Lucas Punkari
With the WHSFL season-opener for the Muskie football squad set for this Friday afternoon against visiting St. Norbert, a number of questions still need to be answered.
However, the biggest one which remains to be solved is how many players will be on the sideline for the black-and-gold come kick-off time at 3 p.m.
“It’s really been touch-and-go so far during our practices,” admitted interim coach Shane Beckett, who is filling for head coach Chad Canfield while he’s away for work in Thunder Bay.
“This past Wednesday we were up in the mid-30s, which is okay, but come Thursday we were down again a little bit.
“I think a lot of those guys got the scared bug a little bit as those new guys that come out sometimes aren’t used to being knocked around and end up being sore,” Beckett noted.
“But the kids are doing a great job around the school trying to get people to come out.
“It’s just about trying to change the culture in the school, and we are really trying to promote having pride in the program and that you are not a loser if your play on this team,” Beckett stressed.
Although the number of players attending practices remains low, Beckett and the rest of the Muskie coaching staff are impressed with how they are doing.
“The kids that are there are just busting their hump and you are starting to see the intensity level rise,” he remarked.
“Everyone’s working hard and we are trying some guys in some different spots right now, so it could be an interesting year for us.
“I’m not sure how fast out of the gates we are going to be, but once these guys get the hang of things, I think we should be all right,” Beckett predicted.
Of those on the roster at the moment, there is a healthy mix of young newcomers and experienced veterans who are doing their part during practice.
“Guys like Colton Craig, Jamon Leonard, and Evan Morrisseau are doing a good job mentoring the guys and are putting a lot into this team,” Beckett said.
“We have some nice new guys, as well, such as Harley Mainville, who is 6’4” and 250 pounds.
“And we have Ben Whitburn stepping up to play quarterback, and he is doing everything he can to learn that role,” Beckett added.
This week during practice, the black-and-gold are working on their gameplan and strategy for their WHSFL opener against St. Norbert, which will see former Muskie Adrian Huntley roaming the sideline for the visitors.
“I watched them play last year and it was no surprise to me that they had a couple of great slotbacks who just ate guys up down the seams, which is exactly how Adrian used to play,” recalled Beckett, who currently is slated to coach Fort High for Friday’s game.
“They are a very well-coached and well-run team, and they are also very sporting as they will help you up after plays and things like that,” he added.
For now, Beckett has no idea how things will play out for the Muskies in their home-opener but said Friday’s game is just the first step in a lengthy process.
“I said to the guys following practice [last] Thursday that it’s not about winning on week one. It’s about winning the last two games,” Beckett explained
“Everyone in this league makes the playoffs and if you win two games there, you go into the finals, so it’s all about peaking at the end of the year instead of going down,” he stressed.
“We are getting better every single day in practice, and Friday is going to show us what we need to work on and build on as we go forward.
“Friday’s not really about winning and losing for us,” Beckett added. “It’s all about building things as we go forward.”
