Priore upbeat despite SBU's 0-3 record
Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore shouts instructions at the Seawolves. (Aug. 11, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
You are what your record says you are, but Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore has a better feeling about his football team than the Seawolves' 0-3 record might suggest. SBU dominated possession for most of its opening overtime loss at UTEP and in its 21-20 loss to Brown in the home opener last Saturday but failed to close the deal in both cases.
"In the first quarter [against Brown], we had the ball for 11 minutes, had 86 yards rushing and 36 yards passing, and we were losing 7-3,'' Priore said. "You don't want to be losing after you dominate.
"What I feel at 0-3 is that . . . we certainly have performed well enough to be 2-1. What we've got to overcome, as opposed to a season of agony, is we've got to play a little bit better and get the game done. I think we've played better football by a lot this season, but psychologically, we need to have one in the left-hand column.''
There's no better time for the Seawolves to start winning than in Saturday's 6 p.m. homecoming game against Lafayette (1-2), which routed Penn, 37-12, last week. Stony Brook was upset last season by an 0-5 Lafayette team, but after Priore scolded his players for undisciplined play, the Seawolves won four straight.
Priore is not even close to that point now, but he believes it's important to win a non-conference game before starting Big South play in SBU's next game against Presbyterian Oct. 8 at home.
"It's crucial,'' Priore said of a non-conference schedule that contains one more opponent, Division II St. Anselm, on Oct. 15 at home. "We want to be recognized all the time, not just in conference play.''
The Leopards bring an effective passing attack to LaValle Stadium. If starting quarterback Ryan O'Neal still is suffering from the effects of a concussion, he will be replaced by Andrew Shoop, who played well in the win over Penn. Lafayette wide receiver Mark Ross is a proven deep threat.
"We view him as a dangerous weapon,'' Priore said. "Philosophically, they try to throw the ball up the field.''
Priore plans to continue alternating starter Michael Coulter and backup Kyle Essington at quarterback. The loss of wide receiver Matt Brevi, who suffered a grade two sprained shoulder against Brown, might encourage even more reliance on the running of Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski. Brevi is expected to return in two weeks against Presbyterian.
