Colby (OnFocus)- It’s been a long wait for football fans and football teams to start the 2020 season. The wait is finally over, and the season is now here.
We take a look at the Colby Hornets with our Season Preview. We reached out to Coach Jim Hagen for some thoughts on this football season, giving us a glimpse into how the Hornets are getting ready for this year.
OnFocus: How has your coaching staff and team prepared for this season?
Hagen: The Colby football program is approaching the season like any other, with a few exceptions here and there related to COVID. The dynamics in the locker room, weight room and bus have changed with wearing facemasks and we are encouraging and forcing players to take home all their football equipment more often to get washed and sanitized.
Going into this season, we feel we are a little behind on some schemes,fundamentals and conditioning because we cancelled our five contact days this summer and didn’t have the two-weeks of three and a half hour practices in early August so we have to modify the play book a little bit early in the young season. However, as the season moves on we will be able to add some things and the players are catching on fast anyway.
OnFocus: What are some positives that have come out of practice and the season being delayed?
Hagen: At Colby we are proud of many things and one of the areas I am most proud of is the number of football players that we have out for football in grades 9-12. We have 48 players. and in this day and age, and even with a pandemic, that is really good numbers, so that means players enjoy playing football for the Colby program for many reasons. The work ethic also among these players is top notch and they are so excited to be playing football once again, despite the fact that there will be less games and no post season per say. I also know there have been many players who found time and ways to get into a weight room this summer and many came to the schools Bigger Faster Stronger summer program.
OnFocus: Season forecast – What should fans expect to see out of your team this year?
Hagen: Fans should expect to see a very solid and competitive Colby football team with many athletes who can make big plays and we will be very solid on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. Strengths of the team will be defensively our front four and our three linebackers will be extremely talented and fun to watch. We are switching to a man to man scheme vs. zone that we have played for many years and our defensive backs will need to learn and adapt to that new system quickly so that will be a big question mark.
Offensively our line will be a little inexperienced at first but should be fairly strong and quick. We have some talented skill players that have the ability to make big plays at any time and our quarterback will be versatile with his ability to throw and especially run so he will be truly a dual threat.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
