L-C looking at the big picture
LUXEMBURG – The X’s and O’s are a key part of football.
However, every coach knows they are meaningless unless you’re teaching something more to galvanize a team.
“As football coaches, we think about how important the game is,” Luxemburg-Casco football coach Dillon Maney said. “We do love the game and think it’s important. But what is our purpose? Our purpose is to try to get these kids to do their best every day, but ultimately to make them successful in life. We really don’t know how good we’re going to be until 15 years down the road when these kids decide that they’re going to become husbands, dads, neighbors and community members.
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“Let’s teach them how to be good there because in football if you do all the small things, the wins just kind of happen. It piles up. We’re trying to slow it down and say we have to become better people and have to care about each other. We have to do the best we can on the football field and in life in the community. That’s what makes you successful as a human being. That’s the most important thing.”
That’s the most important element, and the reason why Maney is utilizing an app called The Third Element (3E) to help teach his players about accountability and being a good teammate.
Paul Lemens, a Luxemburg-Casco alum, helped developed the app and approached Maney about utilizing it.
The app features a curriculum, which begins with a personality test. It helps coaches gauge what motivates a player.
There are lessons and journal entries that follow. The L-C coaching staff has implemented it into its weekly practice routine along with practice, film and lifting.
“It’s the little things,” Maney said. “The leadership and the culture you build into your team, and understanding other people.
“We talk about what leadership looks like on our team. How did it look like from each person, and all the small details that come from that.”
From a personnel standpoint, L-C has some big pieces coming back this year.
The Spartans return four offensive linemen, including left tackle Blake Yagodinski, left guard Bryce Hanmann, right guard Kyle Kroll and right tackle Zach Riemer.
They’ll be opening holes for senior running back Reece Worachek, who won a WIAA Division 2 state wrestling title at 170 pounds.
Meanwhile, senior Matt Cravillion is transitioning to quarterback to fill the shoes of Garrit Aissen, who threw for 1,894 yards and 16 touchdowns as a first team all-North Eastern Conference choice.
“We’re talking about just getting one percent better every day,” said Maney, whose team is trying to make the playoffs for a third straight year.
“Trying to focus on the daily tasks it takes to get better. One big thing we talked about is tempo, and making sure our tempo is right in practice. I think our coaches have all focused on that, too, to make sure our substitutions are sharp and making sure our kids are sprinting from the huddle.”
Luxemburg-Casco at a glance
Coach: Dillon Maney, 6th season, 39-16
Last year: 6-4
All-conference players to replace:
Garrit Aissen, QB, 1st team
Ian Doell, WR, 2nd team
Anthony Otradovic, WR, HM
Nathan Coisman, TE/DL, 1st team
Cole Erickson, OL, 1st team
Garrit Jeanquardt, ILB, 2nd team
Noah Lindsley, ILB/P, 2nd team/HM
Nathan Ronsman, DB, 1st team
All conference players returning:
Kyle Kroll, OL, HM
Max Cravillion, DB, HM
2019 Schedule
Aug. 23 at New London (NC)
Aug. 30 at Fox Valley Lutheran
Sept. 6 Marinette
Sept. 13 at Freedom
Sept. 20 Clintonville
Sept. 27 at Oconto Falls
Oct. 4 Denmark
Oct. 11 Little Chute
Oct. 18 at Wrightstown