Brandon Smeed of the McCoy Colts corrals a pass in the Colts 32-21 win last October against the Taber Rebels.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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The McCoy Colts are gearing up for their first exhibition game tonight in Strathmore against the Spartans. Head coach Jole Krassman said that first game will give them a guide for what they can work and focus on this season.
“It’s been an uphill struggle trying to get everything ready, new systems, new team assessing talent has been a bit of my struggle and getting to know the kids. We’re just trying to put the kids in the right spots to make plays, and the right positions to help the team,” Krassman said. “The first game is definitely going to give us a really good guide on where the kids are going to be at, kind of assessing their talent and just getting them ready for for real-life football scenarios.”
It will be Krassman’s first game as Colts head coach after taking over the position in early August. He said he’ll be focused on the game but is every excited for that first play call.
“I think the hard part for me is I like to bring the intensity, and being the head coach as well, trying to keep those emotions in check, not being too excited and not be too passive.” Krassman said. “Just finding that right mix of emotion and showing the kids confidence. But trying to remain not overly excited where we start to get away from the task at hand and the preparation we’ve come up with.”
He said beyond the excitement of the moment, that first play will be nerve wracking as it will be his first chance to see his team in game action with the plays they’ve worked on.
“We’ve got a little plan in place here with just our basic systems, and I think the first play is going to be a little bit nerve wracking and getting the jitters out, but I’m going to try and keep a calm, cool, collected front, and just to let the kids know play one is done, let’s get it going,” Krassman said. “We have 40 more to go, so it’s just going to be building off the first one and seeing how our kids respond, see how they respond to the adversity. I’m anticipating a fairly tough team out of Strathmore like all games.”
Krassman said with the first game of the year being on the road they’re going to let the players further get to know one another on the trip down before they start talking about the game. He says the team’s leadership has decided they are all going to dress up for their first game.
“‘Im going to give them the first hour to chat and get the excitement going. The first bus trip is exciting, it gives them the kind of confidence to get going,” Krassman said. “Then that last hour, we get to collaborate with the team, so I have a little bit of time to talk to them, don’t have to worry about the driving, we can start doing the X’s and O’s a little bit, get some game prep in there. Once we get off that bus in Strathmore for the first one, I really think it’s going to be exciting, I think a lot of the kids are going to have some nerves and the fire is going to come up. That’s where I think we’re going to really see a big adrenaline spike as well as an intensity spike, getting the kids fired up.”
After tonight’s exhibition game, the Colts next action is Thursday at the Methanex Bowl against the Crescent Heights Vikings for the second annual Rick Boksteyn bowl.
