Moglia’s initial recruiting class looks to go out with a bang against Hampton

Many didn’t know what to expect when they hopped on board as the Coastal Carolina football team’s first recruiting class under coach Joe Moglia.

Replacing the Chanticleers’ first-ever head man David Bennett wasn’t going to be easy and Moglia told his players that. He even received some animosity about the move at first, but the former TD Ameritrade CEO has gone on to find plenty of success with the group he has built – making the FCS playoffs in every season he’s coached the team.

Now, 20 seniors, most of whom were part of Moglia’s first recruiting class, are on their way out and will play the final game of their college career as Coastal Carolina hosts Hampton on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Brooks Stadium.

“They are a special group of guys,” Moglia said. “They’ve put a lot of time and effort and have truly gotten better as not only players but as men, and this program has won a lot of games because of that.”

There are no doubts that there will be a lot of emotions in play Saturday.

“These guys came in when we came in and the seniors have played a lot of football for us, made a lot of plays for us. They’ve meant a tremendous amount to this program and it’s a bittersweet deal,” said offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude, who joined the program in 2012 along with Moglia. “For a coach, one of the greatest senses of satisfaction you have is when you get these guys that are 18 years old and a little wet behind the ears. They think they know everything and they really don’t know a whole lot. Four years later these guys have Master’s degrees and they’ve played a lot of football, won a lot of games for you and you’ve created a really strong bond that you hope will last a lifetime.”

The bond started during that 2012 season and the Chants went 8-5 while still making the playoffs but falling in the second round. They knew it would be a long process, and they bought in from day one.

“We never questioned it,” senior linebacker Alex Scearce said. “We always knew what we had, and how much potential was there. This group was well-coached and very well assembled and our coaches have helped us so much. I just think that when we look back at the end of the day – and later on in life – that we have something special here.”

The team has dealt with a load of injuries this season, going through seven quarterbacks and taking hits at several other key positions, but it hasn’t stopped the Chants from finding a way to get it done as they’ve won six straight.

“[There has] been a lot of trying times for us and we’ve always answered the bell,” Patenaude said. “One guy has stepped up from week to week, whether it’s the quarterbacks or guys making plays running the ball; the O-line has done a great job helping out. We lost a couple of running backs and all the quarterbacks of course, and a couple of guys stepped in and answered the call. So it’s truly been a group effort and that’s the part I’m so proud of.”

The coaching staff, which put the players in position to have much success in recent years, only hopes for one last thing.

“It’s bittersweet to watch those guys go and hopefully [we’ll] put them out on a good note and have a good strong game, and just run around and have fun,” Patenaude said. “Just one last time on the teal turf; they’re going to go out and have some fun.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Moglia’s initial recruiting class looks to go out with a bang against Hampton."