By Tiffany L. Rehbein
Don't forget about the guy in the glass.
Troy Purcell, the new head coach of the Havre Blue Pony football team, met with players Thursday afternoon in the Havre High gymnasium to introduce himself and outline some summer training tips.
Purcell stressed weight room work and a plyometric program to help make the players bigger, faster, and stronger for the fall season.
Purcell, who had been teaching and coaching at Lincoln County High School in Eureka, was hired last week.
Since 1994, Purcell and his Eureka team boasted eight conference playoff appearances, five conference championships, and three second-place finishes.
The Blue Ponies will be learning a new system, probably following an option football game plan, Purcell said.
Only one former assistant coach, Matt Molyneaux, has signed a contract to assist next year, leaving some coaching holes to be filled.
Defensive coordinator John Larson will be the head coach at Whitehall next season, Charlie Klimas, athletic director, said.
Purcell and wife Krista plan to be in Havre by mid-June. The Blue Pony football camp, traditionally held during the third week of July, will still be held.
Following the camp, the Ponies will travel to Great Falls and participate in a scrimmage with both Class AA schools from Great Falls, and Class B schools Cut Bank and Conrad, among others, Purcell said.
Purcell said honesty, being a team player, and giving your all every time on the field are important in his program.
And, in the locker room, there will be a mirror. Next to that mirror will be a poem. It will be a poem about the guy in the glass. The guy looking back at you everyday, and thinking about having to explain to that guy if you didn't give 110 percent, Purcell said.
"Get to the next level," Purcell said.
He will be teaching social studies at the Havre Middle School.
