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| Ramon Johnson is one of 14 Bison freshmen thrust into starting roles this season. Gallaudet athletics photo by Tara Lanning |
Miami (Ohio) is known as the Cradle of Coaches. You can call Gallaudet simply The Cradle.
The Bison start 14 freshmen. Who starts 14 freshmen?
A coach that weeds out players not committed to the program, that's who. Gallaudet began camp with a roster of 75. Some quit and 14 were dismissed. The roster numbers just over 50 now but the spirits are high despite an 0-5 start.
"The chemistry is the best it has ever been," coach Chuck Goldstein said.
Goldstein also completely revamped the offense. It was in 2013 that Gallaudet's flexbone was the scourge of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. They ran the ball with that option attack that kept the clock and the chains moving. It added up to an ECFC title and a game against Hobart in the NCAA playoffs.
After that success such a short time ago, it comes as a shock to some that he would abandon that offense in favor of the spread.
"I sold my soul," Goldstein said through a grin as he ran the team through Friday's practice.
He arrived at the decision in December. Looking at his recruiting board he saw a bunch of talented players who simply were not suited for the offense that the Bison have made their trademark since they debuted with the ECFC in 2009.
Now, these young kids just have to grow with it.
The quarterback Ramon Johnson only turned 18 the last week of September. All of the skill players are freshmen.
"I fired my offense coordinator," Goldstein said.
The coordinator was himself.
He feels giving the keys to the offense to coach Stephon Healey was a move that helped cultivate the chemistry he feels is so good now.
"Before I couldn't bond with the defensive players," Goldstein said.
He gathered the team after Saturday's 40-0 loss at Castleton University. He knows with the youth that you have to remind the players what is ahead and that there is a future.
"We told you that this was going to be a challenge. Castleton is a good football team. Next week is an even better football team (Husson) coming in for our Homecoming. Keep your heads up. I'm not quitting on you," Goldstein told them.
Goldstein and his staff have never done more teaching. It has to be a much different approach than it was in 2013.
"When you have an experienced veteran group they don't have to be taught everything," he said. "We have to teach how to pack a bag. We teach everything in detail from making sure they bring a pillow, their blanket and tennis shoes. We put it all in email, on facebook and post it in the locker room."
Traveling is a little different for this team from Washington, D.C which plays in a league where every other member is tucked into New England or New York State.
"These kids are not developed yet," Goldstein said. "They are not developed physically and they don't have an understanding of the game.
"They know if we stick together, we are going to be really special."
That could begin as early as next season. Not only will the freshmen be seasoned, but B.J. Flores will be returning. Flores, out with an injury, has been as good a back as there has been in the league.
Amherst, Trinity, and Western New England are undefeated. That is the fun side of football. That is when it is easy to go to practice and look forward to each and every opponent.
But each weekend there is a losing team on the scoreboard. Gallaudet is experiencing the other side of football.
It's not always easy. But there is always a next opponent and the chance for that first win which would be a euphoric moment. And if it doesn't come, there is next year. And that drives this team, a team that knows there can be a day when it is "really special."
Magical time for Arndt
It is a good time to be Will Arndt. The Western Connecticut quarterback was awarded the prestigious Gold Helmet the previous week.
All he did this time was throw six touchdown passes. He passed for 389 yards in the Colonials' 57-30 victory over Fitchburg State.
Oh yeah, and he was crowned Homecoming king at halftime.
Down to two in NESCAC
We are down to two unbeaten teams in the NESCAC. Amherst and Trinity went to 4-0.
Amherst did it by beating Colby 31-13 behind Reece Foy's two touchdown passes. Sonny Puzzo's 25-yard scoring strike to Bryan Vieira on the first play of overtime lifted Trinity to its 34-27 win over previously unbeaten Tufts.
Middlebury rebounded from its loss at Amherst by beating Williams 36-14 to go to 3-1. The Panthers got a 95-yard touchdown return from Tanner Contois along with three TD passes from Matt Milano. Matt Minno had 171 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.
Wesleyan also went to 3-1 with a second-half rally. The Cardinals trailed Bates 9-7 at halftime but won 24-16. Gernald Hawkins passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
JB Wells got his first win at Bowdoin as the Polar Bears toppled Hamilton 30-20. It was a superb performance by Bowdoin quarterback Noah Nelson. He threw 43 times, completed 28 of them and had four touchdown passes without ever being intercepted.
When Wells was still the head coach at Endicott he was recruiting Nelson.
After he got the job at Bowdoin prior to this season the first email he received from a player was from Nelson.
"He said, 'Coach, it looks like we'll be working together after all,'" Wells said.
Wells likes what he sees in his freshman who was pressed into action due to an injury.
"He is a cool customer. He does not play like a freshman," Wells said.
Relishing the D-III experience
Castleton offensive lineman Jordan Tolar spent two years in the FCS program at McNeese State. He transferred back to where the campus is less than 30 miles from his home. He has never regretted the decision.
"I redshirted as a freshman there and got on the field once in two years," Tolar said of his time at the Louisiana school.
"It's great to be back. I count my blessings. I am playing in front of family and friends and in one of the top Division III atmospheres in New England."
Tolar said he was helped by his time with the Cowboys.
"You get to be mentally tough going against players bigger and better than you," he said. "I was lucky to have great coaches there and great coaches here at Castleton."
Record for Hulme
Salve Regina's Alex Hulme set a program record with 269 receiving yards in the 40-21 win over Endicott. Three of his 11 catches were for touchdowns.
Brandan Basil passed for 352 yards and four touchdowns.
Quick kicks
Husson's Joe Seccareccia threw three touchdown passes and ran for two others in a 49-30 win over Becker. He has 31 career TD throws and that ties him for the most in program history. ... Matt Martin had seven tackles, two sacks and an interception for Mount Ida in a 41-6 win over Anna Maria. ... Phillippe Bazinet threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns and Quincy Williams ran for 107 yards and a score helping Norwich to stay unbeaten in the ECFC with a 30-20 win over SUNY-Maritime. The Cadets' Pierre Noel had two highlight catches among his 10 receptions. Literally. They were spectacular and both made the 11 p.m. news ... Western New England pushed its record to 6-0 with a 58-35 win over Maine Maritime. WNE's Tyler Ward threw four touchdown passes and rushed for 159 yards with another touchdown. Nick Connell added 142 yards rushing with two touchdowns. The Golden Bears scored 30 points in the third quarter. ... Coast Guard stayed perfect (3-0) in the NEFC as Derek Victory tossed a touchdown pass in the 28-13 win over MIT. ... Curry's Riley Cote had 215 yards passing with three touchdowns in a 20-13 win over Nichols. ... Worcester got its first win by beating UMass-Dartmouth 45-32. Trevor Vasey and Kemani Jones provided the balance. Vasey threw for 316 yards and Jones rushed for 116 and three touchdowns. Carrick Driscoll and Dan Orlando were a wrecking crew for the Lancers. Driscoll had 10 tackles, an interception, and forced and recovered a fumble. Orlando's work included eight tackles and two interceptions. ... Danny Higgins passed for two scores and ran for another lifting Bridgewater State to its 45-19 win over Plymouth. ... Westfield State trailed 20-10 at the half but rallied to beat Mass. Maritime 41-34. Freshman Travon Holder keyed the comeback with three second-half touchdowns. One was a 37-yard run with 2:06 left for the winning score. .... Castleton freshman Moe Harris ecleiped the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time this season. He also had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, longest in program history.
The big games
Wesleyan is at Amherst for what is not only a big game in the NESCAC standings but also a Little Three (Wesleyan-Amherst-Williams) Game. Wesleyan is 3-1 and Amherst 4-0.
And Wells gets to bring his Bowdoin squad back to Trinity, his alma mater.
Wells still has family in Connecticut is looking forward to the experience while acknowledging "we'll have our hands full" against the 4-0 Bantams.
Wells is treasuring all that goes with being back in the NESCAC.
"The traditions are unbelievable. We've all been playing for a hundred years," he said.
