Fox Valley football teams get ready for season

The calendar said August 13, but the refreshing summer breezes that swept across the practice fields at Elgin High School on Wednesday were infused with a touch of autumn.

As the school marching band prepared for it's first halftime show on one practice field, drums pounding in the distance, the Elgin football program donned helmets on another for the first time, marking the first official day of football practice for Illinois high schools.

Wearing a maroon cap and directing the controlled mayhem of the first double session was former Burlington Central/DeKalb/Larkin coach Dave Bierman, who practiced on the very same field when he played for the maroon and cream in high school.

"Same field, same mosquitoes, same everything," Bierman said with a knowing grin.

With only 16 days remaining until the season opener at Plainfield Central on Aug. 29, Bierman and his staff of eight coaches spent the day advancing 40 varsity Maroons from the basics they learned in summer camp.

"The kids have been working hard," Bierman said. "We had a decent summer camp and that showed today a little bit. We started right over again and they've pretty much got the base plays already, which should help with the terminology changing and things like that."

The players are making the transition from coach Tom Kim, who left to become the athletic director at Grayslake Central, to Bierman, who specializes in teaching the spread offense Elgin will employ this season.

"I was kind of scared when I first heard about the (coaching) change because it's your senior year and you're supposed to know the ropes already," senior Joe Wade said. "I thought we'd come in and be just as lost as the freshmen, but (Bierman) has done an amazing job of catering to us, asking what we like to do. It's a different spin, basically."

At Larkin: First-year Royals coach Matt Gehrig wore the whistle for the first time as a head coach as two-a-day practices got under way on Elgin's west side.

"Football's football, but every rung on the ladder you climb there's that much more responsibility," Gehrig said. "You've got to manage the whole program, not just your team or position group. You've got to be prepared and organized at all times."

Like most football players on Day 1 of practice, the Royals saw the glass half full.

"We're going to get a lot done and we're going to win a lot of games this year," senior middle linebacker Zach Fluhler said. "Coach Gehrig brings a lot of adrenaline to the table."

Approximately 40 Royals took part in Wednesday's varsity practices "It was really tough; we ran a lot," senior defensive end/tight end John Hosey said. "But that will only get us better for the season."

The Royals open against McHenry at Memorial Field on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

At Jacobs: Approximately 55 varsity Golden Eagles took part in the first day of double practices at Jacobs High School.

"We had a good start," said veteran coach Dean Schlueter. "Our numbers are good. We're off to a good start as far as work ethic and attitude. Desire is pretty high right now and we're really looking forward to the upcoming season."

The Golden Eagles spent the day adding bit by bit to the fundamentals and basic plays they learned via repetition in summer camp. Battles will rage throughout camp as several positions are still up for grabs before the season opener on Aug. 29 at Moline.

"That's something we're really excited about," Schlueter said. "We've got very good competition at every position, and I think that's only going to make us better. Nothing's set, and I think that's going to be a good thing for us.

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