In order to recapture its long-lost magic, the Solvay football program turned to a name from its not-so-distant past to take charge – and is counting on others who have already made Bearcats athletic history to carry out that task.
After Matt Shutts stepped down, Solvay tapped Todd Lisi as the new head coach. Lisi played under the late Al Merola before graduating from Solvay in 2000, and then went to Syracuse University, where he was a wide receiver.
Graduating from SU in 2005, Lisi spent the next decade as an assistant coach at Westhill and Fowler, along with a stint at Morrisville State. Then he returned to his alma mater in 2012 and was an assistant coach until his promotion last winter.
For the returning players, everything is new, from the head coach to the Field Turf at Al Merola Field that was just installed in the spring to replace the old carpet. What’s also new is the belief that this group can win at Solvay, since many of them have already done it.
Dippold, Zach Chrysler and Mike Cimino were all on the Solvay baseball team that, last spring, won a first-ever Section III Class B title and first trip to the state final four.
“The kids want to come to practice and work hard,” said Dippold.
“We have a talented group and we have high expectations,” said Lisi. “Now they know what it feels like to win. Once you get there, you never want to go back.”
They have a lot to turn around. Solvay went 1-7 a season ago and have gone 9-56 in the last eight seasons, leaving them constantly at the bottom of a Class B West division it used to dominate in Lisi’s playing days.
The possible turnaround may hinge on something unusual at Solvay – a passing game, featuring Dippold’s strong left arm. A wide receiver last season, Dippold takes over at quarterback, bringing both physical gifts and intelligence, traits that Lisi said makes Dippold an effective leader.
Before the season, Lisi and his group of veteran assistant coaches – Jeff Harris, Dan Salisbury and Gary Acchione – studied up on what kind of offense would fit the talents of the Solvay roster.
They settled on a unique attack with three backs, one wide receiver and one tight end. This works for the Bearcats because Cimino, the 6-foot-2, 240 pound tight end, creates mismatches, and so does 6-foot-3 Nate Gardner at wideout.
Meanwhile, Chrysler is featured in Solvay’s three-man backfield, along with Lamar Flood and Alex Britton. Each of them could chew up yards or catch short passes, given the flexibility of the offense.
Up front, Brett Pidkaminy returns at center, a three-year starter. He anchors a line where two former fullbacks, Zach Langdon and Joe Eppolito, take over at guard, fitting the classic “small, quick guard” profile of Solvay teams in the past. Meanwhile, Brad Wood, new to football in his senior year, works at tackle with two sophomores, Matt Reale and Josh McLain.
Normally, Solvay will run a 4-2-5 defense, with Chrysler the lone true linebacker flanked by players who could work at linebacker or defensive back, including Connor Lee and Ben Durst. They work behind a line where Pidkaminy and Cimino should stand out, helped by Langdon and Anthony Gardynski.
A bonus for Solvay came when, at the end of the first week of practice, Naquan Shepherd transferred in from Nottingham. With speed and coverage ability, Shepherd will start at free safety, in between Britton and Flood at the cornerback spots.
Unlike years past, Solvay doesn’t open with either of its main rivals. Instead, it visits Chittenango and takes on Fowler before going after the Tom Anthony Silver Cup Sept. 16, when Marcellus visits “The Pit”. The Bearcats don’t face Westhill until the Oct. 14 regular-season finale, also at home.
Regardless of the schedule, Lisi said a turnaround hinges on effort and attitude, something his players displayed during August training camp when they arrived, in full, by 7:45 in the morning, even though practice didn’t start until 8 a.m., and also show when they want to play at different positions to help the team win, rather than for their own glory.
Lisi gave it an acronym – EAT, standing for Effort, Assignment and Technique.
“If we get all three of these things in each play, we’re going to sectionals,” said Lisi
