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Mills and reeve football story11/20/2022 ![]() Terrance Kehayas who finished second on the squad with 67 takedowns last season will flank Smacchia at one linebacker spot. "He is a sure tackler with great instincts and as tough a player as you will find at our level." "Dan may be the best defender in our league," Bateman claims. Coming off back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons, Smacchia will again look to lead the Siena defense to the top of the I-AA ranks (the Saints finished eighth nationally a year ago). Smacchia, a two-time I-AA All American as selected by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, anchors the stringent Siena defense from his middle linebacker post. Many are beginning to wonder: Just how good can this Siena Football team be?įor the past two seasons, the answer to that question has resided squarely on the shoulders of senior linebacker Dan Smacchia. There's a new buzz circulating New York's Capital Region this off-season and a new question is being asked. ![]() Or, perhaps the vastly improved talent of the student-athletes coming to play football at Siena will make the difference. Maybe it's this optimistic mindset that will make this season different. The kids realize we have been knocking on the door the past couple seasons and now they have the urge to break that door down." It's difficult to teach a winning mindset to players who haven't had much success in the past, but now we have a frame of reference as to how good we need to be. "Now, I believe we are ready to make some noise. "We have played a lot of catch-up the past few seasons," Bateman says. In turn, people are starting to take notice of the progress that's been made. Now the table is set for the next jump to be made.īateman and staff have a team consisting entirely of their own recruits for the first time and standout veterans (including perhaps the best defensive player in the league) at several key positions. In fact, the Saints have made some major strides in Bateman's three years at the helm, including a 2002 campaign in which they tripled their win total and vaulted to a sixth place finish in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League (MAACFL) with their most conference victories in five years. ![]() "Each year we have been dedicated to improving, and I'm confident we're on the right path." ![]() "We are committed to build a successful program here, and that takes time," Bateman notes. Bateman, however, has taken the right approach. When you inherit a team that has managed just one winning season in the 10 years prior to your arrival, it's natural to expect some skepticism. Head Coach Jay Bateman has heard this question buzz around Siena's Loudonville campus since his arrival. What's going to make this year different? ![]()
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