New-look St. Charles East optimistic
You won't find St. Charles East coach Mike Fields pining for 2009 - even if the Saints' Upstate Eight Conference title was their first since 1998.
There's no sense reliving the past after graduating 29 seniors, several refrigerator-sized.
"We have a completely different team from last year," said Fields, who obviously capitalized in his head coaching debut after a decade as an assistant at Geneva.
"And the only thing we have from last year is memories," Fields added.
For a moment we recall the offensive leader of that squad, 190-pound quarterback Nolan Possley, muddy cleats churning behind four linemen loading 300 pounds apiece.
Earning the quarterback job in tight competition with rocket-armed Dean Bowen, 155-pound junior Charlie Fisher is a different type of tough, the kind of guy who's been kicking around gyms since he could walk. Elbowed and jostled and peering though cracks for open teammates as the basketball team's point guard, Fisher's wiry leadership is symbolic of these new Saints.
They are no cream puffs, for sure. Returning starter Zach Zajicek, who ran 681 yards at tailback, but opens the season at wideout, knows what it takes. So do fellow returning starters Kevin Russell at wideout, linebacker Mike Caddy (24 tackles, 2 sacks) and two-way grinder David Lyon, who comes off an elbow injury.
New offensive linemen like Evan France, Alex Stombres and Colton Bidlack, each carrying at least 250 pounds, are not small. But Fields looks at the 210-pound Lyon or 200-pound junior guard Tyler Sullivan and sees a trend.
"Our offensive line is going to be more a bunch of tough kids, is what we're trying to create," he said. "That attitude that maybe we're undersized, but we're not underhearted."
All who share that attitude are welcome. Returning to football and thus increasing St. Charles East's skill-spot speed are tailback Mike Brown, brother of former Tri-Cities All-Area honorary captain John Brown, and fellow track athlete cornerback Dillon Mugge. Another cornerback, Ryan Shaffrey, focused on baseball last fall. Transfer Jerry Fialka started as a sophomore at West Chicago.
Complementing the group are players from a sophomore squad that finished 5-4, juniors including Carter Reading and Tim Leibforth at safety, linebacker John Kelley and receiver Jake Mazanke.
In 2009 St. Charles East proved again that defense wins titles, allowing an average of 10.6 points through nine games. It's hoped speed and guts will produce the same swarm of tacklers.
"Any time you follow a team that's been very successful like last year's group... I think there's a little bit of a 'hangover' for the next group," Fields said. "But this is not the case for them. These guys have really responded. Last year's gone."
team effort: Dcoordinator Brian Teresinski--does great job, he's a saint, bleeds it, whole 9 yards
set tonw last year--defense wins chamnpiohnsipss, learned that last year, and have compeltely diff team from last year, and only thing have from last year is memories
philosphy doesn't hcange. wanta build sound, solid defense and offense w/best skilled buys we can
put best guys on defensive side of ball
there's not an indiv looking at that's gota step up, but as team have to step up as SAints and miake a nice commitement to each other
SCE graduated 29 srs last year; will have 3 sophs up and starting
Jr. Charlie Fisher, not much PT due to Nolan having a great year; made up in education of being varsity QB
he understands the speed of game; pt guard last year
Zach Zajicek, TB--playign couple diff roles this year; multi9ple athlete (TB, WR, Slot, CB)--we're realy gona try to utilize him, nice gifted atheltes, sr captain, gona try get omuch outa him as can
newcomer srs: Michael Brown, TB (sprinted as soph; qualifying relay), John Brown was all-state TB; and Dylan Mugge, CB
Ryan Shaffrey, sr., did not play as jr to focus on baseball, CB
all 3 of these kids, I'm so glad to have them back.
Jerry Fialka, transfer from West Chicago, started as soph, also a wrestler, RB/DL
when they came back and said we're playign, it's like OK, let's go
returning starters: Zajicek at TB; Kevin Russell, WR (bro's Tim at IL); defensive: Mike Caddy, LB
OG/MLB David Lyon (bro Charlie a full-ride goalie at Marquette -- it's all about family); come back from elbow injury taht sidelined him some of last year
last year's sophs went 5-4 and frosh 7-2
Tim Leibforth, S, jr.; Carter Reading, jr., S, quality kids, track kids; John Kelly, jr., LB; Alex Stombres, sr., OT, committed in offseason, and Lyon to anchor OL; Jake Mazanke, jr., WR, also track that looking forward to w/size
think gota try to utilize
defensively again goan swarm to ball and attack and be kinda aggre d that were last year
more speed than last year; think got some nice speed that can utilize and get ball in playmakers' hands and see what we can do
lack the size of last year's group, w/3 or 4 over 300 lbs; Stombres is probably biggest, but jr. OG Tyler Sullivan a tough wrestler
Our OL gona be more of a buncha tough kids, what tyrying create. that attitude that maybe we're undersized but we're not underhearted.
like to run ball; not looking to spread
anytime you follow team that's been veyr success like lastyear's group srs were win conf. first time in 12 years
look back down road, how fun that was, close wins over WV and
think little bit hangorver for next group, but this not case for them. these guys really responded, last year's gone. that's big quqestion, how do you repeat
think gonaave be fun watch yougn men mature
need get better at what do
think got some decent players who can become really special group. always like tell them it's their team. we're coaching it but reality is players play, and wejust put them in best positon to be successful and think we're doing that, getting player in bset spots far as best position.
like our speed on this team, think got some speed; like to see us get little more physical, but like our speed, like our skill pos. think they're gona be in good pso to really contribute earlier rather than later
Charlie--Nolan was 195 pounds; charlie very heady kid, he's a gym rat, playing fba, playing bbk, always in the gym. he's that kid that growing up alwys haning around
tough kid, good ompetitor; had really good comp w/Bowen, also jr. QB, was open in summer; think that diff 2 is Charlie's leadership, realy takes control of huddle and guys follow him. guys look to him to be a leader; Dean's gona get some touches, rocket arm, 6-2, 185--hopefuly that's good ocpet between those 2,
Mike Fields' 2nd year: learned: think bigest thing ben change for me since last year is relation w/my coaches. whatever prof, if you been doing this for awhiel, camaraderie among coaching staff gota be in place, gota trust those guys
made changes from last year: some inespeicer...but that's OK, they've got passion they've got heart
biggest diff: just to get coachsa round thse kids that want to get better
they realize the big picture--make them better
it's teaching these kids life lessons that they will carry on as husbands, and people int he work force. i've surrounded myself with guys who want to do that
we make them accountable
DC Brian Teresinski, strength/conditioning/WRs Chuck Abate (director of fba operations--I'm act going to by himn a had that has FBO on it); Len Asquini, frosh coach (started w/Mike last year; instrumental in building program); Bryce Farquhar, head soph coach, first-year there w/3 former Geneva players as volunteer coaches (it's fun to see thsoe faces, i coached them 8 years ago; that's a coaches dream, to have former plaeyrs come back and coach for you Justin Gerkin, Bobby Honeyman, Kyle Biel from Class of 05; first year they been with--to have those guys call me out of blue and come and help, to me that's awesome. that's why I do this);
Saints on staff: Teresinski, Max Payleitner (varsity OL), Ryan Moss (varsity S's), Neil Wilcox (TEs)-they wanta be part of what we're doing. kinda same phislo of those Vikings coming over; Mark Vitali (SC '73, all-0state QB/BBk, Purdue, KC Chiefs), instrumental in off-season w/offense; son of former Saints coach Leo
you were sayign the same thing 8 years ago. it's nice to hear that I haven't changed
if you go into work not enjoying what you do, you better be doing something different
head coaches don't do it by themselves. if there's one out there I'd like to play him