November 19, 2025 • 38 mins
A gritty road win in a storm sets up a home ECAC bowl against Rowan, as we break down adjustments, celebrate seniors, and lay out the plan for another statement game. We revisit special teams swings, O-line excellence, and the identity that carried us through November.
• bus delays, lightning, heavy rain, still throw with confidence
• offensive line allows zero sacks against a top defense
• second-half defensive adjustments to stop the run
• special teams blocks, field position flips, and crucial returns
• player spotlights on Bryce, Logan, Antonio, and Tyler’s records
• slot and tight end usage as core of the scheme
• ECAC hosting details and community energy at Gaetano
• scouting Rowan’s blitz pressure, RPO rhythm, and pass defense
• culture, leadership, and the final pregame message
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rocky (00:33):
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on The Rock Pile.
Tonight, The Rock Pile bringsyou another episode of Inside
Utica University FootballPodcast with head coach Blaise
Fazziano.
Excited to bring Coach on aswe'll we'll be talking about
their upcoming home ACAC bowlgame this week at Gaetano
Stadium on Saturday.
Excited about that.
(00:54):
We'll talk uh Brockport thegame last week.
I watched the entire game frommy phone, um which was a
thrilling game to watch.
So we'll talk a little bitabout that.
Um, that and much more.
Coach and I will do anotherepisode next week.
We'll wrap things up next week.
Uh we'll do a whole seasonrecap.
Should be fun.
Hard to believe.
I say this every week withcoaches.
We keep getting towards the endof the season.
(01:15):
Uh, and here we are with justtwo weeks left to go.
So I'm trying a new softwareout tonight.
So I told Coach to bear withme.
Hopefully, I don't screw thisthing up.
I know I'll I'll probably hickup somewhere.
But if you're watching onYouTube anywhere, make sure to
hit subscribe.
Follow me anywhere you can.
It'll it'll be across allsocial media platforms as well
as Apple Podcasts.
So without further ado, let'ssee if I can get coach on here.
(01:38):
There he is, coach.
What's happening?
Coach Faggiano (01:40):
What's going on, Rock?
Rocky (01:42):
Not much.
How are we doing tonight?
Coach Faggiano (01:44):
We're we're doing just had our full pattern
practice, and uh what one dayclose for the Saturday.
Rocky (01:50):
So, coach, I gotta tell you.
So, I was watching theBrockport game from my cell
phone uh online, and uh we weregoing to the UC hockey game that
night, and uh I'm watching it,and my wife's like, Are we
getting ready to go?
I'm like, I gotta see theending of this game.
It's it's it was a good game.
I was so surprised at how wellyour team played, considering
the conditions.
Coach Faggiano (02:12):
Listen, that the the it was a day, so like we'll
just start with the morningphone call at 7:30.
That the bus that's one of thebuses on campus, the brakes have
froze.
And we have to wait for a newbus.
And wait, and listen, Wade doesa great job, right?
So, but they're in Schenectady.
Yep, yeah.
So we gotta we gotta wait anhour and a half for the bus.
Okay, and now at the same time,we have a team meal that some
(02:35):
of our alumni were verygenerous.
This was like a first-timething that a group of our alumni
paid for a pregame meal out inRochester, which was like big
time, nice hotel.
And what's great is we roll inthe hotel, and one of our former
uh guys, Chance Harris's mom'sworking in the hotel, and Chance
comes and visits.
And so I wrote so we're gettingclose, so we're there.
(02:56):
So now we get up there, and nowthere's a lightning delay.
So, so you know, Coach Mangoni,I gotta tell you it was great.
All right, we'll delay thestart to 2:30.
Well, then we get there, didn'tstart till three.
And it was a little hairyduring the warm-up, let's just
say that.
But they had some uh sectionfive playoff games that were
gonna be on that fieldafterwards, so like, and then
(03:18):
when I tell you the rain, it wascold, and you know, and
obviously everyone knows we liketo throw the ball, like to
throw the rock, and yep, and um,and you would think that would
just be the the worst casescenario, and we still did, more
so in the second half, which wecould talk about, okay,
successfully.
But uh it was it was really anincredible win and very proud of
(03:40):
our guys, and uh probably oneof the ones I remember the most.
It was it was a wild game.
Rocky (03:47):
Coach, I know I said this to you throughout the season,
and I know every team has beendifferent, but you you can tell
when when you and I have talkedthroughout the season of how
much fun you've really had andhow much you really love this
team, and no coach ever wants itthen, right?
You have this week left, andthen you know this group is
done, and you move on, yourseniors move on, but I could
tell just how much you reallylove this team.
Coach Faggiano (04:10):
Well, our university just put a whole
bunch of pictures on on Facebookfrom the game last week.
Yep, and they're just just thelooks on the guys' faces, and
you know, um it was one of thosegames where everything that
we're all about, you know, wewere able to do now.
I think that the the the thingthat was wild is guys who made
mistakes early in the game.
(04:30):
And I told Nico before thegame, I said, you know, you're
gonna you're gonna have morefield goal attempts today.
Just trust me, they have areally good defense.
Yeah, well, top defenses bothboth teams had top 20 defenses
in the country going into thegame, right?
And uh, and so we always talkabout you just have to have the
best defense on Saturday.
And so kudos to our defensekeeping, I think, that that you
(04:51):
know one of their lowest pointtotals of the season at 20.
Obviously, it didn't look goodat great, you know, we go down
14-0.
Um, but you know, Nico misses afield goal early that easily
can make and then makes whatends up being really the one
that kind of the game winner wasthat we had the game winner and
then we had Eli's pick thatsealed it.
And then even Tyler.
You know, Tyler had a couple,we had a couple big special
(05:13):
teams plays.
We had a a blocked punt andthen we recovered a fumble off a
kickoff, and yep, and we youknow threw a couple
interceptions after that.
Didn't fail, I mean, didn'tphase them in a negative way, I
should say, and just keptbattling and obviously uh you
know made made some plays for usto to get in the end zone.
So I was just very pleased andhow the guys played in some
(05:33):
crazy conditions.
Rocky (05:34):
Well, I'll just say the conditions, and I was sitting as
I'm watching the game andsaying, okay, you know, Utica,
we love to throw the ball allover the yard.
Here's a torrential downpour.
I'm saying, man, I hope thisdoesn't get into a run game
because as you said, those RPOsall year, we we really haven't
ran the ball the greatestbecause of the RPOs.
I'm like, please don't letthis, but you guys just threw it
around the field like it wasn'teven raining out, like it
(05:56):
wasn't even it's crazy, like itwasn't even raining out, and uh
you know Bryce Palmer just had aday, Logan Frederick just had a
day, and then our old line likethis was I mean, this has to be
the most decorated team thatwe've ever had as far as like in
a national level with the thenational players of the week.
Coach Faggiano (06:15):
We've had multiple, and this week the
whole offensive line got it,which they i mean to go to
Brockport and to not give up asack against Brockport again.
A lot Coach Fox, great DC.
They have some dudes ondefense.
That is not easy.
And um, you know, I was reallyimpressed with uh how those guys
(06:36):
played.
So if there was five weeks in arow, they hadn't given up a
sack, which which was which wasincredible.
Um yeah, it was pretty wild.
And then defense defense,listen, we gave up a couple
hundred yards rushing.
Isaiah Simmons in that O lineis no joke, you know.
And then they had the Wildcatquarterback going, and they
really kind of seemed that theywere kind of you know trying to
(06:57):
hold on to a lead, you know, andreally run the ball.
I think it was the only time Ithink we lost the time of
possession by a minute, andthat's the first time this year
in a game that we haven't hadthe time of possession, right?
So that certainly was what youknow uh what their plan was.
Um but uh yeah, it was a it wasa wild one.
Rocky (07:14):
Coach, defensively, what changed for you guys?
Because the second half, Ithink you only held them the I
think you held them the sixpoints in the second half.
Uh what was really different?
Because they they just ran thefootball.
I was like, if we can get themin a third and long and they got
to throw the football, I reallylike our chances.
What changed for you guys?
Did you guys make anyadjustments?
Coach Faggiano (07:32):
We did.
And both I mean both offenseand defense made some
adjustments.
Um, you know, defense again,it's it's all about the run game
and the fronts and how you'reslanting the guys, and you got
to be able to sit in one frontthe whole time and let and let
the Brock Porto line know howyou're gonna line up.
So we made some goodadjustments there that got us
some some negative plays and gotthem in a situation, you know,
in those third and longs.
(07:53):
And then I think a big a bigmoment was like the fourth and
two, you know, and they weregonna go for it.
They tried to get us to jumpand they decided to punt.
That was a big moment.
And we then we have a huge16-yard punt return to give our
offense some really goodposition there.
Um, you know, uh yeah, youknow, offensively too.
We we we we tried to be alittle more balanced in the
(08:14):
first half, and the second half,we just said, nope, we're gonna
just we're gonna throw it.
And we're we're an emptyformation and and running uh you
know, running some option typeroutes, and uh they're they're
doubling Bryce just about everythird down and in multiple
plays.
He had two guys on him.
Um it was wild.
You know, they they reallythrew the kitchen sink at us for
(08:35):
sure.
And even special teams-wise,our guys came to play our
kickoff unit with them.
They had some of the topreturners in the league and
their punt return and kickreturn.
Devin Taylor smashed it in hispunts, did a great job.
Um, we had some great coverage,and Nate Hernandez blocks
another punt.
That was a huge play.
We actually, in the middle ofthe play, they kept changing
(08:55):
their protection for where wewere trying to block it from.
And the last second, we flippedit again, didn't give them time
to switch, and then Nate cameoff the edge to block it.
Um, Mason Payton had a hugeforce fumble that Mason Miscarry
recovered.
So we kept making plays.
You know, we kept making playsand uh got a little hairy at the
end, you know.
They're driving to they got agreat field goal kicker, so
(09:17):
they're they're driving to kickthe game winning field goal.
And uh Eli Douglas had a hugepass breakup, almost ended it
there, and then had and for himfor him as a senior to finish
his career like that in theregular season to have a pick
six like that.
That was that was wild.
And then we had trouble withtheir X-point field goal, so we
they're getting the ball back,and if they were only up eight,
(09:37):
so you know that was.
And then we on our end, weactually blocked an extra point,
(10:01):
which was you know, again,every play is magnified, you
know, you know, in a in a biggame like that.
You know, it was their seniorday, um, they were fired up, and
then again, they're playing forpostseason as well.
You know, they ended up threewas it three of us have home
games, you know, becauseFisher's playing an ECAC game in
their home, and Brockport'splaying a DCA game in their
(10:22):
home.
So um, but uh but yeah, it wasuh you know, our guys have been
tough, like certainlydisappointed we didn't get in
the tournament, you know.
For the folks that follow us,like didn't help that that Johns
Hopkins lost, yeah, right?
Because then all of a suddennow they took a pool C when they
should have won their AQ.
Um, it didn't help thatCortland and RPI lost, and then
(10:45):
the numbers of the NPI, youknow, we needed some of those
things to swing it, right?
Um, but then really quickly ourguys knew.
I told them really after oursecond loss, if we went out, and
one of two things will happen.
We're either gonna make thetournament or we'll have our
first ever home ECAC gamebecause we've been to five of
these things, and this is thefirst time we get to host it.
Our parents are beyond excitedthat they can tailgate again.
Rocky (11:08):
Yeah.
Coach Faggiano (11:09):
Um, you know, we actually invited all the tent
sponsors from all five games.
We've actually invited them ifthey wanted to come out um and
and and join us in the tent.
We left the tent up because wekind of had a good feeling that
we were gonna be home.
And um, so that's a cool thing.
So I think we'll have have agood crowd there and just been
trying to put the word out thatuh it's uh normal game, it's
(11:30):
season ticket.
If you have a season ticket,it'll work.
Uh normal tickets just fivedollars.
The weather's gonna be great,and um, you know, we're excited
about this uh this upcomingopportunity, but certainly a
great way to end our season,regular season with the big win
on the road.
Rocky (11:45):
So I kept checking all the Twitter, all the all the
sites, and everybody keptputting in like their
projections, and I kept looking.
I was like, okay, Utica waslike one of the first two out.
And I'm like, okay, well, maybeanother guy will post and have
you know have you guys in.
And then the delay to got andI'm like, it doesn't look like
they're gonna get in.
And I'm like, shit, you know,but uh, but coach, you mentioned
those three guys.
I want to go back to Bryce,Logan, and Antonio.
(12:06):
And I'm sitting there saying,Man, what a season, these three
guys.
And I know Logan was hurtearlier, he came back and he's
been unbelievable.
And these guys have had greatcareers, you know, for you.
And just talk about each one ifyou can, and just how special
of a season it's been in theircareers.
Coach Faggiano (12:22):
I mean, Logan, I talked about him in front of
the team the other night, youknow.
And for those that maybehaven't heard me talk about him,
you know, uh showed up at theschool with his dad, uh, moved
back to the area, want wanted tobe a PT, had his Herkimer
degree.
Some people saw him playbasketball at Herkimer, and
literally played two years ofwhat you would say would be the
JV wide receiver.
(12:43):
And certainly athletic,certainly had good hands, but
then you know, anytime a youngperson makes a decision, you
know, and we we had talked tohim about the possibility of
moving a tight end, but I don'tlike making guys.
Yeah, I'll try to nudge them,you know, but I don't like
making them.
And then this winter, you hecame at me, coach.
(13:04):
I'm I'm putting 20 pounds outand moving the tight end.
And not only did he do that,but he is an incredible blocker.
Um, and he's one of the besttight ends in the in the
country.
Yeah, so great and an amazingstudent, amazing student in the
physical therapy program.
Um, you know, he has anotheryear of eligibility left.
Uh, no announcements yet, butuh he know like his uh
(13:28):
coursework works up well or workworks out well because his
clinicals in the summer and nextspring and the fall, he'd be in
classes.
All right.
So we were sometimes you haveto recruit your own guys, you
know.
Everyone knows Tyler hasanother year too.
I think the biggest thing withBryce and talking about Palmer
is like, and I said this todayin the leadership council
meeting, is that he is one ofthe toughest, grittiest people I
(13:53):
know.
He has battled so manyinjuries, and I mean he could be
like beyond sick.
Most most guys would wouldn'tpractice, and he's fighting
through practice, you know.
Um, and he battled through alot this year to have a full
season, you know, which hehadn't had yet.
You know, he had some injuries.
So uh he has really battled tohave just an amazing season.
(14:14):
I didn't look at the I know hehad 70 catches going into the
last game, so I don't know whathis try I can't think of.
What was his total?
Rocky (14:21):
Yeah, he had nine catches um last week for 137 yards and
three touchdowns.
Coach Faggiano (14:26):
So he was at 79 catches from the season.
That's wild.
Rocky (14:29):
I mean, Logan had 10 catches, he had 10 in the game,
and then Antonio had six.
And I feel like Antonio kind ofis the guy that goes under the
radar, make some big catches foryou guys in games because I
mean Bryce is getting doubled attimes.
Logan gets doubled, and Antoniojust seems like he's in the
right place at the right time.
Coach Faggiano (14:45):
Well, you know, you love having the the big
physical receivers, you know,and and and you know, as a
captain, he's had a great senioryear.
Again, came back from an ACLinjury.
And what's great is not onlydoes he make the big plays, uh,
but he he is a great blocker,you know what I mean?
And just the example that heset for the the Valezas of the
world, you know, Lorenzo on thatfinal drive is probably the
(15:06):
biggest catch in his career,man.
Had a huge catch on that drive,um uh where got us in that
field goal position.
So um the leadership's beengreat with this group for sure.
And uh I told him today, I'm II told him I told him thank you
from the from the bottom of myheart.
This has been a pleasure tocoach these guys.
Um, and uh, you know, I'm I'mI'm looking forward to you know
(15:30):
one last go ahead with Saturdaygoal.
I'm gonna be disappointed whenit's done for sure.
Rocky (15:35):
And coach, I know we've talked about your quarterback,
Tyler, all season, and he hethrows for over 3,000 yards,
which was a single season uhrecord.
He tied the single season fortouchdowns with 31 and he had
249 completions, which therecord I think on your stat
thing was 254.
So I know we've talked abouthim a lot, but in the conditions
(15:56):
where you guys threw it as muchas you did, to be able to throw
it in those conditions waspretty cool.
And then the season he's had umit's pretty special.
Coach Faggiano (16:05):
Like myself, he was pretty fired up to go back
home to Rochester, you know.
And uh, I know he had a lot offamily and friends there, you
know, and then his Aquinas coachas well there.
So, you know, um in the game offootball, we all know how
important the quarterback,right?
Who's under the microscope,right?
The head coach, thequarterback, right?
(16:26):
They're always the first two.
And it's a really special thingwhen you know, because someone
could have talent but not havethe success, right?
So Tyler certainly has thetalent, the arm strength, can
run the ball, you know, theleadership.
Um, so then you take a youngman that has the talent and you
put him in a system where he canbe successful, and that's
(16:47):
credit to Coach Klaus and CoachZanelovic, you know, and it's
really a special thing when thatall comes together, yeah, with
the protection, with the scheme.
I've always been a big slotreceiver guy.
I've always been a big tightend guy.
Um, you know, uh I'm not a I'mnot a Patriots fan, but you
(17:07):
can't you go you look back atthe uh the Tom Brady times and
and in Edelman and you knowGronk, and like that's such a
big part of what we do, youknow.
And we're still we're one ofthe few schools over the years
there.
We're gonna find someone.
We've had some amazing slotreceivers going back to Cody
Elliott and Jerry Boniquez andPeyton Miller um and Bryce and
(17:27):
uh Nate Palmer and Bryce Palmer.
So we love using that guy.
Like those guys are tough touh, you know, sometimes they're
a smaller running back in highschool, really quick and
elusive, and you get these biglinebackers and they have a hard
time tackling those guys inspace.
So, you know, I've always beena big uh a big slot guy.
You know, we kind of jokearound and say we're slot you
sometimes.
(17:48):
Um some teams just don't usethem the way that we do.
So uh so again, you know,Tyler's been great, he's learned
as the season has gone on.
He's learned about the EmpireEight, you know, him and I have
talked about that at length.
You know, we meet every week.
And um, you know, again, wethink we all Utica, we always
have a little chip on ourshoulder.
There's always something toprove.
(18:08):
And um, this is a big matchupthis week.
You know, I know I want to getahead of you, but big matchup,
right?
Empire eight NJAC.
So um, but we're always kind ofcontinuing to kind of prove,
you know, where we are as far asin the national stage, I guess.
Rocky (18:24):
So, coach, let's talk about that.
So, Rowan comes in, and I gottabe honest with you, I don't
know too much about the N-Jackconference at all.
Um, I don't, I'm sure you do.
Um, but Christopher Newtonseems like they're the top dog
over there.
I don't know if they're the topdog every year, but I know
Salisbury, I know MontclairState.
They were right in that huntwith those four teams.
How much do you know about thatconference?
And uh I know there's a lot ofhistory with Rowan um over
(18:46):
there, but uh how much do wethink Coach Coursey, who Coach
Rui played for.
Coach Faggiano (18:51):
Um, you know, I again played against him in the
playoffs back when I was atFisher.
Uh Casey Keeler, the head coachbefore him.
So they have a lot of traditionat Rowan.
They used to be calledGlassboro State back in the day.
Uh, we played them um in theplayoffs uh when I was at
Ithaca.
My freshman year, I was in thestands, but uh really good
(19:12):
program.
You know, the NJAX, greatfootball, New Jersey's great
football.
Uh, you know, it changed whenthey added Salisbury and in
Christopher Newport, right?
So, you know, a lot of theconferences moving around.
Salisbury used to be in theEmpire Eight years ago.
So Coach McClendon, our DC uhis Salisbury alum.
And uh, you know, so he talksto those guys and and and you
(19:33):
know gets some feedback.
But you know, Rowan, if youlook at him, it's not much
different than us.
Like they barely lost toSalisbury and Christopher
Newport.
Yeah, and one of those one ofthose with one more win, maybe
gets him in there, right?
And then they had that crazytie, right, in in week one.
Um, you know, we're us, we hadthe the Hobart and Cortland
loss, right?
(19:53):
That type of deal.
So the way the ECAC's gone,which is a little different, is
they are taking the top twoteams and pairing them up to
make the game like be kind ofmarquee game, as as uh Frank and
JB described it.
Um and I do it, they do a nicejob with that, but that's how it
always was.
You know, in 18, Ithaca was thetop seed of eight and two.
(20:15):
We're in there six and four,and we're playing Ithaca, you
know.
So yeah, uh, I kind of thoughtthe coach that the Rowan earned
uh a home game, right?
Like Rowan's on the road, it'sit's seven, two, and one, and
then you got some other teamsout there uh that have a home
game.
It's kind of so you kind ofscratch your head on that, but
um, but I'm again I've alwaysbeen a big uh ECAC bowl game
(20:37):
guy.
Uh we won a couple of themwhile I was at Ithaca uh when I
was coaching.
We um a big one at Fisher whenI coached there, we beat
Cortland that kind of got us youknow over the over the hump
when I was at Cortland.
And uh, you know, certainlythey've been been great for us
at Utica to build our program.
So, you know, they um if youwatched it, they talked a lot
(20:58):
about Grove City and I bustedtheir chops because I I had my
uh my Ithaca shirt on from 18,right?
So I know they want to talk,and I have a lot of respect for
Grove City, but um you know, 18was a big year for us to go to
go and beat Ithaca, you know,when no one thought we could do
that, and we did that on theroad at Cornell.
Um, you know, all the guys thatwere a part of that.
(21:19):
Like we've really like that wasthey talk about a year getting
over the hump.
I always look back to 18.
And um, you know, we've donesome great things since then.
So um, but the Rowans, youknow, big physical team.
They have some really goodrunning backs, they have a
massive offensive line, multipletight ends, uh, you know,
really good receivers orquarterbacks that have a really
(21:39):
good year, um, you know, veryefficient with the ball, gets
rid of it quickly, really goodin their RPO game.
Uh, you know, uh uh, you know,defensively, again, they're
they're they're gonna blitz youand they're gonna put pressure
on you, and they're gonna slantand twist and you know, really
try to put some pressure on onyour offense.
So um, you know, certainly agood a good matchup.
(21:59):
And it's always unique.
Like you get the three films onMonday afternoon, right?
And you're hustling to get agame plan together the next day.
Um, but uh, you know, CoachRuley's done a nice job there,
just been there two years.
Uh, did he play linebacker forCoach Coursey, I believe.
You know, so it was a rollingalum.
And then we're familiar withhim.
He was the DC at Susquehanna.
Yes, when uh we playedSusquehanna.
(22:21):
You know, so we have somehistory with him there.
Rocky (22:23):
Coach, I feel like they're they're similar to you
guys.
And and I mean, I'm just goingoff of stats.
I went through some of theirgame by game stuff, but you
know, defensively, they'rereally good against the run.
It seems like they're they'reconference-wise, they were last
against the pass, and then youknow, with you guys being able
to throw the ball all over theyard.
Um, looks like they're kind ofbalanced.
The quarterback um doesn't turnit over much.
(22:44):
He completes a lot of hisballs.
Um, so they look like they'repretty solid up front, but on
the back end seems to be wherethey struggled this year.
They're giving up over 200yards a game through the air.
Coach Faggiano (22:55):
Yeah, those passing yards can always be
deceiving, right?
You know, but um yeah, I meanyou're right on.
They may think they're thequarterback, you know, just a
good job.
He gets rid of them quickly,you know.
And that's you know, Tyler,that's why he's hard to sack,
right?
It's because we're not sittingback there three, four seconds,
right?
We're getting trying to makedecisions quickly, get the ball
out quickly, and and that's whattheir quarterback's been able
to do.
So I'm just glad to see youknow, Rowan go into the ECAC.
(23:18):
I hope more NJAC teams do.
Um, you know, uh Empire Eighttypically has teams, the the
President's League, sometimessome New England teams, but
yeah, I'd like to see some moreNJAC teams uh put in in the
future for sure.
I think it's a greatopportunity.
These guys don't get to playfootball when they're old and
gray, you know.
Rocky (23:34):
So coach, when you think now and then you know, come
Saturday, what do you think yourfinal message will be to the
guys before you guys go out ontothe field, knowing it'll be the
last time with this groupbefore you prepare for obviously
for next season?
Have you thought about whatyour message will be?
Coach Faggiano (23:51):
Uh I mean, not not fully yet, but I think you
know, right off the right offthe rip would be you know, enjoy
playing the game you love withguys you love, you know.
And this is a really closegroup.
Um, they've set a greatfoundation that got us back on
track.
You know, we we talked a lotabout as a program.
We had those three straightwinning seasons, and that was a
(24:11):
really big deal for Uticafootball.
And then we weren't very happy,is probably an understatement
about that five and five year,right?
And we talk about programs likewe want to consistently win,
right?
Whatever that looks like.
Is it eight wins, nine wins,seven, ten?
But you know, you want to beone of those programs that we
consistently win.
And um, so I was glad thatthose guys were, you know, were
(24:33):
able to to to work on their teamchemistry and and get us back
to that in the win column forsure, which you know, you look
at the season, you know, I knowpeople were kind of going,
really?
You're opening up with W and J,RPI, and Hobart.
Okay, that's a littledifferent, you know, and uh you
know Alfred State coming in tothe conference, you know, that
that that did solid in theirfirst year.
(24:53):
So um I was really proud of uhour coaching staff.
Again, a lot of our our all ofour grad assistants were first
year coaches, um, you know, uh afew of which were played for
us, some we brought from theoutside.
And you know, just really uh,you know, Coach McClendon, the
job he's done with our defense,they've been playing lights out.
Um, and Coach Clausen coachingall of it.
(25:15):
So they they've really all donea nice job.
And then I had fun coachingspecial teams.
You know, I really had to takethe the reins this year more.
Uh, I've been spoiled the lastcouple years.
I had some great guys that werethe special teams coordinator,
and I would certainly assist,but didn't have as much of a
hand.
And uh, you know, at the end ofthe day, I enjoyed coaching and
uh and you know that was funthis year.
It was definitely more on myplate, but I was glad I was able
(25:37):
to do it and have fun workingwith up with all the guys.
Rocky (25:40):
Coach, I meant to ask you how fun was the the high school
all-star game last week?
I know it's always special tobe at your stadium, give those
kids an opportunity to play in acollege stadium and you know to
showcase the talent around thearea.
But how how nice was that nightfor you guys?
Coach Faggiano (25:55):
That was great.
You know, our sportsinformation director, uh Jordan
Lambert, calls the game and getsthe scoreboard going for the
guys and the music playing.
The weather uh started out alittle crazy.
We had some yeah, I learned onthe I learned on the news what
they call it.
Is it is it gropple?
Is that what I heard?
My folks at WKTV when it'sfrozen snow, but it was so we're
(26:15):
supposed to burn the shoebefore the game, and we we went
and did it inside.
We had we had the now the shoewas still outside the picture
window, but um, so we did ourburning of the shoe ceremony,
and then a lot of the guys wentto the game.
And I went up in the press box,and our students actually
called the game, it was onEmpire A TV.
Uh, some of our players, GavinGretsch and Justin Lanion,
interviewed me at halftime.
(26:36):
So it was a lot of fun, and Ihope it's something that we
continue to to host at Utica.
Rocky (26:41):
Well, coach, I'm gonna put this up here, but I don't
know if you could see it.
I am exactly I am exactly Imight have put this wrong.
No, I'm actually one game upgoing into uh this week.
So I I don't have Colgate onhere this week, so I I I did
that.
So I know you would have pickedColgate, and I don't I don't
want you to think I'm cheatingbecause I'm talking to Coach
(27:02):
Fitz.
And I am gonna tell Coach Fitzon Sunday, Coach Faz picked you
every week, and I and I'm gonnatell him, unfortunately, I
didn't pick him every week, butum I wanted you to see that, so
I'm not cheating.
But there's some good games.
How about Coach Franklin?
Coach Franklin got the VirginiaTech job.
I think he's a great fit forhim.
I think he's gonna do a greatjob there.
Coach Faggiano (27:22):
He's a great coach, uh great mentor.
Uh you know, certainly happyfor him.
Rocky (27:26):
So, coach, the first game, Oklahoma had the huge win
over Alabama, and I think I'mlooking at my notes from last
week.
I think you and you both hadAlabama.
Uh so Oklahoma, they're athome.
Uh, they're a seven and a halfpay point favor.
You think they keep it going?
Coach Faggiano (27:42):
Oh, for sure.
Yeah, that momentum after thatlast week.
You know, confidence is such apowerful thing.
So I'm sure no, they have that.
Coach Menable's got that goingat Oklahoma.
Rocky (27:51):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Um, I keep hearing EliDrinkowicz, the Missouri coach,
is up for a couple of thoseother jobs.
I keep hearing Florida for him,but we'll see what happens uh
there.
All right, SMU at home.
Louisville got beat uh lastweek.
So Louisville still ranked.
I feel like things are kind ofgoing in the wrong direction for
them here late.
I I love Rhett Lashley over atSMU.
Um they're a three and a halfpoint favorite at home.
(28:14):
Who you like?
I'm with you.
I like SMU.
I like SMU in that game.
All right, let's see.
Who else did I have here?
Oh, I love this game.
Oh, I love this game.
USC had a monster win, and I'mlooking at your your notes and
mine from last week.
We both had USC last weekagainst Iowa in that horrible,
horrible torrential raindownpour.
(28:36):
Um, I think Lincoln Riley'sfiguring a few things out.
He's got to run the footballand be physical in the Big Ten.
I think I'm gonna pick mine.
I think they go into Oregon asa 10 and a half point dog.
I think they beat Oregon nextum in Oregon this week.
Coach Faggiano (28:49):
Okay.
All right, this is where I'mgonna gain, I'm gonna gain a
game on.
I'm gonna go Oregon.
I've been just so impressedwith like you know, Oregon past
and how they're running thefootball and their physical and
like finding ways to win.
Um, I'm not sure if they'regonna get some of those skill
guys back or not.
Um, that could help sway me oneway or the other, but I'm gonna
go Oregon.
Rocky (29:09):
All right, that could be that could we might have to have
a tiebreaker next week on agame or two.
All right, Georgia Tech.
And I this is the one I can'tfigure out because Miami right
now is in the playoffs, they'rein the 12-team field.
They're they're like third inthe ACC, they're not even gonna
play for the ACC title.
Georgia Tech, who's got oneloss right now, would be in the
ACC title game, and they're notin the playoffs.
(29:32):
Pittsburgh came out, andArduozzi said he didn't care if
he lost to Notre Dame by 100,which Notre Dame blew him out
last week.
So here you go, back inconference, Georgia Tech at
home, two and a half pointfavorite.
Who you like?
Coach Faggiano (29:45):
Georgia Tech.
Rocky (29:46):
Yeah, I'm I'm with you.
Great coach Georgia Tech.
Coach Faggiano (29:50):
Uh he's done some great things there.
They're uh they're gonna beplaying with a chip on their
shoulder for sure.
Rocky (29:55):
I think he stays at tech.
He's a he's an old he playedthere.
I think he's gonna stay there.
I know his name's up for someof these other jobs too, but
he's just a right fit at GeorgiaTech.
And he's got him playing reallywell.
So I hope he stays.
Here's another big game, Big12.
Cincinnati had a loss lastweek.
This is where game day's going.
I'm not sure why game day isgoing to this one, but it's two
(30:15):
ranked teams.
Um I'm going to give you mypick.
I'm going to go with BYU.
I like them on the road here.
Um, Cincinnati's a two and ahalf point dog at home.
Any chance Cincinnati gets themat home this week.
Coach Faggiano (30:27):
And then is it BYU lost last week or two weeks
ago?
Two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago.
I'm going to go, I'm going togo BYU.
Rocky (30:33):
Yeah, BYU lost to Utah in the rivalry game.
Right.
All right.
So you like BYU?
Okay, so we got we got onedifference so far.
All right.
So we're going to do theSyracuse game a little bit
different here because I don'tthink either one of us are going
to pick or Syracuse to beatNotre Dame.
This game's in uh at NotreDame.
We're going to bet the spreadthis game, you and I.
(30:55):
Oh, come on.
So we're going to make this onea little bit interesting
because you're going to pickNotre Dame and I am too.
I don't think you're going topick Syracuse to upset him.
Notre Dame is a 35 and a halfpoint favorite at home.
Does Syracuse cover the 35 anda half?
Coach Faggiano (31:13):
Oh god.
Rocky (31:14):
That's too much.
Coach Faggiano (31:16):
Ready?
I'm going to say I'm going tosay no.
Rocky (31:20):
So you're going to take Notre Dame minus the 35 and a
half.
Coach Faggiano (31:24):
Yeah.
This is where we'll be we'll bewe'll be dead even on this one,
probably.
Rocky (31:28):
I don't think Syracuse covers it.
I think they're going to getkilled.
Um, I I saw that the Villardikid starting at quarterback.
Um God, 35 is a lot of points,though.
I mean, you're starting, you'redown 35-0.
Even if Syracuse can score afield goal, or I think I'm with
you, Coach.
I think I'm gonna take I'mgonna lay the 35 and a half.
I just I I just figured it'd befun.
(31:52):
We'll pick the spread in thatgame.
All right, so I didn't putColgate on here.
This is where I think game dayshould have gone.
This is one of the oldestrivalries.
Coach Faggiano (31:59):
Um yeah, game day should have gone there.
Rocky (32:02):
Yep, they were they were talking about it.
It was an option, butLafayette's had a really good
year in the Patriot League.
Both teams are undefeated inleague play.
The winner gets the automaticbid in.
I don't know if the loser, ifit's Lehigh that loses this
game, there's still a shot theycould get in.
But the Patriot League, becauseof their strength of
conference, I'm not sure they'llget to win.
And the passers have been here.
(32:22):
Colgate and Lehigh have bothwent um to the to the FCS
playoffs.
Um, big game.
This it's at Lafayette.
Last year, Lehigh beat him.
Who you like in this one?
Coach Faggiano (32:34):
Oh, I'm gonna go with uh my guys at Lehigh.
Rocky (32:37):
Yeah.
I uh I'm with you.
I think Lehigh right now, Ithink they have them fourth.
And matter of fact, I think I'mgonna be on the FCS selection
show, um, which I got to getsome notes ready because I got
asked to be on that.
I haven't done too much on someof the conferences.
I'm gonna do I'm gonna do thePatriot League one um with the
Patriot League guys, but um, Ithink if Lehigh doesn't win, I
(32:59):
think they'll still get in.
But I think they're deep, man.
Defensively, they're reallygood.
Um, a lot of experience on theO-line.
I think Coach Cahill's got ateam that can make a really deep
run in the playoffs.
Coach Faggiano (33:10):
You know, I think when they when they went
to the 63 full scholarships forthat league, you know, I mean
that helped that league forsure.
Um, and then and then they havethey still have the ability to
kind of break them up too, whichis pretty wild, you know.
So that allows them to reallydevelop guys, right?
Like what I understand, likeyou know, those jobs are pretty
(33:30):
pretty well sought afterpositions because you actually
can can develop people andthey're not doing NIL, you know.
Rocky (33:36):
Yeah, in most of those schools, Coach, they the the
facilities over the years sincethey've gone to the full
scholarship, the facilities havegotten a lot better um all over
the place.
A lot of good stadiums, but thePatriot League's really good
football, really competitiveleague.
Um, they play a really toughnon-conference, they'll play
some of the big boys.
Coach Fitz, they playedSyracuse, you know, this year at
Syracuse, so good recruitingtool for a lot of the Patriot
(33:58):
League team.
So we'll see.
It looks like you might have achance to pick up a game on me
that we could be tied going intothe final week um of the
season.
But um, Coach, I appreciateappreciate you coming on with
me.
I know we'll recap it all nextweek, but uh, this has been an
honor to have you on.
Um, you gave me an opportunityto uh to sit and learn um
(34:18):
football from you, who I respectyou more than a lot of guys.
I've always respected you, butyou gave me a chance to look at
your program from the inside,which I really hadn't done my
entire life, followed you myentire life, but this has really
been an honor to sit here withyou week over week.
Coach Faggiano (34:35):
Well, I I appreciate uh you putting the
word out there about us.
You know, I think the thepositives of social media uh and
folks like yourself, and and Ithink that's helped get the word
out about our program that wethink we have a pretty special
university, uh pretty specialprogram.
Uh and then you know, throughthe social media, you can kind
of get a little window into someof the things uh that we're
(34:56):
about.
And so I appreciate you put youknow getting the word out there
about Utica football.
Rocky (35:00):
Well, coach, I'll be there on Saturday.
My wife and I will be back.
We're going away Friday night,but I'll be there cheering you
on and uh can't wait to see it.
And I can't wait to talk to younext week.
Hopefully, we're celebratingone final win for you.
Coach Faggiano (35:12):
Hey, listen, I know Mohawk Valley, you're all
fired up for hockey season.
We got one more week offootball.
Come on out to the gate, oneo'clock.
The 12th man tailgate will berocking.
Fear the moose.
Rocky (35:23):
All right, coach.
We'll see you Saturday.
Coach Faggiano (35:25):
Take care.
Rocky (35:27):
And what was really cool too about last Saturday was the
hockey team was playingBrockport at the odd, and the
football team beat Brockport onthe road, which was an
unbelievable game to watch.
And again, I was watching on myphone.
My wife kept saying, Will youput the phone on?
I'm like, Lindsay, I'm watchingthe UC game.
It's a really good game here.
So we're it's almost done.
But uh, it's been an absolutehonor to have Coach Foz on.
(35:49):
He was he's always been good tome.
And and uh my dad, when my dadwas coaching high school, and
he's he's given me theopportunity to learn about the
program from the inside and andreally follow the players.
And I've always followed UC,I've always followed him, but
this year has been prettyspecial, and I've been able to
build some relationships with alot of the other D3 guys across
the area and across all ofDivision III.
(36:11):
So it's been a really coolyear.
Looking forward to one morefinal win this week for Coach
and one more final show nextweek where we get a chance to
recap everything here on theRock Pile.
So the Rock Pile will be backon Sunday, the Mohawk Valley
Sports Watch.
I'll be talking to Coach Fitz,uh, the head coach at Colgate's
gonna join me, and Coach JohnSnyder, the Notre Dame girls uh
(36:31):
head basketball coach, who's afriend of the show.
Uh we'll be talking some highschool basketball as well on
Sunday morning at nine o'clock.
So thanks for tuning intonight.
Thank the Coach Foz.
Thanks for everybody forfollowing the Rock Pile.
The Rock Pile is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good evening, everybody.
Good evening, everybody.
Welcome to another live editionhere on The Rock Pile.
Tonight, The Rock Pile bringsyou another episode of Inside
Utica University FootballPodcast with head coach Blaise
Fazziano.
Excited to bring Coach on aswe'll we'll be talking about
their upcoming home ACAC bowlgame this week at Gaetano
Stadium on Saturday.
Excited about that.
(00:54):
We'll talk uh Brockport thegame last week.
I watched the entire game frommy phone, um which was a
thrilling game to watch.
So we'll talk a little bitabout that.
Um, that and much more.
Coach and I will do anotherepisode next week.
We'll wrap things up next week.
Uh we'll do a whole seasonrecap.
Should be fun.
Hard to believe.
I say this every week withcoaches.
We keep getting towards the endof the season.
(01:15):
Uh, and here we are with justtwo weeks left to go.
So I'm trying a new softwareout tonight.
So I told Coach to bear withme.
Hopefully, I don't screw thisthing up.
I know I'll I'll probably hickup somewhere.
But if you're watching onYouTube anywhere, make sure to
hit subscribe.
Follow me anywhere you can.
It'll it'll be across allsocial media platforms as well
as Apple Podcasts.
So without further ado, let'ssee if I can get coach on here.
(01:38):
There he is, coach.
What's happening?
Coach Faggiano (01:40):
What's going on, Rock?
Rocky (01:42):
Not much.
How are we doing tonight?
Coach Faggiano (01:44):
We're we're doing just had our full pattern
practice, and uh what one dayclose for the Saturday.
Rocky (01:50):
So, coach, I gotta tell you.
So, I was watching theBrockport game from my cell
phone uh online, and uh we weregoing to the UC hockey game that
night, and uh I'm watching it,and my wife's like, Are we
getting ready to go?
I'm like, I gotta see theending of this game.
It's it's it was a good game.
I was so surprised at how wellyour team played, considering
the conditions.
Coach Faggiano (02:12):
Listen, that the the it was a day, so like we'll
just start with the morningphone call at 7:30.
That the bus that's one of thebuses on campus, the brakes have
froze.
And we have to wait for a newbus.
And wait, and listen, Wade doesa great job, right?
So, but they're in Schenectady.
Yep, yeah.
So we gotta we gotta wait anhour and a half for the bus.
Okay, and now at the same time,we have a team meal that some
(02:35):
of our alumni were verygenerous.
This was like a first-timething that a group of our alumni
paid for a pregame meal out inRochester, which was like big
time, nice hotel.
And what's great is we roll inthe hotel, and one of our former
uh guys, Chance Harris's mom'sworking in the hotel, and Chance
comes and visits.
And so I wrote so we're gettingclose, so we're there.
(02:56):
So now we get up there, and nowthere's a lightning delay.
So, so you know, Coach Mangoni,I gotta tell you it was great.
All right, we'll delay thestart to 2:30.
Well, then we get there, didn'tstart till three.
And it was a little hairyduring the warm-up, let's just
say that.
But they had some uh sectionfive playoff games that were
gonna be on that fieldafterwards, so like, and then
(03:18):
when I tell you the rain, it wascold, and you know, and
obviously everyone knows we liketo throw the ball, like to
throw the rock, and yep, and um,and you would think that would
just be the the worst casescenario, and we still did, more
so in the second half, which wecould talk about, okay,
successfully.
But uh it was it was really anincredible win and very proud of
(03:40):
our guys, and uh probably oneof the ones I remember the most.
It was it was a wild game.
Rocky (03:47):
Coach, I know I said this to you throughout the season,
and I know every team has beendifferent, but you you can tell
when when you and I have talkedthroughout the season of how
much fun you've really had andhow much you really love this
team, and no coach ever wants itthen, right?
You have this week left, andthen you know this group is
done, and you move on, yourseniors move on, but I could
tell just how much you reallylove this team.
Coach Faggiano (04:10):
Well, our university just put a whole
bunch of pictures on on Facebookfrom the game last week.
Yep, and they're just just thelooks on the guys' faces, and
you know, um it was one of thosegames where everything that
we're all about, you know, wewere able to do now.
I think that the the the thingthat was wild is guys who made
mistakes early in the game.
(04:30):
And I told Nico before thegame, I said, you know, you're
gonna you're gonna have morefield goal attempts today.
Just trust me, they have areally good defense.
Yeah, well, top defenses bothboth teams had top 20 defenses
in the country going into thegame, right?
And uh, and so we always talkabout you just have to have the
best defense on Saturday.
And so kudos to our defensekeeping, I think, that that you
(04:51):
know one of their lowest pointtotals of the season at 20.
Obviously, it didn't look goodat great, you know, we go down
14-0.
Um, but you know, Nico misses afield goal early that easily
can make and then makes whatends up being really the one
that kind of the game winner wasthat we had the game winner and
then we had Eli's pick thatsealed it.
And then even Tyler.
You know, Tyler had a couple,we had a couple big special
(05:13):
teams plays.
We had a a blocked punt andthen we recovered a fumble off a
kickoff, and yep, and we youknow threw a couple
interceptions after that.
Didn't fail, I mean, didn'tphase them in a negative way, I
should say, and just keptbattling and obviously uh you
know made made some plays for usto to get in the end zone.
So I was just very pleased andhow the guys played in some
(05:33):
crazy conditions.
Rocky (05:34):
Well, I'll just say the conditions, and I was sitting as
I'm watching the game andsaying, okay, you know, Utica,
we love to throw the ball allover the yard.
Here's a torrential downpour.
I'm saying, man, I hope thisdoesn't get into a run game
because as you said, those RPOsall year, we we really haven't
ran the ball the greatestbecause of the RPOs.
I'm like, please don't letthis, but you guys just threw it
around the field like it wasn'teven raining out, like it
(05:56):
wasn't even it's crazy, like itwasn't even raining out, and uh
you know Bryce Palmer just had aday, Logan Frederick just had a
day, and then our old line likethis was I mean, this has to be
the most decorated team thatwe've ever had as far as like in
a national level with the thenational players of the week.
Coach Faggiano (06:15):
We've had multiple, and this week the
whole offensive line got it,which they i mean to go to
Brockport and to not give up asack against Brockport again.
A lot Coach Fox, great DC.
They have some dudes ondefense.
That is not easy.
And um, you know, I was reallyimpressed with uh how those guys
(06:36):
played.
So if there was five weeks in arow, they hadn't given up a
sack, which which was which wasincredible.
Um yeah, it was pretty wild.
And then defense defense,listen, we gave up a couple
hundred yards rushing.
Isaiah Simmons in that O lineis no joke, you know.
And then they had the Wildcatquarterback going, and they
really kind of seemed that theywere kind of you know trying to
(06:57):
hold on to a lead, you know, andreally run the ball.
I think it was the only time Ithink we lost the time of
possession by a minute, andthat's the first time this year
in a game that we haven't hadthe time of possession, right?
So that certainly was what youknow uh what their plan was.
Um but uh yeah, it was a it wasa wild one.
Rocky (07:14):
Coach, defensively, what changed for you guys?
Because the second half, Ithink you only held them the I
think you held them the sixpoints in the second half.
Uh what was really different?
Because they they just ran thefootball.
I was like, if we can get themin a third and long and they got
to throw the football, I reallylike our chances.
What changed for you guys?
Did you guys make anyadjustments?
Coach Faggiano (07:32):
We did.
And both I mean both offenseand defense made some
adjustments.
Um, you know, defense again,it's it's all about the run game
and the fronts and how you'reslanting the guys, and you got
to be able to sit in one frontthe whole time and let and let
the Brock Porto line know howyou're gonna line up.
So we made some goodadjustments there that got us
some some negative plays and gotthem in a situation, you know,
in those third and longs.
(07:53):
And then I think a big a bigmoment was like the fourth and
two, you know, and they weregonna go for it.
They tried to get us to jumpand they decided to punt.
That was a big moment.
And we then we have a huge16-yard punt return to give our
offense some really goodposition there.
Um, you know, uh yeah, youknow, offensively too.
We we we we tried to be alittle more balanced in the
(08:14):
first half, and the second half,we just said, nope, we're gonna
just we're gonna throw it.
And we're we're an emptyformation and and running uh you
know, running some option typeroutes, and uh they're they're
doubling Bryce just about everythird down and in multiple
plays.
He had two guys on him.
Um it was wild.
You know, they they reallythrew the kitchen sink at us for
(08:35):
sure.
And even special teams-wise,our guys came to play our
kickoff unit with them.
They had some of the topreturners in the league and
their punt return and kickreturn.
Devin Taylor smashed it in hispunts, did a great job.
Um, we had some great coverage,and Nate Hernandez blocks
another punt.
That was a huge play.
We actually, in the middle ofthe play, they kept changing
(08:55):
their protection for where wewere trying to block it from.
And the last second, we flippedit again, didn't give them time
to switch, and then Nate cameoff the edge to block it.
Um, Mason Payton had a hugeforce fumble that Mason Miscarry
recovered.
So we kept making plays.
You know, we kept making playsand uh got a little hairy at the
end, you know.
They're driving to they got agreat field goal kicker, so
(09:17):
they're they're driving to kickthe game winning field goal.
And uh Eli Douglas had a hugepass breakup, almost ended it
there, and then had and for himfor him as a senior to finish
his career like that in theregular season to have a pick
six like that.
That was that was wild.
And then we had trouble withtheir X-point field goal, so we
they're getting the ball back,and if they were only up eight,
(09:37):
so you know that was.
And then we on our end, weactually blocked an extra point,
(10:01):
which was you know, again,every play is magnified, you
know, you know, in a in a biggame like that.
You know, it was their seniorday, um, they were fired up, and
then again, they're playing forpostseason as well.
You know, they ended up threewas it three of us have home
games, you know, becauseFisher's playing an ECAC game in
their home, and Brockport'splaying a DCA game in their
(10:22):
home.
So um, but uh but yeah, it wasuh you know, our guys have been
tough, like certainlydisappointed we didn't get in
the tournament, you know.
For the folks that follow us,like didn't help that that Johns
Hopkins lost, yeah, right?
Because then all of a suddennow they took a pool C when they
should have won their AQ.
Um, it didn't help thatCortland and RPI lost, and then
(10:45):
the numbers of the NPI, youknow, we needed some of those
things to swing it, right?
Um, but then really quickly ourguys knew.
I told them really after oursecond loss, if we went out, and
one of two things will happen.
We're either gonna make thetournament or we'll have our
first ever home ECAC gamebecause we've been to five of
these things, and this is thefirst time we get to host it.
Our parents are beyond excitedthat they can tailgate again.
Rocky (11:08):
Yeah.
Coach Faggiano (11:09):
Um, you know, we actually invited all the tent
sponsors from all five games.
We've actually invited them ifthey wanted to come out um and
and and join us in the tent.
We left the tent up because wekind of had a good feeling that
we were gonna be home.
And um, so that's a cool thing.
So I think we'll have have agood crowd there and just been
trying to put the word out thatuh it's uh normal game, it's
(11:30):
season ticket.
If you have a season ticket,it'll work.
Uh normal tickets just fivedollars.
The weather's gonna be great,and um, you know, we're excited
about this uh this upcomingopportunity, but certainly a
great way to end our season,regular season with the big win
on the road.
Rocky (11:45):
So I kept checking all the Twitter, all the all the
sites, and everybody keptputting in like their
projections, and I kept looking.
I was like, okay, Utica waslike one of the first two out.
And I'm like, okay, well, maybeanother guy will post and have
you know have you guys in.
And then the delay to got andI'm like, it doesn't look like
they're gonna get in.
And I'm like, shit, you know,but uh, but coach, you mentioned
those three guys.
I want to go back to Bryce,Logan, and Antonio.
(12:06):
And I'm sitting there saying,Man, what a season, these three
guys.
And I know Logan was hurtearlier, he came back and he's
been unbelievable.
And these guys have had greatcareers, you know, for you.
And just talk about each one ifyou can, and just how special
of a season it's been in theircareers.
Coach Faggiano (12:22):
I mean, Logan, I talked about him in front of
the team the other night, youknow.
And for those that maybehaven't heard me talk about him,
you know, uh showed up at theschool with his dad, uh, moved
back to the area, want wanted tobe a PT, had his Herkimer
degree.
Some people saw him playbasketball at Herkimer, and
literally played two years ofwhat you would say would be the
JV wide receiver.
(12:43):
And certainly athletic,certainly had good hands, but
then you know, anytime a youngperson makes a decision, you
know, and we we had talked tohim about the possibility of
moving a tight end, but I don'tlike making guys.
Yeah, I'll try to nudge them,you know, but I don't like
making them.
And then this winter, you hecame at me, coach.
(13:04):
I'm I'm putting 20 pounds outand moving the tight end.
And not only did he do that,but he is an incredible blocker.
Um, and he's one of the besttight ends in the in the
country.
Yeah, so great and an amazingstudent, amazing student in the
physical therapy program.
Um, you know, he has anotheryear of eligibility left.
Uh, no announcements yet, butuh he know like his uh
(13:28):
coursework works up well or workworks out well because his
clinicals in the summer and nextspring and the fall, he'd be in
classes.
All right.
So we were sometimes you haveto recruit your own guys, you
know.
Everyone knows Tyler hasanother year too.
I think the biggest thing withBryce and talking about Palmer
is like, and I said this todayin the leadership council
meeting, is that he is one ofthe toughest, grittiest people I
(13:53):
know.
He has battled so manyinjuries, and I mean he could be
like beyond sick.
Most most guys would wouldn'tpractice, and he's fighting
through practice, you know.
Um, and he battled through alot this year to have a full
season, you know, which hehadn't had yet.
You know, he had some injuries.
So uh he has really battled tohave just an amazing season.
(14:14):
I didn't look at the I know hehad 70 catches going into the
last game, so I don't know whathis try I can't think of.
What was his total?
Rocky (14:21):
Yeah, he had nine catches um last week for 137 yards and
three touchdowns.
Coach Faggiano (14:26):
So he was at 79 catches from the season.
That's wild.
Rocky (14:29):
I mean, Logan had 10 catches, he had 10 in the game,
and then Antonio had six.
And I feel like Antonio kind ofis the guy that goes under the
radar, make some big catches foryou guys in games because I
mean Bryce is getting doubled attimes.
Logan gets doubled, and Antoniojust seems like he's in the
right place at the right time.
Coach Faggiano (14:45):
Well, you know, you love having the the big
physical receivers, you know,and and and you know, as a
captain, he's had a great senioryear.
Again, came back from an ACLinjury.
And what's great is not onlydoes he make the big plays, uh,
but he he is a great blocker,you know what I mean?
And just the example that heset for the the Valezas of the
world, you know, Lorenzo on thatfinal drive is probably the
(15:06):
biggest catch in his career,man.
Had a huge catch on that drive,um uh where got us in that
field goal position.
So um the leadership's beengreat with this group for sure.
And uh I told him today, I'm II told him I told him thank you
from the from the bottom of myheart.
This has been a pleasure tocoach these guys.
Um, and uh, you know, I'm I'mI'm looking forward to you know
(15:30):
one last go ahead with Saturdaygoal.
I'm gonna be disappointed whenit's done for sure.
Rocky (15:35):
And coach, I know we've talked about your quarterback,
Tyler, all season, and he hethrows for over 3,000 yards,
which was a single season uhrecord.
He tied the single season fortouchdowns with 31 and he had
249 completions, which therecord I think on your stat
thing was 254.
So I know we've talked abouthim a lot, but in the conditions
(15:56):
where you guys threw it as muchas you did, to be able to throw
it in those conditions waspretty cool.
And then the season he's had umit's pretty special.
Coach Faggiano (16:05):
Like myself, he was pretty fired up to go back
home to Rochester, you know.
And uh, I know he had a lot offamily and friends there, you
know, and then his Aquinas coachas well there.
So, you know, um in the game offootball, we all know how
important the quarterback,right?
Who's under the microscope,right?
The head coach, thequarterback, right?
(16:26):
They're always the first two.
And it's a really special thingwhen you know, because someone
could have talent but not havethe success, right?
So Tyler certainly has thetalent, the arm strength, can
run the ball, you know, theleadership.
Um, so then you take a youngman that has the talent and you
put him in a system where he canbe successful, and that's
(16:47):
credit to Coach Klaus and CoachZanelovic, you know, and it's
really a special thing when thatall comes together, yeah, with
the protection, with the scheme.
I've always been a big slotreceiver guy.
I've always been a big tightend guy.
Um, you know, uh I'm not a I'mnot a Patriots fan, but you
(17:07):
can't you go you look back atthe uh the Tom Brady times and
and in Edelman and you knowGronk, and like that's such a
big part of what we do, youknow.
And we're still we're one ofthe few schools over the years
there.
We're gonna find someone.
We've had some amazing slotreceivers going back to Cody
Elliott and Jerry Boniquez andPeyton Miller um and Bryce and
(17:27):
uh Nate Palmer and Bryce Palmer.
So we love using that guy.
Like those guys are tough touh, you know, sometimes they're
a smaller running back in highschool, really quick and
elusive, and you get these biglinebackers and they have a hard
time tackling those guys inspace.
So, you know, I've always beena big uh a big slot guy.
You know, we kind of jokearound and say we're slot you
sometimes.
(17:48):
Um some teams just don't usethem the way that we do.
So uh so again, you know,Tyler's been great, he's learned
as the season has gone on.
He's learned about the EmpireEight, you know, him and I have
talked about that at length.
You know, we meet every week.
And um, you know, again, wethink we all Utica, we always
have a little chip on ourshoulder.
There's always something toprove.
(18:08):
And um, this is a big matchupthis week.
You know, I know I want to getahead of you, but big matchup,
right?
Empire eight NJAC.
So um, but we're always kind ofcontinuing to kind of prove,
you know, where we are as far asin the national stage, I guess.
Rocky (18:24):
So, coach, let's talk about that.
So, Rowan comes in, and I gottabe honest with you, I don't
know too much about the N-Jackconference at all.
Um, I don't, I'm sure you do.
Um, but Christopher Newtonseems like they're the top dog
over there.
I don't know if they're the topdog every year, but I know
Salisbury, I know MontclairState.
They were right in that huntwith those four teams.
How much do you know about thatconference?
And uh I know there's a lot ofhistory with Rowan um over
(18:46):
there, but uh how much do wethink Coach Coursey, who Coach
Rui played for.
Coach Faggiano (18:51):
Um, you know, I again played against him in the
playoffs back when I was atFisher.
Uh Casey Keeler, the head coachbefore him.
So they have a lot of traditionat Rowan.
They used to be calledGlassboro State back in the day.
Uh, we played them um in theplayoffs uh when I was at
Ithaca.
My freshman year, I was in thestands, but uh really good
(19:12):
program.
You know, the NJAX, greatfootball, New Jersey's great
football.
Uh, you know, it changed whenthey added Salisbury and in
Christopher Newport, right?
So, you know, a lot of theconferences moving around.
Salisbury used to be in theEmpire Eight years ago.
So Coach McClendon, our DC uhis Salisbury alum.
And uh, you know, so he talksto those guys and and and you
(19:33):
know gets some feedback.
But you know, Rowan, if youlook at him, it's not much
different than us.
Like they barely lost toSalisbury and Christopher
Newport.
Yeah, and one of those one ofthose with one more win, maybe
gets him in there, right?
And then they had that crazytie, right, in in week one.
Um, you know, we're us, we hadthe the Hobart and Cortland
loss, right?
(19:53):
That type of deal.
So the way the ECAC's gone,which is a little different, is
they are taking the top twoteams and pairing them up to
make the game like be kind ofmarquee game, as as uh Frank and
JB described it.
Um and I do it, they do a nicejob with that, but that's how it
always was.
You know, in 18, Ithaca was thetop seed of eight and two.
(20:15):
We're in there six and four,and we're playing Ithaca, you
know.
So yeah, uh, I kind of thoughtthe coach that the Rowan earned
uh a home game, right?
Like Rowan's on the road, it'sit's seven, two, and one, and
then you got some other teamsout there uh that have a home
game.
It's kind of so you kind ofscratch your head on that, but
um, but I'm again I've alwaysbeen a big uh ECAC bowl game
(20:37):
guy.
Uh we won a couple of themwhile I was at Ithaca uh when I
was coaching.
We um a big one at Fisher whenI coached there, we beat
Cortland that kind of got us youknow over the over the hump
when I was at Cortland.
And uh, you know, certainlythey've been been great for us
at Utica to build our program.
So, you know, they um if youwatched it, they talked a lot
(20:58):
about Grove City and I bustedtheir chops because I I had my
uh my Ithaca shirt on from 18,right?
So I know they want to talk,and I have a lot of respect for
Grove City, but um you know, 18was a big year for us to go to
go and beat Ithaca, you know,when no one thought we could do
that, and we did that on theroad at Cornell.
Um, you know, all the guys thatwere a part of that.
(21:19):
Like we've really like that wasthey talk about a year getting
over the hump.
I always look back to 18.
And um, you know, we've donesome great things since then.
So um, but the Rowans, youknow, big physical team.
They have some really goodrunning backs, they have a
massive offensive line, multipletight ends, uh, you know,
really good receivers orquarterbacks that have a really
(21:39):
good year, um, you know, veryefficient with the ball, gets
rid of it quickly, really goodin their RPO game.
Uh, you know, uh uh, you know,defensively, again, they're
they're they're gonna blitz youand they're gonna put pressure
on you, and they're gonna slantand twist and you know, really
try to put some pressure on onyour offense.
So um, you know, certainly agood a good matchup.
(21:59):
And it's always unique.
Like you get the three films onMonday afternoon, right?
And you're hustling to get agame plan together the next day.
Um, but uh, you know, CoachRuley's done a nice job there,
just been there two years.
Uh, did he play linebacker forCoach Coursey, I believe.
You know, so it was a rollingalum.
And then we're familiar withhim.
He was the DC at Susquehanna.
Yes, when uh we playedSusquehanna.
(22:21):
You know, so we have somehistory with him there.
Rocky (22:23):
Coach, I feel like they're they're similar to you
guys.
And and I mean, I'm just goingoff of stats.
I went through some of theirgame by game stuff, but you
know, defensively, they'rereally good against the run.
It seems like they're they'reconference-wise, they were last
against the pass, and then youknow, with you guys being able
to throw the ball all over theyard.
Um, looks like they're kind ofbalanced.
The quarterback um doesn't turnit over much.
(22:44):
He completes a lot of hisballs.
Um, so they look like they'repretty solid up front, but on
the back end seems to be wherethey struggled this year.
They're giving up over 200yards a game through the air.
Coach Faggiano (22:55):
Yeah, those passing yards can always be
deceiving, right?
You know, but um yeah, I meanyou're right on.
They may think they're thequarterback, you know, just a
good job.
He gets rid of them quickly,you know.
And that's you know, Tyler,that's why he's hard to sack,
right?
It's because we're not sittingback there three, four seconds,
right?
We're getting trying to makedecisions quickly, get the ball
out quickly, and and that's whattheir quarterback's been able
to do.
So I'm just glad to see youknow, Rowan go into the ECAC.
(23:18):
I hope more NJAC teams do.
Um, you know, uh Empire Eighttypically has teams, the the
President's League, sometimessome New England teams, but
yeah, I'd like to see some moreNJAC teams uh put in in the
future for sure.
I think it's a greatopportunity.
These guys don't get to playfootball when they're old and
gray, you know.
Rocky (23:34):
So coach, when you think now and then you know, come
Saturday, what do you think yourfinal message will be to the
guys before you guys go out ontothe field, knowing it'll be the
last time with this groupbefore you prepare for obviously
for next season?
Have you thought about whatyour message will be?
Coach Faggiano (23:51):
Uh I mean, not not fully yet, but I think you
know, right off the right offthe rip would be you know, enjoy
playing the game you love withguys you love, you know.
And this is a really closegroup.
Um, they've set a greatfoundation that got us back on
track.
You know, we we talked a lotabout as a program.
We had those three straightwinning seasons, and that was a
(24:11):
really big deal for Uticafootball.
And then we weren't very happy,is probably an understatement
about that five and five year,right?
And we talk about programs likewe want to consistently win,
right?
Whatever that looks like.
Is it eight wins, nine wins,seven, ten?
But you know, you want to beone of those programs that we
consistently win.
And um, so I was glad thatthose guys were, you know, were
(24:33):
able to to to work on their teamchemistry and and get us back
to that in the win column forsure, which you know, you look
at the season, you know, I knowpeople were kind of going,
really?
You're opening up with W and J,RPI, and Hobart.
Okay, that's a littledifferent, you know, and uh you
know Alfred State coming in tothe conference, you know, that
that that did solid in theirfirst year.
(24:53):
So um I was really proud of uhour coaching staff.
Again, a lot of our our all ofour grad assistants were first
year coaches, um, you know, uh afew of which were played for
us, some we brought from theoutside.
And you know, just really uh,you know, Coach McClendon, the
job he's done with our defense,they've been playing lights out.
Um, and Coach Clausen coachingall of it.
(25:15):
So they they've really all donea nice job.
And then I had fun coachingspecial teams.
You know, I really had to takethe the reins this year more.
Uh, I've been spoiled the lastcouple years.
I had some great guys that werethe special teams coordinator,
and I would certainly assist,but didn't have as much of a
hand.
And uh, you know, at the end ofthe day, I enjoyed coaching and
uh and you know that was funthis year.
It was definitely more on myplate, but I was glad I was able
(25:37):
to do it and have fun workingwith up with all the guys.
Rocky (25:40):
Coach, I meant to ask you how fun was the the high school
all-star game last week?
I know it's always special tobe at your stadium, give those
kids an opportunity to play in acollege stadium and you know to
showcase the talent around thearea.
But how how nice was that nightfor you guys?
Coach Faggiano (25:55):
That was great.
You know, our sportsinformation director, uh Jordan
Lambert, calls the game and getsthe scoreboard going for the
guys and the music playing.
The weather uh started out alittle crazy.
We had some yeah, I learned onthe I learned on the news what
they call it.
Is it is it gropple?
Is that what I heard?
My folks at WKTV when it'sfrozen snow, but it was so we're
(26:15):
supposed to burn the shoebefore the game, and we we went
and did it inside.
We had we had the now the shoewas still outside the picture
window, but um, so we did ourburning of the shoe ceremony,
and then a lot of the guys wentto the game.
And I went up in the press box,and our students actually
called the game, it was onEmpire A TV.
Uh, some of our players, GavinGretsch and Justin Lanion,
interviewed me at halftime.
(26:36):
So it was a lot of fun, and Ihope it's something that we
continue to to host at Utica.
Rocky (26:41):
Well, coach, I'm gonna put this up here, but I don't
know if you could see it.
I am exactly I am exactly Imight have put this wrong.
No, I'm actually one game upgoing into uh this week.
So I I don't have Colgate onhere this week, so I I I did
that.
So I know you would have pickedColgate, and I don't I don't
want you to think I'm cheatingbecause I'm talking to Coach
(27:02):
Fitz.
And I am gonna tell Coach Fitzon Sunday, Coach Faz picked you
every week, and I and I'm gonnatell him, unfortunately, I
didn't pick him every week, butum I wanted you to see that, so
I'm not cheating.
But there's some good games.
How about Coach Franklin?
Coach Franklin got the VirginiaTech job.
I think he's a great fit forhim.
I think he's gonna do a greatjob there.
Coach Faggiano (27:22):
He's a great coach, uh great mentor.
Uh you know, certainly happyfor him.
Rocky (27:26):
So, coach, the first game, Oklahoma had the huge win
over Alabama, and I think I'mlooking at my notes from last
week.
I think you and you both hadAlabama.
Uh so Oklahoma, they're athome.
Uh, they're a seven and a halfpay point favor.
You think they keep it going?
Coach Faggiano (27:42):
Oh, for sure.
Yeah, that momentum after thatlast week.
You know, confidence is such apowerful thing.
So I'm sure no, they have that.
Coach Menable's got that goingat Oklahoma.
Rocky (27:51):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Um, I keep hearing EliDrinkowicz, the Missouri coach,
is up for a couple of thoseother jobs.
I keep hearing Florida for him,but we'll see what happens uh
there.
All right, SMU at home.
Louisville got beat uh lastweek.
So Louisville still ranked.
I feel like things are kind ofgoing in the wrong direction for
them here late.
I I love Rhett Lashley over atSMU.
Um they're a three and a halfpoint favorite at home.
(28:14):
Who you like?
I'm with you.
I like SMU.
I like SMU in that game.
All right, let's see.
Who else did I have here?
Oh, I love this game.
Oh, I love this game.
USC had a monster win, and I'mlooking at your your notes and
mine from last week.
We both had USC last weekagainst Iowa in that horrible,
horrible torrential raindownpour.
(28:36):
Um, I think Lincoln Riley'sfiguring a few things out.
He's got to run the footballand be physical in the Big Ten.
I think I'm gonna pick mine.
I think they go into Oregon asa 10 and a half point dog.
I think they beat Oregon nextum in Oregon this week.
Coach Faggiano (28:49):
Okay.
All right, this is where I'mgonna gain, I'm gonna gain a
game on.
I'm gonna go Oregon.
I've been just so impressedwith like you know, Oregon past
and how they're running thefootball and their physical and
like finding ways to win.
Um, I'm not sure if they'regonna get some of those skill
guys back or not.
Um, that could help sway me oneway or the other, but I'm gonna
go Oregon.
Rocky (29:09):
All right, that could be that could we might have to have
a tiebreaker next week on agame or two.
All right, Georgia Tech.
And I this is the one I can'tfigure out because Miami right
now is in the playoffs, they'rein the 12-team field.
They're they're like third inthe ACC, they're not even gonna
play for the ACC title.
Georgia Tech, who's got oneloss right now, would be in the
ACC title game, and they're notin the playoffs.
(29:32):
Pittsburgh came out, andArduozzi said he didn't care if
he lost to Notre Dame by 100,which Notre Dame blew him out
last week.
So here you go, back inconference, Georgia Tech at
home, two and a half pointfavorite.
Who you like?
Coach Faggiano (29:45):
Georgia Tech.
Rocky (29:46):
Yeah, I'm I'm with you.
Great coach Georgia Tech.
Coach Faggiano (29:50):
Uh he's done some great things there.
They're uh they're gonna beplaying with a chip on their
shoulder for sure.
Rocky (29:55):
I think he stays at tech.
He's a he's an old he playedthere.
I think he's gonna stay there.
I know his name's up for someof these other jobs too, but
he's just a right fit at GeorgiaTech.
And he's got him playing reallywell.
So I hope he stays.
Here's another big game, Big12.
Cincinnati had a loss lastweek.
This is where game day's going.
I'm not sure why game day isgoing to this one, but it's two
(30:15):
ranked teams.
Um I'm going to give you mypick.
I'm going to go with BYU.
I like them on the road here.
Um, Cincinnati's a two and ahalf point dog at home.
Any chance Cincinnati gets themat home this week.
Coach Faggiano (30:27):
And then is it BYU lost last week or two weeks
ago?
Two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago.
I'm going to go, I'm going togo BYU.
Rocky (30:33):
Yeah, BYU lost to Utah in the rivalry game.
Right.
All right.
So you like BYU?
Okay, so we got we got onedifference so far.
All right.
So we're going to do theSyracuse game a little bit
different here because I don'tthink either one of us are going
to pick or Syracuse to beatNotre Dame.
This game's in uh at NotreDame.
We're going to bet the spreadthis game, you and I.
(30:55):
Oh, come on.
So we're going to make this onea little bit interesting
because you're going to pickNotre Dame and I am too.
I don't think you're going topick Syracuse to upset him.
Notre Dame is a 35 and a halfpoint favorite at home.
Does Syracuse cover the 35 anda half?
Coach Faggiano (31:13):
Oh god.
Rocky (31:14):
That's too much.
Coach Faggiano (31:16):
Ready?
I'm going to say I'm going tosay no.
Rocky (31:20):
So you're going to take Notre Dame minus the 35 and a
half.
Coach Faggiano (31:24):
Yeah.
This is where we'll be we'll bewe'll be dead even on this one,
probably.
Rocky (31:28):
I don't think Syracuse covers it.
I think they're going to getkilled.
Um, I I saw that the Villardikid starting at quarterback.
Um God, 35 is a lot of points,though.
I mean, you're starting, you'redown 35-0.
Even if Syracuse can score afield goal, or I think I'm with
you, Coach.
I think I'm gonna take I'mgonna lay the 35 and a half.
I just I I just figured it'd befun.
(31:52):
We'll pick the spread in thatgame.
All right, so I didn't putColgate on here.
This is where I think game dayshould have gone.
This is one of the oldestrivalries.
Coach Faggiano (31:59):
Um yeah, game day should have gone there.
Rocky (32:02):
Yep, they were they were talking about it.
It was an option, butLafayette's had a really good
year in the Patriot League.
Both teams are undefeated inleague play.
The winner gets the automaticbid in.
I don't know if the loser, ifit's Lehigh that loses this
game, there's still a shot theycould get in.
But the Patriot League, becauseof their strength of
conference, I'm not sure they'llget to win.
And the passers have been here.
(32:22):
Colgate and Lehigh have bothwent um to the to the FCS
playoffs.
Um, big game.
This it's at Lafayette.
Last year, Lehigh beat him.
Who you like in this one?
Coach Faggiano (32:34):
Oh, I'm gonna go with uh my guys at Lehigh.
Rocky (32:37):
Yeah.
I uh I'm with you.
I think Lehigh right now, Ithink they have them fourth.
And matter of fact, I think I'mgonna be on the FCS selection
show, um, which I got to getsome notes ready because I got
asked to be on that.
I haven't done too much on someof the conferences.
I'm gonna do I'm gonna do thePatriot League one um with the
Patriot League guys, but um, Ithink if Lehigh doesn't win, I
(32:59):
think they'll still get in.
But I think they're deep, man.
Defensively, they're reallygood.
Um, a lot of experience on theO-line.
I think Coach Cahill's got ateam that can make a really deep
run in the playoffs.
Coach Faggiano (33:10):
You know, I think when they when they went
to the 63 full scholarships forthat league, you know, I mean
that helped that league forsure.
Um, and then and then they havethey still have the ability to
kind of break them up too, whichis pretty wild, you know.
So that allows them to reallydevelop guys, right?
Like what I understand, likeyou know, those jobs are pretty
(33:30):
pretty well sought afterpositions because you actually
can can develop people andthey're not doing NIL, you know.
Rocky (33:36):
Yeah, in most of those schools, Coach, they the the
facilities over the years sincethey've gone to the full
scholarship, the facilities havegotten a lot better um all over
the place.
A lot of good stadiums, but thePatriot League's really good
football, really competitiveleague.
Um, they play a really toughnon-conference, they'll play
some of the big boys.
Coach Fitz, they playedSyracuse, you know, this year at
Syracuse, so good recruitingtool for a lot of the Patriot
(33:58):
League team.
So we'll see.
It looks like you might have achance to pick up a game on me
that we could be tied going intothe final week um of the
season.
But um, Coach, I appreciateappreciate you coming on with
me.
I know we'll recap it all nextweek, but uh, this has been an
honor to have you on.
Um, you gave me an opportunityto uh to sit and learn um
(34:18):
football from you, who I respectyou more than a lot of guys.
I've always respected you, butyou gave me a chance to look at
your program from the inside,which I really hadn't done my
entire life, followed you myentire life, but this has really
been an honor to sit here withyou week over week.
Coach Faggiano (34:35):
Well, I I appreciate uh you putting the
word out there about us.
You know, I think the thepositives of social media uh and
folks like yourself, and and Ithink that's helped get the word
out about our program that wethink we have a pretty special
university, uh pretty specialprogram.
Uh and then you know, throughthe social media, you can kind
of get a little window into someof the things uh that we're
(34:56):
about.
And so I appreciate you put youknow getting the word out there
about Utica football.
Rocky (35:00):
Well, coach, I'll be there on Saturday.
My wife and I will be back.
We're going away Friday night,but I'll be there cheering you
on and uh can't wait to see it.
And I can't wait to talk to younext week.
Hopefully, we're celebratingone final win for you.
Coach Faggiano (35:12):
Hey, listen, I know Mohawk Valley, you're all
fired up for hockey season.
We got one more week offootball.
Come on out to the gate, oneo'clock.
The 12th man tailgate will berocking.
Fear the moose.
Rocky (35:23):
All right, coach.
We'll see you Saturday.
Coach Faggiano (35:25):
Take care.
Rocky (35:27):
And what was really cool too about last Saturday was the
hockey team was playingBrockport at the odd, and the
football team beat Brockport onthe road, which was an
unbelievable game to watch.
And again, I was watching on myphone.
My wife kept saying, Will youput the phone on?
I'm like, Lindsay, I'm watchingthe UC game.
It's a really good game here.
So we're it's almost done.
But uh, it's been an absolutehonor to have Coach Foz on.
(35:49):
He was he's always been good tome.
And and uh my dad, when my dadwas coaching high school, and
he's he's given me theopportunity to learn about the
program from the inside and andreally follow the players.
And I've always followed UC,I've always followed him, but
this year has been prettyspecial, and I've been able to
build some relationships with alot of the other D3 guys across
the area and across all ofDivision III.
(36:11):
So it's been a really coolyear.
Looking forward to one morefinal win this week for Coach
and one more final show nextweek where we get a chance to
recap everything here on theRock Pile.
So the Rock Pile will be backon Sunday, the Mohawk Valley
Sports Watch.
I'll be talking to Coach Fitz,uh, the head coach at Colgate's
gonna join me, and Coach JohnSnyder, the Notre Dame girls uh
(36:31):
head basketball coach, who's afriend of the show.
Uh we'll be talking some highschool basketball as well on
Sunday morning at nine o'clock.
So thanks for tuning intonight.
Thank the Coach Foz.
Thanks for everybody forfollowing the Rock Pile.
The Rock Pile is where dreamsbecome reality.
Have a good evening, everybody.
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