SPORTSBEAT, BY PETER JAKEY:Assistant coach endorsed for football post
The successful career of a varsity football coach officially came to an end Monday as the resignation of Bob Brietzke was accepted by the Rogers City Board of Education. With glowing comments from board members and the superintendent, Brietzke?s days of pacing the sideline are over, and in his parting letter of resignation he endorsed a replacement. But before I get to more on that, here?s some coach Brietzke trivia:
– What current Rogers City public official was one of the captains for Brietzke?s first squad as head coach in 1981?
– What school did that first varsity win come against for Brietzke? That one might be difficult, but this one should be easy: What school did that last victory come against?
– True or false: During Brietzke?s first season, his Huron team narrowly got by Posen, 8-6, in the only meeting between the two schools during his coaching tenure. Answers later in the column.
While no decision has been made on a replacement, there doesn?t seem to be much doubt that varsity assistant coach Mike Kosiara will be the front-runner for the job, and deserves it. Kosiara has been with the Huron football program since the early 1990s where he served as head JV football coach before coming on board as an assistant on the varsity in 2001.
?In both capacities, Michael has demonstrated true professionalism and dependability,? Brietzke stated in his letter. ?He knows football and he knows kids. No one will outwork him and he will do a fine job of maintaining the rich tradition that people have come to expect from Rogers City football.?
The Hurons played hard for Brietzke, even in his final season. Though the 2003 team had a 3-6 record, the caliber of the opponents this fall was outstanding.
?Each of their losses (came) at the hands of opponents that made the playoffs,? said athletic director Pat Lamb in his report to the school board earlier this week. ?Anybody that was at our football field could attest that the effort was there all season, and the boys never gave up.? Some credit has to be given to the retiring coach, who will end his teaching career in Rogers City at the end of the 2003-04 school year.
?The district owes Bob Brietzke a huge debt of gratitude for outstanding service to kids,? said superintendent Ed Schultz. Board member Dick Hanson, whose son played for Brietzke, and who served as an assistant JV coach during Brietzke?s run to the Silverdome in 1982, called the outgoing coach ?a class act.? Brietzke says it was a privilege to serve as the Huron coach for 22 years and he?ll take with him many fond memories.
From a personal standpoint, I always enjoyed our little chats about the Lions? shortcomings on Sunday evening, when I called to get info on the Huron football team. I hope someday I can call him up, and say, just once, ?how about those Lions!? Watching the Hurons has been a lot more enjoyable than most of my Sunday afternoons watching the Lions. Good luck, coach, it?s been a pleasure.
Now for the answers to the Brietzke trivia questions: One of the captains from that 1981 team is the current city police chief, Matt Quaine. The other two captains were Kurt Ehrke and Eric Hoffman. Brietzke?s first varsity win was against Boyne City in 1981, 14-8, while the last win this season was against Rudyard, 30-22. And the answer to the third trivia question is false. It was the Vikings pulling out the 8-6 win over Rogers City, in Brietzke?s second-ever game as head coach.
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I?ll be off on the tournament trail beginning Monday as the district tournaments for girls high school basketball get underway. I won?t have to travel very far for that first game. The first game is at RCHS, just a few blocks from The Advance — a two minute journey, not even enough time to hear one song on the radio.
Rogers City takes on county rival Onaway, and the Hurons have struggled a bit, at least until an inspiring win against Hillman, but ?Mr. Optimism? Huron coach Karl Grambau was quick to remind me everyone has the same record of 0-0 when Monday?s games start. ?We need to take care of business,? said Grambau, who doesn?t want to see the 2003 team waste a chance to play the first district game on the home floor. Ashley Fleming, the all-time leading basketball scorer in school history, who poured in 33 points in a win against Hillman, hopes the Hurons put it all together for a nice tournament run and ?play as a team.? Fleming was asked if she?s excited about the tournament.
?Yes, very excited,? she said. ?I think we can do well.? Fleming said it?ll take good communication and hustle to keep the season going.
For Posen, it?s all about the defense. It?s been the key to the Vikings? success. Whether it?s running the trap,
?We did beat them both times in the regular season,? said Schellie. ?Trying to beat a team again (isn?t easy), but I think we can do it though. We have the talent here, and the girls want to win the district.? The good news, the sixth man, the student chanting section, led by senior Justin Kelley, is expected to be in Joburg. Yeah Justin! See ya there.
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I said I would keep track of the Vassar Vulcans in their first-ever playoff appearance in school history because they have such an unusual mascot. It didn?t last long as they were defeated by Essexville Garber, 41-27. Essexville plays in the regional final this week.