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> 2011-2012 Official Wolves football thread
Southsider2k12
post Jun 27 2011, 07:58 AM
Post #1


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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.”
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Posts in this topic
southsiderMMX   2011-2012 Official Wolves football thread   Jun 27 2011, 07:58 AM
MSFOOTBALL   http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/613986...ick-...   Jun 28 2011, 10:05 PM
southsiderMMX   Keep us posted on the scrimmage date!   Jun 29 2011, 06:45 AM
MSFOOTBALL   [size=3] I'm not sure who might handle this id...   Jul 11 2011, 09:52 PM
southsiderMMX   RSN's Duneland preview, with Michigan City hig...   Jul 13 2011, 02:01 PM
taxthedeer   Here's the write-up the Wolves received in the...   Jul 16 2011, 04:16 PM
Jesse B   It is scarey to think where Indiana Football diges...   Jul 19 2011, 11:01 AM
MC Born & Raised   B)-->
QUOTE(Jesse B @ Ju...   Jul 19 2011, 02:34 PM
taxthedeer   Paul Condry states in his "The Last Word...   Jul 19 2011, 07:24 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...79352...   Jul 20 2011, 08:13 AM
MSFOOTBALL   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...7935...   Jul 20 2011, 09:27 PM
taxthedeer   How was the golf outing and football Hall of Fame ...   Jul 26 2011, 05:53 PM
MSFOOTBALL   How was the golf outing and football Hall of Fame...   Aug 1 2011, 07:56 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...0c139...   Aug 1 2011, 07:49 AM
taxthedeer   What time does the Blue-Grey inner-squad scrimmage...   Aug 2 2011, 08:23 PM
southsiderMMX   What time does the Blue-Grey inner-squad scrimmag...   Aug 2 2011, 09:36 PM
MC Born & Raised   I talked to Coach today via email, sounds like ki...   Aug 3 2011, 02:52 PM
taxthedeer   Nice article talking about Ryan Isaac at Purdue. ...   Aug 4 2011, 06:33 AM
taxthedeer   http://www.midamericabroadcasting.com/file..._Mont...   Aug 4 2011, 07:50 AM
southsiderMMX   Don't forget, Wolves football TONIGHT up at Am...   Aug 5 2011, 02:32 PM
taxthedeer   I think it will be difficult to tell if the team w...   Aug 6 2011, 11:58 AM
taxthedeer   Does anybody know if the possible state takeover o...   Aug 10 2011, 06:11 PM
MSFOOTBALL   Does anybody know if the possible state takeover ...   Aug 12 2011, 03:46 AM
southsiderMMX   Tonight is the scrimmage with New Prairie at Ames ...   Aug 12 2011, 06:40 AM
taxthedeer   Tonight is the scrimmage with New Prairie at Ames...   Aug 12 2011, 09:09 AM
southsiderMMX   Did you get Beth Pishkur's OK to allow you to...   Aug 12 2011, 09:41 AM
taxthedeer   WIMS is dead to me. After they tried to essentia...   Aug 12 2011, 12:58 PM
MC Born & Raised   From what I'm told by those who would know, th...   Aug 12 2011, 02:11 PM
southsiderMMX   Are you ready for some football? https://www.face...   Aug 15 2011, 10:12 AM
taxthedeer   Regional Radio Sports Network Kick-off show will b...   Aug 15 2011, 03:39 PM
taxthedeer   http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/08/13...2f381...   Aug 15 2011, 03:40 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school...4a4e0...   Aug 19 2011, 12:06 PM
taxthedeer   Duneland conference raised their ticket prices to ...   Aug 19 2011, 11:00 PM
taxthedeer   http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/stats/2a8f6...tml?m...   Aug 19 2011, 11:39 PM
taxthedeer   http://www.alco.org/index.php/videos/159-s...udio-...   Aug 20 2011, 12:38 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.nwitimes.com/conferences/dunela...3387d...   Aug 22 2011, 10:15 AM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...96451...   Aug 22 2011, 01:52 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...ff992...   Aug 22 2011, 01:56 PM
southsiderMMX   I know the scoreboard doesn't show it, but Cit...   Aug 26 2011, 09:33 PM
taxthedeer   I know the scoreboard doesn't show it, but Ci...   Aug 26 2011, 11:55 PM
MC Born & Raised   First, I was really sorry to learn about the pass...   Aug 27 2011, 03:39 PM
southsiderMMX   First, I was really sorry to learn about the pass...   Aug 29 2011, 11:59 AM
southsiderMMX   Merrillville and Valpo are 0-2 to start the season...   Aug 28 2011, 09:22 AM
taxthedeer   Merrillville and Valpo are 0-2 to start the seaso...   Aug 29 2011, 12:19 AM
taxthedeer   I was studying the roster, They have a kid listed ...   Aug 29 2011, 09:38 AM
southsiderMMX   http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...7a348...   Aug 29 2011, 12:55 PM
southsiderMMX   http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/08/27...f8133...   Aug 29 2011, 12:56 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...92306...   Aug 30 2011, 01:26 PM
taxthedeer   I was driving along Franklin St. earlier this morn...   Sep 1 2011, 01:22 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.chestertontribune.com/Sports/ch...c_pla...   Sep 2 2011, 08:51 AM
taxthedeer   http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school...8b7c0...   Sep 2 2011, 11:50 PM
taxthedeer   http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/743194...higan...   Sep 2 2011, 11:58 PM
MSFOOTBALL   http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/743194...higa...   Sep 8 2011, 09:22 PM
Fancy Nancy   :D I know the JV and Freshman don't mean much...   Sep 9 2011, 01:07 PM
southsiderMMX   I know the JV and Freshman don't mean much bu...   Sep 9 2011, 01:12 PM
taxthedeer   I know the JV and Freshman don't mean much bu...   Sep 9 2011, 01:27 PM
indianamaniac   This has been another motivational and inspiratio...   Sep 9 2011, 02:26 PM
southsiderMMX   :huh: I'm pretty sure that was thick sarcas...   Sep 9 2011, 02:39 PM
indianamaniac   I'm pretty sure that was thick sarcasm. I a...   Sep 9 2011, 03:01 PM
taxthedeer   I assumed that, but what was the diatribe leading...   Sep 9 2011, 03:52 PM
indianamaniac   I'm just merely sharing my life experiences i...   Sep 9 2011, 04:49 PM
taxthedeer   "in order to help our young people cope with...   Sep 9 2011, 09:28 PM
MSFOOTBALL   I'm sorry you don't appreciate my insight...   Sep 9 2011, 11:12 PM
Fancy Nancy   Nice to hear the underclassmen are doing well. V...   Sep 9 2011, 04:10 PM
southsiderMMX   http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/750688...ing-r...   Sep 7 2011, 09:00 AM
Fancy Nancy   WOW!   Sep 9 2011, 04:12 PM
southsiderMMX   You hate a lose a game like this, but the team is ...   Sep 10 2011, 09:18 AM
MSFOOTBALL   Well the JV football team had another exciting win...   Sep 10 2011, 12:09 PM
taxthedeer   http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school...4710b...   Sep 10 2011, 12:13 PM
taxthedeer   http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/756737...valpa...   Sep 10 2011, 12:19 PM
southsiderMMX   http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...d1858...   Sep 12 2011, 08:13 AM
southsiderMMX   Don't forget, this week is homecoming week...   Sep 12 2011, 08:36 AM
southsiderMMX   Also a new facebook fan page for Wolves football. ...   Sep 12 2011, 10:02 AM
Fancy Nancy   Just wanted to say what an exciting game it was on...   Sep 13 2011, 03:42 PM
taxthedeer   I did a look back on John Harrell's site of th...   Sep 14 2011, 01:01 PM
MC Born & Raised   I did a look back on John Harrell's site of t...   Sep 14 2011, 04:17 PM
MSFOOTBALL   I agree with that last part. When I saw the Warre...   Sep 15 2011, 11:12 AM
MSFOOTBALL   Even though the outcomes of the games have not be...   Sep 15 2011, 11:14 AM
southsiderMMX   Even though the outcomes of the games have not be...   Sep 15 2011, 12:04 PM
Jesse B   Couldn't agree more. This team is fighting a...   Sep 15 2011, 01:16 PM
taxthedeer   It was nice to see the home stands at near capacit...   Sep 17 2011, 12:29 PM
southsiderMMX   Apparently neither "local" radio station...   Sep 19 2011, 08:04 AM
southsiderMMX   http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/09/17...ae054...   Sep 19 2011, 11:54 AM
southsiderMMX   My letter! http://thenewsdispatch.com/article...   Sep 19 2011, 12:31 PM
Fancy Nancy   :) I agree! My letter! http://thenewsdis...   Sep 25 2011, 04:30 PM
taxthedeer   Michigan City travels to play Lake Central on Frid...   Sep 22 2011, 02:55 PM
taxthedeer   I've paid another visit to John Harrell's ...   Sep 26 2011, 08:00 AM
southsiderMMX   http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/09/24...5a488...   Sep 26 2011, 11:49 AM
taxthedeer   MCB&R, Were you watching the same Homecoming g...   Sep 26 2011, 09:24 PM
southsiderMMX   City's defense was just incredible Friday nigh...   Oct 3 2011, 08:24 AM
Jesse B   City's defense was just incredible Friday nig...   Oct 3 2011, 09:28 AM
backwoods   B)-->
QUOTE(Jesse B @ Oc...   Oct 3 2011, 12:12 PM
southsiderMMX   The sectional draw is this Sunday at 6pm our time....   Oct 3 2011, 08:51 AM
southsiderMMX   The QB had no time again this week. The offensive...   Oct 3 2011, 09:50 AM
southsiderMMX   And I will say this again, third system in three y...   Oct 3 2011, 12:15 PM
taxthedeer   And I will say this again, third system in three ...   Oct 3 2011, 07:02 PM
Jesse B   I really got tons of respect for our three year s...   Oct 4 2011, 01:33 PM
southsiderMMX   B)-->
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