2017 LAKE ERIE SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 at Edinboro, noon Sept. 9 Tiffin, noon Sept. 16 Urbana, 3 Sept. 23 at Ohio Dominican, 7 Sept. 30 Alderson Broaddus, noon Oct. 7 at Findlay, 7 Oct. 21 Malone, 7 Oct. 28 at Kentucky Wesleyan, 1 Nov. 4 Walsh, 1 Nov. 11 Hillsdale, 2

school.

“I had a history teacher when I was in sixth grade that coached the eighthgrade team, and I just wanted to be that guy,” said Hazzard.

Eventually, he became a fullback during his playing days at Baldwin Wallace. Upon graduation in 2003, he coached at his alma mater and then Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania before landing at LEC.

He can hardly contain himself with the 2017 season almost here. The Storm open the season Sept. 2 at Edinboro.

“It’s sky high, absolutely through the roof,” said Hazzard of the excitement level surrounding the team. “We’re starting to get it. The excitement around here has never been higher. The practices have been crisp. Everyone is flying around here.”

Another factor that’s adding to the excitement is a new league for LEC. Starting this year, it is a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

“The new conference is going to be a huge boost for our guys,” said Hazzard.

As for the product that will be on display this fall at Jack Britt Stadium in Painesville, LEC has work ahead of it. The Storm did not win a game in 2016, going 0-11.

What could help this season is a team Hazzard calls “the fastest since I’ve been here.”

“We will be very athletic,” the coach said.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be growing pains.

“There’s going to be times when I call a slant and we run an out-cut and we’re going to have to punt,” said Hazzard. “We understand that, but the positive is we have a lot to build on. We have the talent, and we have to develop it.

“The only thing these kids will know is what we teach them, and that’s a big advantage.”

At quarterback, it’s a three-man race to be the starter among senior Jimmy Moore of Pennsylvania, junior Javarian Smith of Michigan, and true freshman Cameron Searight, who prepped at West Geauga for three years before finishing at Cleveland Heights.

“Cameron’s talent will put him in the mix,” said Hazzard. “The advantage Jimmy and Javarian have is they’ve been in the program for a long time.”

Another young player Hazzard is excited about is Mentor grad and receiver Jason Blizzard, who’s a redshirt freshman this fall. But it’s Blizzard who’s just as excited about his coach.

“He brings the juice and the energy every day and it’s trickling down to us,” said Blizzard.