Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Falcons Seek Second Takeoff Under Haverty"
Fans of the Fitchburg State football team must have felt far removed from its middle-of-the-decade glory days when the Falcons finished 2010 with a 1-9 record. However, just a few months later, there was hope as Pat Haverty, the school’s winningest coach, was brought in for his second stint at the helm
August 28, 2011
By Josh Bousquet, Telegram & Gazette Staff
FITCHBURG — Fans of the Fitchburg
State football team must have felt far removed from its
middle-of-the-decade glory days when the Falcons finished 2010 with
a 1-9 record.
However, just a few months later, there was hope as Pat Haverty,
the school’s winningest coach, was brought in for his second
stint at the helm.
It was a late move; Haverty’s hiring was announced on July
1. About six weeks later, he had to start training camp.
“We had a lot of things to do and a little bit of time to do
them in,” Haverty said. “We’ve been busy, but
it’s been great.”
The hardest part of the transition came at the start.
“The biggest difficulty was all the players who were here
were home for the summer,” the coach said. “So I really
didn’t get a chance to know who they were, and meet them,
until we really came together on (August) 12th. …We came to
camp and we had to jell, and they had to get to know me, and I had
to get to know them in a short time.”
Those players had to arrive with confidence in their new leader,
however. Haverty went 30-20 with the Falcons from 2002-06. He had
two eight-win seasons in 2004 and 2005 — the school record
for wins in a season — bringing the Falcons to ECAC bowls
those years.
“I’ve been here before, so I’m familiar with how
things operate,” Haverty said. “And we were able to get
most of my old staff again … Everybody had a job, and we
just kind of divided it up and did it as fast as we can.”
Once he got his people onto the field, Haverty was pleased with
what he saw.
“They’ve responded to our coaching,” he said of
his players, “they’re working real, real hard, and
they’ve been positive. And we’re gonna stay positive
through this and keep getting better every day”
Now that all his players are together, Haverty’s biggest
problem is a lack of depth.
“With the numbers we’ve had, we’ve cross-trained
a lot of guys,” the coach said of his preseason preparations.
“We had to do it the first time I got here, with the numbers
being low until we can really get some recruiting seasons in and
bolster the numbers back up. Guys have to be prepared to play
multiple roles.”
The biggest multiple-role player is Jeremy Kimber, a Fitchburg
resident. He got the majority of the team’s snaps at
quarterback last season, but has spent more time at wide receiver
during training camp.
Fellow receiver Carlos De La Rosa could be the team’s
biggest offensive threat as he returns after having missed all but
one game last season with a calf injury. He led the team with 773
receiving yards and 10 touchdowns two seasons ago, when he was an
NEFC first-team selection. That TD total is a school season record,
and he also holds the Falcons’ career mark with 17 touchdown
catches.
Beyond individual stars, though, the offensive unit is more
defined by its team play.
“What’s shining the most is how cohesive they’re
working together,” Haverty said. “There’s not
really some one person carrying the team, they’re all
carrying each other.”
Linebacker play should be a team strength, with all three starters
seniors. Anthony Bizzotto of Leominster led the team last year with
84 tackles and was an NEFC second-team selection. He will play
alongside team captain Will Gasson and Matt Ferrara.
Growing pains on the field seem unavoidable this season, but
Haverty is ready to take them on.
“I don’t know what the philosophy was in the past, nor
do I really care,” Haverty said. “August 12th we
started the way we’re going to do things. And we told the
guys, ‘The past is the past, the future starts today,’
and every day we’ll try to shape our direction.”
If it is anywhere near the direction he took Fitchburg State last
time, that will be steadily upward.
Fitchburg St. at a glance
Coach: Pat Haverty (sixth season, 30-20).
League: New England Football Conference, Bogan
Division.
2010 record: 1-9, 1-6 conference.
Top returnees: WR/QB Jeremy Kimber (1,036 passing
yards, 6 TDs), LB Will Gasson (75 tackles), LB Anthony Bizzotto
(Leominster, team-leading 84 tackles, 3-1/2 sacks), DB Chris Rose,
DL Jim Jaworski (team-leading 4-1/2 sacks), OL Bob Booth, OL Jon
Cadigan, WR Carlos de la Rosa (team-leading 773 receiving yards in
2009).
Key losses: RB Darren Wilson (team-leading 885
rushing yards, 7 rushing TDs), P/WR Kyle Callahan (team-leading 516
receiving yards), LB Christian Guzman (81 tackles, team-leading 10
tackles for loss), OL Logan Johnson.
Notable newcomers: DB Taron Seaforth, OL Brendan
Coan, OL Dan Martin (Spencer/David Prouty).
Schedule:
Sept. 2…Becker, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9…at Curry, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17…at Endicott, 1 p.m.
Sept. 24…at Maine Maritime, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1…Coast Guard, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 8…at Framingham State, noon
Oct. 15…Mass. Maritime, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 22…at Bridgewater State, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29…Worcester State, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 5…Westfield State, 1:30 p.m.
