New Milford varsity football coach Sean Murray
NEW MILFORD, Conn. — In his second full season as head coach of the Green Wave varsity football team, Sean Murray is guiding his squad to one of the most successful seasons in school history.
The Green Wave currently sit at 6-3 with one game remaining on their regular-season schedule, which will come against familiar foe New Fairfield.
Coach Murray鈥檚 team is peaking at the right time, having won three out of their last four games, including a dominant 27-7 victory over Brookfield last Friday. A stout defense combined with a commanding rushing attack has New Milford looking like one of the strongest teams in their league.
Murray recently spoke with 海角社区 about his team鈥檚 perseverance, if he expected to turn the program around so rapidly, playing in front of an electric home crowd and what he hopes to see in his team鈥檚 final game.
Where have you seen the most growth in your team from the beginning of the season until now?
鈥�I would say I鈥檝e seen the most growth in their attitude and their focus on never quitting. We鈥檝e been down in ball games, we鈥檝e faced adversity and they’ve never quit. They always play till the last minute and it鈥檚 really helped us take the next step here as a program.鈥�
Does that 鈥渘ever quit鈥� mindset come from player鈥檚 leadership, coach鈥檚 leadership or a combination of both?
鈥�I鈥檇 say it鈥檚 a combination of both. I think we have a great group of kids and we have a nice group of coaches and we all work really well together. The kids know we care for them and want them to be successful and they鈥檝e bought into that and excelled.鈥�
There鈥檚 been a heavy emphasis on the rushing attack the last few games along with great defensive play. Is that how you envision your teams operating, or is that more adapting to your players鈥� skillsets?
鈥�Like with every team, we鈥檝e had injuries, we鈥檝e had setbacks and had to kind of adjust on the fly like most teams do. Our defense has really stepped up this year in a lot of games. Then, the running attack the last few games has even surprised me. Noah Anderson missed the first seven/eight games with a broken collarbone, and he鈥檚 really been running hard the last few games.鈥�
Have there been any players who鈥檝e surprised you with their performances this season?
鈥�I would say the defense overall as a whole. They鈥檝e played really, really well together. We鈥檝e never really done that here. We tend to give up some points and this year our defense has made some big plays in big situations and I think that鈥檚 a testament to how hard they worked in the offseason and how they continue to work during the season.鈥�
After taking over the team following an 0-10 season just a few years ago and now putting together a very successful season this year, did you expect to be able to turn around the program so rapidly?
鈥�No, I didn鈥檛. I didn鈥檛 expect to be where we are right now so quick, especially after last year not playing. I didn鈥檛 know who was going to be back, but my players have worked really hard. It could鈥檝e gone one of two ways, they could鈥檝e said nah we鈥檙e not going to work too hard because who knows if we鈥檒l have a season or let鈥檚 make the most of it, and that鈥檚 exactly what they chose to do. It鈥檚 really paid off well.鈥�
What are you expecting from your last regular season game against New Fairfield?
鈥�I expect the kids to play hard and give it all they鈥檝e got. It鈥檚 going to be a tough game. Fairfield鈥檚 very good and we鈥檙e going to get their best effort. They鈥檝e had our number here the last several years and we鈥檙e hoping to turn that around this year and get to seven wins, which would be the second-best win number here ever.鈥�
What鈥檚 it been like playing in front of an ecstatic home crowd?
鈥�Oh, it鈥檚 been awesome. Kind of a weird schedule for us too. We started out with four straight home games and we had great crowds at each of them. I think the kids really thrived off of it. We鈥檝e had good crowds at our closer away games and it鈥檚 been cool to see the whole school rally around these kids and support them the way they have.鈥�
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