2011-2012 Official Wolves football thread |
2011-2012 Official Wolves football thread |
Jun 27 2011, 07:58 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,426 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/613986...ick-around.html
QUOTE Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. New football coach at Michigan City. Really excited about the gig. Sees unlimited potential in the “sleeping giant.” Plans to stick around and really build something at Ames Field. Sound familiar? Craig Buzea said all that in 2007 when he stunned Portage by leaving for the downtrodden Wolves. After three years and some significant progress, he left for Homewood-Flossmoor, and the program once again was in tatters. Eric Schreiber said all that last summer when he took over for Buzea. One season and one win later, he left to take the top job at Hammond High. Enter Michael Karpinski, Michigan City’s new head coach, who was approved last week by the school board. He’s really excited about the gig. He sees unlimited potential in the “sleeping giant.” He plans to stick around and really build something at Ames Field. And he means it. Honest. “I’m excited to add some stability,” he said. “I’m not planning on going anywhere. By no means am I looking at this as a stepping stone. I’m looking to build something here. I understand people have heard that before, but you don’t understand — my wife will kill me if we move again.” Indeed, Karpinski’s no nomad. He’s no football mercenary. Heck, he only went after this job because he lost his teaching job at Franklin Central during a reduction-in-force that gutted the school district. The 43-year-old spent the last eight years coaching at Franklin Central — a former powerhouse that won four state championships between 1980 and 1990, but has fallen on hard times lately. After six years as an assistant, he was the head coach the past two years, going 7-13 with a pair of close losses in sectional openers. Before that, Karpinski coached for six years at the University of Indianapolis, where he wound up after playing cornerback at Hillsdale College. Hillsdale is about 90 miles from his hometown of Hastings, Mich., where he was a high school quarterback. Moving to Michigan City brings him much closer to home — and gives him a teaching job and an exciting opportunity. “I just feel real blessed to be right here,” he said. The Wolves can only hope he sticks around and helps the moribund program (no conference or sectional titles since Rogers and Elston were consolidated in 1995) realize the potential it briefly showed under Buzea. After just four practices, Karpinski has been particularly impressed with the enthusiasm the players have for the game, for him and for his new system. It’s easy to assume that the Wolves would be jaded and cynical while dealing with yet another new coach making the same old promises. But Karpinski was thrilled to find that they’re not like that at all. “I sure haven’t noticed it,” he said. “They sure haven’t shown it if that’s the case. They’ve been working their tails off and have done everything I’ve asked of them. I’ve come in with a lot of enthusiasm, and they seem to have responded.” Karpinski made a good impression with his first practice. Rather than the usual morning workout, he brought his team to Ames Field — probably the coolest football stadium in the region — under the lights on Monday night. And while it took more than a half hour just to teach the kids how to warm up and break the huddle — “baby steps,” Karpinski said — things quickly came together. He introduced the players to his offense — a traditional power-I. Not as complicated as Buzea’s multiple-set spread offense, not as one-dimensional as Schreiber’s option. “It’s basic football,” Karpinski said. “In today’s game, it seems like a lot of coaches try to get too cute. We’re going to come out and run the football, be physical, and we’re really going to stress blocking and tackling — shoot, that’s usually what it comes down to. We’re going to play power football, fire off the ball and really be physical out there.” Karpinski insisted he’s not daunted by the enormity of the task, trying to wake up the sleeping giant. But he’s got his work cut out for him. The football program always has taken a backseat to basketball. And the relentless losing has made it even tougher to convince kids to come out for the team. Karpinski said he’s ready for all of that. He also said he’s not intimidated by the meatgrinder that is the Duneland Conference, a brutal schedule that makes rebuilding difficult — and painful. He knows the drill; at Franklin Central, he played state powers Lawrence Central, Pike and Columbus North every year. “I just know it’s an unbelievable conference, and I’m excited,” Karpinski said. “I’m ready for the challenge.” Heard that before, too, right? Every coach has said that. But the hard truth is nobody in the 16-year history of Michigan City High School has proven to be up to that challenge. Not for any extended period of time, at least. Will Karpinski be any different? He sure seems to think so. But, of course, it’s too early for anyone to tell. He won’t really get a feel for how well his new players can handle his system until they put on the pads in August. And the Wolves won’t really get a feel for Karpinski until they sweat their way through those two-a-days. But Karpinski feels good about what he has. And while he knows these kids and this community have been burned before, he hopes the feeling is mutual. “Kids are the same all over,” he said. “I think these kids are really looking for someone to step up and lead and fight for them. And I’m that guy.” |
Jul 16 2011, 04:16 PM
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 2,005 Joined: 6-July 09 From: In Front of a computer screen Member No.: 929 |
Here's the write-up the Wolves received in the 2011 Indiana Football Digest:
http://www.indianafootballdigest.com QUOTE Often times a young and inexperienced team has to go through some growing pains before they succed on the field. That is likely the case of the Michigan City Wolves, who were young and inexperienced in 2010 after a winning season the year before. The Wolves won their season opener against Gary Roosevelt, but failed to win another game the rest of the way, struggling to a 1-9 record. But the majority of the starters who were "thrown to the wolves" one may say, are back once again this year, and maybe they learned from their experience and will turn things around in 2011. After one year with the Wolves, Coach Eric Schrieber departed in May to take over at Hammond. At press time, Michigan City was searching for a new leader. Eight starters return on offense for the Wolves, including QB Joel Hirsch (6-2, 190). In the backfield, seniors Rasheem Bell and Brian Taylor should both see their share of the carries as the both saw quite a bit of action last season. Hirsch has an experienced corps of receivers to throw to this season for Michigan City as returning senior starters Jordan Callahan and Kyle Neulieb area back at the receiver positions, while Kevin Kreibaum (6-0, 210) returns at tight end for the Wolves as well. The Wolves do lack some experience along the offensive line, however, with only senior Lance Davis returning as a starter at the guard spot. But senior Eric Kintigh (5-10, 235) should be someone to fill in nicely at the other guard position, while seniors Sam Haro (6-0, 300) and Marcus Falls-Foster (6-2, 245) will be counted on to open some holes and protect Hirsch from their tackle spots for Michigan City this season. Six starters return on defense for the Wolves including Kreighbaum at one of the defensive end positions. Alante Nichols (5-8, 230), who started at tackle as a sophomore last year, returns for his junior season, and will line up next to Kintigh on the defensive line for the Wolves. Senior Giorgio Karallas (6-2, 235) should be the leader of the Wolves' defense this season at the linebacker spot, and will have junior Zach Chappell (5-9, 160) at one of the other linebacker spots once again this season. The secondary will feature all senior starters, including Hirsch and Neulieb who return in the defensive backfield as starters from last years defense, which will need to improve after allowing just over 40 points per game a year ago. The Wolves can be successful if the can learn from their shortcomings of last year, and set their expectations high, and believe they can achieve them. With a hardworking, close-knit senior class leading the way, it's hard to imagine Michigan City not being much, much better than 1-9 this season. ----- No Coach at Press Time Coaching staff TBA 2011 Schedule 08/19 GARY ROOSEVELT 08/26 SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 09/02 CHESTERTON 09/09 at Valparaiso 09/16 MERRILLVILLE 09/23 at Lake Central 09/30 PORTAGE 10/07 at La Porte 10/14 at Crown Point 2010 Results Gary Roosevelt W, 49-0 At South Bend Washington L, 31-7 At Chesterton L, 55-0 Valparaiso L, 49-0 At Merrillville L, 68-14 Lake Central L, 31-0 At Portage L, 40-7 La Porte L, 28-16 Crown Point L, 52-15 SECTIONAL Goshen L, 49-31 Impact Players Name HT. WT. CL. POS. Joel Hirsch 6-2 190 Sr. QB/DB Rasheem Bell 5-7 160 Sr. RB Anthony Catchings 5-10 175 Sr. RB Brian Taylor 5-9 185 Sr. RB Giorgio Karallas 6-2 225 Sr. RB/LB Kyle Neulieb 6-0 175 Sr. WR/DB/KR Jordan Callahan 5-8 170 Sr. WR Kevin Kreighbaum 6-0 210 Sr. TE/DL Josh Gondeck 6-3 220 Sr. TE/DL Lu Wang 5-10 215 Jr. OL Lance Davis 5-9 190 Sr. OL Eric Kintgh 5-10 235 Sr. OL/DL Sam Haro 6-0 300 Sr. OL Marcus Falls-Foster 6-2 Sr. 245 OL Alante Nichols 5-8 230 Jr. DL Ty Martorano 6-0 165 Sr. LB Zach Chappell 5-9 160 Jr. LB Troy Rivera 5-7 145 Sr. Robert Coursel 6-0 165 Sr. DB Eric Stevenson So. P/K Newcomers Ryan Jones 5-10 175 So. RB/DB Donovan Wilson 6-0 180 So. WR/DL Key Losses Dustin Rivich P/K Tournament History Sectional: None Regional: None Semistate: None State: None The IFD Family remembers Dave Parry for his professionalism & commitment to America's great game of Football. Dave Parry officiated for the NFL 1975-1990 and was the side judge for the 1983 Super Bowl. He went on to officiate in the Big Ten for 19 years and was the first NCAA National Coordinator of Officials. |
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