FSC Football Struggles Under New Head Coach

The Fitchburg State Football team is still searching for their first win at seasons end.


As the Fitchburg State Football team heads into the tail end of the season in late October it is no surprise around campus that the football team is struggling with a season record of 1-7 since the arrival of new head coach Paul McGonagle. McGonagle,31, a graduate and former tight end for the University of Kentucky, currently ranked 14 in the nation in the BCS Division-I rankings has had his share of success as a player as well as a coach. McGonagle served 2 seasons as offensive coordinator for Bently leading them to their first Northeast 10 conference championship getting them an NCAA Divison-II playoff berth.
With all the success in past years for McGonanagle and the FSC football team the present has been a step back for both. “We just need to keep our heads up and continue to move forward, there is nothing in the past that is going to solve our problems today.” said Quarterback Jake Barbarotta, a senior who has played for the Falcons since 2004. The past few seasons have been promising for the Falcons posting a 8-1 season record in 2005 and a 7-2 season record in 2004. Despite the recent success in the past few seasons Fitchburg Football has yet to claim a conference championship or win a bowl game.
As a fan you can’t help but wonder what is causing the recent downfall of the team. Not only have the Falcons lost 7 games they have been outscored a combined 98 points in those 7 losses and an astonishing 76 of the 98 points have been scored in the first half putting constant pressure on the offense to produce on every drive. Dan Deyoung, a sophomore and outside linbacker for the Falcons said “There are a lot of players that have left or transferred from last season, we are a young team trying to learn a new offense under a new coach. The defense has to step it up if we want to win games. It’s as simple as that.” It is fitting however that McGonagle, a former offensive coordinator has gotten the offense going for the Falcons, but the bad outweighs the good in this instance with the defense allowing an average of 201 yards through the air and an astronomical 270 yards on the ground per game.

Although the Fitcburg State offense is one of the best the MASCAC conference has to offer the defense is ranked in the bottom 10 in the nation for Division-III football. If there is any place to start while thinking about improving the team, it is on the defensive side of the ball. Fitchburg State has 2 games remaining in the season, one this Saturday at Westfield State and the final game of the season here at Elliot Field on Saturday, November 3rd.