![2010 ECFC Season Preview](/images/logos/ECFC-primary.jpg?max_width=450)
2010 PreSeason Coaches Poll
Rank | Team | Votes | Last Year |
1 | Norwich (7) | 63 | 6-0 |
2 | Mount Ida (1) | 52 | 4-2 |
3 | SUNY Maritime | 45 | 3-3 |
4 | Husson | 41 | 3-3 |
5 | Gallaudet | 39 | 4-2 |
6 | Castleton | 24 | 1-5 |
7 | Becker | 14 | 0-6 |
8 | Anna Maria | 10 | na |
Norwich Selected as ECFC PreSeason Favorite
Norwich University was selected as the preseason favorite of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference in a vote conducted by the league’s coaches. The Cadets were 8-3 during the 2009 campaign posting a perfect 6-0 mark in concerence play.
Mount Ida, who faced Norwich in the 2009 Championship Game, placed second with one first place vote. The Mustangs were followed by N.Y. Maritime, Husson and Gallaudet in third, fourth and fifth place resepectively. Castleton placed sixth, follwed by Becker and Anna Maria.
Unlike 2009, the 2010 season will not culminate in an ECFC Championship Game. Prepare for the upcoming 2010 season with a run down of the leagues eight teams. For more information on each of the ECFC squads, click on the logos below. The information inside includes a key contact information and quick facts, a review of 2009 including schedule and stats and a preview of the upcoming season.
The Cadets ended last year by winning their final eight
games to finish with an 8-3 overall record and its first conference
championship in the long and storied history of the program. With
19 starters returning to the team this year, head coach Shawn
McIntyre is optimistic that 2010 could be another special season.
The Cadets return nearly their entire offensive unit from last
season’s championship squad, but they will have a couple of
huge holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball with the
graduation of all-conference standouts Reza Afsarmanesh and Donovan
Brown.
2. Mount Id Mustangs
After making a name for themselves gaining a berth into
ECFC championship game in 2009, Head Coach Michael Landers and the
Mustangs will look to continue to ride the coattails of last
year’s ECFC Offensive Player-of-the-Year and NCAA nationally
ranked rusher Johrone Bunch to power the Mustangs into
contention for an NCAA tournament bid this season. Bunch has
also become the first ever Mustang to be selected as a Consensus
Draft Services (CDS) Pre-Season All-American for 2010.
3. SUNY Maritime Privateers
The Maritime Football team is coming off a record
breaking 2009 campaign in which they garnered their first winning
season with a 6-4 record and finished one game out of the inaugural
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference championship
match. The nations 4th ranked rushing offense in
2009 will have to replace three All-Conference Offensive Linemen
but has several experienced backups to plug in beside
All-Conference senior Frank Adamo. Fullback, Jamie Spanopoulos, who
finished the season ranked 5th nationally in scoring returns for
his junior campaign along with an experience group of skill
position players that includes twin brothers John and Anthony
Gagliano at running back and quarterback respectively. The
Privateers return an experienced and stingy group that finished in
the nation’s top 10 in Pass Defense, 1st Down Defense and Red
Zone Defense in 2009.
4. Husson Eagles
With a strong group of returners and a dedicated staff, the
Eagles look to lay the groundwork for a successful season for 2010
in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
Head coach Niles Nelson announced captains Chris Dalecki, Brad Deuring, Kyle Romick, Roderick Johnson, and Justin Linde to lead the 2010 team.
5. Gallaudet Bison
Coach Chuck Goldstein is set to make his debut as the
head coach for Gallaudet in 2010. The Bison were on the cusp of a
post-season bowl berth last season as the they finished tied for
second in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC). GU won
its final three games and will take that winning streak into 2010.
The Bison were ranked as the sixth best total defense in Division
III last season. That same defense was fourth in pass defense. GU
returns nine starters on that defense in 2010 led by ECFC Rookie of
the Year Tom Pangia. On offense the Bison rolled up 290 yards
rushing per game, ninth best in Division III. Senior quarterback
Jimmy Gardner is back and ready to lead the Bison in 2010.
6. Castleton Spartans
Perhaps the biggest asset in closing the gap between
the Spartans and the rest of the Eastern Collegiate Football
Conference (ECFC), will be experience. In 2009 the preseason camp
featured roughly 100 players who had never experienced a preseason.
All-ECFC First Team quarterback Shane Brozowski (Rensselaer, N.Y.)
leads a talented group of returners on offense, which includes
eight starters. The Spartan defense welcomes back 14 letter winners
from 2009, including defensive player of the year Cody
TanCreti.
7. Becker Hawks
Despite struggling through an 0-10 season in 2009 there is no
shortage of enthusiasm in preseason football camp at Becker
College. Third year head coach Bill McDonald and his staff have
brought in over 30 freshmen to help reinforce their roster and
challenge the upper classmen for playing time.
8. Anna Maria AMCATS
Although Anna Maria’s inaugural year ended without a
win, there were many positives to take away from the 2009 season.
With a team comprised of nearly all freshmen, the AMCATS showed the
ability to compete with several well established programs, even
holding a lead over Fitchburg State late into the first half of
their home opener. The team also finished first in the Eastern
Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) in red zone offense, scoring
on 93.3% of their trips inside their opponent’s 20-yard line.
In addition, the AMCATS received strong performances from several
young potential stars, displaying a glimpse of what’s to come
in the near future.