Head Coach Joe King remains optimistic, however, about the ability and future of this football team. “Throw out the wins and losses, and we’ve had an opportunity to win two other ball games,” King said this week. “In the past we’ve been able to find ways to win those games, and we haven’t this year.”

The season started out with many bright spots. Ramses Jimenez was named a preseason All-American before a game had even been played, and then RPI ran over Endicott in their opener 42-7.

That win came with a price. Frank Catellier, the apparent successor to Dan Cole, was injured and was unable to return in that contest, and for most of the first half of the season. Chad Wysocki has stepped up and matured in his play in recent weeks to fill that void.

Wysocki and Brendan McGowan, both freshmen, were honored for their performances in that game, and King echoed those honors when talking about their play so far this season.

King admits the quarterback position is up in the air right now. Catellier is back from his injury, and Wysocki has received two weekly honors from the conference including an Offensive Performer of the Week for his attack against Endicott, and Rookie of the Week honors for his performance that helped keep the Shot Glass Trophy here at home.

“Everybody would like to play [quarterback], but not everyone can,” said King. It has been a struggle to replace Cole this season, but King believes in both of the guys he has right now. He stated that a quarterback has to be the “toughest kid on the team, mentally and physically,” and that the team is in good hands with either Wysocki or Catellier.

Jay Bernardo has been another player that has stepped up big for the Engineers. He leads the team with 417 yards on the ground, and has five of RPI’s seven rushing touchdowns.

“He’s somebody who should be touching the ball more,” King spoke of his sophomore running back. Look for Bernardo to carry more of the load for the Engineers in the coming weeks.

This past week has been a blessing for King and the team. The open week provided an opportunity to rest some injured personnel and get them ready to play again, and also gave the offense and defense a chance to work against each other in practices, something that doesn’t happen often.

“We weren’t necessarily preparing for any one team last week. We were preparing to be a better football team.” King said his team went back to some “basic fundamentals” to get this accomplished.

The Engineers resume play against King’s Point next Saturday in a contest that King believes will be against a “real tough opponent” who is in the same boat as RPI, but he knows the team will be prepared.

“Football is a whole heck of a lot of fun when you win, and not… when you lose,” King stated simply. “[We needed] to try to establish an identity of our own. We’re not the same as last year, or the year before that, or ten years ago.”