After a disappointing 2-9 campaign last year, the Georgetown football team enters this fall with high hopes thanks to some major offseason changes. The new head coach Rob Sgarlata took over this January after spending the past eight seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator. Although Sgarlata does not have a win total in mind for this season, he expects his team to be ready to compete each and every game.
“I’ve never talked to anybody about wins and losses. We want to be that team that’s tough to beat and very scrappy in the games. We want to build a great foundation with the program. For me, if we keep doing the little things right … I’ll think we’ll be fine. ”
The coaching change has been particularly less burdensome on the players considering their familiarity with Sgarlata. His prior knowledge of Hoya football made his first training camp exciting for his players.
“It’s been a really smooth transition for everyone,” said senior linebacker Nick Alfieri. “There’s a new level of energy, I think, that Coach Sgarlata brings, and it trickles down the whole organization. It’s been a really upbeat, fast camp, which is a good thing.”
Sgarlata’s new coaching staff also embodies familiarity. New offensive coordinator Michael Neuberger and new defensive coordinator Luke Thompson have both previously coached on the Hilltop. Neuberger coached the wide receivers during the 2012 season, and Thompson served as the linebacker/special teams coach from 2006-2011.
“I wanted people on my staff that I can trust. So every person on my staff, I’ve either worked with or coached for at least a year. That was really important to me. The number one thing I wanted to do was take care of our players. I’d rather go without than bring somebody in here who I don’t think will toe the line [when it comes to] our players.”
According to the new staff, one of the keys to transforming the program from one of mediocrity to one of sustained success is what they call “Hoya Culture.” Part of this approach has entailed asking the players to take what they learn on the field with them to their daily lives.
“[Coach] emphasizes little things: working hard and developing your person as a whole. This is something the whole coaching staff has focused on too. It’s developing your person as a whole, and it brings everything back to football, focusing on being the best you can be in certain aspects of life,” said Alfieri.
Sgarlata realizes that he and his coaches cannot transform the culture of the program by themselves. That’s why seniors, such as Alfieri, a Preseason All-Patriot League team selection, are crucial in terms of setting an example for the rest of the team.
“[Alfieri]’s an all-around kid. From everything on campus, classroom-wise to the team, he’s a sparkplug all the time. He is that personality. He’s the same all the time. He’s one of those kids who’s the same everyday. There’s no real rollercoaster with him, which is great. That’s a constant I can rely on as a coach to know that he’s going to be there all the time,” said Sgarlata.
On the defensive line, all of the previous team’s starters return including senior Alec May, the team-leader in sacks last season, junior Dezmond Richardson, and seniors Jordan Richardson and Richard Shankel. Senior Patrick Boyle, 2013’s leading tackler, returns alongside Alfieri to form a formidable partnership at the linebacker position.
On offense, the Hoyas hope to have a consistent starter at the quarterback position for the first time in three years in junior Kyle Nolan. The past two seasons have seen Georgetown juggle starting quarterbacks thanks to injuries and poor play. Sgarlata feels that Nolan’s talent and leadership can bring some much-needed ferocity to an otherwise inexperienced offensive unit.
“He’s got great poise. People don’t realize how athletic he is. He’s a big kid. He’s six-foot-six, but he can run. He does some things physically that makes him different from the quarterbacks in the league,” said Sgarlata. “The experience he’s gained, the number one thing that does is give confidence to kids around him. He’s got the physical stature but also the way he carries himself is really paramount for our offense, especially with our young players and young receivers.”
Overall, their successful training camp has the team optimistic for its season opener this Saturday, when they face Wagner College (0-0, NEC) on the Multi-Sport Field at 12:00 p.m. The Seahawks have become a staple on the Hoyas’ non-league schedule, having played Georgetown annually for the past four seasons. Despite the Seahawks escaping with a narrow 28-21 home win last season, Alfieri is eyeing a little payback. He thinks the Hoyas have what it takes to walk away victorious thanks to their transformation under their new leadership.
“It’s been exciting to have a different style of training camp under Coach Sgarlata. It’s been good. I think we’re really prepared for Wagner, and I think we’re all really excited and we’re coming out hungry right now.”
