WEEK 2 OF THE WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL SEASON IS HERE. FRESH OFF THEIR SEMI-FINALS APPEARANCE AT STATE A SEASON AGO THE MEETETTSEE LONGHORNS ARE LOOKING TO ONCE AGAIN MAKE SOME NOISE IN THE 6-MAN FOOTBALL RANKS. RETURNING AS HEAD COACH OF THE LONGHORNS IS ZEB HAGEN AND HE TALKS ABOUT THE EARLY SEASON OUTLOOK.
“WE JUST WANT TO GET BETTER EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE DON’T HAVE THE BIG NUMBERS LIKE WE’RE USED TOO. WE’RE KIND OF LOW ON SOME NUMBERS THIS YEAR SO GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY SOME MORE POSITIONS AND MAYBE PLAY A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE IN PLACES THAT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE. WE’RE JUST GOING TO STRIVE THAT THEY LEARN, AND KIND OF LEARN EVERY SPOT ON THE FIELD THIS YEAR SO WE CAN HAVE THAT VERSATILITY TO WHERE ANYBODY CAN KIND OF GO IN AND FILL IN AND STEP UP A LITTLE BIT.”
AND WHILE IT’S STILL FOOTBALL AT ITS CORE 6-MAN DOES IMPLEMENT A FEW DIFFERENT RULES. WITH ONLY 6 PLAYERS, EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE TO CATCH A PASS, THAT INCLUDES THE CENTER. COACH HAGEN TOUCHES ON THE VERSATILITY 6-MAN PROVIDES.
“IT IS DIFFERENT, VERY DIFFERENT AND I THINK EVEN GUYS THAT ARE USED TO 6-MAN, THAT CENTER CAN BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN ALWAYS SNEAK OUT AND YOU KNOW KIND OF CATCH PEOPLE OFF GUARD. IT IS KIND OF A NEAT DEAL. EVERYBODY THAT, MAYBE SOME OF YOUR KIDS THAT MIGHT BE LINEMEN ONLY IN 11-MAN CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND GET THE BALL IN THEIR HANDS A LITTLE BIT.”
THIS IS A YOUNG LONGHORN TEAM WHO WILL BE EXPECTED TO MATURE QUICKLY AND COACH HAGEN TOUCHES ON A GROUP OF PLAYERS THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER GOING FORWARD.
“WE HAVE NO FRESHMEN THIS YEAR SO WE HAVE KIND OF A BIGGER SOPHOMORE CLASS SO I’D SAY THAT SOPHOMORE CLASS WOULD KIND OF BE OUR X-FACTOR AS FAR AS YOU KNOW THIS THEIR FIRST GAME WHERE THEY’VE GOTTA KIND OF STEP UP AND BE THAT UPPERCLASSMEN AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THEY ALL HAVE PRETTY GOOD ROLES ON THE TEAM. THAT’S GOING TO BE A PRETTY BIG FACTOR ON HOW WE PERFORM.”
THE MEETEETSEE LONGHORNS OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEKEND ON THE ROAD AT ST. STEPHENS SATURDAY. KICK-OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 2 IN THE AFTERNOON.
