EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S BLOG
By Scott Farley
Executive Director, MHSFCA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BLOG (JUNE 27, 2021)
EAST-WEST ALL STAR GAME A ROUSING SUCCESS
The annual MHSFCA All Star Game was played June 26 at Lawrence Technological University. The West won 48-14 in a game that culminated a fantastic week of football and camaraderie. Kudos to East head coach Al Gulick (Warren Woods Tower) and West head coach Rob Zeitman (Jenison) for leading their teams and staffs to a great experience. Also, Brian Lemons (Brighton) and his dedicated All Star committee are to be commended for organizing and executing a great experience for the players and coaches alike!
See this link for an All Star overview and stats (Full Game Stats)
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE KICKS OFF
The MHSFCA Leadership Development Alliance program began June 24-25 with some excellent speakers (Corey Parker, Noel Dean, Jim Sparks, Doug Samuels, Cody Mallory, Gus Kapolka, Greg Vaughn, Jim Ahern and Jason Mensing). It was 36 hours of intense leadership and head coach training for ten coaches who aspire to be head coaches or to improve their head coaching experience. Congrats again to our 2021 LDA class:
Tommy Atkinson - Whittemore Prescott Trevor Dobruk - Woodhaven
Isaiah Gourdine - Harper Woods Eric Hartsell - Carsonville Port Sanilac
Ian Iler - Redford Union Michael Mach - Detroit Catholic Central
Kyle McElvaney - Monroe St. Mary CC Matthew Peterson - Midland Dow
Kurtis Phelps - Vicksburg Brian Thomas - Stoney Creek
DETROIT LIONS PRO BOWL GRANTS RECIPIENTS SELECTED
Over 70 Michigan High Schools applied for the Detroit Lions Pro Bowl grant to receive a tackle wheel produced by Rogers Athletics of Farwell, MI. Winning schools will receive an email for how and when the wheels can be picked up when they are ready. Winning schools are:
Roseville, Brother Rice, Almont, Valley Lutheran, McBain, Lake City, Millington, Holland, Waterford Kettering, Ida, Superior Central, TC Central, Ann Arbor Huron, Indian River-Inland Lakes, Dansville, Detroit Loyola, Buchanan, Centreville, River Rouge, Mayville
NEW MHSFCA OFFICERS SELECTED
New MHSFCA officers have been selected. Jim Sparks (Novi) will serve the next two years as president and Andre Harlan (Detroit Northwestern) will be our new vice president. A huge thank you to Andrew Pratley (St. Joseph) for guiding our organization through an extremely difficult 30 months as president. Andrew will now replace Doug Bess as parliamentarian.
2022 CLINIC UPDATE
We will return to Lansing on January 13-15 for our 2022 Winners’ Circle Clinic IN PERSON. The clinic will be “hybrid” as some clinic sessions will be live streamed by our clinic partner, Coaches’ Insider. Look for a knockout speaker lineup to celebrate our association’s 50th clinic. Continued recognition to Jerry Rabideau (chairman), Lorin Granger, Rod Oden, Kyle McElvaney, Mick Enders, Casey Bess and others who have created perhaps THE top clinic in America!
EXCITING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN MHSFCA AND THE DETROIT LIONS
We are thrilled that our association has been able to partner with the NFL’s Detroit Lions. We will work together to promote a statewide High School Game of the Week. Each of the nine weeks in the 2022 regular season will highlight a Game of the Week from a different MHSAA division. Look for announcements in August on this program!
The MHSFCA and the Lions are also teaming to create a new program for high school girls’ flag football. Announcements on this exciting initiative will be coming soon!
Scott Farley
MHSFCA Executive Director
517-285-7556
jhighfootball@gmail.com