Notre Dame aims to continue success under Rader
Mike Rader has been around football teams for well over 20 years.
One of the things Green Bay Notre Dame’s first-year head coach enjoys most about being a part of one is the camaraderie shared on it.
That’s why Rader always looks forward to bus trips to and from games because they provide the perfect opportunity for players and coaches alike to get to know each other and create connections that go well beyond what takes place on the field.
However, Rader has seen a significant difference on those rides in recent years.
Actually, he’s heard it.
“They’ve changed over the years with how loud they are,” Rader said. “They’ve been quieter, quieter and quieter because people started looking at their phone.”
Rader viewed a preseason trip to the St. Norbert Abbey for a team-building exercise as the perfect opportunity to voice his opinion about this trend by asking his players to leave their phones at school.
“I wanted to give the kids some time away from their phones and spend some time together,” Rader said. “It’s mindfulness – be in the moment right now.”
Follow PrepsAgenda.com on Facebook
Notre Dame opens its season Thursday with a road game against Sheboygan South. It’s a moment Rader has been thinking about since he was hired as head coach six months ago at his alma mater.
The former University of Wisconsin lineman undoubtedly has big shoes to fill in taking over for the legendary John Nowak.
Rader won’t be making any drastic to what the Tritons have been doing for the past 27 years under the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer.
But Rader knows he’ll have to carve out his own way to maintain the program’s winning tradition and getting players to see the bigger picture.
Notre Dame’s preseason visit to the St. Norbert Abbey certainly seemed to accomplish the latter.
“We had to write out what was on our mind and then tell it to the team to let them know how we feel,” Notre Dame senior fullback/linebacker Max Pallini said.
“It really makes you recognize that football is much bigger. It’s bigger than you and bigger than just a game. Those 2½ hours on the field are unlike anything else you can experience, but at the end of the day it’s about the brotherhood that you become a part of, the bonds and the legacy you’re trying to carry on with the sticker on your helmet.”
After advancing to the WIAA Division 3 state championship game the last two years, a majority of the players wearing those helmets will be different this year for the Tritons.
Gone is Nate Ihlenfeldt, who rushed for 4,016 yards and 61 touchdowns the last two season and is now a preferred walk-on at the University of Washington.
The thunder-and-lightning tandem of junior Mitch Chosa and senior Mike Gregoire be tasked with trying to replace Ihlenfeldt’s production in the backfield.
Meanwhile, junior Wes Glime will take over at quarterback for Johnny Santaga, who earned a preferred walk-on opportunity at Minnesota.
Senior Andrew Gruesen and senior Isaac Sidon have experience on the offensive line.
Senior Jack Allen and Pallini saw time on defense and will see larger roles on offense.
“Some of those guys that played last year are going to move around a little bit and assume larger roles because it’s their turn,” Rader said. “Team chemistry is great and there are enough pieces right now to put it together.”