Five games kicked off the Liberty D1AA season with some clear favorites putting their hands up.
In perhaps what was expected to be the most competitive matchup, Babson defeated UMass 34-29. This was a good showing for a Babson side that saw their Head Coach, Carrick Pell, move on to take the position at Norwich. In his place is former AIC Head Coach T. Fletcher.
"I’d describe my approach as demanding, but relational," said Fletcher going into the opening weeks of the season. "I’m going to hold our guys to a high standard technically, tactically, and physically, but I want them to understand the reasoning behind what we’re building rather than simply being told what to do. I also have a tremendous amount of respect for the coach who came before me and the 14 years he gave to this program. That kind of commitment and longevity matters, and I’m conscious that I’m stepping into something that already has a history and an identity."
Fletcher said she found out quickly that the Babson players are sharp and are pretty driven.
"These are young men who process information quickly, retain it, and hold themselves to a high standard without needing to be constantly pushed," Fletcher said. "That’s a real advantage when installing a new system. They’re not just learning what we want to do; they’re asking questions about why we want to do it. That matters in rugby because the game is too dynamic to rely entirely on scripted answers. Players have to be able to recognize pictures, make decisions, and adapt in real time. My job is to give that intelligence and drive a clear direction to run in. If I can combine their ability to think with a shared understanding of how we want to play, that can become a significant strength for us."
