Can Mounties Meet New Coach's Expectations?

It was apparent at the Montclair Mounties first full-contact practice this week that last season's relaxed atmosphere has been replaced with a new coach and a new attitude.

Head football coach John Fiore noted the walking wounded at the start of the afternoon practice but didn't give them any special treatment. "You guys gotta man up," he bellowed. It is Fiore's inaugural season at MHS.

Only 52 of the more than 70 players who came out for the season dressed in full gear. They didn't realize they would be trading their nicks and bruises for full-speed collisions. Fiore asked an assistant coach, tongue in cheek, if the younger players used to hit at the lower levels.

Fiore is already teaching his team that things will be different under his leadership.  First-string players Aamad Bush and Khalif Herbin said they appreciate the new, stringent practices.

"Last year, practice wasn't as hard.  These coaches now want to see more out of us," said Bush. "This year they're much stricter and demand more discipline."    

Bush added that attitudes need to change first before the team can improve on last season's 3-7 mark.  He said the coaches can only do so much. The rest is up to the players.     

"This year it's a lot more hard work.  A lot more," he said, adding players have extra motivation from Fiore and his staff.  "Maybe these coaches put the fear in our hearts or something.  But we're better for it because a lot of guys aren't used to this and needed this."       

Herbin, who's also a track and field star, agreed, saying the new atmosphere is for the good of the team.     

"It's the intensity level," Herbin quickly said, when asked what the biggest difference was from last year's camp to this year's. "The way we practice and even the way we run [to-and-from] drills. Last year guys would be saying, 'Aw, we'll lose this Saturday. Who cares?'  But this year, we're learning at a faster pace."        

Outsiders would think the learning curve should be a steep one for the new-look Mounties but for Fiore and crew, they don't want to wait for next year to be good. They want to be good this year.  During his post-practice speech at midfield, Fiore implored his team to "not wait" to be good. He exhorted his players to match his staff's work ethic, especially since the coaches are all working around the clock – unpaid.      

Varsity newcomer Nate Crutchfield said he can see the difference in intensityC from last season.  The sophomore quarterback led the freshman squad to an 8-2 mark last season and looks to be the regular signal-caller on opening day, September 11th. Crutchfield, whose nickname is  "The Blonde Bomber" said he's working as hard as he can to be this year's starting quarterback, but admits its rare for an underclassman to lead a team.

"It's cool, definitely," he said of the possibility of leading the offense."But I just need to keep working hard on everything."        

"Now we all have to work very hard," he said. "Coaches might not see we're working hard because they're used to seeing the highest of hard workers [at Neptune]. But we're all trying our best because we all want to play at Giants Stadium in December [for state championship]."      

Herbin said he's looking forward to keeping defenses off-balance all season.         

"When I'm in we'll kind of run like a 'Wildcat' [pass-run option] where I'm reading the [defensive] end," said Herbin, who'll also play slot receiver, cornerback, and kick and punt returner. "When that end crashes [comes down the line of scrimmage] I'm taking it and am gone. If he comes up [the field] we're handing it off."

Herbin describe this season's new attitude,. "Sometimes you lose [on a play], so you need to have a short memory. The first play of a game could be a deep ball, touchdown, and you'd have to forget about it. The game is not based one play, so you have to learn to forget about [bad] plays."      

This new mentality could be seen all throughout practice as guys who were knocked down immediately got back up to try again.  And those who were beat on a play would get an earful from their position coach, yet eagerly get back into action.      

Herbin attributed their go-get-'em attitude to Fiore, "Wow. Great. He's great. That's all I have to say about him. I never knew I could learn so much about football -- and I study and love the game. But he's exposed me to so much already . . . I'm just like, 'wow!'"      

BLUE & WHITE NOTES:    

• Bush, who is recovering from a collarbone injury, hasn't been cleared for contact yet but put in work throughout two-a-days, Wednesday. "It's good. I still can't take contact but a couple of times I fell on the ground and I didn't feel any pain," said Bush, who won't see game action until a September 2nd scrimmage against St. Joseph's.  

• Bush said he has a "verbal from Temple but they haven't sent in the paperwork yet because of my collarbone. They said they want to see me play more first. But once the season starts, a couple more offers should flow in like from Rutgers, Maryland, UConn, and Boston College."

• One guy who impressed during individual linebacker sessions was Avery Ellis. The 6'2 junior 'backer was popping pads – and teammates – throughout the afternoon session. While others seemed to wilt as the day dragged on, Ellis consistently brought the intensity.       

• Herbin was a First Team All-County track star last season  in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump and it showed during conditioning drills. Such a rigorous training regiment has prepared him for Fiore's camp and has kept him ahead of the pack in post-practice running segments.     

• The moment of the day was when two struggling linemen were laboring to complete the post-practice 100-yard snake drill [where each player runs from end zone to end zone by snaking the width of the field every five yards]. As it was apparent neither could finish alone, in an act of solidarity, the team broke off in groups of twos to finish the drill with their brethren. After nearly 10 minutes of aiding their winded teammates, the entire team broke into loud cheers upon completion.