How Roman Gagliano has introduced enjoyable again to MTSU soccer – MTSU Sidelines

Since taking the reins of MTSU soccer’s offense, quarterback Roman Gagliano has been flying all around the area whereas maintaining a smile throughout his face, and main the Blue Raiders to success too. 

“It’s cool how he sees the game through a five-year old’s eyes,” MTSU head coach Derek Mason mentioned. “Every time you watch the kid, he’s just a little red-headed kid out there playing ball and having fun with it.” 

One of the earliest indicators of Gagliano’s capacity got here throughout a visit off the sphere.  

Members of the workforce took a visit to the Conference USA basketball event in March of 2025 to cheer on the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders. Gagliano walked out onto the courtroom and took a basketball to the half courtroom line. 

“He said, ‘Coach watch this,’” Mason mentioned. “My man walks out, drains a half-court shot… That dude’s always been that way. He’s always had a high belief in himself.” 

Gagliano most lately led the Blue Raiders to their first win inside Floyd Stadium in over a 12 months after taking down the Sam Houston State Bearkats 31-10. 

With 268 passing yards and three complete touchdowns, the redshirt freshman has rallied the remainder of MTSU’s workforce round him whereas bringing enjoyable to a workforce that’s contemporary off breaking a seven-game dropping streak. 

“He’s just a kid, he’s just loving the game,” Mason mentioned. “He’s like a kid playing marbles. He’s got a fistful of marbles in his pocket, with some jacks and some spin tops and he’s just going out there having fun playing a game that he loves to play.” 

The 6-foot-2 quarterback stepped into the limelight for the Blue Raiders after spending the primary 9 video games backing up his predecessor, redshirt senior Nick Vattiato. 

MTSU’s beginning quarterback for the final two-plus seasons, Vattiato gave option to Gagliano as a result of an damage that was initially reported on Nov. 13.

While Vattiato was having a robust season statistically, the Blue Raiders weren’t successful, because the workforce was 1-8 previous to Gagliano’s beginning debut. It wasn’t all the time his fault; MTSU has struggled with penalties, inconsistent protection and simply been outclassed by its opponents. 

But the sign caller nonetheless couldn’t discover a win exterior of the Blue Raiders’ week three victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack (3-8, 2-5 MWC), the place Vattiato willed 14 unanswered factors within the second half for the win. 

Since Gagliano stepped into the beginning function, he’s taken off for the Blue Raiders. 

 In his first profession begin on the highway towards Western Kentucky, the younger sign caller totaled 25-of-42 passes for 389 yards whereas working for 82 yards. Although MTSU fell 42-26, the sport confirmed some promising indicators for his first actual motion as a beginning quarterback. 

“I think knowing that Nick wasn’t there, everybody else was kind of like we got to step up and play for me, and definitely is playing harder,” Gagliano mentioned. 

Gagliano’s success continued into his first dwelling begin, as he led the Blue Raiders to victory over the Bearkats. He discovered working again Jekail Middlebrook for a 16-yard passing landing, whereas scampering for his different two scores on the bottom. 

“That’s the coolest thing in the world,” Mason mentioned following MTSU’s victory over SHSU. “To see a dude just having fun with his dudes. And you know what? They love him just as much as he loves it.” 

Overall, Gagliano totaled 268 yards by way of the air on 21-for-34 passing, and the Blue Raiders highest level complete this season with 31. He additionally added 67 speeding yards within the win;a newfound side of the MTSU offense. 

“When you look at it, those things haven’t been designed runs, and sometimes those are some of the most problematic for defenses,” Mason mentioned. “… I think the ability of any quarterback to extend plays gives you a chance to be a little more diverse in what you can do.” 

Gagliano can be including a shade of toughness to MTSU’s offense. The 220-pound quarterback hasn’t been afraid to take hits, or dish them out to defenders at occasions as nicely. 

“I look up to Cam Newton a lot, and he didn’t do that,” Gagliano mentioned on his unwillingness to slip at occasions. 

While the Opelika, Alabama native might not carry the identical peak or stature as the previous NFL MVP, the comparability definitely suits together with the youthful exuberance that Gagliano has delivered to the gridiron for MTSU.  

Gagliano will carry his self-confidence into his third profession begin on Nov. 29 on the highway towards the New Mexico State Aggies (4-7, 2-5 CUSA). A win would give MTSU its first win streak of the Derek Mason period, and mark the primary since Nov. 11 and 18 of 2023 with wins over Florida International and the University of Texas at El Paso. 

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