DO OR DIE MENTALITY ABOUNDS AT MAPLES CAMP, WHILE COACH AND TEAM PREPARE TO GET BACK ON THE VICTORY TRAIL

 

When asked if this upcoming season was a "make or break" campaign for him and his staff, Birmingham Seaholm head football coach Chris Fahr was fast to give an unequivocal affirmative answer.

 

"I think it has to be," he said unflinchingly at a recent practice. "The expectations from the community are high and the expectations from within this team are high and rightfully so. This is our time to shine. Its now or never."

 

The Maples football tradition is a highly-valued aspect of the city and the residents of Birmingham support their high school football team with as much fervor and devotion as any fan base in the state.  Being one of the most-winning suburban programs of the past quarter century, the bar is set high and the standard is pure gold around Seaholm country.  Fahr is more than aware of the climate in which he coaches. 

 

After three straight winning seasons to start his head coaching career (his first season was an 8-3, conference championship-winning endeavor in 2005), Fahr is coming off two consecutive losing years and knows this year will be a defining one for his tenure on the sidelines. Either the Maples make a breakthrough this fall and romp back into the playoffs after a multi-year absence or Fahr knows its possible he won't be asked to return.

 

"This is a great place to coach, it really is,' he said in an interview a few months back. "The community loves their football, supports you with everything they have and really gains a sense of identity from the product put out there on the field every Friday night. When you're winning, its unbelievable. When you're losing, things can get pretty hot. People are tired of it and so am I. This is going to be a good year for everybody."

 

Well, good thing for coach Fahr, judging by what's been going on in the offseason and at practice this week, things appear headed back in the winning direction. And let's not forget, the scheduling gods were on Seaholm's side this year with a favorable change in divisions in the OAA and a considerably less-brutal opponent list than the past few seasons. Seaholm hosts its first two games of the year against North Farmington and BH Andover, respectively.

 

First, Coach Fahr has a nice nucleus returning from a 2009 squad last year that dropped its first six games, yet rallied back with poise and precision to win its final three, two of which came on the road to ruin opponents' homecomings and playoff chances. Second, he has one of the best players in the state in WR/KR/DB Shawn Conway (6-4, 210), lining up any and every where possible, a fact that by itself eases a great deal of the burden for the coaching staff. Third, the emergence of junior John Glazier, as the frontrunner to call signals for the Maples at the QB spot and possibly become the next in a long line of standout field generals at the school (see Lloyd Abramson, Bill Feldmaier, Bill Schuerman, Matt Wilde, and Sam Siegle as examples)

 

Entering the 2010 season, Seaholm returns 17 starters from a team that played 10 sophomores significant minutes. Glazier, who started on the JV last season, has looked rock solid throwing the pigskin, possessing a very nice touch on his deep balls and an on-field swagger that is unique considering his lack of varsity experience.

 

Making the transition from JV to varsity even smoother is the fact that Glazier will have a lightning-quick and agile receiving corps to toss the rock to, headlined most notably by Conway, committed to Michigan and a rare physical specimen of a prep athlete. Now, there are some eligibility issues surrounding Conway this season (his current living situation, which was court ordered, is located out of the district), however they are under appeal until later in the year and as of now he will be able to play while the appeal is being considered by the school district. In addition to having Conway, the Maples' pass-catching brigade is deep. Chris Barr, J.D. Hess and Kai Czajka are all jitterbug-types with the ability to break the big play after the catch. Fahr considers Barr, pound-for-pound, just as good as Conway. Second-year offensive coordinator Nick Dean (previously at Troy) will continue to run a spread formation to take advantage of the team's speed.

 

Complimenting the squad's gazelle-like receivers on the outside, will be the punishing Greg Joseph, a senior running back, taking the ball up the gap in between the tackles. Joseph is a powerful runner and has strong leadership skill. Senior Kevin Wilberding will also get carries in the Maples' backfield, acting as a mix-it-up option for Dean and Fahr, since he is more of a scatback than a brute like Joseph, and possess very good pass-catching skills. Mike Nadowksi, a junior transfer from Farmington, has been impressive through camp so far and the coaching staff is looking for ways to get him more involved in the offense, since his versatility provides the ability to play him at either running back or receiver.

 

The offensive line is beefy and will give Glazier and the rest of the skill position guys a lot of up front support. Junior Dan Gibbs (6-8, 320 lb) is the centerpiece and is currently starting to get looks from a number of D1 schools. Returning starters and seniors Hunter Luikart, Charlie Doherty and Spencer Ray are pictures of consistency in the trenches. Trey Warnike and junior Sam Anderson will round out the unit. 

 

The defense will be led by lineman, Sterling Johnson and Neil Page and safety Matt Roden. Jack Apap and Tommy Lewis will be the defensive coordinator, Dave Furlong's top linebackers. Barr and Conway are set to assume double-duty and start at cornerback in addition to wide out.  Look for Roden to be the 'D's on the field captain, calling plays from his safety spot and being the team's vocal leader in the huddle. If Glazier struggles behind center, Roden, who played some QB last season and is battling for the job in camp right now, would get the nod.