August 5, 2024 • 9 mins
Van Wert Head Coach Keith Recker joined Todd Walker on "Lima's Morning News" to preview the upcoming season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We continue to talk high school football, and today we
talk Cougar football. Van Work coach, Keith Recker, coach, thanks
for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well, it's been a sustained run of success for you guys,
and last year nothing different in the playoffs again, moved
into the second round. Of course, the state championship a
few years back. So it seems like you've built the
program now and now it's just about sustaining your standards.
Talk about where you came from and to where you
(00:33):
are now. Where you know, making the playoffs and contending
for the league title is pretty much the norm here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It took a long time for us to learn how
to win, and that's a hard thing because you can't
just put your finger on it, like we need to
do this better that better. But going back even eight
nine years ago, we had some good teams, it just
seemed like that belief like always waiting for something bad
to happen. And really had the breakthrough twenty eighteen went
(01:04):
nine to three, and guys started seeing what was possible
and we're not going to give up those types of games.
And really, ever since then, the belief has just continued
to rise and rise and rise, and you look at
twenty twenty. Obviously that helps win in a state championship,
and a lot of those guys from twenty one to
twenty two to twenty three were holding that team or
(01:26):
played on that team. So I think that's been our
biggest thing, is just guys really believe that they will
go out there and win where you know, in the
early years, it was questioning could we do this or
you know, we're coming up on Walpark or Saint Mary's
or whoever, and we just didn't have that belief, you know,
ten years ago that we.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Have now and it helps. You've had a run of
really good quarterbacks. Your latest Briylan Parker, has graduated, So
what's the prognosis there.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, Brilan did go. He's going up to Cordia University
to play football and baseball, So real happy for him there.
But we got another guy and in a similar mold
as Brilan as far as kind of a running back quarterback.
Brilyan was an All Ohio running back in twenty twenty two,
played quarterback for US in twenty twenty three and had
(02:19):
a good year. And this is what Briston wise, he's
going to be a senior kind of a backup quarterback
running back for US last year. Real good running back,
just a shifty kid, and he's done a very good
job at cam beating out a couple other quarterbacks. Keaton Welch,
who will play some wide receiver for US as a
guy that could play quarterback. Zach Crummy, whose dad played
(02:41):
at Youngstown State a while back. He's a six or
four freshman that was right there in the mix that'll
hopefully find some other positions to to work in at.
So we had some pretty good choices. Just Bristin plays
played really well this summer, played really well here the
first two days of camp, and we feel confident with
him going in.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Coach. On the defensive side of the ball. Last year,
admittedly it was kind of a we need to outscore
them type of season. You had the defense that allow
some big numbers that you obviously want to be better there.
What's the prognosis for your defense?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
No, I think we had to take a good hard
look at ourselves coaching, you know, coaching wise, and see
like what are we doing and what can we be
good at? And so I think this offseason we've looked
at that. In the summer, like we wanted to really
just pinpoint a few things that we can be really
really good at and use the personnel that we have.
(03:39):
And I think sometimes you know, we're trying to fit
a scheme to our personnel, We're really got to kind
of go the other way. What personnel do we have,
what can they do well? And so I really feel
better about where we're at right now. Defensively, we have
some some things that you know, we've gave way too
many explosive plays, gotten too many one on one situation,
(04:00):
but still weren't able to stop the run like we
need to be able to. I think having a bigger
defensive line will help, which is what we have this
year to help stop the run, but also just to
mix in some coverages where teams can't pinpoint what we're
going to be in and they can match up and
get their one on one, one on one receiver versus
our dB. So I like some things that we've changed
(04:22):
we fixed, but really, you know, looking forward to going
over in line of Senior being a spread team and
seeing how we compete with that, and then scrimmage LCC
and more of a wing tea and and just seeing
how we can defend a variety of offenses because that's
what we're going to see in our league. But I
do like some of the things that we've done early here.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, that's a good scrimmage for you coming up on
Friday there at Spartan Stadium. We're talking with Van coach
Keith Recker previewing the Koogs. Coach, looks like you do
have some of your defensive line and linebackers, some guys back.
You feel like that's where you can start to build
the defense.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Then, yeah, they come out and we haven't changed a
lot of terminology, so like they come out and they
understand what we're in and how they need to play it.
Nick Edwards was ended up being a starter for us
last year, who was a sophomore going to be a junior.
He did a really nice job. Chance Young Peter in
(05:19):
the same boat. Aaron Reiker, who was our loan starter
underclassman for a while. We had twenty one starters that
were seniors at one point last year. Aaron was our
loan junior. So he's done a good job of really
helping everybody out defensively, making sure that we're playing as
a unit. We're all on the same page. The calls
(05:41):
are getting in correctly, they're being echoed. Just some of
the important things that sometimes you take for granted when
you have a lot of a veteran team that like
we had for a couple of years there. So I
think a lot of those guys have done a good
job and they're gonna be big and helping stop the run.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
We're talking with Keith record coach at van Werke to coach. Also,
there's been a lot of work done recently on Eggers Field.
I know it's a real focus for the community as
they rebuild that historic stadium and keep it downtown and
make it last for a long time. What are the
changes from last year, if not for the players, for
(06:17):
the fans.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So it's going to be really neat. As you go
under on our home side, you have the concrete home
side under the tunnel there brand new restroom and concession stands.
Very nice restroom and concession stands. If you had been
under there before, you would understand they weren't very nice
at all. Would be a nice way to put it.
This will be really good. Brand new press box about
(06:42):
two and a half to three times as big as
our old press box. So that'll be very nice for
both coaches, a few fans maybe, but just all the
personnel that will be up there in the press box
and then in front of the press box, we're putting
in the same size as the press box, a wheelchair
accessible platform. Right now, our handicapped folks are stuck in
(07:07):
the corner of the end zone and a little bit
hard for them to view, so that'll be nice. They'll
be able to get up and have a good seat
for the game. So some neat things going on and
definitely visible changes for the fans as they walk under
the tunnel and everything's concrete under there now used to
be old black top and stones. So just really cleaned
(07:28):
up look and a nice look at press boxes gonna
be nice for you know. I know opposing coaches will
appreciate that as well as they if they've been in
our old press box before.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Broadcasters will also appreciate I've been in that old boy
a few times. It'll be a lot better to have
a little more room, Coach Wrecker, as you look at
the coming scrimmages and the camp, just what are a
couple of the goals you need to get down for
your coupes to be ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
No, continue to gain experience. We just like I said,
we had twenty one of twenty two starters. We're seniors.
At one point we had some guys get in the mix,
some younger guys as the season war one, and so
I think that's just continuing to alignment, assignment technique, those
three things we preach every day, really figuring out what
they do. But it's kind of at the point they
(08:21):
need experience. We were really looking forward to getting over
to Lima and getting that scrimmage in just so they
can play some some some fast, physical football which they
haven't had to play before. A lot of them haven't
had to play before. So the more experience we can
gain against other teams, which we don't have a ton
of that. You got two scrimmages, but but we got
(08:41):
to take full advantage of those scrimmages. And we tell them,
as you know, as long as you're better tomorrow than
you were today, then we're gonna we're gonna be on
the right path. And our energy and our effort have
been beyond our expectations. The guys have done a great job,
so their efforts there, their attitude is great about it.
They want to get here and get better, and if
(09:02):
they continue on that pass, I tell them we'll win
anything from zero to sixteen games somewhere in there. But
just come out, do your best, give everything you got
and that's all we can ask and they're doing that
right now.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
That's Keith Recker, head coach of the Van Work Cougars.
They'll open the season against Brian Coach. We appreciate your time,
good luck this season.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Thank you, and I appreciate you covering us and all
you do for high school football around the area.
We continue to talk high school football, and today we
talk Cougar football. Van Work coach, Keith Recker, coach, thanks
for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well, it's been a sustained run of success for you guys,
and last year nothing different in the playoffs again, moved
into the second round. Of course, the state championship a
few years back. So it seems like you've built the
program now and now it's just about sustaining your standards.
Talk about where you came from and to where you
(00:33):
are now. Where you know, making the playoffs and contending
for the league title is pretty much the norm here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It took a long time for us to learn how
to win, and that's a hard thing because you can't
just put your finger on it, like we need to
do this better that better. But going back even eight
nine years ago, we had some good teams, it just
seemed like that belief like always waiting for something bad
to happen. And really had the breakthrough twenty eighteen went
(01:04):
nine to three, and guys started seeing what was possible
and we're not going to give up those types of games.
And really, ever since then, the belief has just continued
to rise and rise and rise, and you look at
twenty twenty. Obviously that helps win in a state championship,
and a lot of those guys from twenty one to
twenty two to twenty three were holding that team or
(01:26):
played on that team. So I think that's been our
biggest thing, is just guys really believe that they will
go out there and win where you know, in the
early years, it was questioning could we do this or
you know, we're coming up on Walpark or Saint Mary's
or whoever, and we just didn't have that belief, you know,
ten years ago that we.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Have now and it helps. You've had a run of
really good quarterbacks. Your latest Briylan Parker, has graduated, So
what's the prognosis there.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, Brilan did go. He's going up to Cordia University
to play football and baseball, So real happy for him there.
But we got another guy and in a similar mold
as Brilan as far as kind of a running back quarterback.
Brilyan was an All Ohio running back in twenty twenty two,
played quarterback for US in twenty twenty three and had
(02:19):
a good year. And this is what Briston wise, he's
going to be a senior kind of a backup quarterback
running back for US last year. Real good running back,
just a shifty kid, and he's done a very good
job at cam beating out a couple other quarterbacks. Keaton Welch,
who will play some wide receiver for US as a
guy that could play quarterback. Zach Crummy, whose dad played
(02:41):
at Youngstown State a while back. He's a six or
four freshman that was right there in the mix that'll
hopefully find some other positions to to work in at.
So we had some pretty good choices. Just Bristin plays
played really well this summer, played really well here the
first two days of camp, and we feel confident with
him going in.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Coach. On the defensive side of the ball. Last year,
admittedly it was kind of a we need to outscore
them type of season. You had the defense that allow
some big numbers that you obviously want to be better there.
What's the prognosis for your defense?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
No, I think we had to take a good hard
look at ourselves coaching, you know, coaching wise, and see
like what are we doing and what can we be
good at? And so I think this offseason we've looked
at that. In the summer, like we wanted to really
just pinpoint a few things that we can be really
really good at and use the personnel that we have.
(03:39):
And I think sometimes you know, we're trying to fit
a scheme to our personnel, We're really got to kind
of go the other way. What personnel do we have,
what can they do well? And so I really feel
better about where we're at right now. Defensively, we have
some some things that you know, we've gave way too
many explosive plays, gotten too many one on one situation,
(04:00):
but still weren't able to stop the run like we
need to be able to. I think having a bigger
defensive line will help, which is what we have this
year to help stop the run, but also just to
mix in some coverages where teams can't pinpoint what we're
going to be in and they can match up and
get their one on one, one on one receiver versus
our dB. So I like some things that we've changed
(04:22):
we fixed, but really, you know, looking forward to going
over in line of Senior being a spread team and
seeing how we compete with that, and then scrimmage LCC
and more of a wing tea and and just seeing
how we can defend a variety of offenses because that's
what we're going to see in our league. But I
do like some of the things that we've done early here.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, that's a good scrimmage for you coming up on
Friday there at Spartan Stadium. We're talking with Van coach
Keith Recker previewing the Koogs. Coach, looks like you do
have some of your defensive line and linebackers, some guys back.
You feel like that's where you can start to build
the defense.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Then, yeah, they come out and we haven't changed a
lot of terminology, so like they come out and they
understand what we're in and how they need to play it.
Nick Edwards was ended up being a starter for us
last year, who was a sophomore going to be a junior.
He did a really nice job. Chance Young Peter in
(05:19):
the same boat. Aaron Reiker, who was our loan starter
underclassman for a while. We had twenty one starters that
were seniors at one point last year. Aaron was our
loan junior. So he's done a good job of really
helping everybody out defensively, making sure that we're playing as
a unit. We're all on the same page. The calls
(05:41):
are getting in correctly, they're being echoed. Just some of
the important things that sometimes you take for granted when
you have a lot of a veteran team that like
we had for a couple of years there. So I
think a lot of those guys have done a good
job and they're gonna be big and helping stop the run.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
We're talking with Keith record coach at van Werke to coach. Also,
there's been a lot of work done recently on Eggers Field.
I know it's a real focus for the community as
they rebuild that historic stadium and keep it downtown and
make it last for a long time. What are the
changes from last year, if not for the players, for
(06:17):
the fans.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So it's going to be really neat. As you go
under on our home side, you have the concrete home
side under the tunnel there brand new restroom and concession stands.
Very nice restroom and concession stands. If you had been
under there before, you would understand they weren't very nice
at all. Would be a nice way to put it.
This will be really good. Brand new press box about
(06:42):
two and a half to three times as big as
our old press box. So that'll be very nice for
both coaches, a few fans maybe, but just all the
personnel that will be up there in the press box
and then in front of the press box, we're putting
in the same size as the press box, a wheelchair
accessible platform. Right now, our handicapped folks are stuck in
(07:07):
the corner of the end zone and a little bit
hard for them to view, so that'll be nice. They'll
be able to get up and have a good seat
for the game. So some neat things going on and
definitely visible changes for the fans as they walk under
the tunnel and everything's concrete under there now used to
be old black top and stones. So just really cleaned
(07:28):
up look and a nice look at press boxes gonna
be nice for you know. I know opposing coaches will
appreciate that as well as they if they've been in
our old press box before.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Broadcasters will also appreciate I've been in that old boy
a few times. It'll be a lot better to have
a little more room, Coach Wrecker, as you look at
the coming scrimmages and the camp, just what are a
couple of the goals you need to get down for
your coupes to be ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
No, continue to gain experience. We just like I said,
we had twenty one of twenty two starters. We're seniors.
At one point we had some guys get in the mix,
some younger guys as the season war one, and so
I think that's just continuing to alignment, assignment technique, those
three things we preach every day, really figuring out what
they do. But it's kind of at the point they
(08:21):
need experience. We were really looking forward to getting over
to Lima and getting that scrimmage in just so they
can play some some some fast, physical football which they
haven't had to play before. A lot of them haven't
had to play before. So the more experience we can
gain against other teams, which we don't have a ton
of that. You got two scrimmages, but but we got
(08:41):
to take full advantage of those scrimmages. And we tell them,
as you know, as long as you're better tomorrow than
you were today, then we're gonna we're gonna be on
the right path. And our energy and our effort have
been beyond our expectations. The guys have done a great job,
so their efforts there, their attitude is great about it.
They want to get here and get better, and if
(09:02):
they continue on that pass, I tell them we'll win
anything from zero to sixteen games somewhere in there. But
just come out, do your best, give everything you got
and that's all we can ask and they're doing that
right now.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
That's Keith Recker, head coach of the Van Work Cougars.
They'll open the season against Brian Coach. We appreciate your time,
good luck this season.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Thank you, and I appreciate you covering us and all
you do for high school football around the area.
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