Syosset Football Team Enters Training Camp with Plenty of Optimism

The Braves football team finished its first scrimmage of training camp feeling very optimistic about their upcoming season which starts at home verses Farmingdale on September 8th. 

Coach Michael Murtha spoke proudly after the scrimmage about what coaching this team means to him. 

"As a coach, training camp makes you feel like you're alive again," said Murtha, who was promoted to assistant coach for the 2012 Varsity team after years of coaching the Junior Varsity squad. "It gives you a great purpose for living. This is my calling and to come back after waiting so many months since the season ended -- it's rejuvenating. Helping kids out -- that's what we're trying to do here."

You can't blame Murtha for being especially excited about the upcoming season. Syosset welcomes back star running back Joe Morris who missed most of last season after tearing his ACL week two verses Freeport. 

“It’s huge, he’s a big-time back,” Murtha said. “I think he’s going to be one of the best backs in the county. He can run the ball, but he’s also a real good receiver, so in the spread he’ll be out as a receiver.”

In addition to Morris, Syosset returns a strong nucleus from last season's squad including senior offensive and defensive lineman John Aronson, Senior wide receiver Tim Lafferty and Senior linebacker Rob Glasser. 

"We have a great group of kids who work hard and are talented," said Murtha. "They have an inner confidence about them. Some groups have it and some don't, but these kids really believe in each other and the system.”

Murtha, says the intensity in practice needs to be constant every day because of the challenge the team will face to start the season. 

"We have a to start our season off and that's what we're focusing on right now," Murtha said. "We'll have an idea of where we are after that game.” 

For Syosset to be successful this season Murtha says the key is to stay healthy.

"Staying healthy, that's a big key," Murtha said. "We didn’t stay our last year than the previous year and that really hurt us.

 “The hope is, that the team will be successful, and that will spread to other sports and the entire school spirit,” Murtha said.  “We want to bring back a championship to Syosset.”