ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — When Chad Martinovich took over the University of Rochester football program in 2018, things were dismal.
The Yellowjackets had won three total games in the previous two seasons. It took time, but slowly, year by year, Martinovich raised the standard.
“With each year brings a renewed energy. We got a great core of guys back on both sides of the ball so expectations are higher than ever,” Martinovich said.
In the age of the transfer portal, it can be tough to retain talent. The Yellowjackets haven’t had that problem.
“This is college football in its purest form. We don’t deal too much with the transfer portal or NIL money or any of that. Guys come here first and foremost for a UofR education which is one of the best in the world,” Martinovich said. “Now we’ve built this program to the point where we feel like we can play with anybody in the country at the Division III level.”
Senior running back Cole Raux said the school’s reputation and team culture keep players from leaving.
“I think we have obviously a great school here that people don’t want to leave either, but I think a lot of it has to do with the coaches and our culture as a team that no one really wants to leave,” Raux said.
The team came together this offseason, not discouraged by three straight losses but encouraged by how close they came.
“Those were actually a positive, because three of our five losses were one score games to the top teams in our conference,” Martinovich said. “Last year proved to our guys that they can play with anybody on our schedule.”
Senior defensive back Braydon Felsinger said the team believes it can flip those close losses into wins.
“We know we can repeat that and we can make the steps to — instead of those nine plays that changed our season, we can change it the other way. And we believe we can flip it around,” Felsinger said.
The Yellowjackets don’t view this as a bounce back year.
“I wouldn’t say bouncing back either. It’s a completely new team, new season, new coaches, and I think it’s a new start,” said senior linebacker Jack Diggins.
Another senior, wide receiver Jeremy Tantalo, said the team is hungry and ready to win.
“I think the talent we have and how we bought in this offseason and what we’ve done so far in fall camp, I think we’re hungry. I think we’re ready to win,” Tantalo said.
“Show everyone what the team, the coaches have done over the last eight years or so, building this program up. And just to finish that way, it’s what everyone wants. It’s what we play for,” Diggins said.
Rochester opened up the season with a non-conference loss to Case Western Reserve, but won’t start conference play until late September.
University of Rochester football hoping to prove they can hang with the big dogs WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about university of rochester football hoping to prove they can hang with the big dogs was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( University of Rochester football hoping to prove they can hang with the big dogs )
Also on site :
- George Lucas’s Long-Awaited Narrative Art Museum Brings Pop Culture and Fine Art Under One Soaring Roof
- Eugene Levy’s Nearly 50-Year Marriage Is Still Going Strong—and Their Red-Carpet Appearance Says It All
- 1986 Super Bowl Champions Filmed a Rap Video Inspired by ‘Super Bowl Shuffle’ an Hour Before Leaving For the Game