When the news broke last April that Joe Fiacchi would not return for a 15th season as Marcellus football varsity head coach, it took most folks by surprise, including the Mustangs players who had grown accustomed to Fiacchi’s system.
But Marcellus didn’t look far for a replacement.
Nick Patterson had joined the team as defensive coordinator a year earlier. Having previously served as a head coach at Nottingham and Tully (going 29-38 in a combined eight seasons with those teams), Patterson brought both experience and enthusiasm to the job – something players immediately noticed, and liked.
“There’s more energy here,” said wide receiver Conner Wixson.
“It was important to have new blood,” said linebacker Ryan Pierce. “We had the same system for years.”
Coming off a 4-4 campaign and a first-round Section III Class B playoff defeat to Mexico, the Mustangs didn’t have to start from scratch, talent-wise. But chemistry and bonding was an issue, and Patterson set out to address it.
Aside from the usual off-season conditioning, Patterson set up points systems and group projects to reward those who worked harder, and brought the team together for bowling and barbecues, among other activities.
“For whatever reason, the kids are excited and more receptive this year,” said Patterson, who added that the team’s bond was further forged by a week of hard conditioning that preceded the start of training camp on Aug. 14.
On offense, the main strength is where it should sit – up front, where four starters are back. “We have one of the top lines in the league,” said Patterson. “We’ll go as far as they take us.”
Luke Norstad, Chad Casler, Joe Martin and Ben McFall are those returning starters, capable of playing at any position. Of that quartet, only Martin is a junior, with another senior, Noel Burkette, filling out the front five.
Nick Patterson Jr. takes over at quarterback for Tom Fiacchi. The younger Patterson, who had a growth spurt in the off-season and is a bit taller (6 feet, 155 pounds), is expected to preside over an offense that has a wealth of depth at the skill positions.
Wixson and Liam Tierney return at wide receiver, joined by Matt Reich and Alex Clark. Further help may come from 6-foot-4 tight end Connor Regalia, who could create serious match-up problems.
Even with Nate Garlow gone, there’s depth in the backfield, too. Rob Seeley has the most experience, but with the likes of Max McCauliffe, Chris Hyatt and Chris Licamele on hand, the Mustangs have options.
There’s a new defensive coordinator, Eric Brash, on hand, and Patterson said improving on that side of the ball will require “tenacity and speed”. That starts at linebacker, where Pierce is already a standout and Judah Tuttle is ready to contribute, too.
Up front, Norstad and Martin are going both ways, joined by tackle Kyle Danko, while in the secondary Nick Patterson Jr. roams at safety, with Reich at cornerback.
To a man, all of the Mustangs’ players say they’ve drawn closer since last season ended. Now the trick is to see whether harmony leads to victories, starting on Friday with a big test against defending Class B West regular-season champion Homer.
Then Solvay visits on Sept. 8 in the annual Tom Anthony Memorial Cup game, and four of the remaining five regular-season games are on the road, capped by an Oct. 13 visit to Westhill – where Joe Fiacchi now serves as an assistant coach.
By that point, Marcellus, and Patterson, will know quite well if the rash of changes in the off-season propels the Mustangs up the Class B ladder, or not.
