2008 Football: Season recap

Written by Stephen Anderson on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:10

For just the second time in 34 years, the Huskies football team earned eight victories. That in itself is an accomplishment. The team had four primary goals this year: 1) protect their home field, 2) finish strong, 3) win the Miner’s Cup and 4) earn a spot in the NCAA division II playoffs.

The team accomplished three of the four goals, falling just shy of a playoff berth. Regardless, the year can be considered a success. The Huskies are the only team besides Grand Valley State to finish in the top five of the GLIAC for the past five years. Consistency is the mark of a solid program, and with only seven seniors graduating from this year’s squad, next year brings high expectations with it.

Josh Frantti, veteran offensive lineman, said, “The past few years we just haven’t been able to get over that hump of six wins and we stressed it hard that we don’t want to be in the middle of the pack, and the guys worked harder than I have ever seen and I think it showed.”

The season had its highlights (beating Northern Michigan and reclaiming the Miner’s Cup from the Wildcats on national television) and lowlights (losing 40-23 against Saginaw Valley during the final push for the playoffs), but all in all, the 2008 football season can be considered a strong success. Stay tuned to the Lode for complete offseason updates as the football Huskies reload for a highly anticipated 2009 campaign.