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Fitchburg State Falcons football

{{Short description|College football team}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college football team

| TeamName = Fitchburg State Falcons football

| CurrentSeason =

| FirstYear = {{Start date and age|1984}}

| Image = Fitchburg st falcons mark.png

| ImageSize = 250

| AthleticDirector = Matthew Burke

| HeadCoach = Izzy Abraham

| HeadCoachYear = 2nd

| HCWins = 2

| HCLosses = 8

| Stadium = Elliot Field

| FieldName =

| StadiumBuilt =

| StadCapacity = 1,200

| StadSurface = FieldTurf

| Location = Fitchburg, Massachusetts

| NCAAdivision = III

| Conference = MASCAC

| ConfDivision =

| PastAffiliations = NEFC

| ATWins = 130

| ATLosses = 293

| ATTies = 1

| BowlWins = 0

| BowlLosses = 3

| BowlTies =

| PlayoffApps =

| Playoffs =

| NatlTitles =

| ConfTitles =

| DivTitles = 2 NEFC Bogan Division (2004–2005)

| Heismans =

| Rivalries = Worcester State (Sterling Cup)

| MascotDisplay = Falcons

| WebsiteName = fitchburgfalcons.com

| WebsiteURL = https://www.fitchburgfalcons.com/sports/fball/index

}}

The Fitchburg State Falcons football team represents Fitchburg State University in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Falcons are members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, fielding its team in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference since 2013. The Falcons play their home games at Elliot Field in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title=Local Notebook: Falcons take to Elliot Field |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2022/08/23/local-notebook-falcons-take-to-elliot-field |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}

Fitchburg State is known for the longest college football losing streak at the time, which ended in 1989 after thirty-plus losses. The school was featured in many news sources, such as The New York Times, ESPN, and many local newspapers.{{Cite web |title=Fitchburg football celebration ends with five arrests |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/15/Fitchburg-football-celebration-ends-with-five-arrests/9816624427200/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=UPI |language=en}} Fitchburg State defeated Southeastern Massachusetts on October 14, 1989, by the score of 33–7. Thanks to notable plays by the defence, including a recovered fumble by Paul Camick a sophomore at the time, It was the first Fitchburg State win in over four years. In the ensuing celebrations at Fitchburg, five people were arrested.{{Cite web |last=UPI |date=October 15, 1989 |title=Fitchburg football celebration ends with five arrests |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/15/Fitchburg-football-celebration-ends-with-five-arrests/9816624427200/ |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=UPI}}

On September 9, 2023, Taylor Crout became the first female football player to play a non-kicking position in an NCAA game at any level, which she did for the Falcons.{{cite news |author1=Geoffrey C. Arnold |title=Taylor Crout, not Hayley Van Voorhis, may have been the first female non-kicker to play in a NCAA game: Report |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2023/09/taylor-crout-not-hayley-van-voorhis-may-have-been-the-first-female-non-kicker-to-play-in-a-ncaa-game-report.html |access-date=30 September 2023 |work=The Oregonian |date=26 September 2023}}

The Falcons’ head coach is Izzy Abraham, who took over the position for the 2024 season.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-23 |title=Israel "Izzy" Abraham Named Head Football Coach |url=https://www.fitchburgfalcons.com/general/2023-24/Releases/Izzy_Abraham |language=en}}

Conference affiliations

  • New England Football Conference (1986–2012){{Citation |title=NEFC Timeline |url=https://www.cccathletics.com/sports/fball/history/NEFCTimeline |language=en}}
  • Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (2013–present){{Cite web |title=FB: Panthers ground Fitchburg State |url=https://athletics.plymouth.edu/news/2022/10/15/football-fb-panthers-ground-fitchburg-state.aspx |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Plymouth State University |date=October 15, 2022 |language=en}}

Championships

= Division championships =

Fitchburg State claims 2 division titles, the most recent of which came in 2005.

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Fitchburg State Falcons|border=2|Year|Division|Coach|Overall Record|Conference Record|Opponent|CG result}}
2004rowspan=2|NEFC Boganrowspan=2|Patrick Haverty8–46–0CurryL 7–17
20058–36–0CurryL 7–14

=Bowl games=

Fitchburg State has participated in three bowl games, and has a record of 0–3.

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Fitchburg State Falcons|border=2|Season|Coach|Bowl|Opponent|Result}}
2004rowspan=3|Patrick HavertyECAC BowlSpringfieldL 7–53
2005ECAC BowlBridgewater StateL 17–34
2015ECAC BowlAlfredL 10–11

List of head coaches

=Key=

{{List of college football program head coaches key}}

=Coaches=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, and conference records

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | No.

! scope="col" | Name

! scope="col" | Season(s)

! scope="col" | GC

! scope="col" | OW

! scope="col" | OL

! scope="col" | OT

! scope="col" | O%

! scope="col" | CW

! scope="col" | CL

! scope="col" | CT

! scope="col" | C%

1

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Dave|Secino

}

| 1984–1989

| 53

| 4

| {{nts|49}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|49|0}}}}

| 2

| 24

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|49|0}}}}

|-

| 2

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Vin|Keough|}}{{Cite web |title=HIS OFFENSE MAY BE ANCIENT, BUT DENISON'S PIPER IS STILL YOUNG |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-11-03-9104090285-story.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=November 3, 1991 }}

| 1990–1992

| {{nts|27}}

| 4

| {{nts|23}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|4|23|0}}}}

| 3

| 17

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|17|0}}}}

|-

| 3

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Mike|Woessner|}}{{Cite web |last=Schools |first=Jim Wilson High |title=Coaching change coming at Quabbin |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2006/01/10/coaching-change-coming-at-quabbin/53141299007/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}

| 1993–1995

| {{nts|47}}

| {{nts|4}}

| {{nts|22}}

| {{nts|1}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|4|22|1}}}}

| 3

| 21

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|21|0}}}}

|-

| 4

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Chris|Nugai|}}{{Cite web |last=ALGERI |first=STEVE |title=New Woburn football coach resigns abrubtly |url=http://homenewshere.com/daily_times_chronicle/sports/article_d883f836-eae7-11e6-b3b8-ff287ecf879c.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Homenewshere.com |date=February 6, 2017 |language=en}}

| 1996–1997

| {{nts|19}}

| {{nts|3}}

| {{nts|16}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|16|0}}}}

| 1

| 15

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|1|15|0}}}}

|-

| 5

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Dave|Flynn|dab=American football}}{{Cite web |last=By |date=1998-04-02 |title=TRANSACTIONS |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-04-02-9804020755-story.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Hartford Courant |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Paul |title=Fource of one |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2009/08/30/fource-one/51882694007/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}

| 1998–2001

| {{nts|38}}

| {{nts|16}}

| {{nts|22}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|16|22|0}}}}

| 11

| 13

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|11|13|0}}}}

|-

| 6

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Patrick|Haverty|}}{{Cite web |title=New coach takes command |url=https://fitchburgpoint.com/2549/sports/new-coach-makes-the-turn-around/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Point}}{{Cite web |author=Chris Klingenberg |title=College football: New faces set tone at Fitchburg State University |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/college/2018/08/31/college-football-new-faces-set-tone-at-fitchburg-state-university/10873708007/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}

| 2002–2006, 2011–2017

| {{nts|121}}

| {{nts|62}}

| {{nts|59}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|62|59|0}}}}

| 44

| 41

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|44|41|0}}}}

|-

| 7

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Paul|McGonagle|dab=American football}}{{Cite web |date=2017-12-04 |title=Paul McGonagle Named Endicott Football Head Coach |url=https://www.ecgulls.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20171204nhqoqn |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2007-04-10 |title=FSC finds new coach |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_5633878/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}

| 2007–2010

| {{nts|39}}

| {{nts|12}}

| {{nts|27}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|12|27|0}}}}

| 10

| 18

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|10|18|0}}}}

|-

| 8

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Jim|McGuire|dab=American football}}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-01 |title=McGuire out at Fitchburg State |url=https://www.d3football.com/notables/2019/12/mcguire-out-at-fitchburg-state |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-13 |title=Fitchburg State football coach steps down |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_31665009/fitchburg-state-football-coach-steps-down |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}

| 2018–2019

| {{nts|20}}

| {{nts|4}}

| {{nts|16}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|4|16|0}}}}

| 3

| 13

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|3|13|0}}}}

|-

| 9

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Scott|Sperone|}}{{Cite web |title=Sperone Named Head Football Coach at Fitchburg State - WPI Athletics - WPI Athletics |url=https://athletics.wpi.edu/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20200129jpl593 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=athletics.wpi.edu |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301111319/https://athletics.wpi.edu/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20200129jpl593 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-14 |title=Fitchburg State coach resigns |url=https://www.d3football.com/notables/2022/10/fitchburg-state-coach-resigns |language=en}}

| 2021–2022

| {{nts|15}}

| {{nts|1}}

| {{nts|14}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|1|14|0}}}}

| 0

| 10

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|10|0}}}}

|-

| 10

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Mark|Sullivan|dab=American football}}{{Cite web |last=Merino |first=Nicholas Valdez and Jorge |title=Fitchburg State's Scott Sperone Stepping Down from Head Coach Position amidst Verbal Abuse Allegations |url=https://fitchburgpoint.com/13212/news/fitchburg-states-scott-sperone-stepping-down-from-head-coach-position-amidst-verbal-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Point}}

| 2022 (interim)

| {{nts|5}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|5}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|5|0}}}}

| 0

| 5

| 0

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|5|0}}}}

|-

| 11

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Zach|Shaw|dab=}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Falcons pick Shaw to lead football program |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2023/01/09/falcons-tab-shaw-to-lead-football-program |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Math Madness a hit with area schools thanks to Worcester State; Defense gives WPI a boost |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/college/2023/01/10/math-madness-takes-over-at-worcester-state-defense-gives-wpi-a-boost/69795923007/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=Fitchburg State Announces Departure of Head Football Coach |url=https://www.fitchburgfalcons.com/sports/fball/2023-24/releases/Head_Coach |language=en}}

| 2023

| {{nts|10}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|10}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|10|0}}}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|8}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|8|0}}}}

|-

| 12

! scope="row" | {{Sortname|Izzy|Abraham}}

| 2024–present

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|0|0}}}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|8}}

| {{nts|0}}

| {{nts|{{Winning percentage|0|0|0}}}}

|}

Year-by-year results

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"

|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|National champions

|bgcolor="#ddffdd"|Conference champions

|bgcolor="#ffe6bd"|Bowl game berth

|bgcolor="#d0e7ff"|Playoff berth

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; width:98%;text-align:center;"

! rowspan="3"|Season

! rowspan="3"|Year

! rowspan="3"|Head coach

! rowspan="3"|Association

! rowspan="3"|Division

! rowspan="3"|Conference

!colspan="7" |Record

! rowspan="3"|Postseason

! rowspan="3"|Final ranking

colspan="3" |Overall

!colspan="4" |Conference

Win

!Loss

!Tie

!Finish

!Win

!Loss

!Tie

colspan=15 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Fitchburg State Falcons}}|Fitchburg State Falcons{{cite web |title=Fitchburg State Football All-Time Coaching Records |url=https://www.fitchburgfalcons.com/sports/fball/records/coaching |website=fitchburgfalcons.com |access-date=21 November 2022}}
1984

| 1984

|rowspan=6|Dave Secino

|rowspan=36|NCAA

|rowspan=36|Division III

| rowspan="2" |Independent

| 0|| 9|| 0|| || || ||

|—

|—

1985

| 1985

| 1|| 7|| 0|| || || ||

|—

|—

1986

| 1986

| rowspan="28" |NEFC

| 0|| 9|| 0|| 11th|| 0|| 9|| 0

|—

|—

1987

| 1987

| 0|| 8|| 0|| 6th (South Div.)|| 0|| 5|| 0

|—

|—

1988

| 1988

| 0|| 9|| 0|| 7th (South Div.)|| 0|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

1989

| 1989

| 3|| 7|| 0|| T–5th (South Div.)|| 2|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

1990

| 1990

|rowspan=3|Vin Keough

| 2|| 7|| 0|| T–4th (South Div.)|| 2|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

1991

| 1991

| 2|| 7|| 0|| T–6th (South Div.)|| 1|| 5|| 0

|—

|—

1992

| 1992

| 0|| 9|| 0|| 9th|| 0|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

1993

| 1993

|rowspan=3|Mike Woessner

| 0|| 8|| 1|| 9th|| 0|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

1994

| 1994

| 3|| 6|| 0|| 7th|| 2|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

1995

| 1995

| 1|| 8|| 0|| 9th|| 1|| 7|| 0

|—

|—

1996

| 1996

|rowspan=2|Chris Nugai

| 0|| 9|| 0|| 9th|| 0|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

1997

| 1997

| 3|| 7|| 0|| 8th|| 1|| 7|| 0

|—

|—

1998

| 1998

|rowspan=4|Dave Flynn

| 3|| 7|| 0|| T–5th (Red Div.)

| 2|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

1999

| 1999

| 6|| 4|| 0|| 3rd (Red Div.)|| 4|| 2|| 0

|—

|—

2000

| 2000

| 5|| 4|| 0|| 3rd (Bogan Div.)|| 4|| 2|| 0

|—

|—

2001

| 2001

| 2|| 7|| 0|| 7th (Bogan Div.)|| 1|| 5|| 0

|—

|—

2002

| 2002

|rowspan=5|Patrick Haverty

| 5|| 4|| 0|| 3rd (Bogan Div.)|| 4|| 2|| 0

|—

|—

2003

| 2003

| 5|| 4|| 0|| 4th (Bogan Div.)|| 3|| 3|| 0

|—

|—

2004

| 2004

| 8|| 4|| 0|| 1st (Bogan Div.)|| 6|| 0|| 0

|bgcolor="#ffe6bd"|L North Atlantic Bowl

|—

2005

| 2005

| 8|| 3|| 0|| 1st (Bogan Div.)|| 6|| 0|| 0

|bgcolor="#ffe6bd"|L Northeast Bowl

|—

2006

| 2006

| 4|| 5|| 0|| T–4th (Bogan Div.)|| 3|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

2007

| 2007

|rowspan=4|Paul McGonagle

| 3|| 6|| 0|| T–5th (Bogan Div.)|| 3|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

2008

| 2008

| 4|| 6|| 0|| T–3rd (Bogan Div.)|| 4|| 3|| 0

|—

|—

2009

| 2009

| 4|| 6|| 0|| T–6th (Bogan Div.)|| 2|| 5|| 0

|—

|—

2010

| 2010

| 1|| 9|| 0|| T–7th (Bogan Div.)|| 1|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

2011

| 2011

|rowspan=7|Patrick Haverty

| 2|| 8|| 0|| 8th (Bogan Div.)|| 1|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

2012

| 2012

| 2|| 8|| 0|| 7th (Bogan Div.)

| 1|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

2013

| 2013

| 6|| 4|| 0|| T–3rd|| 5|| 3|| 0

|—

|—

2014

| 2014

|rowspan=6|MASCAC

| 6|| 4|| 0|| T–4th|| 4|| 4|| 0

|—

|—

2015

| 2015

| 8|| 3|| 0|| T–2nd|| 6|| 2|| 0

|bgcolor="#ffe6bd"|L Robert M. "Scotty" Whitelaw Bowl

|—

2016

| 2016

| 5|| 5|| 0|| T–6th|| 3|| 5|| 0

|—

|—

2017

| 2017

| 3|| 7|| 0|| T–7th|| 2|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

2018

| 2018

|rowspan=2|Jim McGuire

| 2|| 8|| 0|| 7th|| 2|| 6|| 0

|—

|—

2019

| 2019

| 2|| 8|| 0|| 8th|| 1|| 7|| 0

|—

|—

colspan=15 style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Fitchburg State Falcons}}|Season canceled due to Covid-19
2021

| 2021

|rowspan=1|Scott Sperone

|rowspan=4|NCAA

|rowspan=4|Division III

|rowspan=4|MASCAC

| 0|| 10|| 0|| 9th|| 0|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

2022

| 2022

|rowspan=1|Scott Sperone (games 1–5)
Mark Sullivan (games 6–10)

| 1|| 9|| 0|| 9th|| 0|| 7|| 0

|—

|—

2023

| 2023

|rowspan=1|Zach Shaw

| 0|| 10|| 0|| 9th|| 0|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

2024

| 2024

| Izzy Abraham

| 2|| 8|| 0|| 10th|| 1|| 8|| 0

|—

|—

Notes

{{reflist|group=A}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Oweb}}

{{Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football navbox}}

Category:American football teams established in 1984

Category:1984 establishments in Massachusetts