Rocky: 0:31

Welcome back, everyone, to the final episode of Inside Utica University Football. I'm Little C as always your host. I'll have Coach Blaise Faziano here in just a little bit. Excited to uh to talk to Coach. I felt like I kept saying this throughout the year, but I was like, uh, we got two more weeks left, one more week left, and here we are now at the final show uh of the season. It's been a really fun show. Happy that uh coach uh allowed me to do this, and I know I'll get into all that as we as we go. If you're following on YouTube, make sure you hit subscribe, share the channel. I will say this, very happy with uh with the shows um across all the shows throughout the season, all social media platforms, well over 40,000 uh viewers, and that's across all the platforms. Um iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts for the podcast listeners, and then social media. Uh we were about four or five thousand views in all of them a week, which is fantastic. So for the first time doing it, hopefully we'll be able to uh do it again next season uh with Coach. So let me bring Coach on. I'm experimenting tonight with a new software. So Coach, let me uh let me just flip us here. Now let me flip this. There we go. We're gonna roll with this one tonight. We're gonna roll with the fear of the moose up on top tonight. And uh well, coach, it's uh we're down to the last one. How'd that happen? I have no idea. Um football, I'm sure it goes even faster for you once you're into the season. You guys officially start, and the year just goes by so fast. But imagine once you're in the middle of it like you guys were, it goes fast.

Coach Faggiano: 2:12

It really does. You get in that routine, you know, and you're like in your own little bubble and uh and you love it. It takes a little bit to kind of transition, you know, and uh all of us going back and making sure we're good husbands and uh and uh and and having a good holiday here with Thanksgiving, and then quickly, you know, it's it's it's no rest for the weary, right? You gotta go recruit, gotta go hit the pavement.

Rocky: 2:35

So, coach, let's talk about the the game last week. And as I said to you a little bit before we came on live, as you got you guys got down behind early here to start the game, and you guys battled back as expected. You guys have done it all season, but you guys got off to a little bit of a slow start. You guys were down, I think it was 19-7 at half.

Coach Faggiano: 2:54

It was, you know, it we're in a real big kind of momentum. There were a couple of big momentum shifters in the game where we needed to swing it back our way. And like one was where we had a great punt, we punt it down to the one, and then we let them drive, and we let them out of the black zone, and then they went and scored before half, right? And like that's the thing that we like to do, right? That's why we defer. Hey, let's let's score before half. We're getting the ball to start the second half, and um but the the game uh lived up to all expectations as far as like two very good teams. Um, it really felt like an NCAA playoff game, and it and it's a game, you know, as we is, you know, not to not to not include some games, but if you were to like highlight four or five games from the season and it really kind of go at those films that really kind of felt like playoff games, and those are those games that in some cases we were able to win, you know, whether it'd been a Brockport or WNJ, and then some places we lost, like a Hobart or in this game with Rowan. So uh, but it was a great, it was a great game, you know, great game. Like we we're coming firing back, and then we had again another not like from the offensive perspective, like we get a great surprise onside kick, Nico Duarte. He's like so good at that, right? They're they were back at 15 yards and almost does it like it's easy, right? Like the ball at 11 yards just pops up into his arms, and then we and then there we didn't take advantage of that, right? We had a turnover right there. So that was a tough scenario. There's another time in the third quarter where we're driving down and we gave it over on down. So like next thing you know, we feel like all right, we got to throw the ball a lot more to kind of get back in the game. And geez, we did. We did. And you know, you hate to say it, and you talk to the guys like you have to play above a call, but man, we were you know, I we may need to get into the replay, I think, in the umpire. I think in our conference call and that call for it, um, because we had a good shot of uh uh Lorenzo Velez, and geez, I really thought he was in. Both feet were in to win the game. You know, we're out there to go kick the extra point, but it was a great back and forth game. You know, they blocked the field goal, we blocked the field goal an extra point. Um you know, they're a good physical team. Their number 28 was a you know good running back, who's tough to tackle, um, and uh you know, just kind of kind of slipped away from us. But it was it was a heck of a football game. We had a nice crowd, and uh, you know, certainly a game that you know leaves a bittersweet taste in your mouth. You know, it's one that the guys that are coming back, which we have a lot of guys, we could talk about that too. A lot of guys coming back like you know, on our field at home, first time to watch the other team get the trophy. That's a tough one, right? And that's just great, great motivation uh into the offseason is what it is for all of us, for our coaches and for our players. No different than like Grove City. We go down to Grove City, they kind of kicked our teeth in. We got our act together, you know, we we we put the work in and fouled it up with the 10-win season, right? So, like, you know, certainly um uh very frustrating and and you know, love our seniors and a tough way for them to finish, but it was a great game, no doubt.

Rocky: 5:47

Coach, your your defense on the back end, the secondary, Eli Douglas, and Mason were all over the place for you guys. And I think you got you held them under 200 yards uh passing. Talk to us about those two. Big big days for both of them.

Coach Faggiano: 5:59

They did. They played really well. You know, they they were certainly had a game plan to run more on the perimeter in the first half. It was more on the boundary in the second half. They kind of ran more to the field. Um, we did a much better on defense in the second half. We held them to the one score, um, you know, to kind of give ourselves a chance, you know, fighting chance there in the second half. So, you know, defense kind of cleaned some things up there from the first half and and uh and gave us a chance to win.

Rocky: 6:24

Your three-headed monsters on the outside didn't disappoint either. You know, big players make big plays in big games and Antonio nine catches for a buck 23, Logan had 10 catches for a buck oh eight, Bryce had 11 catches for 58. He broke the single season record, an Empire 8 record, um, with a thousand twenty-six uh 91 catches for over a thousand yards. So those three guys didn't disappoint at all.

Coach Faggiano: 6:48

Not at all. No, I played amazing, played tough physical, um, you know, great effort. Uh, you know, ANO, we didn't we didn't run the ball as much as we would have liked Aze when he was great in protection. Uh the runs he had did really well. Um, yeah, it was it was a battle. It was it was uh on our turf, and and and you know, our guys got the feel of what, hey, like you need our coaches too. Like, all right, who are you playing? You don't know who you're playing, boom. You got three tapes, you got three films, and you got to figure it out in that week, right? And that's really like playoff football, right? Um, you know, and uh, you know, we're uh we're gonna be better for it for sure. Like you look back on the season and the teams we've played in the regular season and roan and the postseason. Um, you know, that's certainly a higher level of caliber than you know, say 10 years ago of teams we're playing overall, week in and week out. And uh, you know, you want to be great, you got to play great, great opponents. And I think we've certainly done that, and and the guys kind of know, hey, this is what it looks like when when you can football, when we're on and we're playing well, these are some mistakes. Like we had some really bad penalties. There were some offsetting penalties that I was mad about. We're like, we need to walk away so they get the 15-yard penalty. So some things that you know certainly you know we want to work on, but you know, those kind of games are the ones that you that are gonna make you better, right? Sometimes you learn the most when you take a tough loss, sometimes, unfortunately.

Rocky: 8:10

And Coach Tyler ended up setting the records for completions yards and uh 33 touchdowns, and he had over 67% completion. He threw for 357 and three scores, and I know we've talked about him all year, but when you put him with those three guys you have on the outside and and uh in Logan in that mix, man, that group's been special all season for you guys.

Coach Faggiano: 8:31

Well, no doubt, you know, and and and uh so glad that Tyler and his family decided uh to come to Utica last winter. Um he's a great young man, he really fits us. Um you know, we tease him, tough Polish kid that fits in in Utica, New York, and and uh you know, certainly control the football, but so many other levels. Like he's a strong leader, he's a confident guy. Um, you know, and it was great. We you know, for those that are wondering, um, you know, him and I had a meeting today and and told me that he'll be back for 2026. And you know, we're really excited about that, you know. Um you know, with the the funny division one rules versus division three, you know, he's got to work a little something out with the student teaching, kind of break it up so he can have that that 10th semester with us. And and then we're hoping that that will kind of trickle a domino effect with Logan Frederick, who has another year left. That would be great. Um Mason uh Mason Payton, uh number 15, starting corner, and uh and uh Gavin Gretz, we're all guys that have that extra year, and we certainly want all those guys to take it. You know, so so the first thing I told Teller is now it's your job to help us, you know, recruit our fifth-year guys and make sure they stay, and then um you know help us uh in the in the recruiting process. So that was some good news today for sure.

Rocky: 9:41

And coach, talk to us a little bit too. You got your seniors on the O-line. I think you have Carson and uh and Malzon. Uh I think are your only two seniors. I could be wrong, but I think they're the only two seniors. But that group again, sixth consecutive game, and you had a lot of guys in units that were recognized with the Empire 8 awards here at the end of the season. But talk to us another game where the quarterback was upright the entire game.

Coach Faggiano: 10:02

You know, and like that we threw it, we threw it 63 times, which is a bit, right? But you know, um, and not sacked. I mean, they're and they're and they it wasn't because Rowan wasn't blitzing and twisting us, you know what I mean. So uh, you know, Carson, you gotta love these guys. You know, not everyone's built to have patience and wait, right? And it's just a great lesson for young guys, you know what I mean? That you know, whether they want to leave or transfer or decide not to play, like at you know, at any place. And you know, Carson is his first year starting at center and did a great job at center. Great, great job. You know, physical therapy major. Mulzan, this was his first year, and he kind of you know, kind of played all over. He played some center, some guard, you know, it really at the end of spring, we kind of made that decision that, you know what, this guy's gonna be our starting right tackle, you know, had a had a great year. Um, you know, uh, you know, gonna miss those guys. They really, you know, the fact that they made the national team of the week was amazing. Like we have a uh we haven't put it out yet, but there's a picture. We have a bulletin board outside of locker room, old school bulletin board, and Lambert Jordan gives us like a little card stock color when the graphics come out. And this has to be by far the most decorated team in our program's history between the D3 National Team of the Week, the Empire Eight players of the week was pretty amazing. The records that we've broke, um our defense ended being one of the top defenses in the country, and then the Empire Eight. Um, and usually that's something that just Brockport's always been, right? Or Cortland, and we and we were right there, I think, either first or second in some categories, but like, you know, really came to play. And just to, you know, I think overall, you know, you got to go back and very quickly look at like last year, you know, five and five, very disappointing. You know, why did you know we know one more win and we're going to another bowl game. Um, you know, and but it really like this team, and I have to mention, you know, uh, it was a tough way to end last year as far as you know, we lost one of our own, you know what I mean? And and our guys really, you know, dedicated this season to James, to James Sallas, and and and kind of did it in our own kind of, I don't want to say quiet, but our own classy way with the with the with the approval of his parents, you know. And like, I don't know if you saw, but all the little hash marks on the 12 had orange U around them on our field, right? Uh, we locked arms every home game and made sure that RPA announcer read a thing about James and and um and and for mental health, you know, and like you know, when we beat Fisher to kind of salvage you know a five-and-five year and still maybe get a bow game, and then like that prayer with Fisher at the end of the game, that was a pretty emotional game, uh, you know, because we had lost James and right around that time. And just the way our guys played and came together, like I felt I told him in the team meeting, I said you do the football's back to where it's supposed to be. And that you know, we finished second in the Empire Eight. Uh, we got our, you know, again, continued to make history, right? And just we kind of like chip away at it, right? It's not all at once, but we we uh you know finally earned the opportunity to host an ECAC game, which was a big deal for us. And and our school did a great job with that. You know, kudos to uh Coach Saint and Coach Renane and our administration did a great job and just you know didn't go our way. Um, but when I saw like a lot of the young guys after the game or guys that are coming back, like it just seemed like they know that that this is a good football team and we're gonna build off of this season. And it was it was great to get back to the eight wins and great to get back to postseason. And now they know that fine, you know, we're talking about you know, not just having a successful season, but the difference between okay, X, Y, and Z, how do we how are we a top 25 team? How are we a top 10 team in the country? Which is exciting to talk about, you know, and and it's not just talk, like based upon who we played this year and how we played, the guys know that that's it's not just hoping and wishing to be, it's like we know that's something that's attainable.

Rocky: 13:49

So, coach, when you look back at the season as a whole, what's the first word or maybe the emotion that comes to mind for you? I gotta say fun.

Coach Faggiano: 13:59

These these guys were fun, they brought juice to practice. I mean, we're out there on a Wednesday, it's pouring sideways rain. Um, I think that week we were playing someone that we were pretty confident we were gonna beat. And our guys are out there singing and dancing and working hard. There's a lot of fun. We've got some guys with a lot of energy, like the Nick DeForest and Matt Polaris, to name a couple guys that'll be back. Like the energy they bring to practice, it just is contagious, you know, and spreads throughout the team. Um, you know, uh the way that they, you know, if you were to talk to like a couple of the freshmen who played, like an Austin DeGrode or Christian Parmone, and you hear how those guys talk about the upperclassmen and being a part of it, like, you know, um though those guys are emotional, the Farold Hines, emotional after this last game. Like, you know, they they're they're hungry for more, you know, and so it definitely was fun. And um, you know, at times we were a little, uh, I would say a little young. Uh I didn't want them to know that, but I think at times that showed a little immaturity, we gotta mature more. That starts with me, you know, holding those guys accountable. Um, but uh it's gonna be fun. Like there's so many guys when we got in the bus to WJ that never played and never had an overnight trip. And I did not tell them that, Rock. Okay. Just go play the game, right? And um, you know, uh, that's gonna be a wild week one game, right? WJ coming here. So, you know, it'll be interesting. You know, we've got some uh, you know, it's the same schedule next year, um, obviously flipped home and away. And those home games are teams like WJ, Hobart, Cortland, Brockport, right? So, like, all right, giddy up, you know, giddy up. It's uh, you know, these we talked about the New York D3 football. So um, you know, our young guys, I was so excited. I was so pleased with a difference this year is we had seven JV games, you know, so the people behind the scenes know that. But I mean, that's that's at least three or four more games than most schools, and then some schools maybe don't play JV or only play a game or two. So there's some really good young talent that's gonna come up from the JVs and and uh and fill some holes on guys, you know, uh offense, defense, and special teams-wise for sure. Um so that was tough because you know, you they're all the things that that we want, right? We want to order rings and we want the championship poster, like you can see behind me here. You know, we want to be in the Utica State, we're not gonna be in the Utica St. Patrick's Day parade. I got the email the other day. We're not walking because we didn't win the game, right? So that those are things we want for our program. So we're definitely gonna be hungry uh as we go into the offseason. But like right now, they all know they know me. It's like, you know, get home for Thanksgiving, spend time with your family. Um, you know, but they they know 20 20 26 has already started for them with our team meeting on Monday that we had. And they'll get in the weight room next week a little bit too.

Rocky: 16:50

So, coach, I know we talked, you had a lot of defining moments this season for you guys. Is there a certain game or a moment you feel shifted the momentum for the season? Oh, that's a good question.

Coach Faggiano: 17:01

Um, I I I can't say that. I think no doubt that the W and J and RPI games collectively gave us some confidence, right? Um, and you know, so we were, you know, maybe some younger teams, you know, you know, go into some place and be intimidated, right? And we did, and we came to play, you know what I mean? And yeah, I can't I can't say that. I think the biggest thing I talk to the guys about is football. We go from feeling like the Brockport win, being like on cloud nine, amazing win on the road, all these crazy conditions, and then the right that you know you talk about the agony of defeat at home. We got to win that home game, we got to find a way to win that game. Um, you know, but that's that's what football. That's what football teaches all of us. And you know, but uh yeah, I don't know if there was one really defined moment. They they they knew uh after that second loss that we needed to win out to have a chance to go to the tournament or have a chance to um have a home game right from the beginning. So it was no surprise. And they knew it was out of our hands, and and they knew that Hopkins losing didn't help us, and they knew Cortland and RPI losing didn't help us, right? Maybe we would have snuck in there, which would have been amazing. But at the end of the day, we needed to beat Hobart, we needed to win the conference, right? Needed to beat Cortland, and um, you know, I think again, as you look at those games, um, and any given Saturday in the Empire Eight, you'd better come to play, right? I told him, I said, Morrisville, they get the ball back, and they're technically that was to drive to win the game, and we just stopped them, right? And Morrisville didn't win the game this year. They're a really good football team, they have good players, just they had a tough year. It happens, you know. Within Hartwick, we come to play, we play better, and then we have the result. We, you know, if you think you're gonna do that, you know, you certainly don't. But if you execute at a high level and do things the right way, all of a sudden you look at the scoreboard and you're like, wow, look at that. You know, and and I really think our guys learned a lot. I think that's one thing I would talk about. These guys did learn a lot about even like Tyler, first time in the Empire 8. Um, you know, and he he learned that that teams come to play, and um, you know, it's gonna be pretty exciting to see how you know he's gonna improve uh in our football program, and which you can still how do you improve from being offensive player of the year? Well, he's a very competitive guy and you know has a little bad taste in his mouth after you know losing that bowl game that we that we uh had an opportunity to win. So um, you know, I think he a lot of our guys learned, but hadn't played uh in big games, you know. We played in some big games that we can learn from and taking the offseason.

Rocky: 19:40

Hey coach, you might have answered this question already. I think you're gonna you guys are gonna graduate your uh 21 or 22 seniors, I think is what my number was. I don't know if that sounds right or if I'm close. You're close. Um I know you talked about the team and it was a fun group, but is there is there something, a certain thing you'll remember the most about just a senior class? Um, you know, again, the season that you guys had, you broke a lot of records. Offense was one of the was the best in the conference, defense was right there. Um, all the awards. Is there something you'll remember most about this class?

Coach Faggiano: 20:11

I mean, they're just some tough, gritty kids. I mean, Bryce Palmer, you know what I mean? Like you felt like you, you know, just fighting through this season, you know, uh to put together a full season, um, you know, kind of wriggled with injuries over the last couple years, you know. Um, it was just great to see him even through the season, fight through some things. I think Antonio Chanferrani coming back, you know, from tearing his ACL, right? And coming back from that, a lot of people would say, oh, you know, you want to be a cop or a trooper, you know, you got to take care of your body, you know. And I I just I don't like when people like, what are you talking about? Like we do all these crazy things in our lives. We go skiing, we get on a we get on a snowmobile, we do all these dangerous things, and people for some reason are worried about football. Like, these guys need football. They have an extra year of eligibility. They know if they come to my office, I'm gonna tell them you got to find a way to use it, right? Because you're not playing football when you're old and gray, like me. There's no pickup football. And so every time you get a chance to play this game, you know, you want to you know take advantage of it. So I think I think of those two guys for sure. Um, I think you know a guy, uh, an unsung hero guy like a Vinny Bernardo, right? That like was a linebacker, wasn't working at linebacker, asked to move the tight end, and then his senior year earns a spot in a Raven package, which was very successful, was a very, very good special teams player. I would tease him and call him like he's my Vince Papal out there. Um but like you know, he had so you know just a great got to carry the flag out uh you know um at the last game, like just tremendous human being. Like that's gonna make him such a better person in life that that he stuck it out his four years, even though he wasn't always a starter and then had a senior year to remember, yeah, for sure. Um, you know, you know, certainly again, one of the one of our best programs we've had in our school history, right? Uh, one of our best teams, I should say. Uh, I can remember just so many alumni going, Coach, it's not the old days as far as the non-league schedule. Holy cow, you're playing some guys, right? And then even in the bowl game, a couple of the guys are like, what happened to when when Ithaca was the one seed, and then we had to go play Ithaca as the last seed, right? And then we finally go and get a home game, and now that's now they want to change how they do things, and that's fine, which you know they're there happened for a reason, right? Like, yeah, I th I told the Rowan coach I thought he should have had a home game. Like, what do you got to do to get a home game in the ECAC? I'm gonna call and tease them a little bit, like you know, and then you see you know, Hobart and Brockport got home games, and the coach from Rowan like throw the N-Jack a bone here, right? We want those guys to put in for ECACs, but sorry, I'm speaking my mind a little bit more than maybe I've made normal, but maybe made normally. But um, yeah, so we so we uh right two years ago we're eight and two, and they send us to Hobart. Like, what do we got to do? So, so we were we were we were certainly excited and fired up to host. And um, you know, again, we're we're programs in a good place, and the kids are excited about where we're headed. They'll talk talk with a few of them in the office today.

Rocky: 23:15

And coach, I think you already got this this one too. This this answer to my question. But as far as the you know, the program growth, as you said, you told the team that you know the program's back, we're heading in the right direction after this season, and you know, you set the bar this season and so high coming in next year. If that group coming in next year has got a lot of uh lot of work to do to even build from there, but what identity did this team establish for future you next year's team and even recruits coming in? You know, what did this team set for for those kids coming in?

Coach Faggiano: 23:45

You know, I just think you're dealing with adversity, right? And just when if you were to hear, you know, after every practice, uh we have one of our players talk to the team, and just the the amazing things and words of wisdom they have for the younger players, you know, and they've all had those tough times, their freshman year and sophomore year, and they're here they are as a junior, senior starter, um, or playing for the first time or contributing, and and just encouraging those younger guys to stick with it when it seems tough, when it's tough, you're getting your butt beat in the scout team, and we've all been there, you know. And I think that's that's what makes our guys different, you know, just uh just watch how much they care uh about each other and the program. And and you just you can see it when you hear them talk about the program, whether it be after practice or or in our uh our Friday night meetings, which are pretty special, you know. Um, I think that's it's always about relationships, you know, and it's the relationships that they ultimately that they have with each other, you know, that could they play with each other and and they have with the coaches.

Rocky: 24:42

So and coach, I know every year is is different for the for the coaches, and I wanted to ask you this one. Did you learn anything different about yourself this year with this group? I know you you're the old guy, right? You said at the start of the season coaching. Did you learn anything different this year?

Coach Faggiano: 24:56

You know, I thought I I try in the special teams meeting, which I've been running, uh, I just thanked the group, you know, because the last few years I've had someone else on staff from Coach Lemmon, who's the OC at Fairmont State now, Joey Lapani, who's back in his high school at Hilton, Brandon Woods that's coaching at Bethune Cookman, those were our last three special teams coordinators. And that that certainly takes a lot off your plate. And I was always involved, right? But there's a lot of work in there. And so um having to take that on so that you know uh offensive and defensive coaches didn't have to worry about it as much, although they all have a part, was something I really enjoyed, you know what I mean, and enjoyed uh you know, working with those guys and and the game plans week to week. And then our young grad assistants certainly helped me with the game, you know, making the scot reports every week. And you know, that was something for me to get back to doing is at the end of the day, I love coaching. You know, there was uh one year where I was more of a manager type guy and walk around and coach the running backs, I was miserable. And uh my good friend John Snell, who's the chair of the NCAA committee, him and I were talking at a stag bowl. He's like, at the end of the day, he goes, as the head coach, what do you do best and what makes you happy? He goes, if you're happy, everyone else is happy. And you surround yourself with people that do the things that you're not as good at. And some of the best advice I have ever got now from any coach. And so I enjoy coaching that D-line and they played their butts off this year. They really did. I enjoy coaching the special teams uh more so this year uh than I had in other years. Uh we you know, we changed our practice schedule so I could coach the long snappers, but then also still coach special teams because the way we used to do it, I was never at the stations because that's when we would do long snappers. We actually changed our whole practice schedule around um and uh kind of stole it from the guys down at Colgate. I don't mind saying that. Uh and kind of liked how they were doing things. And um so I think that's something that I learned. I just enjoy working with the guys and love going to practice.

Rocky: 26:57

So, Coach, what would you like to say for the Pioneer Nation, the Pioneer fans this year? And and your your fans have been outstanding, whether it's at the games, on social media that's backed you guys, supported you guys, even on this show. I think I've gained more fans when I see people now. They say, You're the you're the guy that was doing the show with Coach. What would you like to say to all those people?

Coach Faggiano: 27:18

You know, you know, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You know, we got you know, Pioneer Nation, our our 12-man tailgate, our parents, our family, our community support. You know, we had tremendous community support with our corporate sponsorships and the partnerships we have with some of the local groups and just creating memories. I just saw the I didn't realize we were gonna be in the new first source commercial. So make sure you check out the that's you know, it's it's it that was wild. That was wild. So Utica Football is in the first source commercial. I didn't know that was gonna happen. Um, you know, I think you know, uh just thank you. Like we have such a great game day atmosphere, we have such a great tailgate. Our parents do a great job. We had a group of moms that were taking pictures. We have to be the most photographed team in Division III, and so thank you to that squad of moms, did a great job. Um, you know, uh, I was talking to Gavin Gretsch's mom today because we want Gavin to come back. And I said, well, we're not just recruiting the right guard, we're recruiting one of our 12-man parents. You know, she was so she so she was laughing. So um, and then all the alums, like you, I can't tell you guys enough that you guys that are listening that when you shoot me that text on Friday night or Saturday morning, like um, her Facebook message, like that's that's I live, that's what I live for, are those things, and that's why I coach. So um, you know, guys, keep doing that. You know, keep doing that for sure.

Rocky: 28:38

So, coach, I'm gonna have to we're I I have games for us to pick, and I'm gonna have to shoot Jim next week, and I'm gonna post them up on social media who wins this thing because we are deadlocked. We are 30. That's wild. I saw that we're tied.

Coach Faggiano: 28:52

There's no way I would have bet that I'd be tied. Not that I'm saying that you did a bad job, Rock. I'm just saying that knowing myself, and I don't pay attention. You pay attention, okay? I don't pay attention.

Rocky: 29:02

Well, that's what makes me feel even worse that I pays attention.

Coach Faggiano: 29:06

It's straight, it's straight luck, okay? Maybe I catch the game.

Rocky: 29:09

We both won the Syracuse game. We both won that game. I think they didn't cover the the the 37 and a half or whatever it was. But I got a lot of big games. It's rivalry week here. Uh I know my household will be on separate couches on Saturday for Michigan, Ohio State. Um, Old Miss is uh the egg bowl, old Miss Mississippi State, all the hype around Lane Kiffen. A lot of people are saying maybe Lane's the biggest troll right now, getting more attention. He's gonna say he's gonna stay at Ole Miss. Um this one's at Mississippi State. Mississippi State is getting seven and a half at home. You think the distractions are too much and Mississippi State gets them? Nah, I'll go old miss. Yeah, I'm uh I'm with you. I I say you think he's gonna leave or you think he's gonna stay?

Coach Faggiano: 29:55

Listen, that that's about as predictable as, right? Like some of the moves that he's made, right? And some of I I watched a thing on him recently about that. Pretty wild, you know, and I think it's just so hard to like you don't know. People know it's him and his family, right? And there's different reasons why you make those kinds of decisions. A lot of times it's that you're trying to do what's best for your family, or they want to live in a certain part of the country, or you know, they have family somewhere. I like to think, I'd like to think I, you know, and maybe I'm wrong, but that that goes into decisions, and it's not just about the money, but they're throwing around a lot of money these days.

Rocky: 30:31

At this point, though, for him, it's like, how much more money can you get? He's got Ole Miss going to the playoff. I think what would be even worse is if they win this game and after the game they announce and say he's got to go talk to the team and say, guys, I'm leaving. I'm going to LSU. And by the way, they're going to play LSU next year, Ole Miss. And it's like, he might not even coach the team through the playoffs. I'm like, I don't know how you do that, but again, I'm hearing old or LSU's gonna offer him 90, 95 million dollars. I think he stays, but that's a lot of money.

Coach Faggiano: 31:04

Man, that's crazy. You can't even imagine the amount of money that's in college football right now. That's crazy.

Rocky: 31:11

No. All right, the other one, Georgia, Georgia Tech. So Georgia Tech just had the loss to Pitt. So Narduzzi had said that uh he didn't care if Notre Dame beat him by 100. He needs to win the last two, which he did. Pitt was ready to play last week against Georgia Tech, but they're a 13.5 point underdog at home to Georgia. That's a lot of points in a rivalry game. Um, I don't know what happened to them last week. They didn't look very good against Pitt. Maybe they're overlooking you know that game because of this game. I don't know if they can beat Georgia. I think Georgia right now is playing as good as anybody. But that's a lot of that's a lot of. I know we're not picking a spread in this game, but I think if there was gonna be an upset, this would be the one.

Coach Faggiano: 31:57

So this will be the one that I'm either gonna I'm gonna take you on or you'll beat me because I'm gonna go Georgia Tech.

Rocky: 32:03

How's that? Are you? I'm uh I'm I'm the opposite. I think we're gonna be opposite on a couple other ones. I I know we're gonna go on a couple of these games, I think, but I'm gonna take Georgia. I think they're playing really good right now. I think they're peaking at the right time. This one could be a trap game because I think if Archman plays like he's been the last two weeks, he looked really good last week. Now they were playing Arkansas. This one's in Texas. Texas is only a two and a half point dog to AM, who's 11-0. And I think AM wins, they're in the FEC title game. Um, if they lose, I think there's a shot that a full miss wins, they're in against Georgia. But any chance that uh Texas pulls one out here, and many think if they win and get the nine wins with this win, they might sneak into the playoffs somehow. I like AM. I I don't think Texas can beat them. Right. Man, I wouldn't be surprised.

Coach Faggiano: 32:53

Um I think on this one I'll go AM.

Rocky: 32:57

Yeah, okay. I'm with you, but I but I could see this one if Arch plays well. Um, Texas has the athletes, that's for sure. Um, but we'll see.

Coach Faggiano: 33:06

Like in these rivalry games, a lot of times, those those point spreads, like they they they could be a one score. Like the Georgia, say Georgia beats Georgia Tech. I don't think it'll be more than a score.

Rocky: 33:15

No, me neither. I think these games are all gonna be, and they're actually all pretty decent spread. Yeah. Here's another one. I haven't followed Arizona all year. Arizona State was close last week to Colorado until they pulled away late. Arizona State's plus one and a half at home. I like state in this game, but I don't know too much about Arizona this year.

Coach Faggiano: 33:35

Because I don't know much about either team, I'm just gonna go with the ranked home team, Arizona State. Yeah.

Rocky: 33:40

I'm with you. This is like one of the ones I really don't like.

Coach Faggiano: 33:43

They're on way too late.

Rocky: 33:45

Yeah. All right, this is the one in my household that uh so this line, Michigan is now this line went down to nine and a half since I updated stuff last night. Um, Michigan looked good last week. Bryce Underwoods looked better for Michigan. Ohio State's looked like a well-oiled machine that they haven't played one close game all year. I'll say they really haven't played anybody yet because they didn't have to play Oregon this year, they didn't have to play uh USC. Uh but they're a 10 and a half point favorite against Michigan. Michigan's at home. Can Michigan win this one again for the fifth consecutive year?

Coach Faggiano: 34:21

No, Ohio State, Ohio State's gonna win.

Rocky: 34:23

So I'm gonna pick with my heart. So I'm gonna probably give you a layup here. I'm gonna pick Michigan. I I can't go against uh Michigan. Okay, last year, Coach Michigan was a 24-point underdog and won the game. So you never know. And I think it's supposed to snow a little bit. Um Ohio State's two receivers there, the uh Jeremiah Smith and Cardell Tate both did not play last week. I'm sure they're gonna play this week. I'm sure they'll find a way to get them on the field. But right now they're questionable uh for that game. All right, we got two more games here. So Pitt looked really good last week um against Georgia Tech, who I thought Georgia Tech would win that game. Miami looked really good last week. Miami needs some help if they beat Pitt to get into the ACC title game. And this is another one of those coaches. Six and a half point dogs at home. The way Pitts looked. Pitt's physical. Can Pitt get him at home, or you like Miami? This is a tough game.

Coach Faggiano: 35:21

Well, I I think the home field advantage is such a big thing. Um I'll go Miami.

Rocky: 35:30

Man, I really want to pick Pitt because I they're physical. They looked really good last week, but Miami's looked really good the last couple weeks. And I think Miami's on a mission to get in and find a way in. I'm I'm I'm gonna go with you. I'm gonna go Miami. And then the last one actually, second to last one. I got more on here because we got to find some wins and losses to break this tie. This is another one. This is a good one, too. So Tennessee's minus two and a half. So Vandy's getting two and a half in this game. It's at uh at Tennessee. Um I like Josh Hypo, but man, Vandy's on a mission, too, to win 10 games at Vanderbilt. It's crazy. They used to be the bottom of the SEC, and then James Franklin took Vandy, won some games, and then he left. And man, they looked pretty good this year. You think Vandy gets it? And then and then and then and then NIL showed up, and then the NIL showed up.

Coach Faggiano: 36:23

You know, Vandy's a great school, they have some great alumni. You know, like it's it's a chance just change the change the game. Um, this could be interesting to see where you pick because we could differ. I'm gonna go Vandy.

Rocky: 36:36

Yeah, uh, I hate to say I'm with you on this one, but I I like Vandy as well. Um, to go in there and I don't I don't know if Vandy's ever went in there and beaten Tennessee. Um, I don't think they have, but uh I feel like Tennessee's kind of like an under-the-radar team. I don't think Josh Heppel gets enough credit. I think he's a great football coach. All right, last one, the Iron Bowl. Um Auburn. This is a weird line to me if you follow gambling and lines. So Auburn fires few freeze, they're looking for a coach. They're under 500. They're only getting five and a half at home to Alabama. Any chance Auburn finds a way? No, Alabama. Yeah, I'm with you, but uh by yeah, but I do keep hearing, coach, that uh I keep hearing that Caelan DeBoore is a candidate at Penn State. I don't know if I buy it. Um, I talked highly of uh Bob Chesney, who used to be at Holy Cross. Oh Bob Chesney's outstanding. He's a uh standing head coach, no doubt. Yep, he's the one that I keep hearing, unless they give it to uh Terry Smith, the interim head coach for Penn State, who man. It was like out of a movie Saturday night for Penn State. They were chanting, you know, the we want Terry, we want Terry. Um, and he played there, the alumni won him, but I don't know if he's the flashy guy uh for Penn State. You think he gets a shot at it? I know they're gonna interview him.

Coach Faggiano: 38:02

Well, that's good. That's good. Like you never know. You didn't you don't know what the school's looking for. Yeah, that's the thing you don't know. What's the what's the people that the people that hold the control, uh the big time boosters, the athletic department, the AD, the president. You know, what are they looking for? Are they looking for a leader? Are they looking for a play caller? You know, someone's gonna get them that that star quarterback recruit kind of thing, which has been that's been a trend for sure. Yep. Um they know what they're looking for.

Rocky: 38:35

Coach, I gave uh Coach Fitz uh I told him to give you a shout out that uh you know Coach Faz picked you all season in the picks. Um so I picked up a couple of games and I said, I gotta be honest with you, I didn't pick, I didn't, I didn't pick you. Um, but uh he was he was great last Sunday on the show, and um he went he had another win. They ended on a good note, so he's got them going in the right direction.

Coach Faggiano: 38:55

He did. They're uh it's not gonna take them long at all. So I know they're recruiting, they're recruiting very well. And I think it's really exciting that that that that we the the matching of the time of we have some really good local players that can play at that level and that are choosing to go play at Colgate for guys that I that that I know and trust that are gonna do a great job. And I think anytime you can get your you know, that's gonna help your crowds, you know what I mean? That's gonna be great for home games, and so yeah, um, you know, excited to watch uh you know guys like Kevin George, you know, play there someday for sure.

Rocky: 39:29

So, coach, closing thoughts from you on on the season, and uh no, the show's been fun again. I know I thanked you last week, but uh hopefully we'll get a chance to do this again next year. I hope we get a chance to maybe talk in the spring, you know, heading in the spring ball with you. But uh again, I mean it. Um I can't thank you enough. You helped me uh go inside the program, which was great, and uh build a lot of relationships outside with a lot of people I didn't know. And uh I really, really can't thank you enough, Coach.

Coach Faggiano: 39:57

Uh it feels mutual. Uh definitely got you know, you know, we have to do this in the future. I think doing something in the spring would be great, kind of giving an idea on some, maybe some recruits that we could talk about that are coming in and how spring practice is going. Um, you know, I want to thank my coach and staff. Uh, can't do it alone. I have a tremendous coach and staff. Uh Coach Klaus, uh, Coach Denilovic, Coach McClendon, or three full-time coaches, you know, our four grad assistants, you know, uh Coach Kraft, Coach Polito, Coach Karras, uh those guys, those guys all play for us, right? Just tremendous coach Coach Gessner. We got to thank Coach Jabino Fong, came from Bethune Cookman. Great job with those wideouts, right? You know, fifth, fifth, fifth ranked uh passing offense in the country, in the nation, I guess we have. It's pretty crazy. I looked at some of the stats today. Um, you know, and then uh and then Griffin Murphy, our running back coach, helped me a lot with special teams from Michigan, did a great job. And like all these guys, it was their first time coaching, all five of them, and just did a tremendous job. Uh, you know, Coach Oliver loved having him on staff from you know from VBS and his experience and knowledge. Uh a few times he spoke to the team this year, which is on point, and uh did a great, great job. Um, and so we have a really, really strong coaching staff, and all of our we had all of our young phys ed guys helping us this year, all volunteering while they're finishing their master's degree. And uh they all did a great job. We call them the YCA rock, the Young Coaches Academy. And so every year, every year we're gonna have a group of guys that are you know getting their fifth year, because at Utica, you get your Phys Ed with you get your master's, your health, and your phys ed all in in five years. And then for the longest time, our guys were like using their COVID eligibility and playing, you know, the Novellos and Dan Amadis and Joe Lapani's in the world. But now, so now these guys they can coach with us and get that on their resume. So um, so really appreciative of all those guys for sure.

Rocky: 41:49

And Coach Springball, when's the spring session start for you guys? I know you said the kids will go home, enjoy Thanksgiving, they'll get some lifts in next week. But when do you guys get back into it?

Coach Faggiano: 41:57

Yeah, so we're we're back um that week, I think it's the week before Martin Luther King. I think Martin Luther King's a little later this year, might be on the 20th or 21st. I think we're back the 15th. And we're back one week in that first week of team meeting, get two days of wait since, and we're hosting recruits. And we always have recruits uh on official visits at either home basketball games or home hockey games, which are great atmospheres. Um we'll recruit left, and our accountability program is huge. It's a big competition amongst the team. Uh, you can gain or lose points. Uh, we encourage them, they get points for being in campus clubs and organizations, for doing community service, for going to different sporting events. Uh, it's really at the heart of what we do. Um, and uh yeah, then we then we start to get ready for spring ball. The spring practices don't start till after spring break, which is uh after St. Paddy's Day. And so it goes comes comes quick.

Rocky: 42:51

Well, coach, listen, I'll uh I'll I know I'll message you, text you throughout the uh the offseason. I'll have to put up our picks next week to see who uh who won. I got a special little prize for the winner. So if it's you got something coming uh your way. But uh again, thank you so much for everything. And uh I know we'll be in touch throughout the offseason.

Coach Faggiano: 43:09

Cool. Thank you so much. As always, fear the moose, everyone.

Rocky: 43:12

Thanks, Coach. So that was awesome. I cannot believe that we went that long. And I, you know, I'll be honest with you. I said the views um well over 40,000, which was fantastic. And the people that that followed us, I've met more people that I didn't know, which is which is awesome. Um, it's all about relationships. I know coach spoke about relationships throughout the season, but uh it was absolutely awesome to do uh a show with him. And again, he's been good to me throughout the year, throughout my career, really. So I can't thank Coach enough for everything he's done. So um I'll let everybody know on Sunday uh we'll be talking to Colgate men's basketball coach Matt Langle's gonna join me on Sunday, and I'll have a couple other local guests on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch. So on behalf of the entire show here, the Rock Pile, the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch, I hope everybody appreciated and enjoyed um Inside Utica University Football Podcast with Coach Faziano and myself. So have a good evening, everybody, and happy Thanksgiving.