For Menominee Indian High School football, a transition into the eight-player game has already improved the morale of its athletes.
With 245 enrolled students, it became difficult over the years for the school to field a full team for 11-on-11 games, especially against bigger schools, which led to a 1-8 season last year.
First-year head coach Tony Noll has only seen his team in competition once, during a scrimmage Friday at Bowler High School, but already believes the move to the Great 8-North eight-man league has been a success.
“I think at first they were skeptical, but after the scrimmage last week, they were pretty excited because it’s a little more exciting game, a faster game,” Noll said. “They are really buying into it. I don’t see any of them that aren’t any more.”
With the players accepting the move to the smaller game, Noll and his coaching staff believe they are in position for a competitive season despite the lack of experience among the players and staff.
“We’ve got speed, we’ve got strength, and we’ve got size. The only thing that will be holding us back, if anything, is getting acclimated to eight-man football both on offense and defense,” assistant coach Chris Johnston said. “That’s the only thing holding us back. We will compete with everybody. I can guarantee that.”
The confidence Johnston has in the team comes from the type of kids playing for him.
“We’ve got a good group of guys. All of them have good hearts. I think we are going to surprise people, I really do,” Johnston said. “We’ve got some good athletes, and more importantly than that, good character.”
The team will be led by senior captains Joseph Martin, Dylan Waupekenay and Dante Caldwell.
Caldwell should lead the Eagles’ running game. Martin will hold down the offensive line, and Waupekenay adds some size at tight end and linebacker.
Noll has high expectations both on and off the field for the 24 athletes who came out for his team. Noll, a teacher at MIHS, will periodically check the grades of his players to make sure they are keeping up with their work.
“I’m trying to give them some good work habits to become good students as well as good athletes because I want to have both,” Noll said.
Since the coaches are new to the eight-player game as well, they are giving the athletes a say in what gets done.
When none of the coaches could make a practice earlier this week, the captains organized a practice with 16 players to run through plays.
“They don’t have to be here. They want to be,” Johnston said. “Given the fact that I don’t know what last year was like or previous years, these guys commit themselves.”
The athletes are dedicated to the team, something that the coaches hope can help bring the high school closer together.
“We are going to bring some community to the high school, some pride,” Johnston said.
