BANGOR, Maine — Husson University free safety Stephan Dance and right guard Alex Young admitted that there were some trying times early in their careers at Husson.
They are both four-year starters and had to endure an 0-10 season in 2011 in which the Eagles’ averaging losing margin was 35.5 points.
There were three losses by at least 50 points, including a 77-7 loss to Adrian College of Michigan and a 72-0 shellacking at the hands of Wesley College of Delaware.
There were only two wins in 2012, and the losing margin was 22.8 points per game.
Twelve of the 40 freshmen who were on the 2011 roster and three players who were freshmen on the 2010 roster have persevered, and when Gabby Price returned to coach the Eagles, the result was a 5-5 mark last season and an 8-1 record this season that provided them with their first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference title and first berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Husson will entertain the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at noon Saturday.
“There were definitely some long days and long nights,” said Dance, who is the school’s all-time leader in career tackles with 340. “I tried to convince everyone to stay. Some left. But I stayed and look what happened.
“I knew when I came here it was a losing program,” said Dance, a native of New London, Connecticut. “But I always thought if I stayed, it would change. We’ve done better each year. We’ve improved.”
Husson was 1-9 in 2010.
“[The] freshmen who were getting playing time, and getting beat up every day, are now seniors with four years of college experience who are now going into the playoffs pretty excited,” said Young, who is from South Thomaston.
“We knew we had some good guys, some good athletes, some kids who could play and compete. We just figured if we kept sticking around and putting in the work [we’d get rewarded],” he said. “It said on the locker room since we showed up as freshmen on day one that ‘Those who stay will be champions.’ We kept believing, and now we’re there.”
Young was actually on the 2010 roster but missed a year and a half because of an injury. Seniors Val Honore, a guard, and Stevens Laguerre, a defensive lineman, also were on the 2010 roster but didn’t play in 2011 and 2012 before returning last year.
Dance and Young said Price has played a major role in the program’s dramatic turnaround, and it began with expanding the roster.
There were 61 players on the 2012 roster, but there are 115 on this year’s roster.
There is no limit on the number of players on a Division III roster, and all of them dress for home games. But Price takes 62 on road trips, and the NCAA limits teams to 58 players and 20 staff personnel for playoff games.
“Practices are a lot easier with 115 players on your roster,” said Young. “Everyone gets fewer reps, but when you do get in there, you’re up against a higher level of competition. It’s good to have different guys going against you every day.”
Young enjoys playing for Price.
“You couldn’t ask for a better human being leading your football program,” he said. “It has been an honor playing for him the past two years. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
“Coach Price is definitely a tough guy but he is fair and honest and will do anything for you. He’ll give you the coat off his back, anything,” Dance said.
Price is a player’s coach, according to Young.
“He likes to get feedback from the guys, and he makes sure everybody is all right. He’ll ask you about your family,” Young said.
Price said the seniors have been a special group.
“You don’t find a lot of guys at a Division III school play who play for all four years even if things are going great. There were some good things going on here, but the won-loss record wasn’t good.
“This is a remarkable tribute to the seniors and their love of the game of football and their teammates,” said Price.
There are 19 seniors and several of them have been with the program for at least three seasons. In addition to Dance, Young, Honore and Laguerre, the others include Ryan Dorso, Matt McInnis, Shabashe McIntosh, Jared Meklin, Nick Sterling, Nelson Perez, Alex Martin-Wallace, Matthew Archer, Dan Considine, Caleb King and Derek Walbridge.
The season didn’t start well. Husson lost to Alfred (New York) 34-17 in the opener.
But the Eagles beat Alfred State (New York) 34-28 in overtime the next week and haven’t looked back.
“Going into the season, we set our expectations really high,” said Young. “After we lost our first game to Alfred, it set everybody off a little bit. We realized if we wanted to meet our goals, we had to put forth a better effort every week. We had to work harder every week to keep getting better.”
The season has been memorable for the players.
“It has been a blast,” said Young. “At some points, it didn’t feel real, considering what we’ve been through in the past. I’ve enjoyed every moment and haven’t taken anything for granted. You know you have to work hard every day. We have a tough opponent coming in, but we’re a pretty tough football team.”
“The only bad thing is that it ends for me after this season,” Dance said. “I just want the train to keep going. I want to start a dynasty.”
The players said there is a good buzz on campus about the game, and they’re hoping the community will come out and support the team.
“Everybody is pretty excited. It’s going to be cold, but they’re still going to come out. It’ll be a good atmosphere,” said Young.