BANGOR — Second-year Husson University football coach Niles Nelson knew this season was going to be challenging.
His team was going to be inexperienced in both lines and there wasn’t much depth.
In addition, Husson’s first three games were against top-notch Division III opponents Otterbein (Ohio), Springfield College (Mass.) and Salisbury (Md.).
Then the Eagles opened Eastern Collegiate Football Conference play against a SUNY-Maritime (N.Y.) team that went into the game undefeated.
But not in Nelson’s wildest dreams did he anticipate being outscored 220-28, including an 84-7 loss to Salisbury.
Not only had Nelson never been a part of an 84-point game, “I’ve never been involved with an 0-4 team.”
But Nelson and his players aren’t dwelling on the past.
They host Gallaudet in their Homecoming game on Saturday at noon at the Winkin Complex.
“The one saving grace this season is we have a bunch of kids with good character,” said Nelson. “When you get beaten like we have, a lot of people would have packed it in. So far, I haven’t seen any quit in these guys.”
Nelson pointed out that they are without “at least 20 players” they anticipated having in uniform this season.
“We had some recruits who decided at the last minute that they weren’t going to come and we had some veterans who decided they weren’t going to come back. There were a host of different reasons for their decisions,” said Nelson whose team was hit especially hard on both lines.
“There were about 50 guys in my freshman class and now there’s only nine or 10 of us,” pointed out senior tight end Travis Barnies of Auburn. “All of the other guys quit.”
He said former head coach Gabby Price’s decision to step down as coach in June of 2009 due to philosophical differences with the administration resulted in “a lot of guys being upset that Gabby was gone. And they didn’t want to make the best of the situation.”
That led to a “lot of negativity” a year ago when the Eagles went 4-5.
But he was quick to point out that the attitude has been much better this year despite the 0-4 start.
“Everybody is staying positive. If we stay positive, good things will happen,” said Barnies.
Senior running back Justin Lindie from Winslow concurred.
“We’ve been doing well in practice. We’re all working hard,” said Lindie, the team’s leading rusher with 154 yards on 58 carries. “If we keep working hard and do the little things right, we’ll get there.”
He also said the team will be ready for a Gallaudet team they lost to 10-7 last fall.
“We’re real excited for this game. We want to prove something,” said Lindie. “We’ll step it up this weekend.”
Barnies added, “We’re hungry for this game. Last year’s loss to them put a damper on our season.”
Junior guard Brad Deuring, one of the Husson captains, said the way the team has remained upbeat “says a lot about the guys and their character.”
“We’re going through some growing pains right now,” he added.
Lindie said the three non-conference games came against teams that were “very, very good.
“We’ll probably get there someday but we’re just not there now,” he said.
Several freshmen have been forced into regular duty and they have responded well, said Nelson.
Offensive guard Alex Young from South Thomaston, offensive tackle Val Honore, guard Steve LaGuerre, tight end Desmond Nutter of Belgrade and fullback Meshach Waite have been solid on the offensive side of the ball while nose guard Ernest Wiggins, tackles Kokou Noulilo of New Gloucester and Zach Snell of Fayette have been impressive on the defensive side along with linebacker Sam Miller III and end Ben Dalecki.
Nelson said Gallaudet runs the triple option like their previous opponents.
“We should know their offense pretty well,” he said.