BY MAKENNA ALLEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiger football is back. Saturday, April 13, the Fort Hays State University Tigers stepped onto the field at Lewis Field Stadium for their first scrimmage of the season. This year\u2019s kick-off marked the fourth annual spring football event that included activities for Tiger fan interaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fans will likely recall the moment when senior kicker, Dante Brown\u2019s, mother took to the field to demonstrate the source of her son\u2019s skill. However, the true purpose of the scrimmage lay beneath the fun and games. The two halves of 30-minute running clock provided the opportunity for coaches to take a look at the potential pool of talent for next season in a safe environment for the players.
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This element of safety was one of the key focuses for Tigers\u2019 Head Coach, Chris Brown.
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\u201cI thought our kids did a good job staying off the ground, staying healthy,\u201d Brown said. \u201cToday was about staying safe, staying healthy, and keeping guys off the ground and for the most part, they did that.\u201d
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Quarterback Chance Fuller underscored this position in suggesting that one of the team\u2019s goals leading up to the 2019 season is to \u201cstay healthy and stay off the ground.\u201d
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This remains a goal for the team as a whole. However, Fuller strives for personal health and success as he steps into the position of starting quarterback following the conclusion of Jacob Mezera\u2019s football career at Fort Hays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, during the first half of the scrimmage, Fuller headed-off the first of two offensive teams. Redshirt freshman, Blake Sullivan, and junior transfer, Voshon Waiters, competed for the spot as back-up quarterback. This match was not the first time the two have battled for the position, however.
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\u201cThey push Chance every single day. Today\u2019s game gave us an idea of what those guys can do. We need to get them in the film room and evaluate them a little bit more and see where we\u2019re at there,\u201d Brown said. \u201cHopefully, those guys continue to work and continue to get better and be that next guy and push Chance for that job.\u201d
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Though Fuller continues to prepare to fill his new role, Brown confirmed that the additional leadership has not altered the sophomore\u2019s attitude in any way.
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\u201cHe doesn\u2019t change. He\u2019s the same kid day in and day out. He\u2019s just out here to compete and make his team better and make himself better. He\u2019s just a great leader for everyone,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing different about him from being the guy now to where he was last year. He\u2019s just a level-headed competitor and smart and loves the game of football. He\u2019s just going to work to make himself better every day.\u201d
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This team mentality was apparent in Fuller\u2019s recognition of the group effort required for success in the upcoming season.
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\u201cIt feels good. I\u2019m excited,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a good team behind us and we\u2019re ready.\u201d
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Even as Fuller began his new position as starting quarterback during the scrimmage, Brown utilized the time to watch for areas that require attention during summer camp. After losing key defensive elements like Wyatt Parker, Jose Delgado, Doyin Jibowu, Connor Shedeed, Aquil Knowles, and Malik Young, this area of the team become a key place of focus.
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\u201cWe lost a lot of guys that played a lot of minutes for Fort Hays and played a lot of years,\u201d Brown said. \u201cA lot of them were four-year starters.\u201d
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Brown commented on the success of the defensive line and offensive line during the scrimmage. However, he also alluded to the fact that summer camp might bring new additions to the team.
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\u201cWe might get a few guys here and there just to solidify some depth but I thought that overall, our guys did a great job,\u201d Brown said.
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The head coach awarded praise not only to the defense but also to the two offensive teams.
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\u201cThe offense has done some great things. The defense has done some great things as well. The offense scores some touchdowns. The defense gets some turnovers. It\u2019s good to see both sides do good things,\u201d Brown said. \u201cYou just don\u2019t want one side dominating the other because then you get worried about the other side of the ball. I think overall, through the spring, both sides, they got better. They improved and did some good things on both sides.\u201d
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As the Tigers patch the holes and begin to prepare for the 2019 season that kicks-off Sept. 5, they press forward through the spring with the mentality of working hard for group success. However, Brown emphasized the fact that the effort contains an individual element as well.
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\u201cThey\u2019ve just got to keep level-headed, to keep reaching to get to that national championship game,\u201d Brown said. \u201cIt\u2019s these kids taking ownership in this program and doing the things they need to do to make this program better.\u201d
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