PITTSFIELD – Two years ago the Maine Central Institute Huskies won the Eastern Maine Class C Championship. But the players remaining from that squad learned the difference a year makes after finishing 2-7 in 2001.

“It was a rough year,” senior fullback-defensive end Mike Broccio said. “It seemed like no matter what we did, things just kept getting worse.”

But in 2002, MCI players and fans alike are hoping the team’s third coach in four years will be able to revitalize the program.

Coach Tom Bertrand, who graduated from MCI in 1990, won two state championships, one as an assistant coach and one as a head coach, while with Stearns. He followed suit in 2001, winning a state championship as an assistant with Winslow High School.

The Huskies have already adopted a new slogan with the addition of their new coach: “We Are Champions!”

“We all know we’re champions here, so that’s our motto this year,” senior fullback-defensive end Mike Broccio said. “All of us that experienced being Eastern Maine champs two years ago, we want that back and all you need is one person that remembers what it felt like to lead the way.”

Junior quarterback-defensive back Ryan Bennett will take the helm of the offense in 2002 and hopes to improve a passing attack that ranked last in the LTC with 179 yards on 15 completions in 61 attempts with 10 interceptions.

“Things just spiraled ridiculously out of control last year,” Bennett said, acknowledging his sophomore slump, “but the backfield got together during the off-season and developed some chemistry.”

Kevin McPhail, a senior transfer from Syracuse, N.Y., will be a target for Bennett to find at wide receiver, but sophomore Marty Quint will be the main passing option.

McPhail will also double as a defensive end with Quint working at defensive back.

Broccio at fullback and senior Tyson Quint at tailback round out the MCI backfield. Broccio carried 103 times in 2001 for 523 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry, with five touchdowns. Quint ran for 361 yards at an average of 4.8 yards per carry, with one touchdown.

Junior tailback-linebacker Kevin Williams also returns to the backfield after rushing for 192 yards in 2001. Junior fullback-linebacker Mark York joins the corps of backs.

Broccio, who led the MCI defense in 2001 with 94 tackles, hopes the experience of players such as defensive back Tyson Quint (57 tackles, 6 interceptions) can help improve the 2002 unit.

A weakness in 2001 was the size of the Huskies’ offensive line which left Bennett on the ground “more times than I’d care to remember,” the quarterback said. Though still averaging 180 pounds across the offensive line, Bertrand has moved players around, with former linebackers and prospective running backs now doubling as linemen.

“We’ve created some misdirection, we have some plays with pulling guards, basically trying to use our speed to our advantage,” said senior lineman-middle linebacker Chris Baker.

The players and coaches believe that new ideas, attitudes and methods courtesy of a new coach, will turn around the Huskies.

“Being a champion is a state of mind,” Bertrand, who is 33-3 as a head coach, said. “I don’t know what happened here last year. I wasn’t here. This year I think we’re going to be all set.”

MCI HUSKIES

2001 results: 2-7 in LTC Class C

Head Coach: Tom Bertrand, 1st year

Key players: Mike Broccio, FB-DE, Sr.; Ryan Bennett, QB-DB, Jr.; Chris Baker, OL-LB, Sr.; Tyson Quint, TB-DB, Sr.; Marty Quint, WR-DB, So.; Stewart Allen, LB-OL, Jr.; Kevin McPhail, WR-DE, Sr.; Mark York, LB-OL, Jr.

Outlook: MCI has a “Days To Dexter” calendar posted in its weight room, feeling that beating Dexter, after suffering two losses to the Tigers in 2001, will mark the revival of the program. The Huskies and Tigers kick off the season at Dexter on Sept. 7 and meet again Oct. 25 in Pittsfield. Broccio desperately wants to go out winning with a team of his own and will do what he can on both sides of the ball to do so while leading a team with more than 50 percent underclassmen. Meanwhile, Bertrand has no intentions of letting his hometown down in his first year coaching.