High School Feature: NC names new football coach

North Central was the GSL's version of the Detroit Lions last year in Spokane. And that certainly wasn't because of the efforts of the kids on the field, but they were outmatched and well... you don't keep running the ball when you're down by thirty.

Now NC has named a new head coach, Brian Gardner, who has been the freshman head coach and a varsity assistant. Hopefully he'll bring some fresh thinking to a school that needs some help. Here's a little tid bit: NC went 4-6 in 2004 and has won just four games since.

Yikes. However, I want to point out that NC is a 3A school and when you're a smaller school in the 3A-4A GSL, you kind of get screwed. You still have to play the big boys of 4A, even though you're just fighting against the 3A teams in the standings (but since your win-loses against the bigger teams count, those games still count - is this making any sense?).

So NC's struggles have been compounded by how the league has been set up. Hopefully, Gardner can change that - just as long as he doesn't step on the toes of my Rogers Pirates.

(Who by the way are (2-0 in football when I say they're going to win a game)

"Over the years it was always in the back of my mind (to be a head coach)," said Gardner. "I just didn't know when it would happen. When it came up a few years back I didn't feel I was ready. Four years later I felt it was the right time to put in for it."

(Quote taken from the Spokesman Review, story by Mike Vlahovich - the GSL sports god around these parts)

He's working hard on getting kids out for football from both high school and middle school levels, emphasizing the weight room and will add a strength training regimen.

That actually sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered for NC. Lets see what Gardner can do in the coming year.