message, coach, after the game?
Now you said you had to go onthe road against a really good
team to open the season.
Now you've got to come homewith a lot of pressure because
again it's going to be rocking.
Like you said, there'll be alot of people.
I think the early weather itlooks like it's supposed to be a
nice day, so we should have agood day for some football.
But that's a little bit morepressure too.
What was the message to theguys for this week?
Rocky (11:08):
Well, you know, from after the game they were just so
excited Like they knew, youknow, and we kind of have a good
chip on our shoulder like Uticaagainst the world and you know
all the D3.
There's a huge D3 fan base outthere and podcasts like yourself
that cover D3 football andacross the country.
And you know, no one had uswinning that game right.
(11:29):
But we knew we could win thatgame.
And at the end of the game Isaid everyone's going to be
surprised but we are notsurprised because we know that
we have a very good team.
They're a very good team.
At the end of the day it'sabout the team and you know.
And then I told him, you know,to the victor goes the spoils,
right.
And so we I don't believe wehave ever had two D3 national
team kind of players of the week.
(11:50):
And so for Tyler Zolkowski andIsaiah Thomas to represent our
university and community on anational level on d3footballcom
is outstanding.
You know it was outstanding.
And then Tyler was OffensivePlayer of the Week in the Empire
8.
You know we have a greatfootball conference, as you
mentioned on our show last week.
So you know the kids know it'sBelieve Bowl week and you know,
(12:13):
just to jump into that, like,believe Bowl is a very special
game for us because it's likeour game to give back to the
community.
You know, and we don't have atraditional rival right and we
kind of have no one likes us, wedon't like them right, we don't
really like anybody, butthere's no traditional rival
like you have in some schools,or we're not playing for a shoe
or a cup or those types ofthings and and, uh, the believe
(12:35):
bowl has been different teamsover the years.
You know, and, uh, you know,our program's mantra is uncommon
and we try to put on commonpeople, like first responders,
uh, like our folks that arehonorary captains.
We had our press conferencetoday should be on social media,
on facebook.
We had our press conference,the master videoito Hyundai
showroom today Shout out toFrank and Colleen and their
(12:56):
family there and we had our twohonorary captains there today,
victor and Nancy, and they weregreat, got their jerseys today
and you know, so it's about them.
So our guys are pretty amped upfor the orange out on Saturday
night for sure.
So it's always what you knowwhat's next.
So it is always something big.
And I remember when, when coachMcLennan first got hired, he's
like why is every home game gotto be like the Superbowl?
(13:18):
I said well, cause it's got toprepare us.
You know every one of our homegames or something huge happened
in the tents packed in the endzone and you know it's kind of
just kind of who we are.
Coach Faggiano (13:27):
Coach, I will tell you and agree with you.
There's a lot of those other d3podcasts out there and I follow
a lot of the guys and, uh, whenthey do.
There was one of them I don'tknow who it was, I gotta look
but they did like theirpredictions and they had you
guys getting blown out by likethree touchdowns right, I think
it was that someone tell me itwas the hansen one I don't know
if that was the one there,there's a, there's, there's two
(13:48):
really good ones.
I follow the guys, you know theyof different teams.
Rocky (13:52):
Yeah, there's a lot of good guys.
The Dingo Talk guy is a goodguy.
He played.
Coach Faggiano (13:54):
D3 football.
Rocky (13:56):
He's a good dude.
Coach Faggiano (13:57):
One of them had you guys like 56 to like 21 or
like something crazy, and I waslike man, what do they watch?
Rocky (14:06):
Same guys that had us not a chance to beat Susquehanna in
the playoffs.
So you know, fortunately we'vehad a couple good trips to
Pennsylvania as of late.
Coach Faggiano (14:16):
The state's been good to Utica.
Rocky (14:18):
For sure.
Coach Faggiano (14:19):
So, coach, talk to us about Tyler.
I know we talked to him lastweek.
You spoke very highly of him,had a great camp.
Good kid transfer for you 528yards passing.
I was more impressed with the28 completions and all his stats
were great, but the 28completions, um, and all his
stats were great, but the 28completions talk about how
special performance that he have.
Rocky (14:38):
you know he had a great performance.
The o-line played very well.
If you only had two sacks umand protecting them, uh, you
know, uh.
And to have three receivers allwith over 100 yards and
receptions right and all three atouchdown each, and that's not
including gabe's's Wallacetouchdown and the 73 yards that
that Logan Frederick had, youknow, and like there's a great
(14:59):
little story there, like who'sLogan Frederick?
Well, you know, little falls,high school family moved around
a bit One time was in Virginiaand Pennsylvania, comes home to
the area and wants to be as aphysical therapist right Playing
receiver for the last few years, and then anytime a young man
just makes a commitment.
We kind of had a feeling thathe could be a tight end and he
(15:20):
worked hard in the weight roomand made that commitment and boy
, you know, we're, we're, we'refortunate to have him.
He did it.
Just a great, great story, youknow.
But you know, antonio everyonehas eyes on Antonio had a great
game.
Tyshawn, taylor, bryce, palmer,those guys all played lights
out.
(15:40):
And he spread the ball aroundthe whole surrounding cast for
sure.
Coach Faggiano (15:43):
So, Coach, this week Rensselaer comes into town.
They're coming off a win inWeek 1, 26-9.
And it was again funny becauseI was looking to see some of the
guys on their team.
Their quarterback's father wasthe running back coach at
Fordham when I played the theMaddio kid, the quarterback.
So I was looking through that.
I said he's, I know him.
Talk to us about you know what?
Do you know?
(16:03):
What's the scouting report onRensselaer?
What do they bring to the table?
Rocky (16:07):
and you can help me.
Is his dad, because there's thebrothers.
Is his dad the head coach atSomers?
Coach Faggiano (16:12):
I think his dad is the coach at Maholpec,
maholpec.
Okay, that's what it is, yougot it.
Rocky (16:19):
That's right.
And then his uncle is the headcoach at Somers.
Coach Faggiano (16:22):
Yes.
Rocky (16:24):
And then this kid's grandfather is a god.
Coach DiMatteo got an award atthe AFCA a couple years ago.
But the quarterback, who runstheir offense very well, they're
very.
They have some really goodskill players.
The running back and receiverpositions, offensive lines, big.
They're going to use thequarterback in the one game.
(16:44):
Some certainly, you know teamsare going to, you know, really
try to run the football againstus and keep our offense off the
field.
You know.
You know they're very good atrunning screens and I think
those are the kinds of things.
You know.
Our defense, you know we'venever been the biggest defense
but we've always been fast, andso we know when you're a fast
defense you're going to seemisdirection and you're going to
(17:06):
see screens and see thosethings.
Coach Isernia has done a greatjob there.
It wasn't too long ago you, theybeat Cortland in the playoffs
one year.
The year before I thinkCortland won the whole thing
right.
So I mean very good program,well-coached.
One of their newest coaches,justin Higgins, was on our staff
(17:29):
and was head coach atMorrisville and Keystone and
moved his family back to Albany.
He's from the North Country andyou know, so he knows us a
little bit, and so they're againvery well coached, really good
football team Traditionally winand they traditionally go to
postseason.
You know and that's the type ofprogram that we aspire to be
that you know every year thatwe're going to win and every
(17:51):
year we're going to find a wayto get to postseason.
That's what RPI is.
So you know, definitely a goodchallenge.
And they won there.
They won there.
They played for some big gamewith WPI I'm not sure what the
name is and then I know the endof the year, it's the shoes game
, I think, with Union.
Coach Faggiano (18:06):
Yeah, I think it's the transit trophy.
Rocky (18:09):
Oh, there you go.
Thank you, yeah, so they playedin that big game and they look
good on film for sure, coach.
Coach Faggiano (18:15):
What conference are they in?
They're Liberty League, theLiberty okay.
Rocky (18:18):
So liberty league, the liberty okay rpi's with hobart
and in st lawrence and u of rand ithaca, that's.
That's the union, that's theliberty league so it was no.
Coach Faggiano (18:27):
I don't know if I'm going to pronounce this
right.
Was it worcester polytechnicinstitute who they played?
Rocky (18:32):
correct.
Yeah, wpi.
Uh, their head coach, chrisrobertson, was uh our start in
safety at ualbany back when Iga'd there, you know 94.
He's been the head coach therequite some time and runs a good
program.
One of our senior who graduatedtight end is actually getting
his master's in engineering atWPI right now.
So really good engineeringschool as RPI is.
Coach Faggiano (18:55):
Yeah, and I was going back through some of their
game stuff.
They only gave up about 47yards on the ground and it
looked like they're a prettygood size, so everything you're
saying it looked like.
I mean I was just looking onpaper trying to find some clips
of their last game it looks likethey had some good size up
front.
Does the game plan change atall for you guys this week?
Are you going to try to spreadthe ball?
I know you want to give yourgame plan out over the air here,
but no, does anything changefor you guys?
Rocky (19:16):
well, you know, you, you prepare for what you see on film
, and then you prepare for whatyou see on film, and then you
prepare for what you think youmay not see on film.
There's a trap in the film.
We found over the last fewyears that we go and play
someone and they're doingsomething that wasn't on film
the last three weeks.
So I think that's what we tryto do as coaches is really
challenge our guys throughoutthe week, put the pressure on
(19:38):
them so the game's easy.
So we're throwing everything atour offense the kitchen sink,
so just keep those guys on theirtoes.
Coach Faggiano (19:47):
And I know you mentioned the Blue Bull.
How special that is.
I would imagine the kids willbe fired up for that game.
They probably won't need a lotto get them fired up for that.
It should be a full packedhouse.
I would think the weather'ssupposed to be nice.
Rocky (19:59):
Should be a packed house.
We love the night games.
Six o'clock starts so byhalftime definitely we'll be
under the lights there atGaetano and love having the
night games.
I know the students love it,the community loves it.
I believe they started airingthe commercial on TV.
We made a little commercial topromote the game.
It should be on WKTV over thenext few days.
(20:22):
Again, tickets are only $5, youknow.
And if you're at the ticketbooth and wanting to get season
tickets, there are only 20, youknow.
So you, so you get kind of anextra game in there and there's
still time to join the 12th man,you know.
So if you haven't joined our12th man tailgate booster club
and you did it before the game,we would still have time to make
sure that you had your tailgatepasses at the gate waiting for
(20:45):
you when you got there.
So I know the parents are firedup.
You know, for our first homegame, tailgate, you know our
guys will walk through thetailgate after our team meal and
the parking lot will probablybe packed, and go on our pioneer
walk before the game.
I know they're amped up forthat.
Coach Faggiano (21:02):
Coach, I know we talked about the indoor
facility for you guys and what agreat recruiting tool it is,
but I mean talk about the homefield, like the setting, I mean
the atmosphere.
It's as good as any collegeprogram in the country.
It's a great atmosphere youknow.
Rocky (21:14):
I think a couple things.
One, the fact that we don'thave a track around this
football stadium.
The stands are right on top ofyou.
Coach Faggiano (21:21):
Yeah.
Rocky (21:22):
And you know, although on paper I think it says it only
seats 1,200, in a game likethere, like everyone's standing
on the deck, you know, andthere's at least 2,000 people in
the stands, and then a gamelike tomorrow, I think there's
already 150 people will be inthe tent and then it gets three
or four deep around the fence,you know.
So we even have a hard timegauging how many people are
(21:45):
there.
But I believe and talk to otherSID, like when we have the
night games or homecoming, wecan get at least 3,000 to 4,000
people at the games and it'spretty loud and it's a fun
atmosphere for sure.
Coach Faggiano (21:58):
And Coach, I know the night games.
I always like playing at nightand the kids do as well.
But knowing that you have tokind of wait the day to get
things started the kids, youknow.
I'm sure you got a routine forthe kids before leading up to
the nighttime, but do you preferthe night game or do you like
that those afternoon games?
Rocky (22:13):
I'd like to have at least one night game and I like to do
it early, you know and it is along way we get them up.
We have like a littlewalkthrough at 10 o'clock on
Saturday.
It's not even a walkthrough.
They pretty much go out andthrow the football around and
relax, you know, just to get upand get moving.
You know, I know they, you knowwatch watch some college
football.
You know you know watch the.
A lot of them will watch a D3game.
(22:33):
That's on, you know, until weare our team meals at two right.
So we have our, our team meal,you know, four hours before.
You know.
So we have some great, you knowgame day traditions.
You know Saturday we're goingto remember number 12, james
Salas, who we lost last year,and I know thoughts and prayers
are always with James and hisfamily and you know we'll have
(22:57):
his logo in our program.
We'll have some mental healthawareness items in the program
and pretty sure there'll be a 12jersey on the bench.
So to honor him and his familyand great family.
Real tough time for his family,unimaginable time for his
(23:18):
family a year ago and for ourprogram and to watch our guys
come together in a difficulttime.
Um certainly made him stronger.
So you know we've got all kindsof things going on, even
outside the bleeple.
Uh, that we're gonna, you know,honor james as well, so I want
to make a mention to that areyou ready to do?
Coach Faggiano (23:36):
you ready to pick some teams?
Rocky (23:38):
you know I am.
I've actually got it pulled up.
I was looking at it trying toget a head start well, you don't
know the games I'm going tothrow out.
I'll take three and two.
I'm feeling good all right, allright.
Coach Faggiano (23:47):
The first one I got.
I don't know if anybody'splaying as good as south florida
right now.
Two, two ranked wins.
This is a big game um.
South florida at miami, miami'sat 18 and a half point favored
in this game.
You think there there's anyshot?
South Florida can pull anotherone off.
Rocky (24:05):
I think there is a shot.
This is a tough one, you know,because our defense coordinator
coached at South Florida for afew years with I'm going to
blank for a minute, it'll cometo me the head coach was head
coach at Louisville, who coachedLamar Hunt, or Lamar Jackson.
Lamar Jackson.
Sorry, Charlie Strong.
Coach Faggiano (24:28):
Love Charlie Strong, great guy.
Rocky (24:30):
Great guy.
Last I knew him was he coachingin Alabama.
I kind of lost track of him.
Yeah, this is tough you knowwhat I'm going to go home team.
I'm going to go with Miami onthat one.
Coach Faggiano (24:44):
See, if we were picking with the spreads, I'd
say I would take South Floridagetting the 18.5, because I
don't think Miami is going toblow them out.
Rocky (24:51):
No, I don't think so either.
We're not doing that.
You said that.
Coach Faggiano (24:54):
No spreads straight up.
I'm going to go with Miami.
I think they have betterplayers.
But listen, I'm not going to besurprised if South Florida wins
this game.
I mean, if South Florida wins,that's three ranked teams right
out of the gate, boise, state,florida, on the road.
Now they got to go on the roadat Miami.
But I'm with you.
I do like Miami in this game.
Coach, this was one I think youdid not have last week.
(25:18):
I think you went against LaneKiffin and the boys at Ole Miss
Not doing it this week.
Arkansas-ole Miss.
This is at Ole Miss.
People say this year LaneKiffin has is better than the
team he had a year ago.
But Jackson Dart, of course,was on that team a year ago.
Any chance Arkansas gets him.
Rocky (25:36):
I don't know.
We have an order of who goesfirst on this one, because we
don't influence each other.
I don't know how it goes.
Coach Faggiano (25:45):
I'll let you.
I'm on the lane train so I knowwho I'm going to go with in
this game.
I don't know much aboutArkansas.
Rocky (25:47):
You're definitely prepared, I am not prepared.
Coach Faggiano (25:49):
I'm going to go Ole Miss.
I'll go Ole Miss here.
You're going to go Ole Miss aswell.
And then, of course, I feel badfor Billy Napier, because I
like Billy Nap napier.
I think he's he's a good coach.
A lot of pressure, uh, atflorida finished the season,
while last year, which theydecided to bring him back, loses
the south florida.
Now they want him out.
They're already saying thatjohn gruden's probably going to
(26:11):
be the next coach of of florida.
But I think florida scheduleslike lsu, georgia, like I think
they go like four or five rankedteams in a row.
So so now you lose last week atNow you've got to go on the
road at LSUNine-and-a-half-point favorite
Coach, who do you like LSU?
Rocky (26:29):
All right, you said that one, a lot of confidence in that
one.
I was watching that show, theSEC show.
The kids got me on that andthey were, yeah, and I forget
what it was at, was that onPrime or was that on Netflix, I
forget where I saw that, but Iwas watching some LSU stuff.
I think LSU is pretty fired upright now.
They have some good momentum.
Coach Faggiano (26:49):
Yeah, I like the quarterback.
I like Garrett Nussmeyer there,the quarterback this year.
All right, we're on the samepage there.
Notre Dame, notre Dame at home,the Texas A&M this is a tough
one too, because everybody's gotNotre Dame from that opening
loss of the season and a reallygood game and I'm not really
sure what to expect from A&M.
(27:10):
Well coached, both teams arewell coached.
I love Marcus Freeman, theyoung guy.
Six and a half points favoritewho does A&M beat?
I don't know who A&M beat lastweek.
I don't think they've playedanybody.
I don't know who A&M beat lastweek.
I don't think they've playedanybody.
I think they beat Duke and thenI think they beat a non-ranked
team.
So I mean Notre Dame, obviouslythe first game of the season.
(27:30):
They got beat.
Rocky (27:31):
Yeah, I think I'll go with my heart.
I'm going to go with Notre Dame.
Coach Faggiano (27:37):
Okay, I'm a little scared because so far
we're on the same team.
So far I don't know if that'sgood or bad.
And then I think this is goingto be the game of the week.
A lot of people say no, butVandy's 2-0.
I don't know how Vandy's notranked.
I love what they're doing, Ilove their quarterback over
there, but I'm a big ShaneBeamer guy.
This one's in.
Rocky (27:57):
South Carolina.
Yeah, it's the Shane Beamers.
I got to watch him a little bitbecause the one game they
covered on that show was SouthCarolina LSU a year ago and
South Carolina had a chance tobeat them.
I think here I've got to goSouth Carolina.
Coach Faggiano (28:12):
Yeah, I'm with you.
I thought the game last weekwhen they beat Virginia Tech and
his dad was on the field withthem, they gave the game ball to
his dad.
I thought was really cool andthey kind of aired it.
When Shane grew up, obviouslyplayed for dad, I thought was
really cool and they kind ofaired it.
When shane grew up, obviouslyplayed for dad and then uh was a
coach for dad and um, it wasreally cool to see that.
And lenore sellers are thequarterback who's phenomenal um
(28:33):
gave frank the game boy.
I thought was pretty cool.
So I'm gonna ride with beamerboy.
Rocky (28:37):
I love shane beamer well you could just tell from you
know that you know not not beingaround him enough, like I
haven't, like hopefully he'llstart speaking at the convention
and things and I can go bearound him, listen to him.
I heard his dad a few times,like at least three or four
times, um, but definitely canrelate to how the, the culture
that he has and how he talks andcoaches players.
(28:58):
Uh, in that show I watched andI was that I was a fan right
away.
Coach Faggiano (29:02):
And he was another coach a couple years ago
.
I mean he was kind of on thehot seat because they lost like
three or four games and he's hadtwo really good seasons and I
think they're going to be rightthere this year in the SEC.
So we're on the same page,coach.
We have all the same five teams.
So we'll see how we end up.
And I know we were talking alittle bit and just just briefly
we'll get your thoughts, coachFitz.
(29:23):
They're going to go to Syracuseplay tomorrow, and I was saying
they they've been in games, um,and I know he'll get that thing
turned around, but they'll playat Syracuse, which would be
great for great for the kids andgreat recruiting tool, right
great exposure.
Rocky (29:36):
You know great exposure and it's nice.
It's a local game and you knowum.
I'll tell you what they're.
They're going to make plays.
They're going to have plays ontheir highlight tape at the end
of the year against Orange.
Now I think the biggest thingthat happens in those games at
the different levels is the lineplay.
I think that's one of thebiggest things.
(29:56):
If Syracuse is able to run theball, I think that'll be tough,
but Coach Fitz always finds away to score points.
His DC is outstanding.
So I'm very confident they'regoing to make some plays and
certainly make it interestingand give the Orange their best
for sure.
Coach Faggiano (30:13):
And Sert, you said the nice come-from-behind
win last week against UConn.
So a good win for the Orange.
Rocky (30:19):
They did.
How about running the team?
He's awesome.
I listened to all hisinterviews.
He's as authentic and genuineof a guy like oh man.
His interviews are great.
Coach Faggiano (30:32):
I don't think I've ever seen that.
Have you ever seen that after agame at any level?
Rocky (30:35):
I don't know.
I thought it was like Iremember the Titans kind of like
era time thing to do.
It was it was wild, it was wild.
But but then you hear the guystalk in the interviews and they
love it.
Coach Faggiano (30:47):
They love it, they want to be like.
Rocky (30:48):
they want discipline, they want to be held accountable
.
They know they didn't play well, you know.
So kudos to coach, for you knowsticking to who he is for sure
coach, listen, I hope I getchance to see you this weekend.
Coach Faggiano (31:00):
If I do, I'll say hi, of course, and good luck
this weekend and look forwardto catching up with you next
week.
Rocky (31:05):
Thanks a lot.
Coach Faggiano (31:13):
All right, coach , we'll see you.
So that was Coach Blaze Faziano.
I love talking to him.
I love doing this show weekly.
I'm glad we ended up figuringsomething out to make it happen,
because I love talking footballwith him.
He's a great guy, always beengreat to me and also was great
to my dad as well when my dadwas coaching.
So I'm on down Saturday night 6o'clock.
The Believe Bowl UticaUniversity Should be a great
(31:34):
game.
It's going to be a great nightfor football, so get on out to
the stadium and let's watch somecollege football.
So if you're watching tonight,make sure to hit subscribe on
YouTube.
Follow me on YouTube, twitter,linkedin, all the social media
platforms, iheartradio, you nameit Apple Podcast I'm on there
and I'll post all the playbacksand the cut-ups as well.
(31:54):
So, on behalf of myself, coachFoss, tonight on Inside Utica
University Podcast, episode 2,thanks for tuning in to the Rock
Pile, which is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good.
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