Spring Break
Rhody football defeats Monmouth in first win of season, 27-24
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
Rizzi went on to explain how this team is already different from last year. "We are not trying to just put all our focus on one season but to lay the foundation and build consistency," he said.
After the seniors graduated in May and a few other players left for personal reasons, Rizzi said, the staff went out to rebuild. Forty-five percent of the team this year is new, which Rizzi said is a challenge but also a great thing.
"We signed a great class," he said.
Once the team was assembled with its new coach, they started to train and prepare to play. Rizzi said that 90 percent of his players are in the best shape of their life.
"They are not at the championship level but it's the best progress they've made so far," he said. "We are starting to get where we want to be."
Rizzi was hired in December to replace Tim Stowers. Rizzi was a part of the Rutgers University football coaching staff for six seasons before returning to URI. He attended URI and graduated in 1992. He was a former Ram All-American tight end and was a team captain his senior year.
"I'm extremely excited to be back at URI," he said.
Rizzi's team travels to Fordham University this Saturday for a game to be played at 6 p.m.
"We want to improve from week one to week two [including] mental mistakes and missed assignments," Rizzi said. "I'm excited to go out and play each and every Saturday."
After the seniors graduated in May and a few other players left for personal reasons, Rizzi said, the staff went out to rebuild. Forty-five percent of the team this year is new, which Rizzi said is a challenge but also a great thing.
"We signed a great class," he said.
Once the team was assembled with its new coach, they started to train and prepare to play. Rizzi said that 90 percent of his players are in the best shape of their life.
"They are not at the championship level but it's the best progress they've made so far," he said. "We are starting to get where we want to be."
Rizzi was hired in December to replace Tim Stowers. Rizzi was a part of the Rutgers University football coaching staff for six seasons before returning to URI. He attended URI and graduated in 1992. He was a former Ram All-American tight end and was a team captain his senior year.
"I'm extremely excited to be back at URI," he said.
Rizzi's team travels to Fordham University this Saturday for a game to be played at 6 p.m.
"We want to improve from week one to week two [including] mental mistakes and missed assignments," Rizzi said. "I'm excited to go out and play each and every Saturday."
