The 2014 football season has had its ups and downs thus far due to the transition from playing NAIA to Division II football. The Shorter Hawks have had some extraordinary wins and some tough losses, but the spirits of the players this season has not diminished at all.
Andrew Teare-Ketter, redshirt sophomore offensive linebacker, has very high spirits so far this season, even through some tough losses.
“We have our heads in the right place and we’re taking losses in a better stride this year,” Teare-Ketter said.
Teare-Ketter also sees the players growing together as a team and believing that the team belongs at the top in this football conference.
“We believe we can compete with top-notch teams in the conference, whereas last year we went into the games viewing ourselves as underdogs,” Teare-Ketter said.
Aaron Bryant, freshman quarterback/slot back, said even though the team has faced some disappointments he still has hope for a successful season. Bryant shared some insights into how he thinks the team can improve, including “being able to execute, especially in the red zone on offense, and…finish games.”
Right guard, offensive line, Chris Beno said that getting rid of penalties can also improve the performance of the football team and can help the team come out with more wins for this season.
Other sources, aside from fellow players, that help encourage the football team are family, friends and fans. These individuals push the players to work harder and strive to win more games.
Bryant tunes into the fans who attend the games each week and Bryant really draws from the encouragement they provide.
“When there are a whole lot more people in the stands it helps us do better,” Bryant said.
Beno also draws from the fans that attend the games and agrees with Bryant that the more fans that are present, the better! Beno also receives much encouragement from family and is grateful for all the support and advice family provides.
“Parents and loved ones are big critics… but they’re focusing on the positive things rather than the negative things,” Beno said.
One of the negatives that the football team has seriously dealt with this season is injuries. Players including senior quarterback, Eric Dodson, and redshirt junior safety, Jordan Shaw, have suffered through injuries but have managed to stay on track with the team and make successful plays. Andrew Teare-Ketter also experienced injuries this season, but used that time off the field to watch his teammates, specifically Shaw, succeed and accomplish much. Teare-Ketter is extremely proud of how far each of his teammates has come in the 2014 season.
A different take that most people would not initially focus on related to the 2014 football season is how the Shorter University Marching Hawks season has played out. The marching band and football team work together to produce a successful and exciting football season, and both teams work hard to perform their best.
The Shorter University Marching Hawks have tirelessly practiced and prepared for the 2014 season. Freshman business management major, Jesse Adams, has had to put extra effort into the 2014 marching band season because he has never marched before. He has enjoyed marching, though, and hopes that the fans have enjoyed the atmosphere that the band has created.
Adams said that the football team and marching band play off of one another and help one another strive to play better. When the game is in favor of the Shorter Hawks, the energy of the players, band, cheerleaders and fans increases, which causes the football players to play a more exciting game and the band to play their very best.
“Winning runs everything, even energy,” Adams said.
When energy builds, however, it is easy to lose focus and get distracted. Adams said that the Marching Hawks have to pay close attention so as not to lose focus during a game because the band is not as full as one would find at a larger university.
“When you’re in a band of 40 and one person doesn’t play it makes a bigger difference than you think,” Adams said.
With the Shorter Hawks and the Marching Hawks working together there are high hopes left for the remainder of the 2014 football season, and all players, including Andrew Teare-Ketter, are keeping their heads up for more successful plays and wins in the games ahead.
Teare-Ketter said, “If we learn how to play… as a team, as a whole… then we will become an elite team in this conference and what Shorter University football should be.”
