By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Faith and football are two words that sit strongly on Matt Furino’s heart.

They can work independent of each other, but it is when they come together that he feels that he is acting as the beacon of light he was put in his position of leadership to be.

“My parents taught me a lot about life, and I feel blessed they did. They shaped me into the person I am today,” Furino said. “I think so much of what they taught me are also great things to teach football players, and I don’t think you have to be in a religious setting for them to have meaning.

“Be humble, praise others, take blame and give credit, serve yourself last, take the hardest thing for yourself, put others first even if that means it is our opposing team, treat others with respect. These are all things we expect out Field football players to do, because we feel it is our job to not only teach them how to win football games, but also how to grow into loving husbands and fathers and the best, hardest working employees they can be.”

The underlying philosophy by Furino and his staff is that they want their players to be fundamentally sound on the football field.

Furino and his staff want their Falcons to play with a level of physicality required to be competitive, but also to understand that by the final whistle, life is bigger than any football game.

Furino, who is in his 18th year leading the program and his third stint overall, has found time after time that these are the ingredients that have helped turn the Falcons’ program around in each of his three tenures.

“Once we get our players to play for someone other than themselves, we see results on the field,” Furino said. “Believe me, I don’t think that is a coincidence. Once they are not playing for themselves, but for the other 10 players on the field, all of the players on the sidelines, for the school, for their community … that is when special things happen.”

And regardless of how many wins the 2022 Falcons finish with, Furino senses that transformation has already happened with his current group.

Furino has referenced the 2022 Falcons as “special” on more than one occasion and probably is not done.

Furino’s reach goes beyond the football field.

The high school math teacher launched the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Field during the 2008-09 school year.

The group has met at 7:20 a.m. every Tuesday in his classroom every week since. On average, the group pulls in about 20 students, which don’t have to be athletes to be included, in a program that is led by the students, teachers and guest speakers.

“I create the space and let the kids really drive the discussion. It is special to hear them share their stories and problems. Most of the time, the kids realize they are dealing with many of the same issues as someone else,” said Furino, who said he feels his role is to lead by example and do what he can to let people see that every day is a gift.

“There are a lot of people going through a lot of tough things every single day,” he said. “People are fighting cancer, they have lost love ones, there are just so many bad things that are happening every day. Sometimes we know about them, sometimes we don’t. We have to be grateful for every day. There is no better way for me to teach my players about that than by living it myself.

“Everything can be taken away from you like that,” Furino said, “that is not something you know when you are young. You need someone to tell you that.”

His players have been listening.

One of the places they listen most often and most closely is the north end zone of Kenneth Lohr Stadium.

“A lot of great things have been said there,” said Furino, whose Falcons have made that space in the stadium their standard meeting spot for postgame discussions.

There have been many celebratory moments of joy from memorable wins or championship efforts.

But there have also been an equal amount of tears from pain and disappointment.

And everything in between.

“No matter what, though, it has always been with love,” Furino said.

A third word that forever sits heavy on the heart of Furino.

Just like faith and football.