The Boston Globe - Framingham State Football Raises the Bar

By Craig Larson, Globe Staff

Training camp still a month away, Tom Kelley was busy in his office at Framingham State College last week, reviewing the football team's depth chart, considering a few possible late additions to his roster, and sketching out a few new offensive schemes.

"We've raised the bar,'' said Kelley, returning for his third year as head coach in his second stint running the program.

Last fall, the Rams finished 5-5, the first time in 22 years that the team avoided a losing record. Kelley expects 70 or more players to report to camp Aug. 15, including 45 returning letter winners. "For us, that's a good number, and what we have coming in is quality kids; we're pretty happy,'' he said.

The freshman recruits include four who played in the annual Shriners Classic ("a first for us,'' said Kelley), along with two from the Agganis All-Star game and a couple more that suited up in the Central Mass./Western Mass. Shrine Chowder Bowl Classic. The local recruits include wide receiver Alex Avery of Milford and defensive back Matt Frazier of Framingham.

Every team in the New England Football Conference has gotten better, according to Kelley, "but we're working really hard out there, and it's been fun.''

The Rams kick off the season Sept. 5 at Endicott College.

In his full-time role as the athletic director at Framingham State, Kelley is seeking his second men's hockey coach in three months, after the sudden resignation of Jeff Pellegrini.

Hired in April after three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Pellegrini cited personal reasons for his departure. Kelley said he intends to make a hire as soon as possible, noting his list of candidates is still fresh from this spring.

The Rams finished 0-21-4 last season under coach Chris Heaney.