Football coaches speak at 2023 Frontier Conference Virtual Media Day

On Tuesday afternoon, the Frontier Conference held its media day in preparation for the upcoming football season this fall. Unlike the past couple years, this media day was virtual with every football coach giving their statements and answering questions through Zoom.

Throughout the media session, every coach spoke based on where their team was ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Since the Montana State University-Northern football team was picked to finish last in the conference, MSU-N head coach Jerome Souers was the first coach to speak to the media.

The media day kicks off what will be Souers’ second season with the Lights. Last year, the Lights went 0-10 in their first year under Souers. While going winless in the Frontier Conference was tough, Souers believes the pieces are starting to come together for the program.

“Last fall didn’t go as we wanted, but we were able to address some of the cultural changes that we needed to make and have a full recruiting class in the offseason,” Souers said. “Both of those occurred so we’re excited to see what we have.”

This offseason, the Lights used recruiting to double the size of their roster. Along with allowing the Lights to have a full spring camp and fall camp this year, the sizable recruiting class should set the foundations for what should hopefully be a strong program in the future.

“We believe in building for the long term. We’re not about quick fixes,” Souers said. “We have a few guys that have made their way over here but it’s still awfully too early to tell what new faces are going to have an impact on our lineup for this coming year.”

Of course, the Lights return several players that will bring experience into this season. At the media day, Souers was flanked by linebacker Dylan Wampler and defensive lineman Colter Szymoniak on the Zoom call. During the offseason, these players as well as the other returners have been working hard in the weight room and on the field in preparation for this fall.

“Our guys have improved,” Souers said. “What that will mean in regards to our opponents, we’re going to take it one week at a time and find out.”

After Souers gave his opening statement, the rest of the coaches in the Frontier Conference talked about the state of their programs. Throughout the conference, coaches talked about everything from returning players to their overall expectations of the upcoming season. On the Zoom call, Arizona Christian University head coach Jeff Bowen spoke to the media as his team will be joining the Frontier Conference this fall.

The Lights will have a tough road ahead of them this fall as they compete in the Frontier Conference. As the Lights try to climb their way up the conference ladder, Souers is optimistic about the future for the program.

“I’m excited about the attitude and the young people in our program,” Souers said. “They’ve been working very hard and very diligently to try to elevate our status and our standards.”

While Souers looks forward to the future, he is also excited for another season of competition in the Frontier Conference this fall.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this conference,” Souers said. “We’re excited to be here and we’re looking forward to the challenge that awaits us around the corner.”

The MSU-N football team will begin the season this fall with a non-conference game against Mayville State University Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. at Tilleman Field.