New Albany typically builds toward November
New Albany’s mantra has been repeated too many times to count, dating as far back as the 2000 season.
“Trust the process. Trust the process,” Eagles senior receiver/ defensive back Zach Thomas said. “The coaches tell us from day one that if that if we buy into what they’re telling us, it will benefit us in November.”
The results would suggest that there is some merit to the fortune-cookie fodder. Since 2000, New Albany has won more than two-thirds of its games and reached the playoffs nine times. That is most impressive when considering that the program fielded only nine winning teams over the previous 30 seasons.
Despite having started 1-3 for the second straight season, the Eagles find themselves in a Division II regional final for the sixth time since 2004. Observers scratch their heads and wonder how a team hailing from a relatively weak Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division and boasting few big-name players always seems to make a deep playoff run.
“We live in an instant-gratification society, but we firmly believe that you just can’t succeed over the long term with that kind of mindset,” said Pat Samanich, who came to the program in 2000 and worked as an assistant under three coaches before inheriting the head position in 2013.
“Our program is founded on some principles that go back a few years and focuses on X’s and O’s and fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. We may be a little old-school, building around the wing-T, but we think being a sound, physical football team is extremely beneficial in the playoffs when you’re facing cold and windy conditions. We feel like our philosophy is geared toward November.”
When fifth-seeded New Albany (8-4) faces second-seeded Massillon Washington (9-3) at Arlin Field in Mansfield, many will consider the Eagles underdogs. That’s just fine with Samanich and company.
“Because of our record, we kind of play with a chip on our shoulder,” said Thomas, who has 14 receptions for 315 yards and two TDs but is characterized by Samanich as “a program guy” who is highly valued as a blocker and all-around player.
“We may not have a bunch of Division I players, but our team is full of role players who go out and do their specific jobs the best they can without a lot of glory. It sounds corny, but we play one play at a time, one game a time. That’s how we’re drilled.”
New Albany’s best teams during its 18-year run have not turned in impressive regular-season records. The 2006 team that reached a Division III state semifinal was 6-4 and a No. 8 seed in its region, but upset DeSales and unbeaten Cincinnati Indian Hill in the playoffs. The 2012 state semifinalist started 0-2 and was only fourth-seeded. And then there are the slow-starting 2016 and ’17 teams.
“By design, our schedule is frontloaded with teams that will challenge you physically and athletically,” Samanich said. “We played teams like Reynoldsburg, Hilliard Bradley and Gahanna, and while we might not have had fun in a couple of those, those games forced us to deal with adversity. Our kids aren’t surprised by anything or intimidated by anybody when we get to the playoffs.”
Although Jack Hatem and Jamie Masi kickstarted the program’s success, Samanich credited Mike Golden as instilling invaluable values in 2004, before Mark Mueller (2005-12) handed off the baton to Samanich, his close friend and former Ashland University roommate.
“In just one year here, Mike tied up all the little details about how to form a championship program,” Samanich said. “He got us to simplify things, yet as the game has evolved, we still have the flexibility to expand on what we do schematically.”