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.