Rocky: 0:32

Good evening, everybody. Welcome to another live edition here on The Rock Pile. It is inside Utica University Football Podcast, episode number 11. Here to airs tonight. And usually I get coach towards the end of the week, so I'll have to ask him how the early week of uh practice is going for him. I'll have them talk. They got the Mohawk Valley, the All-Star game is being held at Utica University this week. We'll talk to Coach about that. A big event for this area was we feature all the top local athletes that unfortunately their seasons came to an end. So some of the teams that are still playing don't get an opportunity to play in this game, but we'll talk to Coach about that and more. We're going to talk about coaches last week's game against Hartwick. We'll get into this week's game against Brockport, playoff implications, and much more here. Uh tonight in the background, you can't see it. I got uh the Akron and Kent State game on, two Fordham alum, both quarterbacks uh at Fordham, uh Mark Carney, the head coach at Kent State, and Joe Moorhead, the coach at uh Akron, both going head to head tonight. So I got that on in front of me, so I'm taking a peek at that game. If you're following me on YouTube, subscribe to the channel. If you got a chance to tune in last weekend to the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch, we'll be back again this week. We'll talk some hockey with Utica University head coach Gary Heenan. We'll also be talking some roam-free academy field hockey with Coach McKenzie Williams, who they just finished out their season uh in the regionals. They won another section three title. They finished 18 and one. And we'll also bring on, hopefully, both guys win this week. Uh Whitesboro's in the section three finals. Coach Um Kramer and New Hartford is in the section three finals. Hopefully, we'll get another opportunity to talk to both coaches here this weekend. So make sure to tune in on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock. So without further ado, let's bring Coach on now. Coach, how are you tonight?

Coach Faggiano: 2:25

You know, the weather, weather, a crazy day today. We're doing all right. We were able to practice inside today. So you have me in the office tonight.

Rocky: 2:34

Well, I was just gonna I asked you before we came in, I said outside our insights. I think the forecast for this weekend is gonna be a little cold. I saw maybe a chance of rain, but that's that's typical football, isn't it?

Coach Faggiano: 2:44

Yeah, I think I think Saturday out in Rochester will be okay.

Rocky: 2:49

So, coach, let's uh let's dive in. We'll spend a little bit of time on the Hartwick game. I want to talk to you about this week's Brockport game, playoff implications, the Empire 8 uh heating up and and much more. Uh so let's start defensively. You guys can't again, another great game defensively for your team. Uh, I believe you held them down to just 136 yards of off total offense that they had. So defensively, you guys are flying around again.

Coach Faggiano: 3:16

You know, uh, we had a great week of prep. Um, you know, their quarterback was up in the top half and passing in the conference. You know, uh, you know, we always talk about other scores. You know, they they were 21-21 at home versus Fisher in the third quarter. Uh Coach Rogers is doing a good job in his first year there, so we really prepared the guys and they came out flying around. I mean, three interceptions were huge, um, you know, disguising coverages. Uh, you know, the fumble recovery for the touchdown, Nick DeForest. That was a great, great football play, great hustle play. Um, you know, at one point they were 0 for 9 on third down, which is that's hard to do for any college team. So definitely liked how the defense came out to play.

Rocky: 3:53

And coach, uh the the back end as well, three interceptions for you guys, triggered by that defensive pressure you got on the quarterback. But three interceptions. Um, I think what Luke had Luke had one, IT had one, and I think Eli had the other one, right? For you guys to three.

Coach Faggiano: 4:07

They did. Yeah, we and we we and we move we dropped another. So JD almost had one, our defensive lineman almost had one. We we were teasing them he's got to sell it a little better. But uh just they just dropped it uh on a screen pass that he that he sniffed out. So again, um they played hard and just talked to the guys about you know learning from our season. Uh, we liked how we started against Alfred, we liked how we started against Morrisville, didn't like how we finished those games. And uh this is a game where we're able to play. Uh, we're able to play at a high level and then be able to get some guys in the game. You know, some seniors that were backups got to be able to play, uh, some underclassmen got a chance to play. And it's it's just good for the morale of your program when you're able to do that. And that's not an easy thing to do.

Rocky: 4:51

And coach, I was just gonna say the last couple games you've been able to get off to a really fast start on offense, which has been good because you you were able to get a lot of guys in the game that maybe haven't played as much. But talk to us about what goes into that quick start.

Coach Faggiano: 5:06

Just the confidence the offense has right now. Offensive line's playing at a high level. Um, you know, Aze averaged, and I say Aze in the offensive line, averaged seven yards a carry, you know what I mean? And our in our pass game, uh, you know, very efficient uh pass game is huge, you know. And I think being able to kind of take what the defense gives you. I mean, Tyler threw four touchdown passes, which was wild. Um, you know, our Raven pack, you know, you talk about flipping a situation, you know, we we don't feel a punt. And then we had a penalty. So I think we're on our and I think we're in our maybe our five-yard line or three-yard line, and uh we're in our Raven package, MP's out there. And doesn't he rip off a 97-yard run, which was with the whole place was going crazy. They catch him at the three, you know, get three more yards. That's the longest run uh from scrimmage uh in in school history, and then turns around a couple plays later and out of that same package threw a touchdown pass, which was nice. So that's the first we've done that. So trying to show some diversity in that that Raven package where you know people are keying in on the quarterback run and trying to do some different things in that. So that's been a good uh a good package, and I was really excited for him. And then then Nazir Smith comes in and throws a touchdown pass to Tony Dorzinski, both those guys' first career touchdowns. Um, you know, so there's there was some fun stuff to watch on offense for sure, and you know, guys came to play.

Rocky: 6:27

Coach, I know we've talked about Tyler. I mean, he's leading the league. You guys are leading the league in total offense, and he's leading the league in passing yards. With you know, he's got four more touchdowns this past week. But talk, it doesn't start. You can't talk about the yardage and all that without the play of the old line. And this was, I think, the fourth game for you guys. They haven't allowed a sack since the Cortland game, so that old line is playing better and better each week for you guys.

Coach Faggiano: 6:50

They are, you know what I mean. You know, Coach Klaus doing a great job prepping them, and and uh, you know, and then we're also trying to get rid of the ball uh quickly as well, you know, and and uh you know we'll have a challenge on our hands coming up this week. Uh, you know, probably the probably one of the best, if not the best, defensive lines we're gonna play on Saturday versus Brockport. And uh, you know, so we're we're prepping for those guys. But uh their O line's playing really well. Um, and then uh you know I got to give a shout to our special teams. We have a young man that's battled for four years and and is a senior, uh, has kind of found a role uh as a tight end in the Raven package and special teams and Vinny Bernardo. Uh, you know, they were they were bloop kicking. And so we set up a return so that he had two returns for 42 yards, the sidelines going crazy, had a couple tackles on to kick off. And it's just nice to see a guy like not everyone gets to be a you know a starter for two or three years, let alone. And so Vinny's really been great in our program, plays the cross here. Um, so we were pretty fired up for him to have a big day.

Rocky: 7:48

And triggering that O-line too, coach, you had your best rushing attack this season. I think you had 257 yards rushing, which was the best of this season. So again, um, I know another area where you always talk about the RPOs and you go with the other team gives you, but with that offensive line playing the way they did, it was nice to see you guys being able to run the ball.

Coach Faggiano: 8:06

No doubt about it. They're playing at a high level. Um, they were fired up. It was our senior day. We honored our 24 seniors. Um uh the school did a great job with that. It was our Veterans Day game. You know, we had 30 veterans and their families. Uh kudos to Nick Mayhew and Courtney Walchuski from uh GPO Federal Credit Union. Um, they had a great time, you know, in the end zone. And then we had for the first time, we had the Army National Guard uh do the do the present our colors, and then it was really unique that one of our players, Nick DeStefano, who took some time off from school to go in the National Guard, was out there. The guys were all fired up. He'll be back with us this spring and he'll be back playing football in the fall. Um so there was, you know, again, uh, like your typical Udica home game, a lot of things going on around outside the game. We had one of our professors sing the national anthem, uh, Robert Swanskowski is the director of our criminal justice program. So the guy the guy's ramped up to play.

Rocky: 9:00

And coach the one negative I'll say though, you did have the 10 penalties. I didn't want to bring it up with Jed. You're gonna bring the penalties. I gotta bring out the good and the bad, right? But uh 10 penalties down the road against good teams. Got to cut back on them, right?

Coach Faggiano: 9:12

Got to cut back on that. The two I was two of them, I was upset. You know, we gave them 30 yards on their touchdown drive at the end of the game. Wasn't really happy with those those two gentlemen. We addressed that. But um, yeah, we definitely can't be doing that. I think you know, going into Saturday, you know, you talk about a big big football games, hidden yardage, right? Whether it be field position, special teams, or penalties are definitely big. And you know, you definitely got to find a way to be the more disciplined team on uh on Saturday.

Rocky: 9:38

So Coach Ty, I was reading the the recaps of uh the games there, which your your ID guy does a nice job. But he's six in completions, he's 32 shy uh of being the all-time leader. He's second in passing yards with almost 3,000. He's 244 yards away. He's third in passing touchdowns, he's got 27, he's four away. So we I know we've talked about him all season. You've talked very highly highly of him, but again, what he's doing for you guys offensively, putting up the numbers is unheard of.

Coach Faggiano: 10:09

You know, he's he's he's he's it's just he fits us, you know. You know, Tyler and his family um had a great senior day. Uh there were a few of them out there that we were kind of smiling that. We hope it's not their last senior day. Because there's a few of them, Tyler included, that have an extra reeligibility. Um, but you know what? He's doing great in school. Uh he fits the offensive scheme. They're doing a great job. Uh Coach uh uh Zanelovics, our passing game coordinator, Coach Kowis, our OC putting him in great positions. Our receivers are doing a great job for him. And uh he's he's having a blast. You know, anytime you know, you if you get a chance to talk to him, you know, he had a rough go of it, his two stops from Albany, Robert Morris, and just you know, really hadn't had fun in football since his his Aquinas days, you know. And so uh he's having fun and getting better every week, and it's a pleasure to coach and love meeting with him every week. And uh he's having fun. He's having fun and and uh wants to play some extra football. Right now we're in a we're on a roll. Um it was great to be undefeated at home, and uh now we got to grid it out this week.

Rocky: 11:10

Yeah, so let's talk about this week. So Brackport's coming off the loss to um to Cortland last week. But as you and I were talking briefly before we came on the air, they had four turnovers, and all those turnovers resulted in touchdowns. Um and against Cortland, against good teams, you can't do that. But they did hold Cortland and was I looked at this the numbers and I said, well, geez, Cortland must have put up a lot of points. I had to read the game recap to see the turnovers, but they held them the 250 yards of total offense.

unknown: 11:36

They did.

Coach Faggiano: 11:37

I mean, Brockport's got a great defense. Um, their defense coordinator, Mike Fox, uh, played for me uh at St. John Fisher back in the day, um, was our intern when I was there, and then when I left to become the head coach here, became the defense coordinator of Fisher. Uh, he's been at Brockport quite some time with Coach Mangone. Um, and uh they've got a really good defense, no doubt about it. And uh they can make plays. They got some dudes.

Rocky: 12:02

Yeah, coach and scoring offense, you guys are both uh top top three in the league. They're averaging 37 a game. You're averaging 37.6, but defensively, they're one of the top two defenses. They they only give up about 56 yards a game on the ground. So you guys are gonna have your hands full up front. But you said their D-line's really good.

Coach Faggiano: 12:20

D-line's very good. Um, they definitely have some explosive players on offense. Um, that's gonna be a key is trying to try to limit those explosive plays. That's always a big part of football as well. And they've got those guys on number five, mana, receiver. Um, number two, the running back. I say as very those guys are really good players. They can take a ball to the house at any time. Uh the quarterback does a nice job managing the game, has got a strong arm. So uh they have a Wildcat quarterback that comes in the game as well. That gives you another challenge. Uh their offensive line's big and well coached by Coach Potter. Those guys can, they're pretty athletic. I think they're one of the most, I always say they're one of the more athletic offensive lines, uh, whether it be in their in their uh in the run game or in the pass game. So um, again, they've been pretty consistent. They've been one of the top teams in the Empire 8. And uh, I know it's their senior day, I believe. Uh kickoffs at two. Um, I think we're gonna have a big crowd there. Uh, you know, obviously a lot of Brockport alums out in Rochester, but there's also a lot of Utica, Utica alums out there as well. And you got, you know, we have a lot of guys in our team from Rochester, our starting quarterback, our head football coach, our offensive coordinator, our passaging coordinator, all from all from Rochester. So I know our families will be there, and uh, you know, you know, sure it's gonna be a great football game.

Rocky: 13:31

Yeah, coach, and you're talking about the running back Isaiah Simmons for them. They're coming in as a team averaging over 200 yards a game. And that's been one of the areas um you guys offensively outside of this past week, you know, running the butt. But again, those RPOs, if you've talked about, you go with the team gives you. But this is a team that likes to run the football, and you guys defensively have played well all year against the run.

Coach Faggiano: 13:52

You know, we have. You know, again, it's and it's all about it's all about that matchup on any given Saturday, right? And and uh, you know, we we played, you know I can think about okay, who are the top teams that we've played, you know, WJ, RPI, Early, Hobart, Cortland, and then we kind of kind of learned some lessons, good and bad, from those games that'll help prepare us for you know for this one. And I guess again, I like regardless of the score last past week. I liked how we played and uh and the attention to detail that our guys had in the game plan. That's going to be really important, you know, going into Saturday, just having that attention to detail in all three phases of our game.

Rocky: 14:29

And coach, we were talking again before we came on the air of the playoff implications. And I know again, we don't want to look ahead, but you know, you guys get it. You have the opportunity this week. If you can find a way to go to Brockport and win, you got a really good chance to get in. And as I was saying, I was looking at some of these predictions, and they got W and J who who clinched a spot. They won the president's conference. Um, and they got RPI right now as in if they can win. And those are two teams that you played early in this season and you beat both of them, and you got an opportunity again here to get a chance with a win to sneak in.

Coach Faggiano: 15:02

Well, again, that won't be the first or last time I promote our conference. And the Empire Eight is one of the best conferences in the country, and all you have to do is look at their playoff performances over the years, right? Whether it's Cortland, whether it's Brockport, whether it's whether it's when we went in, right? Everyone was surprised. No, it's like at that time we were a nine and one Empire 8 team and we beat Susquehanna. You know, we're prepared just from the wars in the Empire Eight that we that we play every week, you know. So, you know, uh, I know I've been really appreciative of you and having us on the show and getting the the the word out there and all the people that are listening appreciate everyone out there and they want to know our our our situation. And it's just like I told the players, right? We have a hard task at hand, we got to go on the road and win. But the thing is that winning on the road gets you more points. If we're fine, if we can find a way to do that, you get more points than if it was a home win. We want all the teams we played this season to win. That's a number okay, that's really important. And if we do that, I think we have a great chance of being like that last team that gets in. And uh and think that we would do really well in the tournament if we had a chance to get in there. Um if we miss it, we miss it, right? We can't control that. All we can control is is what we do on Saturday. Well, the nice thing is I was telling you earlier a couple years ago, I didn't find out till almost midnight that in the old way of doing things that we got in, uh, I think the MPI will be out. I think it was out by seven, eight o'clock on Saturday night. And so it's like you know then because they'll tell you, okay, these are the 13 teams and the pool C's that have the MPI number. They go right, and that's what's nice. It takes the human element out of it. And that's a system I know you know, every couple of years they'll look at it. I think it's a really good system being on the committee. Um, and then if we're not, if we don't get in, then on Monday we'll find out I think it's either noon or one. And I think if we're eight and two, if we're for if we're able to do that, if we're able to earn that, then we for the first time we could have a home uh ECAC bowl game because we put in free CACs, a bunch of teams put in about 10 teams, and even as the week goes on, I haven't looked this week yet, but I know some teams were adding in, like I think Fisher was gonna put in, they hadn't put in yet. But I think at the end of the day, an eight-one team with our NPI, you know, we probably we probably would earn a home game. We were very close to that a couple years ago. We were eight and two. Yeah, we didn't get the home game. They made us go out to Hobart, who was also eight and two. So you never know, but certainly um, you know, that would be huge in Utica. Let's get all of the Utica to come out to a home game here at Gaetano if we're able to get another game. But um, I know our guys are all focused on on Brockport and the game plan. Uh, they know it's a good football team. We're playing a physical football team, a well-coached team, and um you know, a couple of the best teams in the Empire Right now that are playing. And uh, you know, both of them have lost to Cortland and and want to finish their season on a positive note, you know, so it's gonna be a great game. And uh, I know our ultimately our guys want to get in that tourney, want to get it, we're gonna get a chance.

Rocky: 17:56

Yeah, as I was telling you when we were talking offline, I said I was talking to a couple guys this past week, and uh I said, man, I said if Coach Fawz and Utica can find a way to get in, they're gonna be a tough out for anybody. I don't even care who you play in the first round. If you got to go on the road somewhere, you guys will be a tough out for anybody. So hopefully you guys get that opportunity because I think your guys' conference, the teams that you guys have played, um are uh right now are positioning themselves to get in.

Coach Faggiano: 18:23

We we we played a very good schedule. Again, if you look back, you know it's funny now you can talk about that. You look back in the summer when the schedule came out, and like we didn't really pick that. The league picked it. So, okay, we get Hobart RPI, two of the best M play rate. I said, Okay, Unica football, man. We're must be getting better. We just we drew two of the top teams, right? And then, you know, uh, you know, we had lost the union game week one, and uh to pick up W and J was a great, great opportunity and a game that people were watching, and obviously they're they're having a great season since then and they've won their conference. So um, you know, uh again we get in and we look back, and it was because we played a good opponent. So my college coach always told me if you wanna you wanna you wanna win at a high level, you gotta play good people, you gotta play good opponents. So um even a lot of our alumni hit me up and like, coach, our non-conference is a little different than back in you know, 200 uh nine or ten, you know, a couple of the guys, you know, and uh so they're glad to see us do that and have some success with that. So um yeah, you know, just like I said, it's about a fun group uh to coach, and uh I don't want it to I don't want it to end. I want to keep rolling with these guys. What there's 200 and 242 teams in division three, and uh we know we don't want to turn our equipment in. And I want to be able to keep playing some football.

Rocky: 19:39

And coach, I know you you know coach Coach Main Golden this week for Brackport has had a has had a great he's done a great job at Brackport since he was an assistant there, long time OC there before become the head coach, but they've been in the NCAA tournament, um, played in some ECA uh AC Bowl games as well. So I know you'd probably know him well, but he's done a great job there.

Coach Faggiano: 19:58

Done done a nice job there. Uh himself, Coach Potter, Coach Fox, do a great job. You know, um again, I kind of you know I got to know him pretty well too. You know, he's lived lived in my hometown with Henrietta now, and his boys play for my alma mater. I both play quarterback, and and uh and Henrietta was doing great this year, you know. So I ran into a bunch of camps, I always run into him recruiting, and uh, you know, uh, you know, he's done a nice job out there, and you know, they got some great facilities and got some good football players, and our guys are excited for the opportunity. This is a game that you know when they did the schedule, we saw, okay, this would this is going to be the last game of the year. It's first time we played them last game of the year. Uh it was it was one that they were excited uh to play because they're they're they're have been consistently been one of the best teams, right? And like the last four or five years, the Cortland Brockport game's been like the conference championship, you know.

Rocky: 20:50

So coach, you got a comment here from yeah, we just swear to get to that. You got a comment from Code Red Clips 4195 says, I'll be there, coach. I go every year as I was fortunate enough to play for both Utica in 07, Brockport in 09. I refer to it as Brudica. Good luck, coach.

Coach Faggiano: 21:09

Appreciate the appreciate the note. That's wild. We got to see he left before I got here. See, if you would have waited, I would have kept him here.

Rocky: 21:18

We got the Utica Yeti. Um, let's go Pioneers, which is cool. We get to a lot of the Yeti games. My son likes to go to those. Um, coach, on the high school level, I know um this week, um, and actually Jake had asked me to help coach it, but unfortunately, I'm not going to be around else. I would have loved to. But uh, you got the high school all-stars uh your way uh tomorrow night, right at the field?

Coach Faggiano: 21:40

Uh Thursday night.

Rocky: 21:42

Thursday night. Thursday night.

Coach Faggiano: 21:44

It's Thursday night. And uh hopefully the weather, hopefully the snow melts here pretty soon. Uh the second year we've hosted the All-Star game. Uh it was great hosting it last year. Um, you know, it was also great that some of those guys uh are playing for us now. You know, Logan Hewitt, CVA, Austin DeGroe, um who played in that game. Uh, you know, a couple other guys were in the playoffs at that time who are here, but um you know, and then we're we're gonna get a uh I can't talk about that one quite yet, but we're gonna get a young man transfer that played in that game this winter. I don't know if I can talk about that one yet, but we're excited about that. So uh all I know is that when I talk to the the players, you know, and nothing against some of the other sites, but like having on a college campus, they said was way much better. Way way way better atmosphere, and they really enjoyed that. So, you know, uh, you know, kudos to Coach St. Lair, our athletic director, and and the folks here at Utica to continue to support uh you know Rich Delaberto and the folks at Elevate. They do a great job, and uh, you know, we're looking forward to hosting that for sure.

Rocky: 22:43

And coach, before we get into our picks, which I will say I I took a two-game cushion um as I had uh you had Colgate last week and um in BYU. So we'll get into those in a minute. But I do want to ask you keys for you this week. I got an idea what you're gonna say for keys to going up there on the road and winning in a tough environment. But what are what would be some keys for you guys to come out there with a win?

Coach Faggiano: 23:07

You know, I mean it's pretty much the same for me. I think it comes down to possessions. You have two two very good football teams. Um, you know, I think it comes down to possessions, it comes down to turnover margin, it comes down to how the special teams play in field position. Um, again, they have guys that are explosive, so you know, if you give them a short field, you don't want to do that, you know. And I think you know, we we learned some lessons in our in our Hobart and Cortland game that you know Brockport learned in their Cortland game as well, that you can't do those things. I'm sure they're emphasizing that as we are, and I think that just plays out. Um I think will be big. You know, always always comes back to turnover special teams. Um, the defenses, you know, we always talk about, you know, doing our very best to be the best defense on Saturday and just finding a way, finding a way to win on the road for sure. So those are always, I think, pretty consistent things, I think, uh, you know, that are key uh key elements to to big the big college football games.

Rocky: 24:03

All right, coach. So you're 29-22, and I am 31 and 20. So I got a two-game cushion on you. But you you you made some picks, I think, with your heart, and I kind of went against you weren't gonna pick against Colgate. I I I can't say you would have, but um, I unfortunately I picked one up that week on you. But uh, there's some good games this week. Um, we'll start with this one. I think Clemson's played a little bit better. I keep hearing Dabbo Sweeney rumored to um for Auburn potentially that he leaves Clemson. They're four and five at um Louisville, that's seven and two. Louisville's at home. They're a three and a half point favorite at home.

Coach Faggiano: 24:44

Oh God, that's tough. That's a tough pick here.

Rocky: 24:47

When you look at that, though, you see Clemson's only four and five. When would you ever think a Clemson team would be under 500 this late in the year? Crazy.

Coach Faggiano: 24:56

No, it's this where I was always intimidated going to this week in the first place. Because what did Clemson do last week? You're not gonna tell me I got to need to.

Rocky: 25:02

Clemson won last week. They won last week.

Coach Faggiano: 25:04

All right. I'm gonna go Clemson. I'm gonna go Clemson then.

Rocky: 25:09

I'm only gonna go Louisville because I like Jeff Braum. I think Jeff Brown's gonna get one of these SEC jobs. Um so I'm kind of pulling for him, but I like Dabo too. I think Dabo's kind of gotten a raw deal a little bit. So you're gonna go Clemson.

Coach Faggiano: 25:23

It's a different time right now.

Rocky: 25:24

It is big time, big time. All right, this should be a good game, too. Notre Dame at Pittsburgh. Um Pitts 7-2, Notre Dame 7-2 right now. Notre Dame they have in the college football playoff. They just did the announcement tonight of the of the 12 teams. Love Marcus Freeman. I think Pitts went under the radar, but Pitts a 12 and a half point dog at home. Any chance Pitt can pull one off.

Coach Faggiano: 25:50

Uh I'm gonna go heart strings, go Notre Dame. I've always been Notre Dame fan.

Rocky: 25:54

Yep, I'm with you. I like Notre Dame. I love Marcus Freeman, even though he's a buck guy. I do love Marcus Freeman, though. So I'm gonna go Notre Dame. All right. This one, I think Alabama's playing as good as anybody, Coach. Oklahoma's 7-2. That Venables defense against Alabama at home. Alabama's a six and a half point favorite. I'm gonna pick Alabama. I do like them this week. I think they're playing as good as anybody. Who you got?

Coach Faggiano: 26:18

I'll go Alabama as well.

Rocky: 26:22

It's funny how Kalen DeBoer lost that first game of the year to Florida State, and they've won eight in a row, and now they look like the Alabama. I think everybody thought they were gonna be coming into uh the season. And they wanted to throw Kalen De Boer out at Alabama after losing one game.

Coach Faggiano: 26:37

I just think it's so it's so hard to go undefeated. You know what I mean? And it's so hard to win college football games. And then these these teams, you know, this isn't like they got the same team for the last two or three years. They got all these new guys out there and they're learning how to play together, they're learning their strengths and weaknesses. You know, I think of us, you know, I think it took us a little bit to kind of figure out who we were and you know what what our best play calls were on offense and defense, and what coverages were the best for our defense, what what plays on offense were the best. It takes your time to find your team out.

Rocky: 27:05

And coach, I think like the some of the conferences, even at the division one level, and I'll we'll use the umpire eight, but some of the conferences that may not get all the recognition, they might not get all the exposure. If you lose two games, it's almost like, well, you're out of it compared to these other conferences that are you know like the SEC may have a team with three losses, four losses that may get in the playoff over a one or to non-power four. So I think it's crazy how they talk about that, you know, every year with these conferences.

Coach Faggiano: 27:34

It's it's at least at least at least in ours, at least in division three, it's not it's a it's a numbering system and it is what it is, which I like that.

Rocky: 27:41

You guys have a good system. I do like that. So this one's good. Iowa should have beat Oregon last week. Iowa played really good last week against Oregon. Dan Lennon found a way. Now they go to Lincoln Riley and USC, who many think that if USC finds a way to win out, they could get into the playoff at 10 and 2. They still got to play Oregon. Um USC minus six and a half. I should have go with USC. I like Lincoln Riley. I think they find a way here to beat Iowa.

Coach Faggiano: 28:09

I agree. Go on USC.

Rocky: 28:11

Hey, we're both agreeing on that.

Coach Faggiano: 28:12

When I was watching that game, I was gonna beat who did you pick last week? Did you have Oregon or no?

Rocky: 28:17

Uh I did have Oregon last week.

Coach Faggiano: 28:19

Yeah, okay. Just hold my breath on that one.

Rocky: 28:22

Well, I I usually come down here on Sunday nights to just kind of set things up and start going through the picks. I'm like, did I have that? What games did I pick up on, Coach? I thought I picked BYU last week. All right, let's see. What do we got here? I got two left for us. This will be a good game. I think Texas right now. I think Arch Manon's playing really well here the last couple weeks. Texas has a good shot. If they win out, get to the SEC championship game to get in. Georgia's finding ways, Coach, to win games late. They've been close. They always find a way. They're at home, minus six and a half. Any chance Texas goes in and beats Georgia?

Coach Faggiano: 28:57

No, I go Georgia.

Rocky: 28:59

I uh I'm with you. I like I do like that.

Coach Faggiano: 29:02

The way they're playing. Again, what you know, after their loss, you know, the way they're playing, I'd be surprised if they're not in the four. When it all gets going, they're out in the final four.

Rocky: 29:12

Yeah, I would agree. I would agree big time. All right, the last one, Syracuse is off this week. So I got to go with Colgate and Lehigh, two two local guys. I love Coach Cahill. Again, Colgate put Coach, they scored, what, 40 last week and lost to Lafayette? I think I think it was like 59 to 42. So Colgate can score. Um, and I think they'll find a way to score against Lehigh. But coach, I think this Lehigh team could win a national championship. I only put this game on because I know you're gonna pick Colgate because you're not gonna pick against Coach Fitz. So I could pick up another game here. Do you realize I got a strategy this madness here when I do that? You know what? When you're the host of the show, I got things going through my head. I can't put Syracuse because they're on a bye.

Coach Faggiano: 30:00

With the first four or five weeks when I had a couple games on you, that wasn't gonna last. So for multiple reasons. But I'm I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna be consistent. I'm going with I'm going with the gate and the upset. All right. I listen, I'm very happy that with Coach Cahill and what they're doing to Lehigh and Coach Hunt on his staff, they're doing an amazing job. Um, but we're gonna go we're gonna go with my guys at the gate and the upset.

Rocky: 30:22

All right, and that's at Colgate, too. I'm trying to think Saturday. What do we got going on Saturday? I don't know if I want to go sit in the cold on Saturday. I think we're gonna go watch Coach Kramer in uh New Hartford. They play at three o'clock on Saturday uh at the dome. And um, I know we talked about it, Coach, but a lot of those local guys that that you know well that are still playing, uh Whitesboro's playing for the Section 3 finals against ESM. It'd be nice to see these local guys uh win another one to keep it.

Coach Faggiano: 30:49

Is it it's Dodgebill, Dodgeville as well, right? Dodgeville, Whitesboro, and Northford on Mone.

Rocky: 30:54

Uh no, uh Dodgeville, yes, they're playing Lowville, who uh Lowville's the top C, but it's those two, and then uh Whitesboro ESM and New Hartford and uh ITC. So should be three good games.

Coach Faggiano: 31:07

Yeah, bring it home, bring it home to the valley, guys. Let's go.

Rocky: 31:10

Well, coach, listen, I'll be uh I'll be fouling the game on Saturday. Bring it home, and then hopefully we'll get a chance next week to talk playoffs and where you're going. If not, if you're in an ECAC game, we'll talk that, but let's hope we can take care of business this Saturday on the road at Brockport.

Coach Faggiano: 31:24

Appreciate you. Fear the moose.

Rocky: 31:26

All right, coach. Stay stay warm. So that was Coach Fazziano. I've had a really good time uh talking UC football and um always great to talk with him. He's he's always so full of energy and uh just just really enjoy it uh with him and best of luck. If they get in, I I said this on the air with him a few times. If they get into the tournament, I do not care who they play, they are going to be a tough out for somebody. You're not gonna want to see Utica University on your line of who you're playing if you're a playoff team because they are going to score uh and they will be fun to watch. But they got to take care of business uh on Saturday against a really good Brockport team that's really good defensively. They're really good on offense, so it should be a really good game Saturday at Brockport. Make sure to tune in Sunday morning at 9 o'clock. We're gonna talk UC Hockey with head coach Gary Heenan, who they are home this week on. They're home Saturday night at the Ald. I will be there. Um matter of fact, I think they play Brockport this Saturday. So UC Football plays Brockport and UC Hockey does as well. Um they're home on Saturday. I'll have Coach on at about 9.10. And then around 9.30, I'm gonna talk to McKenzie Williams. She is the head field hockey coach here uh at Rome Free Academy, who they just uh won another Section 3 title. They were just got beat this past weekend uh in the regional finals. Um they finish out 18-1. So we'll talk to Coach and more here Sunday morning on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch that returned last week. So I'm happy to be back Sunday morning. So, on behalf of the Rock Pile tonight, thanks to Coach Faziano here for inside Utica University Football. I appreciate everybody tuning in tonight. Stay warm. We'll see you Sunday morning right here on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch.