The Kennesaw State football team will make history Thursday, and so will their opponents.
Not only is Thursday the Owls’ first football game in school history as the newest associate member of the Big South Conference, the matchup also is East Tennessee State’s first game since 2003.
Although uncertain about what strategy this reinstated Buccaneers team will employ in a game setting, coach Brian Bohannon said he and his coaching staff created an alternate strategy.
“Though there’s not any tape, we know their staff and they know our staff,” Bohannon said. “We know their backgrounds. We have an idea of what they’re going to do, and they have an idea of what we’re going to do. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be about controlling your emotions, executing the game plan and doing it for four quarters.”
Although the Owls will face uncertainty when they meet the Buccaneers in Johnson City, Tenn., junior quarterback Trey White said the team is looking past the firsts.
“We’re not here to be the first team to play; we’re here to be the first team to win,” White said. “I think the team that can handle (all the firsts) the best is going to come out on top.”
A transfer from the Citadel, White is one of the few Owls who have collegiate experience. With 27 freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the roster, White said ultimately the biggest way to overcome the team’s inexperience is by working together throughout the season.
“I think the biggest thing for our team, especially (being) a younger team, we have to all be on the same page,” White said. “We’re not going to be perfect. That’s obviously the goal, but we’re going to have some speed bumps along the way. As long as we can stay together and stay positive, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Freshman defensive back Taylor Henkle said although the team recognizes that they’re creating history, they still focused on the most important aspect of Thursday’s matchup.
“We’re not really too focused on (it being) the first game — we’re just focused on the game,” Henkle said. “I think that once we get the first (game) out of the way, then I think you’ll see a team focused on wanting to play the game and not worry about being the first anymore.”
Bohannon said with all the excitement from the community, students and the team leading to their inaugural season, he wants his team to remain “mentally tough.”
“If you want to talk about the season for us, (mentally tough) is going to sum it up,” Bohannon said. “How can we eliminate all the other stuff: the aches and pains, the moans and groans, all the things that go with the game and just focus on being the best football player you can.”
Bohannon said Friday at his first news conference that coaches don’t have plays scripted for the game. Rather, they will adjust their actions according to how the Buccaneers play.
“We’re going to have to be the best we’ve ever been early in this football game because we’re going to have to identify everything that’s going on both sides of the ball and special teams and communicate that to our guys,” Bohannon said. “The way we’ve prepared on both sides is we’ve tried to keep it really simple. We want these guys to play hard.”
As the Owls plan to showcase over two years of preparation Thursday evening, Bohannon said his team is finally ready to play a game.
“They’re tired of practicing; they’re tired of hitting each other, and they’re ready to go play somebody else,” Bohannon said. “We’ve practiced and practiced, and now it’s time to go play a game and find out who we really are.”
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