Coach says team is making strides daily
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
There was no shortage of change last year for the Big Foot football program.
New head coach Greg Enz took over the perennially successful program after longtime coach Rodney Wedig left for Beloit Memorial.
Fast forward a year, and Enz feels like things are starting to hit a calmer stride for the Chiefs.
“(To say it’s been) smoother is dead on,” Enz said this week in an e-mail. “We have been able to implement and understand things much easier than last year.
“Our numbers have risen by (at least) 10 from a year ago, and our kids and coaches have made the transition to me as I have to them. This is a pretty special place to work for and coaches and kids to work with.”
Big Foot enters 2015 after it finished 7-3 last year, including a 5-1 record in the RVC. The Chiefs fell 27-21 to Brodhead-Juda in the regular-season finale, which ended their 53-game RVC win streak.
The next week, Big Foot, which was bumped to Division 3 for the post-season, fell to Jefferson in a first-round matchup. All indications are that Big Foot will be in Division 4 this season.
Through two weeks of practice and a pre-season scrimmage, Enz likes what he has seen.
“The outlook is optimistic,” he said. “We are a young team, but have a big upside, as many of these players are making huge strides daily. What we may lack in experience we have made up for in learning curve and effort.”
Big Foot had 14 Al-RVC picks last year, but 10 were in the senior class – and that’s a lot of talent to replace, Enz said.
Finding a way to do just that will tell a lot about the 2015 campaign, Enz said.
“The keys for our success will be how quickly our youth and inexperience develops,” he said. “Can our returning starters and impact players propel us early in the season?”
Making up for what Enz termed as lack of overall team speed also will be important.
But where the Chiefs may fall short there, they make up in other areas, he said.
“We move well as a unit and have sold athleticism,” Enz said. “Our phrase this year is ‘synergy,’ and that term applies for what we will need to do to be successful over the full season.”
Solid core returns
Leading the way this year are five players who earned all-conference honors last season.
That group includes Ben Bauer (first-team linebacker), Mark Schauf (two-year starter at center), Michael Heidenreich (second-team split end), Zak Greco (honorable mention, All-State defensive back) and John Rebhorn (three-year starter on the offensive line).
The race to this year’s RVC crown seems like a repeat from the past, as Enz expects Brodhead again to be right there at the top. The Cardinals have advanced to the WIAA playoffs 22 straight seasons, including a Division 4 runner-up finish in 2010.
“It has to start and end with Brodhead-Juda,” Enz said.
Enz added he also expects Clinton to be a challenger under head coach Jeff Spiwek. Enz said the Cougars feature a strong junior and sophomore class.
Assisting Enz this season are Greg Lueck (offensive line, defensive coordinator), Pat Holihan (defensive backs, defensive coordinator), Rob Christman (defensive line), Tim Long (linebackers), Sam Wagner (defensive backs), Kim Arntz (offensive, defensive line), Wes Courier (receivers), Tyler Heck (full backs), Mike Dowden (quarterbacks), Garrett Jeters (offensive, defensive line) and Jon Petkoff (running backs).
Big Foot opens play Friday night with a non-conference contest at Southern Lakes Conference opponent Westosha Central. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Chiefs’ home opener is Friday, Aug. 28, when they host another SLC foe, Delavan-Darien, also at 7 p.m.
