Vikings vs Bluejays

Opponent:  Villisca Bluejays                 

Game Site:  Villisca                                

Bus Departure:  3:00
Game Time:  4:00-5:30
Anticipated time of return:  5:45

The Viking Boat

The junior Vikes will be playing on the road again this coming Monday.  Our boat is definitely up a creek, but we do have paddles and a good team spirit to overcome our biggest disadvantage—our team numbers.  We will be playing on Monday without any substitutes on the sideline for all 4 quarters.  At most, we’ll be playing with 8 players.  This week we have invested some time learning how to play with 7 players on the field.  We will need to signal most plays in from the sideline to save on the extra running to and from the sideline to get the plays.  The athletes are picking up the changes necessary very quickly.  Unfortunately, it is time spent that could have been used refining basic football skills.  Each day we have committed time to blocking and tackling specifically, but less time on play execution.

Looking ahead, things continue to look tough.  Our numbers will not improve and in the classroom we have several on the bubble of eligibility.  The student athletes NEED to place more importance on their class work.  Coach Lura and myself plan to start using period 8 as a mandatory study hall periodically to allow (prod) students to get caught up.  As much as 50% of our athletes have 1 or more assignments that are missing!  After several conferences with their teachers, it has come to our attention, that it is not their ability that is in question, it is the desire to succeed.  They are lacking the WILL to put in the effort necessary to earn grades at or above average.

I do not like to use period 8 as a study hall because I do not want them to get comfortable with that idea.  Basketball is right around the 1^st quarter corner and there is no gym space for practice after school.  We need to help our young men develop good study habits so that their extra curricular experiences can be more enjoyable.  And it only takes a LITTLE bit of effort. 

Game DVD/Video

Thank you, Stacie Peterson, for recording our last game vs East Mills.  It has served as an excellent teaching tool.  Tyler should be able to take over responsibilities in Villisca.

Also, if anyone would like a copy of the games that get recorded, please send a blank DVD to school and I can make a copy for you.

Make Up Game Status

We currently have a couple of options as a result of the canceled game this past Monday.

Option 1:  Sidney/Farragut petition the state for a 6^th game and they play us on Monday, Oct. 19.

Option 2:  Tarkio, MO would like to play us.  They want it to be on a Thursday night (as soon as next week).

Option 3:  Fremont Mills is dropping from 11-man to 8-man to pick up a couple more games.

Option 4:  We don’t make it up do to our lack of numbers.

Our best option for playing a make-up game would be with Sidney/Farragut on Oct. 19.  At that time, we would have the potential for having as many as 9 players eligible and as few as 8.

Remaining Calendar of Events

Sept 28                  Mon                Game 3 at Villisca @ 4:00

Sept 29-Oct 2        Tue-Fri           Practices end @ 5:00

Oct 5                      Mon.               Game 4 vs S. Page @ 4:00

Oct 6-8                   Tue-Th           Practices end @ 5:00

Oct 9                       Fri                  Practice ends @ 4:00

Oct. 12                   Mon                Game 5 @ Essex @ 4:00

Oct. 13-14              Tue-Wed       Clean equipment at home

Oct. 15                    Th                  Turn in equipment