Worcester Telegram: FSU Seeks Even More Improvement in 2015

Click to read original article – written by Daily Item of Worcester Telegram staff writer Shaun Suhoski
 

FITCHBURG, Mass. — As players made their way to practice on the turf at steamy Elliot Field last week, Fitchburg State University football coach Pat Haverty spoke with pride about the composition of his 2015 squad.

"It's a joy to coach these kids," said Haverty, the Falcons' winningest coach, now entering his 10th season at the helm. "I love coaching them. They're great kids."

The Falcons are coming off successive winning seasons — 6-4 in 2013 and '14 — but the energetic coach isn't resting on any laurels, referring to last year simply as a "good season" while stressing that all players up and down the roster need to focus on the "little things" in order to raise the bar.

 "Last season is last season, and everybody is 0-0 right now," said Haverty, who resides in Fitchburg. "Right now I just want them to improve each day."

The coach is pleased with the practice effort of the Falcons — who ranked third in the MASCAC preseason poll behind Framingham State and Western Connecticut State — and host Becker College on Sept. 4 to open their season.

"The attitude of the offense is great," Haverty said. "It's still early, and every one of them have so far to go and improve. But (quarterback) Garrett (DelleChiaie) is looking strong."

"We have 22 running backs in camp that are battling, and that's great. We've got good depth on the offensive line with three groups that are battling, and we've got a lot of wide receivers all battling for time."

Aside from DelleChiaie, who is setting passing records at Fitchburg State with seemingly each game, the depth chart will likely list several key returnees near the top, including senior wide receiver and captain Ty Spencer, who was limited to four games in 2014 (18 receptions).

"The biggest thing is we want to bring home a championship," Spencer said. "But we really want to come together and bond and become a brotherhood."

"Ty has been great the last few years," Haverty said. "I don't mean just as a receiver but as a kid — he's a great kid to coach, and he works really hard. He doesn't just talk about the little things, he does the little things. He works hard academically and has like a 3.9 GPA."

Also returning to the receiving corps is junior Devin Summiel who surprised with 60 receptions in 2014, second on the team to departed Phillip Sainte-Juste.

Fitchburg State does have some changes in the offensive line. "We lost some senior linemen so that hurt us," Haverty said. "We have Bobby Braun (6-2, 250 pounds) coming back as our only senior so he's going to anchor that line. And Max Schiavone (6-3, 306) is coming back with two years on that line, so he's got some experience to lead. We have a whole lot of new bodies that are battling right now, so, that's definitely a spot that's in flux for us."

Though a successor to Talib Barksdale is yet to be named, the Falcons look strong on the defensive side of the ball with a cadre of returning veterans

"We lost Talib at the middle linebacker and that's huge. He was our leading tackler, and that's going to be a huge loss to fill," Haverty said. "We don't know who that mike's going to be yet; that's a big battle for the mike spot."

Haverty said the bright side is that the flanking linebackers ("will" and "sam") are returning in Luis Feliz, a USA Today preseason Division 3 All-American, and Malcolm Brown-Simpson.

"Luis has done a great job. He's a good leader and was voted captain this year," Haverty said of the former Clinton High star. "So we hope he steps up and takes over where Talib left as far as leading the defense."

The coach believes that Feliz and Brown-Simpson will set the standard for the rest of the linebackers.

"Malcolm Brown-Simpson was a first-year starter last year at the 'sam' and he's done a nice job. So linebacker-wise we feel really good about those two guys helping all the new people that are coming in and learning."

The coach also noted the quality of returnees to the secondary including senior Taron Seaforth (35 tackles; 2 interceptions in 2014) and Asante Easter (34 tackles, 2 interceptions in 2014) while stating that the defensive line has some "flux".

"They work hard, not only on the field but in the classroom and around here," Haverty said of his Falcons. "I'm just proud to be part of what they do and represent them as their coach."

Photo courtesy of Chris Christo