MetroWest Daily News: Megliola: This Framingham State pair is Ram tough

By Lenny Megliola, Special to the News

It'll be a step up for the Framingham State Rams Saturday when they meet Ithaca College of the esteemed Empire League in the first round of the NCAA Div. 3 playoffs. The aim is to pull off the upset. It would make the 5 1/2-hour bus trip back from Ithaca a joyride home.

"Ithaca has a big offensive line," said Rams quarterback Matt Silva. "They're going to pound the ball,"

"All the teams up there are tough," said Rams middle linebacker Pat McGrath. "They want to run the ball right at you. That's the type of game I like."

Both Silva, a redshirt sophomore from Dracut, and senior McGrath (Everett) have overcome serious injuries, even played with them at times. They've toughed it out and played key roles in Framingham State winning the MASCAC title, going 8-0 and 9-1 overall. What led McGrath and Silva to Framingham State? Funny you should ask.

AN EVERETT MAN

In Eastern Massachusetts Everett High has become synonymous with spectacular gridiron success. "It's all about football, everything is," said the six-feet-2, 240 McGrath. "Some stores close on Friday nights. Kids can't wait to wear their Pop Warner shirts to the game. It's an awesome atmosphere.

"Babies don't get a pacifier, they get a mouthpiece." Yep, a real football town.

McGrath, the Rams' leading tackler, played on two undefeated teams at Everett. He almost wound up at New Hampshire, but when the Wildcats' coaching staff left McGrath had a change of heart. He gave Merrimack a shot, but that didn't work out either, "for financial reasons," he said.

During all this, Rams assistant coach Aynsley Rosenbaum was tracking McGrath. And he wasn't going to let him get away. "He's a great recruiter," said McGrath. "He really builds the program up. It's the best move I ever made."

"Pat's got great size and he's athletic," said head coach Tom Kelley. "He's got a great nose for the ball. He's a great leader."

Last season, however, was the worst of times for McGrath. He broke a bone in his foot in the opener. He had to watch the games on crutches, and it didn't set well with him. The Rams went on a roll with a shot at making the postseason. "I couldn't stand it, it killed me being on the sidelines," said McGrath. "I wanted to be a part of it."

At the very end, he was. McGrath got into the last regular season game, and in the playoff loss to Cortland State, he was the leading tackler.

"I could have redshirted, it was my decision to come back," said McGrath. A sociology major, the 23-year-old McGrath realizes his football career is winding down. He also knows Framingham State was a great fit. The Rams became a team that could win conference championships. They could get to the playoffs. "This year, we set the bar higher," he said.

And so, off to Ithaca.

SILVA LINING

"How good could Framingham State be this season? We had a lot starters returning, and we had the best back in the state" said Silva. That would be senior Melikke Van Alstyne, who has left 6.000 career yards behind him.

"We had high expectations; we wanted to get back to the NCAAs and show what Framingham State is all about," Silva said.

Now, handing the ball off to Van Alstyne has been a safe path to take for Silva. "We've got Melikke to pound the ball."

That's fine, but let's face it, quarterbacks like to throw the ball. "We were pretty balanced this year," said Kelley. "Silva spreads it around. He reads the field very well. Matt's got that 'it' factor."

Just one problem, though. At five-foot-11, 180, no one's going to mistake Silva for Cam Newton. Yet the Rams' signal-caller "doesn't shy away from a hit," said Kelley. "He thinks he's Larry Csonka."

Silva's explanation: "Our offense requires a running quarterback."

But you can't ignore his passing ability. "He throws a very good ball," said Kelley.

Silva has thrown for 20 TDs this season. "I've done more throwing this year. I've got a little more responsibility."

Silva suffered a foot injury in the fourth game of his first season. "I was out the rest of the year. I was on crutches for three months, and wore a boot after that."

A separated shoulder this season kept him out of two games. "I played most of the season with a brace. I still use it."

An all-around athlete, Silva almost went to Franklin Pierce to play baseball. Merrimack liked him in football but his size worked against him. "They didn't know if my body would take it. But I knew I wanted to play sports in college."

That's when that man showed up again. "Coach Rosenbaum called. He had shadowed me that summer. He sold me on the school. Some state schools gave me a call. (Rosenbaum) called me every day."

Another selling point: "I found out the girls to men ratio was 70-30." You'd have to be a real loser not to get a date.

Silva quarterbacked Dracut High in his last two years. He separated his left shoulder in the Thanksgiving game against Methuen in his junior year. "I was ineffective running the ball. That was a big part of our offense." He was healthy the next year and led Dracut to an 8-3 record and into the post-season.

But Silva's sweetest memory is a 48-14 pasting of powerhouse Everett. "Best game I've ever been part of."

Something he'd like to be able to say after the Ithaca game. "We've taken a step forward every year," said Silva. A win Saturday would be a giant leap for the Rams.