New combine event provides summer challenge for Cheboygan Chiefs football program

CHEBOYGAN – We still have a few weeks until the start of fall practice.

But if you were at Western Avenue Field on Thursday , it didn’t look or feel like some ordinary summer get-together.

Led by first-year head coach Bill Nesbitt , the Cheboygan varsity and junior varsity football teams took part in a combine-type event that challenged players both physically and mentally.

Here’s some takeaways from Thursday.

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Pleased with the progression

It didn’t matter if it was slower drills or relay races, Nesbitt challenged his players no matter what they participated in.

And the players were up for that challenge as they put in the work and conditioned themselves in a major way.

While he’s only worked with his new squad for a few months, Nesbitt is pleased with the direction his Chiefs are heading in as football season approaches.

“What’s stood out is the progression,” Nesbitt said. “Our energy is getting better; they’re understanding how to bring the energy. We talked during the offseason and this preseason that you must be your own CEO, the Chief Energy Officer, so don’t just wait for someone to bring the energy, and slowly they’re all understanding. That’s their job.

“They’ve gotten better at their effort, better at understanding details, better at bringing more energy.”

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High intensity

As the coaches directed, the players made the most of their opportunity in front of their supporters. Not only that, but the event helped the Chiefs build more unity than they had going into it.

“I liked it because it could show off our abilities, everyone kind of bonded through it, so it was nice,” Cheboygan junior Jack Ekdahl said.

Cheboygan sophomore Nolan Schley agreed.

“I think it was a good thing to do with the new coach coming in and it’s going to be good for the community to bring it all together with the new athletes,” Schley said. “I think it’s going to help us with communicating as a team.”

Community atmosphere

As the Chiefs finished off the hard-working session, Nesbitt gave words of encouragement to his players before directing them to acknowledge the supporters present.

“I really wanted to make this a community event,” Nesbitt said. “Hopefully not just with the kids and the parents, but hopefully as we progress, the entire community. Not just the parents watching their kids, but the neighbors, the alumni. I know they have jobs and lives, but I hope that every year we do this, more people will be excited to come and be a part of it.”

Cheboygan hosts a youth football camp at Western Avenue Field on Wednesday-Friday, July. 24-26. Each session will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: New combine event provides summer challenge for Cheboygan Chiefs football program