The spring game is an opportunity to return to football life | News, Sports, Jobs

Michigan Tech tight end Luke Terrian celebrates a touchdown against Wayne State on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2022, at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau / For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON – New Michigan Tech Huskies football coach Dan Mettlach thinks his team is excited for the opportunity to put on the pads on Saturday and play in front of fans at Kearly Stadium.

“I think they’re excited to be in front of people, whether it’s their family, the townspeople or whatever.” he said. “So, that part is always exciting.”

As has become a trend among college football programs in recent years, the Huskies do not play a traditional intersquad game, but rather take on a variety of challenges based on typical football situations with the goal of providing players with reps in those situations while also looking for. for his safety before the end of the spring training schedule.

“It’s more of a controlled practice what we do” Mettlach said. “I believe that the days of separation and the spring game are a thing of the past. We are not different from everyone else.

“I mean, even the ones they televise are so controlled now that we feel like we’re getting more work putting our guys in situations, whether we’re going well or young guys. You place the ball on the 25, we play in the red zone. Or you back it up and have 10 reps on third and medium, third and long, or whatever. We’re going to put them in situations where it’s real football situations, instead of separating where we might lose weight by butting heads against each other.

When carefully managed, these types of live spring practices are extremely beneficial for both the coaching staff and the players.

“We’re doing enough to make it exciting for fans or families to come watch.” said Mettlach. “At the same time, we’re not going to split into two teams and play the actual game for an hour, where we sit there the whole time, biting our nails, hoping no one gets hurt.”

But I think the boys are excited about it. I think that’s always good. Most of our friends come from far away, so this gives mum and dad a chance to come out. They also have the opportunity to see their families. So this is a good way to wrap up what we’ve been up to here in the last couple of months.

Mettlach said a lot of the spring game work will be what he calls “thud,” instead of full contact. While this is intended to keep players safe, it is by no means a perfect solution. There are still opportunities for players to get hurt when someone steps wrong or if a lineman falls on top of them.

However, with younger, less experienced players, Mettlach expects some plays to be full contact regardless. That way, he and his staff can gauge what the players have learned from the extra attention in practice.

“We try to control those parts” he said. “Where you might see us go down is with the younger groups that haven’t had a chance to play. We’re going live with them to get them back into football.

“You’ve been standing there for over a year since your senior year of high school. You haven’t been tackled. You haven’t fought anybody else. Maybe you haven’t been cut on the edge, stuff like that. We do it with our younger guys so they get that experience, but then also the people who come to watch, will also see real football.

Mettlach said the starters get excited when they see even younger players get their time on the field.

“That part will be exciting” he said. – The best thing about this is that our vets, our older guys, get excited about this part. They get stronger and I think it brings a different energy when that part of the workout comes in there as well. So it’s going to be fun.”

Practices have been intense throughout the spring season, Mettlach said. At the same time, he is warmed by the fact that the players and coaches seem to be working in the same direction all the time, which can only help the team in the long run.

“The positivity, togetherness, however you want to put it, attack, defense, being together, taking care of each other on the field, we are currently training at a level that is physical, there is competitiveness, there is tenacity, but everyone takes care of each other” he said. “There are no cheap shots. We’ve had virtually no fighting. There’s been no BS. Everyone understands what we’re trying to get out of practice.

“I think the credit goes to what we have going on in our dressing room right now, where they know we have to train at that level. At the same time, it’s still our teammates out there, rather than taking a shot where it probably isn’t necessary. So, from that part, to helping each other, (defensive backs) giving the wide receivers what they’re seeing, on the contrary, whatever, that part has been incredible.