By Luke Whitehouse
@Lwhitehouse12
SPRINGFIELD – It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to do what the Springfield College football program has done over the last two seasons.
The Pride have posted a 16-7 overall record – including a 12-0 record in conference play – leaning on their dominant run game and feisty defense.
But team for Team 133, what has happened in the past doesn’t matter.
“We don’t talk about [the past],” said head coach Mike Cerasuolo. “I told the guys ‘What those teams did is not gonna help us one bit.’ It’s about building The Brotherhood and having this team leave its mark on the college and leave their own legacy.”
Since arriving on campus on Aug. 9, Cerasuolo’s squad has been putting in the work, in both the weight room room and meeting rooms, and obviously the field.
But despite the long days of camp, the mood around the ball club has been great.
“The vibes are immaculate,” junior running back and team captain Dante Vasquez said. “Younger guys are stepping up and competing, and the older guys are doing what they’ve been doing since they stepped on campus. It’s been great.”
For many first-year student-athletes, the adjustment to college sports, and college in general for that matter, can be difficult.
That’s where leadership comes into play.
“We have a lot of great upperclassmen that are helping them through [the transition from high school to college],” Cerasuolo said. “And that’s a sign of a great team.”
On the offensive side, one position will look very different for the first time in a while: quarterback.
With David Wells finishing out his eligibility last fall, a void was left under center.
The Pride run a sophisticated offense (the triple option) that requires a lot of nuance – something that takes a lot of reps to master.
In the mix to start at QB is former junior running back Jacob Silvester, who shined last year whenever his number was called.
Cerasuolo has not yet named a starting signal caller but insists there is healthy competition at the position.
Upfront there is some mystery as well.
Mainstays like All-American Tackle Lou Cocozza, All-conference guard Chris Eichler, and starting center Vinny Ruggiero will not be returning to the Pride this season.
With that, Springfield is ready to embrace the ‘next man up’ mentality as they fill out arguably the most important position group.
“It’s just another opportunity for guys to step up,” Cerasuolo said. “They’ve waited a long time and worked really hard to create this opportunity for themselves, and now they’ve gotta take it. That’s college football – there’s guys coming and going and so hopefully the preparation they’ve had over the last few years shows.”
As far as skill positions go though, experience is at a premium.
Running backs Arsen Shtefan (8 TD), Joe Cannizzaro (11 TD) and Dante Vasquez (4TD), who racked up over 2,200 yards combined, will all be back as well as receiver Noah Wagnblas – who led the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TD’s last year.
On the defensive end, it’s full steam ahead with many of the team’s core returning, including team captain linebackers D.J. Brown and Billy Carr, alongside Will McKay and Aiden Lewin. The Pride returnees are rounded out by defensive end Quinn Sweeny and safety Joe Mauer.
“I think defensively we’ve got a lot of experience,” Brown said. “So everyone knows what’s going on, the standards are set and we’ve been just flying around and making plays.”
With just under two weeks to go until week one, the team is solely focused on what’s in front of them: whether it be the next practice, the next lift, the next meeting or even the next play.
Great attitude and great effort are at the forefront of the Springfield College football program and when execution meets those two values good things happen.
Just ask the players.
“Right now we’re not playing another team, we’re playing ourselves,” Carr said. “We’re trying to do the best we can each and every day because if we can execute that, I believe that we will be a darn good football team.”
The Pride will look to start their season on the right note as they take on inter-city rival Western New England on September 2nd.
The game is slated to start at 1 p.m. and will take place at Golden Bear Stadium.
(Photo courtesy of Springfield Athletics)