More depth has Southeast's hopes on the rise
After a little delay at the start of football practice at Lincoln Southeast, coaches and administrators rounded up extra mouth guards, shoulder pads, helmets and the rest of the usual gear for football.
It was a relatively new problem, something the Knights hadn’t faced in six years.
“Once we found something for everybody it went fine, but that was a problem we hadn’t had in a few years,” said second-year coach John Larsen.
For Larsen, greeting 182 players, including 78 freshmen, was a good problem to have.
When Lincoln Southwest opened seven years ago, Southeast’s football numbers were almost cut in half.
The shortage of players added up to a lack of depth. That contributed to Southeast’s late-in-the-game losses last year. The Knights finished 1-8, after winning the final game of the season.
“A lot of games, we just ran out of gas,” Larsen said.
Now, with school improvements almost completed, with air conditioning, refurbished locker rooms and three practice fields (instead of one), there is a new enthusiasm at the longtime state power.
“We have depth and we’ll have a lot of guys rotating in this year,” said senior lineman Chris Killingsworth. “Your spot on the team is not secure the way it was in the past because we have a lot of guys who want to play and who can play.”
The improved depth also means better practices, Killingsworth said.
“The scout team is a lot better, our practices are better and I think we have more confidence because we have more depth,” he said.
Senior receiver and defensive back Cornell Leffler said there’s been a change in the team personality, too.
“There’s a work ethic here because everybody is pushing everybody and I think it gives us all more pride in our team, too,” he said.
Larsen said the improved depth and practices should help the coaching staff get a more realistic picture of the team.
“We had a false sense of security last year because we only knew what we looked like against ourselves,” he said. The reality hit when North Star, Omaha Westside, Southwest and others pulled away in the second half.
“We’ll still have a good number of players going both ways on offense and defense, but we’ll have subs and some of those two-way starters will only have to go one series, take a series or two off, and go back in,” said Larsen, whose girls basketball team picked up his ninth state title last spring.
Depth at the skill positions should help, too.
Sophomore Darius Vick will start at quarterback and he’ll have at least four different backs behind him.
Taylor Price, who had a strong sophomore season and missed almost all of last year with an injury, is back. With Jake Solomons, Travis Vensky and Ben Gantz at running back, Leffler at receiver and new 6-foot-7 tight end Jake Cotton (son of Nebraska assistant coach Barney), should add to Southeast’s offensive threats.
“I think we’re more businesslike in our attitude and a lot more enthusiasm overall,” said Killingsworth.
Leffler added: “I know some of us who were afraid to speak up last year and are willing to be leaders this year.
“There’s not much joking around. Well, there’s the things Coach Larsen says after practice, but we’re pretty serious about turning things around this year,” he said.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
It was a relatively new problem, something the Knights hadn’t faced in six years.
“Once we found something for everybody it went fine, but that was a problem we hadn’t had in a few years,” said second-year coach John Larsen.
For Larsen, greeting 182 players, including 78 freshmen, was a good problem to have.
When Lincoln Southwest opened seven years ago, Southeast’s football numbers were almost cut in half.
The shortage of players added up to a lack of depth. That contributed to Southeast’s late-in-the-game losses last year. The Knights finished 1-8, after winning the final game of the season.
“A lot of games, we just ran out of gas,” Larsen said.
Now, with school improvements almost completed, with air conditioning, refurbished locker rooms and three practice fields (instead of one), there is a new enthusiasm at the longtime state power.
“We have depth and we’ll have a lot of guys rotating in this year,” said senior lineman Chris Killingsworth. “Your spot on the team is not secure the way it was in the past because we have a lot of guys who want to play and who can play.”
The improved depth also means better practices, Killingsworth said.
“The scout team is a lot better, our practices are better and I think we have more confidence because we have more depth,” he said.
Senior receiver and defensive back Cornell Leffler said there’s been a change in the team personality, too.
“There’s a work ethic here because everybody is pushing everybody and I think it gives us all more pride in our team, too,” he said.
Larsen said the improved depth and practices should help the coaching staff get a more realistic picture of the team.
“We had a false sense of security last year because we only knew what we looked like against ourselves,” he said. The reality hit when North Star, Omaha Westside, Southwest and others pulled away in the second half.
“We’ll still have a good number of players going both ways on offense and defense, but we’ll have subs and some of those two-way starters will only have to go one series, take a series or two off, and go back in,” said Larsen, whose girls basketball team picked up his ninth state title last spring.
Depth at the skill positions should help, too.
Sophomore Darius Vick will start at quarterback and he’ll have at least four different backs behind him.
Taylor Price, who had a strong sophomore season and missed almost all of last year with an injury, is back. With Jake Solomons, Travis Vensky and Ben Gantz at running back, Leffler at receiver and new 6-foot-7 tight end Jake Cotton (son of Nebraska assistant coach Barney), should add to Southeast’s offensive threats.
“I think we’re more businesslike in our attitude and a lot more enthusiasm overall,” said Killingsworth.
Leffler added: “I know some of us who were afraid to speak up last year and are willing to be leaders this year.
“There’s not much joking around. Well, there’s the things Coach Larsen says after practice, but we’re pretty serious about turning things around this year,” he said.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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