Underdog Stony Brook opens against UTEP

Stony Brook football coach Chuck Priore describes himself as a "realist," and he has the battle scars and hard-bitten attitude to prove it. That's why the optimism in his voice and the hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth while discussing the Seawolves' prospects for the season opener Saturday night at the University of Texas-El Paso are so jarring.

"I'm excited about this team," Priore said. "This team potentially has what I've been trying to build for the six years I've been here. It's got high character; it's got 11 fifth-year players; it's got talented kids so that we now don't have to be conservative in game-planning; it's got leadership in the group. I'm very excited about where this team is today with its potential."

If there is a caveat, it's that Priore knows the Seawolves, who have tied for the Big South title the past two seasons, must improve their performance against non-conference opponents. That won't be easy when their first two games are on the road against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents.

The Seawolves were routed in last year's opener by the Big East's South Florida, 59-14. UTEP of Conference USA and Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference on Sept. 10 won't be that good, but they have built-in advantages against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent such as Stony Brook.

"We're huge underdogs in both games," Priore said. "At the end of the season, if there are 50 of these games, 49 will be won by the favorite. I think we're going to be prepared to win the game. We're not going to play to lose or play to lose close. But there are some realistic statistics that tell you what the outcome is probably going to be.

"I don't expect [UTEP] to be any better than us. I just know they have 85 scholarships. That's a huge difference. We have 63 scholarships. There's going to be 30,000, 40,000 people in the stands. If UTEP came here, it would be a closer game. But they're not going to come here."

UTEP, coming off a 6-7 season that ended with a crushing loss to BYU in the New Mexico Bowl, has junior college transfer Nick Lamaison at quarterback. Lamaison won the national JC title last year at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) and was headed to Tennessee before diverting to UTEP.

Priore's confidence has been fortified by five transfers from FCS schools who should shore up weak areas: defensive tackle Masengo Kabongo (Maryland), defensive end Junior Solice (Rutgers), safety Dan Mulrooney (Boston College), wide receiver Kevin Norrell (Washington State) and offensive tackle Fernando Diaz (Pitt). None is a starter, but all will play considerably.

The primary concern is the offensive line, which has three new starters blocking for returning 1,000-yard rushers Brock Jackolski and Miguel Maysonet. But with the poised leadership of senior quarterback Mike Coulter and an attack-style defense under new coordinator Rob Neviaser, Priore believes everything is in place for a successful season.

"We've got more depth," he said. "We can absorb an off day by one person, absorb an injury. We're going to be able to accomplish things we might not have been able to accomplish a year ago."