By Tony Catalina
NEFJ Correspondent
WORCESTER – With its season set to kick off in less than three weeks, the 2024 Holy Cross Crusaders head into the year with more motivation than ever. As their annual media day signals a fast-approaching season, a new era that includes a coaching change and a laundry list of impactful players gone is underway.
However, expectations are not changing. No matter who you talked to on Wednesday, the message was clear–they know what is being said, and they can’t wait to prove the doubters wrong.
Holy Cross has a rich history and over the last few years, has solidified itself as one the more consistent teams at the FCS level. With a changing of the guard underway as former head coach Bob Chesney takes his talents to James Madison, new coach Dan Curran knows what’s ahead for him as he looks to keep the Crusaders winning ways going.
“I just think the team, in general, has done a great job of picking up right where they left off with the Summer program, from Spring ball, and the Winter program,” Curran started. “They’ve really been bought in, and the momentum this group has been building over the course of the last five or six months has been tremendous. The focus, the intensity level, the energy level has kind of been here (raises arm) every single day,”
When asked about the players specifically, although the program is new to him, it’s the players and their character that have stood out to the coach.
“First and foremost, we know we got talented players here and really really bright kids,” Curran said. “But the thing I think that’s really exciting for me is the quality of the kids we have in the locker room.”
While Curran is quick to point out the players and how they have bought into the system, the players themselves seem to share the same sentiment for the season and are unafraid to say they’re blocking out any outside noise.
Youth and eagerness were a common theme among the players, and when starting quarterback Joe Pesansky spoke about the upcoming season, he acknowledged things are different than what he’s been used to, but it doesn’t feel it’s a bad thing by any means.
“It was a little bit different of an offseason than we were used to,” said Pesansky. “It was a little different in terms of a lot of guys had to grow up a lot faster than usual, but we have a young team, and we’re hungry, and I think that’s something that’s a huge advantage for us. A lot of people are counting us out, and I think that’s something that’s really fueling us. So we’re not worried about the outside. We’re not worried about what anybody else thinks, Preseason polls, anything like that, we know what we have in this locker room, we’re confident in our abilities, and we’re confident we’re going to have a wonderful season.”
While change can be hard, it can also be a good thing, and in the case of senior running back Jordan Fuller, it’s something he and his teammates have embraced.
“I think it’s very refreshing,” Fuller said. “Obviously, mostly new staff, and a lot of guys leaving last year that played a pivotal role, but we’re excited.”
Holy Cross football returns for the 2024 season after clinching a share of a league-record fifth consecutive Patriot League Championship and their 11th total championship in program history. The Crusaders finished 7-4 and 5-1 in conference play finishing the year at No. 24 in the postseason national ranking.
The season kicks off on August 31 on the road against the University of Rhode Island.
