The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
HUSKIES EXCITED AS GRESKO ERA BEGINS
New coach has 60-plus players in the program down to junior high
Why not you?
*Clap, Clap*
Why not us?
*Clap, Clap*
With that, the George Gresko era of Cardinal Huskies football kicked off last week in Middlefield.
As the Huskies sprinted into formation for stretching and calisthenics, the 26-year-old, first-year coach of the Huskies clapped his hands emphatically and weaved in and out between the rows like a kid on Christmas morning who was just told Santa Claus had come.
Actually, that analogy isn’t far from the truth.
“Absolutely, I’ve always wanted to be a head football coach,” Gresko said. “Learning from my head coach (at North) George Burich, learning from Shawn Dodd over at Gilmour and then learning from Jeff Grubich at Kenston.
“Bottom line, I always wanted to be a head coach. I knew my time was going to come eventually.”
That time came when longtime Cardinal coach Eric Cardinal stepped down after last season, paving the road for Gresko — an assistant the last few years at Kenston — to take the reins of the Huskies’ program.
With it, he has infused a new energy and style that — judging from early practices — the program (60-plus strong from junior high to high school) is embracing.
“It’s going to be great,” said senior two-way lineman Rob Granny. “Things are looking up for us. It’s a fun time here.”
As the Huskies went through their morning practice on an adjacent field, work was being done on Richard A. Moss Field, a project that includes new bleachers, a new track and more.
“I’d be excited if I was a fan,” Granny said. “As a player, it’s a great time. I can’t wait to get started.”
Neither can Gresko.
While the Huskies only have offseason weightlifting, a handful of 7-on7s and a few early-August practices to go by, optimism is high.
And if the energy shown by the players isn’t enough of a selling point of that optimism, then the energy of the coaching staff might be. Gresko has surrounded himself with familiar names and faces from the area, including holdover Kevin Baggett (line coach, Cardinal Class of 1984), defensive coordinator Devyn Woods (South Class of 2011), offensive coordinator Shawn Richter (North Class of 2010) and veteran area coach Joe Shumar.
“Overall, it’s been a smooth transition,” Gresko said. “The kids are great. They’re buying into what we want to do and are working hard.”
What the Huskies want to do, Gresko said, is a little deviation from the past from a scheme point of view. Gresko plans to implement more of a passing scheme at Cardinal. It might not be to the level of his playing days at North when he threw for 4,551 yards and 40 touchdowns in his final two seasons but that’s the style he likes.
But he is also versatile in this thinking.
“We have some big kids and we have some fast kids,” Gresko said. “Now we’re just putting the pieces together to see what we’re going to run on offense and what we’re going to run on defense.
“We’re going to throw
more than they threw in the past,” he promised. “But we’ve got to be able to run the ball. It always comes back to being able to run the ball if you want to get to the playoffs. We need to be able to do that.”
Granny grinned at the prospects of the Huskies’ offense this year.
“I’m excited to pass the ball,” he said. “I love passblocking. I’m excited.”
Junior Joe Soltis has looked strong in practice at quarterback thus far. Veteran receivers Dario DeCaro and Casey Horner are among the players who are primed for a breakthrough this season.
Granny said he and his teammates are taking expectations and goals in stride. The Huskies finished 4-6 last season, including two wins to end the season.
“Just to have a winning record,” Granny said. “To take one game at a time. Now we’re focused on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. to get that first win.”
That’s the night the Huskies unveil their new stadium updates, their new staff and their new direction under Gresko.
“It’s going to be fun,” Gresko said. “I can’t wait.”