Rocky: 0:35

Good evening, everybody. Welcome to another live edition here on the Rock Pile Podcast, where we bring episode number 10 of Inside Utica University Football Podcast with head coach Blees Faziano was just telling Coach it's hard to believe. We have this week and then one more week of the regular season. And hopefully we get another week and maybe a couple more weeks after that, but we'll take it week to week here. Excited to talk to Coach about their big win last week over St. John Fisher. They'll return home this week where they've been really good at home all season. They're 4-0 at home, and then they'll finish next week on the road at Brockport, who we'll talk about that. Brockport and Cortland, a big game this week in the Empire 8. So some implications of the Empire 8, how things will turn out. But as Coach just said, we got to worry about this week and going 1-0. So thanks to everybody tuning in tonight. And as always, the viewership has been fantastic throughout the season. I appreciate everybody tuning in. We're just over 4,000 total followers across all social media platforms. So everything has been fantastic. I can't thank the followers enough. If you're watching on YouTube tonight, make sure to hit the subscribe button and continue to follow me across any of your social media platforms and much more. So without further ado, let's bring Coach on now. Coach, how are you?

Coach Faggiano: 1:51

Excellent, Rock. Good to see you.

Rocky: 1:53

Good to see you. And uh as we are saying, big games this week, Brockport and Cortland. We can get into some implications of the Empire 8, how things will finish. But hard to believe, Coach, we're heading into the last two weeks of the season.

Coach Faggiano: 2:08

That's crazy. It goes quick. It goes quick. So it's uh had some crazy weather at practice today. It's probably the worst weather day. The weather's been pretty good this fall, but um we did you know technically typically don't like going in the dome. We want to be able to be outside and get our work done. But uh, you know, it's wild to be you know, two weeks in the eight left, and still still a lot to be uh to be determined, you know.

Rocky: 2:31

Well, coach, we were saying, you know, throughout the season of doing this show with you, the the weather has been fantastic. We've had great, great Saturday games, and uh I'm looking at the weather for this week. It looks a little iffy on Saturday, but uh it's home where you guys have been really good at home this season, Coach. And really, you guys have been good at home in the in the last two to three years.

Coach Faggiano: 2:52

It's a great place to play. Uh you know, our guys really buy into you know giving back to the community every game. It's fun that we can talk about, you know, hey, okay, what's what's this home game about? You know, and I really enjoy that. Our guys enjoy it. You know, to jump right in it this Saturday is uh I know we're gonna talk about last week, but this Saturday is the GPO Federal Credit Union uh Veterans Day game. And it really it supports a unique program at Citroen, and the military program over at Citrin. Citroen is run by a Utica University alum, Jackie Warmouth, does a great job there. So something we look forward to. We'll have 30 veterans uh and all their families will be hosted by GPO in the tents. Uh we'll have a couple vets come to practice, talk to the guys, it's always a treat. And uh, and then actually this year is the first year we had the National Guard, our local National Guard, is going to uh present our nation's colors, and that that's cool. We're looking forward to having them and and they're gonna join the folks in the tent. So a lot of good things happening uh this weekend.

Rocky: 3:49

Coach, big win last week for you guys, 31-7, and your your defense has been extremely well all season, and we know your offense has been the tops in the league. But man, talk to us about defensively the effort you guys had defensively. You held Fisher, I think just about 60-something yards rushing, and I think just a little bit over 200 yards of total offense, but your defense was flying around.

Coach Faggiano: 4:12

They they played very well, you know, played very well, got the ball back uh you know to our offense. That that's our goal. Uh, get the ball back to the offense as many times as possible. Um I really thought a big turning point in the game, you know, where we didn't get a didn't get a first down. We decided to punt it, and a couple plays later, Mason Morano was uh we'll talk about here in a minute. Uh great hustle play. Kind of got knocked around in the play, but just kept hustling to the ball and went to tackle order back, and you didn't see him come and strips it. We recover it, go right down and score to go up. I think at that point it was to go up three scores, I think. And that was like a huge little turning point in the game. And uh they're playing at a high level, no doubt. They're running the ball. Um, you know, uh teams are having a hard time running the football again, uh having to get in those where they have to throw the ball. And um, you know, they're playing well as far as the you know, I work with the D-line, I'm proud of the D line as a group. Uh they played outstanding.

Rocky: 5:10

Yeah, coach, I've been impressed with your D-line all year. How just how fast your D-line can move. Um, and they've been really good against the run. Like I said, you held Fisher to I think it was about 65 yards of rushing uh when they've been averaging well over 150. But I've been really impressed with the athleticism of your guys up front. They can move.

Coach Faggiano: 5:30

And we like to have guys like that. We do our best to recruit guys like that. And you know, what's nice is all of them. We rotate a good amount of guys, we try to keep them healthy. Certainly, Jordan Davis is having a tremendous year, had a big game this game. Um, again, I'm I'm not you you probably have Mason stats from the game. I I think I know he has like four TFLs.

unknown: 5:48

Yep.

Coach Faggiano: 5:48

Three or four breakups. Four and then three or four pass breakups, which is like DB stats, and then had the force fumble. Um, you know, uh Nick DeForest uh played really well this game as well, our local guy out of Holland Patton. And you know, and then we rotate some guys, you know. We rotate Austin DeGrode in there and makes plays. Christian Param Rome made some big plays when he had an opportunity. Jerome Nemhart goes in there. Um, and then that that buck position, um, you know, Mason Muscari, you know, is kind of that hybrid where he's a linebacker, but he's a defensive end, but he's a linebacker and kind of helps everywhere. Yeah, he had a sack himself, and and he's a really good Speciams player, too. He's making most of the tackles on the kickoff and doing a nice job. Uh, you know, and his other special teams, he's on. It's something that he enjoys. So um, you know, that's big. That can be the difference maker. Takes the pressure off uh Coach uh J Mack calling the defense and and in the secondary.

Rocky: 6:43

Coach, how much has it helped you guys that you're able to play and rotate and get some of the young guys uh that game experience? That when we started the season, they didn't have a lot of experience coming in, but you've been able to rotate and get guys in. How much has that helped you throughout the season?

Coach Faggiano: 6:57

Well, I mean, it's particularly how we how we play, you know, we really focus running to the football. And then just the style of offense, as you see. You know, the D-line gets gassed, you know, and they're throwing bubble screens and all different stuff to the field and trying to tire the D-line out. You know, that's like a gate, like a legit game plan by a lot of offensive coordinators. And so you got to keep those guys fresh, uh, you know, so they can play at that at that high level. So um, you know, certainly we've been pleased with Austin and Christian as freshmen, how they've really progressed uh, you know, throughout the year for sure. Um, that's kind of unique to have two freshmen play as much as those guys have. But I'll tell you, I think it's a credit to the upperclassmen, you know what I mean, taking them under their wing. Uh, you know, JD, as we call Jordan Davis, uh Mason, uh, you know, Moranowitz and uh and Jerome. Like those three guys have really done a good job. Like they're teaching those guys every day and you know, and really built a good culture amongst the positional group.

Rocky: 7:49

Coach, the other area defensively, you guys have been really good this year. You guys have been able to get off the field on third down, and you held Fisher at a one and nine on third down, but you really have been doing a good job of getting off the field on third down throughout the season.

Coach Faggiano: 8:01

I mean, that you know, we were thinking, I can't remember a one and nine on third down. You know what I mean? Like that was a pretty impressive stand. That might be a school record. I can't think of a time anywhere that I've coached that I've held a team to just one. And so that's you know again, credit to the secondary, um, you know, the whole group and Coach J Mac putting them in good positions and trying to keep the offense off balance. And uh, you know, I think it you know that's the key, is that we don't just sit in one coverage the whole game. We're trying to mix it up. I think it's important to do that, you know, because a good OC is gonna attack coverages if he knows what you're in. And um, you know, being able to mix that up is has been been big for us for sure.

Rocky: 8:41

And coach offensively, you guys have led the umpire eight in total offense this season, even coming into to this week's matchup with Hartwick. But you guys dominated the time of possession here. I think you were like 33 minutes to 26 in your guys' favor. You had three big scoring drives that were long drives um with this game. But talk to us a little bit offensively. You guys were able to control it.

Coach Faggiano: 9:03

Well, this is the third straight week. The offensive line hasn't given up a sack, but they're playing at a very high level. Uh Tyler uh is very comfortable in the pocket. So we're we're doing, you know, we've we've improved these last few weeks, uh dealing with pressure. Uh, but you know, we're gonna see some pressure again Saturday. Um, you know, uh then and they're running the ball. You know, Aze ran the ball well. Um our Raven package continues to be strong. Did I have a couple wrinkles this week uh where we ball to Logan Frederick on the on the motion, uh, gave the ball to Tyler Hall because you know maybe the defense is keying on the quarterback, which is a vast majority of the time where you know uh Tyler Hall's in there kind of lead blocking for Matt. And um this was, I felt our our best game that we you know, we talked to the guys, it's really not about the other team, it's about how we performed. And I felt that to date, you know, and you always want to be at your best at the end of the season, right? Uh, this was our best overall performance in all aspects. Special teams played well. You know, Nico made up four extra points, made a nice field goal, nice job kicking off again. Um, you know, Devin Taylor did a really good job punting. He's he's done a nice job at what you know, whatever we need him to do. If it's more of a base punt, he's also can rugby punt, has done that as well. Um, and then Billy Boss has done a nice job snapping for us. You know, you you don't get to mention the snapper much. You know, we gave him our specs player of the week two weeks ago to recognize him. Um, young man from St. August team, Florida. And our punter's from Tampa, Florida. So our punter and our long snapper are the Florida boys, which is kind of fun. But uh that specialist group has done it, been really solid for us and done a good job this year.

Rocky: 10:34

And Coach, even in the red zone, you guys were three for three in the red zone. And again, you you've you've ran out a couple different packages uh, you know, with your run game with that Raven package, but three for three in the red zone, too. I mean, I you can't ask for anything more.

Coach Faggiano: 10:48

No, they you know they got again playing at a high level. Uh Coach Klaus doing a great job, uh putting our guys in in you know positions to be successful. Um, you know, the one time, of course, they they you know want to score a touchdown. We got the field goal. That's important to go up uh that extra score, uh, you know, for sure. And it's just good that you know for Nico to get that opportunity to go out there. Um, our quarterback, you know, Tyler's playing well, man. You know, he's playing well, making good decisions. Um, and just the receivers continue to block for each other. You know, our our yards after catch, I know, is pretty impressive the last couple weeks. It might not be a long pass, uh, but work working underneath coverage, and whether it be to you know to Logan or to Bryce or to Chanferrani or to Velez or whoever it might be in the game at the time, those guys are doing a nice job blocking for each other and then getting the yards after catch.

Rocky: 11:36

Yeah, they definitely don't seem like they're a selfish group at all. Uh, you know, those wide receivers with Antonio and Bryce who combined for 145 yards with a coach. I know we talked about Logan Frederick. You told us a story about him, but man, he has been a beast for you guys. Eight catches, 129 yards, two touchdowns. Man, he's been special.

Coach Faggiano: 11:55

Well, we we were kind of we our SID Jordan Lambert does a great job. So we were laughing that like he could have got the D3 national team of the week again. But I think they're getting, you know, what they call it, uh uh you know, they're kind of tired of voting for him, you know, because they they give it, which is fine. They gave it to the air.

Rocky: 12:09

I thought he was gonna get it again. I forgot.

Coach Faggiano: 12:12

Because the young man, which is great, another young man got the award, but his stats were way better. You know, like voter fatigue. That's what Jordan called it. Ah, they had voter fatigue. But um, again, you know, blocking, doing whatever we ask of him. Certainly, you know, Bryce, you know, uh has gotten some attention, and that's always interesting when are they rolling the coverage to him? Are they playing a man within the coverage? We've seen both of that. And when you know Bryce can do that, it frees up Logan, it frees up our other receivers for sure.

Rocky: 12:39

And it's nice to have a weapon like Logan, too, who's who's really another receiver in a in a big body, but to be able to spread it out between Antonio, Bryce, and Logan if they if they double one. And there's been games where Bryce has only had three or four catches, but Antonio and Logan have kind of picked up the slack. So to have those three guys, special group.

Coach Faggiano: 12:58

No doubt. Function high level, running our our pass game at a high level, and uh, you know, they're they're fun to watch, you know. In the defense, we talk about it's hey, get the ball back to those guys that you know, you know, anytime you can get a get off the field and give our offense another opportunity, is uh it's fun to watch. Like, and I really liked just how it happened in this game where you know uh Fisher wins the toss and defers, and we go right down the field and score, which is big, you know. And and where in Fisher's Cortland game, they got the ball first, and Fisher had a 15-yard drive. And even though they didn't get any points, like I think Cortland only had one possession, it was actually a 15-minute drive, I should say. And like Cortland, I think, only had one possession in the first quarter, right? So like we kind of flipped that script um, you know, for us in this game to be able to have that time of possession, which is big. So as much as we might, you know, throw the ball and the passing statistics are there, um, you know, we're it's a high percentage pass game, you know. What some boats are asking the perimeter like an outside run, really.

Rocky: 13:55

You're a defensive guy. So I gotta ask you this question. Coin tosses, start the game. Are you a defer guy put the D on the field, or do you do you want the ball on offense?

Coach Faggiano: 14:04

100% defer guy.

Rocky: 14:06

Defer guy.

Coach Faggiano: 14:06

You know, I think I think one thing that I bought into as a head coach and and you know, and learned uh, you know, they they talk about the middle eight. And I think that's one thing that we've been very, very good at the middle eight, scoring before half, scoring first drive, the second half. If you were to look at those stats, I think they're they're pretty high. And that's the only time you can score back to back.

unknown: 14:27

Right.

Coach Faggiano: 14:27

And that's I think in the game of football, sometimes uh you know, offense and defense coordinators change when they're up or down a couple scores, right? Sometimes I get impatient, things like that. So, you know, trying to get that that extra uh you know, get up on a score on someone is big. So that's the only way you can do that. So I'm a big defer guy.

Rocky: 14:46

So, coach, you mentioned the you know, right before the half, and you guys have been really good. You you had a two-minute drill at the end of this first half again, and it seems like you're scoring right before the half in a couple games, but you guys put together a really good two-minute drill.

Coach Faggiano: 15:01

You know, uh, I mean, they they're just they know they've been working together, they know each other very well. Uh, the the play calling's been on point. You know, hey, if they're gonna get you know, play a two-high shell, we're doing this. They're gonna go close the middle, we're going to that. And then we see a lot of three high shell, right? And being able to manipulate that. So um, you know, max coverage stuff. So I think that that we've done a nice job of trying to do our best to prepare, hey, what are the best pass passes? You know, on two of our touchdowns, we double moved their safeties and they're kind of giving more of that cover two look or a little two-man. And uh, I mean, the the one pass teller through to Bryce was the absolute laser and hit them almost right out of the break right before half. That was great. And it was the same thing was a double move um on that Frederick had on his on one of his touchdowns. So um, you know, kudos to those guys for putting them in good positions and the guys executing at a high level.

Rocky: 15:51

Coach, you guys have had some good quarterbacks come through UC over the years, um, some really good ones over the years. How special is is Tyler and what separates him from some of the other ones you've had there? Because you've had some good ones.

Coach Faggiano: 16:05

Oh, yeah, you go back to you know when we uh recruited Andrew Banquet and young man through for 10,000 yards in his four years, right? He's in their hall of fame and had some great quarterbacks over the years. You know, I think you know, Tyler, you know, you talk about just being hungry to play, you know, and I think he takes you, he'll take you back to me. He hasn't played in so long. And we were, you know, throughout the season, I meet with the captains every week, and and as long as you know, along with my men, my mentees that I that I mentor, and and uh, you know, this is just Tyler's, you know, what eighth game in like three years, you know. So he he's continued to grow and improve every week and just loves playing the game of football. And uh and he really fits us, you know, he's a blue-collar family, he's a tough kid. He fits Yudika. We laugh about uh, you know, uh, you know, uh he's proud of his Polish heritage. We had some good conversations about that. And um, you know, uh he's just a tough kid, and he he really uh our guys you know welcomed him, you know, at open arms. And and I'll tell you what, like I have to give a shout out to to coach uh Danelovic and just the culture in the quarterback room. Like Springball was a competition, man. Brett Fuller brought it, you know, and and unfortunately, uh, you know, Brett had an injury a few weeks back and he's gonna have to have surgery during finals week, you know. Um, and uh, you know, everyone knows he's been out now for a few weeks, but like the way that those guys battled and how they brought him in, and he's just like, man, this is yeah, you know, you hear about the positive culture, and then when you get a transfer and and they kind of tell you, like, wait a minute, you guys really have something special here. You know, that's something that we're really proud of at Utica. It's just the culture we have on our program, you know, how we treat these guys, they transfer in. Um, and you know, we we have a story, you know, Braden was the same thing. And I think that was a big thing with Tyler was you know, hearing Brayden talk about his experience coming in as well. So um, he's having fun out there, getting better every week, just like everyone else.

Rocky: 17:55

And Coach In comes Heartwick this week at three and five, one and five in the Empire Eight. And I want to first start with with Coach Rogers, obviously his first season with some Utica ties. And I'm I'm just I know you know Coach Rogers well.

Coach Faggiano: 18:09

Well, he's the best, you know. Uh uh coach coach's son, you know, his dad uh for years, great job at Bishop Ludden. I would love going to visit with him. You know, Matt had a great, you know, uh not always easy time. You know, he started out, we had him play receivers freshman year, his sophomore year. He wanted to move back to quarterback, uh, you know, played JV for the two years, and then worked his way up into that backup quarterback role. And and uh just and then he played he played tennis, uh was a salutatorian at the school, was second second best academic uh GPA at Utica. Um, and uh become a great college coach. You know, we he spent some time after he graduated with us, you know became GA with us right away, hired him right out of right when he graduated. Great job for us for two years, and went on to Wilkes and then to Morrisville with Coach Raby, uh, who's now the head coach at Fisher. And then he went back to Wilkes and then uh and then you know took the head job at Hartwick, which was wild. And uh, I mean you could tell and you you you may have the stats in front of you. I'm pretty sure their quarterback might be third in passing in the conference, and I don't think he's been sacked very much. And that's just a great five. Sorry, top five, and then he hasn't been sacked very much, one of the least sacked quarterbacks in the league. And you know, so that you know Matt's putting uh and it was a transfer quarterback from West Con. I forget when he transferred. I think he transferred last year, didn't play as much last year as this year, and uh you know Matt's doing a really good job with him and utilizing their players.

Rocky: 19:32

And coach, they've been in some games. I mean, they've been in some tough games, and you know, that it hasn't been hasn't gone their way, but I mean three wins overall, they got the one in the Empire 8. But some of the scores, when you look at it, they've been in a lot a lot more games than I think people think.

Coach Faggiano: 19:48

Oh, for sure. Like they they played Fisher home 21-21 in the third, well into the third quarter until Fisher pulled away late after a turnover, I believe. And um, you know, so I know that was a big game. They were pretty fired up. That was a fun game to watch, you know, watch those guys battle. You could tell, you know, uh just you know, just what good coaching will do, you know what I mean, and and kind of invigorate a program. And uh Matt brought another GA of ours, Christian uh Luganier on the staff down there, and and uh Christian played at Cortland um and you know, good young coach, and he's our special teams coordinator. Uh he brought Tyler Elmore over with him from uh Morrisville to be his OC. So they have a really good young staff. And you can see, like, I mean, the Hardwick, I always say the same things, like they always play tough, they always play hard, they're tough kids. And and now you see a little bit extra juice. Uh, you see them in really good positions and offense, defense, and special teams to be successful. And they're they're making plays every game. Yeah, making plays every game. So I know they'll they're gonna come give us their best.

Rocky: 20:45

I know I asked you this question. I know you got a lot of your fellow coaches now that are that are coaching in high school, um, and you got a lot of guys that have come through Utica in the college rank, and we're talking about one here now. How's how much does that mean to you to see a lot of these young guys having the success that are basically your coach entry that were part of your success?

Coach Faggiano: 21:06

Well, that's hard to answer. I mean, it's kind of like I would answer that the way my guys answer when you when they you ask our players what does football mean, and they say everything. If you ask me what that means to me, it's everything, you know, and that's something that I take a lot of pride in. Uh sometimes get a little emotional about. And I just remember being a young coach like it was yesterday, yeah, even though even though it wasn't, yeah, and uh just had the good fortune to be around some like icons in college football, right? Like Jim Butterfield at Ithaca, Bob Ford at Albany, yeah, Paul Vosberg at St. John Fisher, Mike Welch at Ithaca, like these guys are icons. And I just you know soaked it up and and and took took uh you know, I think it was just a thing recently on Twitter. Someone talked about all good coaches do is steal it from someone else. I think the the the quote from the coach, well, I forget where it was now. He said, Yeah, if you're making up plays, they're probably not very good if you you know if you created them yourself, you know, you gotta steal them from someone else. But uh, you know, interestingly updated it because I realized that I was missing a really important head coach on there. And actually, I gotta give credit, my dad, of course, noticed it. But Terrell Cunningham, Monroe, I think is maybe the top, one of the top-ranked high school programs in New York State. Oh, wow. And and Terrell wasn't on there, and I had to get Terrell on there. I did not know that. Uh, and his son Pootie, nickname is Pootie, is our starting quarterback and has got multiple like Division I offers. And Tyrrell was at Utica when I arrived. I I got the pleasure to coach Terrell for two years, and then he played with Laz Morgan, who's the head coach at Buff State. And um, that really means a lot to me, you know what I mean? And and you know, it can be a real pain in the butt, you know, when Coach Fitz goes to Cortland and all of a sudden, you know, Cortland's, you know, because you know they they you know, when Coach Fitz went to Cortland, I think Bradport had beaten him like eight years in a row before Coach Fitz showed up, you know, and then you know, Coach Raj at Hartwick, and that makes it a little tough uh, you know, on the pioneers when their teams get better, but ultimately that's what we're in it for, right? We're educators, and um, you know, uh, and just I just I just had such a great experience as a player, and every day I try to like shape that experience for my players. I know our coaches um you know maybe pick some things up and and and impact other people. So I think that's a that's the the long-lasting um I don't want to use words. These I don't they're too big to use, but just it means a lot to me. Leave it at that.

Rocky: 23:32

Well, I just think it's cool because I have so I know a lot of the high school guys, but then as as we've done this show throughout the season, I I feel like every time we we're talking about a team you guys are playing or you know, previewing a team, it's like, well, they came through Utica. They came through they you know, and that that's cool. That's that's really cool.

Coach Faggiano: 23:49

We're gonna do it, we're gonna do it next week too. All right.

Rocky: 23:51

So we'll save it.

Coach Faggiano: 23:54

Coach Fox. Coach Fox. Hey, Coach Fox, play some good defense this weekend, my guy.

Rocky: 23:59

So, coach, if we get if we get back to Hartwick, they they're kind of split 50-50. They have a junior running back that's just over 600 yards. It looks like they run like to run the football. They're averaging just under about 150 yards a game. It's a junior running back at Keel Williams. What what does he bring? And again, I think they're about 50-50, coach. They throw for a couple hundred, they like to run the ball, so they're they're pretty balanced.

Coach Faggiano: 24:21

Well, I and I think well, you know, well coached and good football teams are. You know what I mean? And I'll tell you what, he's quick twitch, and he'll make you miss. And uh, we got to be gap sound. If you jump your gap, you know, he's gonna hit it in the zone game. They do a nice job with that. Uh, you know, their line are is quicker, and I they have a good combination of running like zone and some gap scheme with their run game. And I really think you know, with the balance is it's all the play action, right, and the motions and trying to get the mess with the linebackers' eyes. So we're just doing our best job that we can to not let all the motions and the in the and the formations. And again, it goes back to, you know, I'm not surprised that that he's running, you know, maybe some of the same core pass concepts to run concepts out of a million formations and unbalanced and fib and motions, and and that's what you do. You know, you're trying to find an advantage uh in that and making sure that defenses are prepared. So um, you know, it doesn't surprise me that that that Matt's doing a nice job with that and and Tyler, you know, and Tyler Almore OC.

Rocky: 25:19

And coach, we were talking before we came on that there's a big game this week, too. I know your guys' game this week, and then you got Brockport and Cortland. And how do you keep the guys focused? Because I mean, I'm the guy behind the scenes looking at the scores and what's ahead saying, well, we get through this week, next week could be winner gets in, um, and maybe the loser gets a bowl game. But how do you keep your kids focused on this game this week, not looking ahead to next week and how big that game's gonna be?

Coach Faggiano: 25:47

You know, I think we go back to just our our past and what we've learned, you know, whether it be particularly this season, you know, and we know that uh when it's really on us, you know what I mean? When when other teams say they're moving the ball on offense, it's because we're making mistakes on defense, or if our offense doesn't score, it's like even this last week. We had a you know a penalty and a drop pass, which isn't like us, and then those times we're driving to score again. So, you know, um I talked about it this week, you know. I don't mind telling them, I said this is where we're at. Now I kind of really waited until after Fisher, right? Because I kind of knew that that's really when the time when I knew that it would really matter, right? So I explained to them about NPI and the NCAA power index. I explained to them what that was. I explained to them that you know, you got because I know they're looking at it, right? Maybe not understanding, and we took make a huge jump. And I explained to them said that there's 13 pool C's, we jump to the 19th ranked in that pool, and if we continue to win, and the teams that we play continue to win, that's just gonna keep going up without a doubt. That's gonna keep going up that number, and we'll just we're not gonna know until after the last game where we're at. So we so that's certainly on the table. The next thing is uh if you know, say you know, say we were able to win out, um you know, uh you know, ECAC bowl games are things I've always believed in, being able to play extra football, uh, potentially you know, you talk about doing something we've never done before. We played in I think it's five bowl games, but never one at home. And how great that would be for a university for the city of Utica. You know, we want you know, hey man, empty out the city of Utica to come and support us for a home bowl game against whoever they were to match us up. So again, I talked through all that, and they all know none of that matters if we don't beat Hartwick, right? And focus on that and like know and have to understand like we don't want a Alfred or Morrisville because there were way too many misses in those games, right? This week we want it to look like Fisher the best that we can. Um, you know, it's really about us and how we perform and how we execute the game plan. And the guys are really bought into it. You know, we had a we had a uh okay practice Tuesday, way better practice today. I know we'll finish strong this week. Again, it's our senior day. We're honoring 24 seniors, and then we talk about like the important again, the the senior day, they all laughed. I'll give you a little anecdote. So I said I go senior day is kind of like your wedding. Okay, you get married, it's not about you and your wife, it's about everybody else having a good time, and they all laughed at me. Yeah, I said senior day is about your parents, right? It's about your parents walking on the field with you, right? And it's and and for us, it's about winning the game, right? And and not getting caught too much in that emotion. But like your parents are proud of you that you played four years of college football, which is a very rare, uncommon thing to say that you played four years of college football, whatever your your role was within the program, and all roles are important and critical. Uh that that you know, so we we laughed about that. So they kind of know hey, it's a big game Saturday, the veterans are coming, it's senior day. Hartwick has got a bunch of Utica guys on their staff, and we get to love, we love playing football together. And we this team really wants to keep playing because we think we would be pretty dangerous in the playoffs if we had that opportunity the way that we're playing right now. So, you know, not gonna be easy in these last two weeks, but they know what they know what's on the line. So, you know, because of some things we did earlier in the year, particularly the losing to Hobart and Cortland, every game's been a playoff game, right? Every game's been like all we accomplished last week was a winning season, right? Which is one of our things we won six games, okay. Ud had a winning season, okay. We're bull eligible. Okay, next, right? Then we want to continue to win so we can go and do special things because division three, like you just you don't want to be turning your gear in, right? You want to be that one of those teams that gets to continue to play play football. So so that that's certainly their goal, and I think they've done a good job of that. Good job of just kind of putting their sights uh on the Hawks this week.

Rocky: 29:49

And coach, what two games left in the regular season? And you look back and where the season started, what did you learn about this team?

Coach Faggiano: 29:57

Oh, they're fun. You know, all right, I'll give you another Other side, I'll give you another side note. So I've coached a long time, as we all know. And this was the first time I had the offensive line and the starting quarterback trick-or-treat at my house. Okay. So I had so it really went down very it went down very funny, right? So I'm you know giving out the candy to the kids, about a half hour goes by, it's all done. So we're just watching a little television, and then you know, I see a large human being in a hoodie, ding dong ditch, right? And we're like, what's going on? My wife goes to the picture window, she looks, she goes, There's someone here for you. I go, What are you talking about? So I go out to the door, there's no one that goes, there's no one in the door. She goes, Go outside. And then the whole old line and Tyler come running at me and their practice jerseys, trick-or-treat. And I laugh, I laugh, I laugh so hard. They're like, This is a fun group. That's just one example of many. Um, now maybe I'll give you one other one. Like, so we're we're I don't know if I talked about this, but we're at uh for the WJ trip and we're in the hotel and there's karaoke in the hotel. Did I talk to you about this?

Rocky: 31:01

You you gave me parts of the story.

Coach Faggiano: 31:03

Did I give you part of it? Okay, I ma'am. I just that that that's what this group is. You know, there's there's a group of people that that are doing karaoke that we'll probably say are my age and older, right? That had a blast with a bunch of Utica kids for about an hour before they had bed check-in, right? So that those are our guys. They're a really good group of guys, they're fun, uh, they're high energy, um, and they're really fun to coach. So that's how I certainly would characterize these guys is they're they're a lot of fun.

Rocky: 31:29

And coach, your group too, I was trying to go back through over the last five or six years, but you got a group this year that offense and defensively, your team's in a top three and four for both categories. Offense, you're leading the league in total offense. And I think defensively, coach, I think you guys are like um two or three um defensively. So I was trying to go back to see when that's happened, but again, this group this year, your tops in both categories.

Coach Faggiano: 31:55

Well, I tell you, in 22, I I know that statistically, I don't think the defense was as high as that. The offense, I think, was, you know, but um that's great. I think it's just uh, you know, we have a great conference, you know. So anytime that you can do that, um you know, as a credit, you know, there's as we again we're we're young and we're trying to win the conference, still an outside chance of having a share of it this year. And all these teams were playing like Fisher's won the conference before. Alfred's won the conference before, right? These are good programs, you know, they have long traditions. So, you know, um they they've really done a good job of taking it one game at a time. Our coaches have done a great job preparing them. Um and we just we're in a good rhythm right now, you know, as a program. Good rhythm. Um, you know, academically, the weight room, you know, the whole program, you know, and and uh the campus is excited about it, you know, so that everyone kind of knows that we have a good football team and uh you know, we kind of hold our destiny, you know. We just gotta keep keep chipping away at it.

Rocky: 32:55

So, Coach, you and I are 26 and 20. We are dead even. Um we are 26 and 20. There's some good games this week. Um, I want to start with this one. This is I I haven't picked mine. Normally I have mine picked on my paper, but I don't have mine picked tonight because I've gone back and forth. BYU that's undefeated. Uh they're in the they released a 12-team playoff. They're in it right now at Texas Tech. Does have the loss. What's kind of shocking to me is Texas Tech is giving BYU 10 and a half. I love BYU. I think they're physical. I love their coach, but could they go into Texas Tech and get a win?

Coach Faggiano: 33:36

Uh yes, I'm going BYU.

Rocky: 33:38

Oh, you're gonna go BYU. All right.

Coach Faggiano: 33:41

The one last week that got me was the Vanderbilt.

Rocky: 33:43

Yeah, same. Same.

Coach Faggiano: 33:45

That's you could we were we both the same on that one?

Rocky: 33:48

Yeah, the only difference I think you and I had, and I'll have to look, I think it was the Syracuse game.

unknown: 33:53

Ah.

Rocky: 33:53

I think we are I think we were opposites on Syracuse. Um I I want to go with BYU, but I'm gonna actually roll uh with Texas Tech. I'm gonna go with the home team, but I I wouldn't be surprised if BYU beats them. BYU to me plays like a Big Ten. They want to run the football, they're physical, and I love their head coach.

Coach Faggiano: 34:12

And they're doing a great job.

Rocky: 34:14

All right, here's another one. This could be a this could be a trap game. Texas AM, a lot of talk. Um the Mike Elko could be on his way to Penn State. They're 8-0. Um, they're gonna go to Missouri. Missouri's actually getting six and a half. Any chance Missouri gets one at home?

Coach Faggiano: 34:34

This one definitely could be a trap, but I'm gonna go AM.

Rocky: 34:39

I am I'm I'm gonna go with AM as well. I love Eli Drinkowicz. I think he's right now, he's rumored to be the next coach at Florida, so we'll see if that plays any distraction. That's what I've heard. Nothing confirmed as of yet. All right, Oregon at Iowa. Iowa was getting five and a half, and uh Iowa's been scoring some points this year. I know the knock has been on Iowa that they can't really throw the football there, they just play good defense. Um, but I think Iowa's playing much better. You think Iowa's got a shot to beat him? Or you like the Ducks?

Coach Faggiano: 35:10

Well, I'll tell you what, I went I went against Oregon once and then watched that game and watched them play. So we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna go with Oregon this this week.

Rocky: 35:18

Yeah, I'm with you. Um I am gonna be pulling for Iowa. Um, coach Tom Myslinski um that I had the opportunity to play, not play for, he was the line coach when I was at RFA. His son, his grandson, Michael, um, I believe is either the starting center or the right guard for Iowa. Um, Tom Myzlinski's grandson. Yep. So I'm I'm gonna pull for Iowa, but I think the ducks are too much. I love Dan Lanning, but uh we'll we'll pull for Iowa in this one.

Coach Faggiano: 35:46

He's got some good videos out there of him talking to the guys. He's a fiery guy.

Rocky: 35:51

Oh, yeah. All right, coach. Coach Fitz, Colgate. Listen, Fitzy's winning some games this year. I don't think anybody thought Colgate was going to be as competitive. Um, they're gonna play Lafayette, who's undefeated um in the Patriot League. They're hopefully they're not looking ahead Lafayette to Lafayette Lehigh, that rivalry game. Um Colgate, 4-5 at Lafayette.

Coach Faggiano: 36:15

Oh, Colgate all day. All day of going with Fitz and Jabino and crew.

Rocky: 36:19

I really want to ride with Colgate, but Lafayette's good this year. They're uh their two losses were to two FBS schools. So um I'm gonna poll for Coach Fitz, but I am gonna roll with um with Lafayette. I think the Lafayette Lehigh game at the end of the year is gonna be a special game this year.

Coach Faggiano: 36:37

I'm glad to hear you say, and we were talking earlier that what we said Lehigh was ranked fourth.

Rocky: 36:42

Yeah, they're fourth right now in the FCS.

Coach Faggiano: 36:44

Kudos to that staff and Coach Kahill.

Rocky: 36:49

He's doing a fantastic job there. But uh credit Coach Fitz, too, man. I don't think anybody thought they'd have the success he was gonna have in year one.

Coach Faggiano: 36:57

Yeah, they though they lost what's the heart, the hard one, the heartbreaker was Georgetown.

Rocky: 37:02

Yes, yes, right.

Coach Faggiano: 37:03

That was the heartbreaker one. And then and then did they lose their one of their best offensive players for the year? I know that's right.

Rocky: 37:09

I think they lost a line receiver. I don't know if they lost a stud receiver. I I don't think so. Um I could be wrong, though.

Coach Faggiano: 37:16

The receiver, but hopefully they get them back.

Rocky: 37:19

All right, so this one is probably gonna be an obvious one, Coach. Syracuse still has not looked very good offensively. Um, Miami's dropped two games, and Miami right now is out of the beat out of the playoff, and I don't think there's a way for them to get in. Um, Miami right now, minus 28 and a half. The Syracuse have a shot to keep it close.

Coach Faggiano: 37:40

They lost SMU, right? Miami. Right. That was crazy. No, I got they gotta go. Uh my competitive side, as much as I love Fran Brown, uh, with you and I in our records here. I'm gonna have to go uh go Mi go.

Rocky: 37:54

I would say, come on, coach, pitch Syracuse. I can pick up maybe another one this week.

Coach Faggiano: 37:57

I gotta go Miami.

Rocky: 37:58

I'm peeking at the right time.

Coach Faggiano: 38:00

But I think everyone needs to make sure they're be patient with Fran Brown. I think he's an outstanding coach, he's got a great staff, they're gonna be fine.

Rocky: 38:07

Yeah, I mean, listen, Angeli went down. I mean, some of those games, if he if he didn't go down, I think this season would be a lot different for Syracuse.

Coach Faggiano: 38:14

A lot different. That position's pretty important in the quarterback spot, no doubt.

Rocky: 38:20

So, coach, none of these coaching dominoes have fell just yet, but a lot of these guys, uh that Rattley or Rettley, the guy from um SMU who was up for some of those other jobs, he um he just signed a long-term contract to stay at SMU. Obviously, Signetti signed to stay at Indiana, but you're seeing a lot of these coaches in the universities paying them now to stay, which I think is great. But now that just goes to wonder who's gonna get these big jobs? There's so many big jobs um that are open. I just saw that um the rumor now, and it and I'm not gonna take credit for it, but I did say it the day after Coach Franklin got got fired. I thought Virginia Tech would be a great spot for him. And right now I just saw on Twitter that it looks like they're working out a deal. He's gonna be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. I think it's a great spot for him. I saw these dominoes, yeah.

Coach Faggiano: 39:10

You see those posts, you don't know if it's like, is it real, is it not real? But I just I saw that, and you know, uh, you know, hey, he's getting in some good weather down there, you know.

Rocky: 39:19

Well, coach, I think it's nice to see these guys where I know you say don't some of these coaches that chase the money and they go from like maybe bowling green to a mid-tier job, and it's it's obviously it's a step up for him. But you know, the guys like Lane Kiffin were making eight, nine million dollars a year, they're happy where they're at. The go chase another four or five million dollars. I say, you know, is it worth it when you're happy where you're at and you've built some of these programs up now with the transfer portal? It's nice to see these guys staying long term now.

Coach Faggiano: 39:48

For sure. You know, I mean it's good to see some of the schools, you know, keeping their coaches there. I think that's the biggest thing. It's like having longevity. Um, I think in any any profession, you know, having the administration behind you is is so critical and important. Um, you know, and Virginia Tech's got some great, great history, you know. So um, yeah, you know, certainly wish him well. I've always very much enjoyed hearing him talk and thought he did a great job at Penn State and uh, you know, and particularly during you know during some difficult times. You know, all those, you know, uh with everything that happened there with with Coach Paterno and all the situations I had there, like those guys helped continue to keep that program a proud program. Because I always was a big Penn State you know fan as a kid, so and and a big Joe Pa fan. So certainly wish him well at the Virginia Tech.

Rocky: 40:33

Yeah, I always say be careful what you wish for when you get rid of some of these coaches, like the way that we've seen this season. So, well, coach, listen, get go get one this week. Look forward to talking to you again next week. And uh fear of the moose as always.

Coach Faggiano: 40:46

Hey, thanks for having us, and thanks everyone for listening. Fear of the moose.

Rocky: 40:50

Thanks, Coach. So happy to have Coach Faz on. I cannot believe it. It's this week and next week of the regular season for these guys, and then I'm crossing fingers. They they can win out with a chance to go to the division three playoffs. If not, hopefully they'll get a they'll get a bowl game as Coach was just talking, but one week at a time. So I want to make sure I thank all the listeners, all the followers, um, for following us across all the social media channels, iHeartRadio, uh, Spotify, you name it, uh, for following us here on Inside Utica University Football Podcast. As I say here on the Rock Pile of The Rock Pile is where dreams become reality. But before we finish, I have some news to break. The Mohawk Valley Sports Watch will return on Sunday morning this week at 9 a.m. Uh talk to a friend of the show, longtime friend of the show, Scott Petoniak's gonna join me. The alum is gonna join me. We're gonna talk some Syracuse football. We'll talk some Buffalo Bills football. As Scott's been a longtime writer for the Buffalo Bills. I'm excited to have Scott on. And I'm not gonna release the high school guys' names yet because I want them to win first. Um, but we will have some high school football coaches on on Sunday morning as well. Uh some local coaches are still playing uh here this week with a chance if if they win, they punch their ticket to the Section 3 finals. I also want to congratulate Rome Free Academy field hockey um for winning another title. Those games were supposed to be played tonight, but because of the weather, the games, the regional games were moved to tomorrow night, uh, right at Camden. I got to make sure I congratulate my sister Shannon too on a good year. Her Camden girls fell um to VVS in overtime, one nothing. It was a great game to watch. She's got a really young team. She's got an eighth-grade goalie that's really young. Um, so Shannon, if you're watching, um, as I've told you, head up. You've got a young group. Your team's going to be there for many more years uh to come. So I want to make sure I congratulate my sister uh as well. So I'll finally finish it up again. Thanks for tuning in tonight to the Rock Pile on Inside Unica University football podcast. The Rock Pile is where dreams become reality. Have a good evening, everybody.