By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
One of the main reasons Jim Myers, Brandywine's head football coach of 18 years, resigned in June was lack of participation.
Myers said he just couldn't put together the team he wanted and win with so few players.
New head coach Terry Borr, promoted from the defensive coordinator position he held for nine years, knows he will face the same problem. He has a plan, however, to combat the decline in participation.
Borr acknowledged that the number of players has slipped recently. But he knows that more kids will be willing to play if they enjoy the sport.
Getting numbers is more important this year than ever. The Bobcats lost a large group of seniors from last year that filled many of the skill positions.
Myers said Brandywine needs more players now because the competitiveness of the Lakeland Athletic Conference has increased this year.
Borr sees improving while playing in a tough conference as a challenge, but one he and his coaching staff are up to.
Borr has coached at Brandywine for 18 years. He's coached anywhere from freshmen to varsity, he said. While some might think his background as a defensive coordinator for nearly a decade will hinder his ability to run an offense, Borr said it will help him call plays.
Borr added that he called plays as a junior varsity coach.
Borr is still working on completing his entire coaching staff, but already has his varsity assistants. Rex Pompranka is returning to coach special teams and offensive and defensive lines. Jared Owens, an all-state player for Brandywine six years ago, will work with receivers, defensive backs and the JV.
As far as coaches go, Borr pulled a trick from his sleeve by hiring Randy Brooks as defensive coordinator. Brooks coached for 16 years at conference-rival Dowagiac.
Borr and Brooks have known each other since Brooks was a student teacher at Brandywine in Borr's first year teaching. The two even competed against each other in track in high school.
Myers said Borr's coaching style is that of a teacher. He works with the players to teach them proper technique, the ex-coach said.
Looking forward to this season, Myers said it will be a rebuilding year. Borr doesn't see it that way. He said his team may not win a lot of games, but its goal is to improve.