Superior football prepares for next season
Tucker Smith (left) lunges towards his brother Billy Smith (center) during Superior High School Football Camp Thursday afternoon.
Before the Superior High School football players dismissed for summer vacation, head coach Dan Lucier wanted to bring the team together. For three days last week, the team gathered in the afternoons on the football field or in a classroom to go over plays. Coach Lucier said the goal of the three-day camp was to have fun and get better.
“Everyday the plan is to get better in some area,” coach Lucier said. “And be the best we can the right way.”
Lucier, who is going into his 31st season as Superior High School’s football coach, said the three-day camp was especially important this season because the Bobcats are dropping back down from Class B to Class C next season. The change means instead of 11-man football, Superior will compete in 8-man football for the first time since 2008, which is the last time Superior won the state championship.
Playing 8-man football takes a different strategy and coach Lucier spent the majority of the camp going over plays that work in an 8-man game. Constant rain kept the team inside the first two days of camp, but on the third day the team stayed outside the entire time.
The Bobcats practiced passing drills, set plays and the offensive lineman used old tires for blocking drills. Much of the team missed the camp from prior plans, including All-Conference player Danny Taron and Spud Crabb. Of the players who attended the camp, Senior Matt Campbell showed leadership on offenses and junior Billy Smith took most the snaps at starting quarterback.
Every time the team practices together, coach Lucier said he wants the team to focus on four keys to success: the team comes first, be an ultimate competitor, play fast and finish strong. Those four points have brought Superior success in the past, and Lucier hopes they will help guide the team this fall.
The camp ended with coach Lucier picking two team captains for a two-hand touch game. Lucier set the rules that everyone is eligible to catch the ball and a pass can be thrown forwards or backwards.
“He makes games up all the time,” assistant coach Allan Labbe, who is also the high school principal, said of coach Lucier.
The up-tempo game ended in a tie. However, just as coach Lucier walked onto the field to end the camp, the team pleaded with him to continue and crown a winner. Lucier gave in, and gave each team one play to finish the game.
The team ‘s character of not wanting to end the camp on a tie stood out to coach Lucier. “We have great kids each year,” Lucier said.
After the two-hand touch game ended, the team gathered around coach Lucier in the middle of the field. Coach Lucier reminded the team to make good decisions over the summer and be ready for August 12, which is the first day of football season.
“Come in shape,” Luicer told the team.