CHEBOYGAN — A few months ago, Luke Munger met his new football coach.
And right off the bat, the Cheboygan standout saw something different.
“There was definitely a change in mood and energy,” Munger recalled. “He brought a whole new look. It’s needed because without energy, how are you supposed to win a football game?"
On Thursday, the high energy was provided by first-year Cheboygan head coach Bill Nesbitt, who guided his players through a unique combine event in front of a strong crowd of supporters at Western Avenue Field.
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For the former St. Clair coach, he enjoyed being in his element in a Northern Michigan setting, something he’s looked forward to since accepting the position in April.
“It’s truly been a dream,” Nesbitt said. “(Wednesday) afternoon, me and my wife and my daughter, we closed on our house, and (my wife) has been understanding. I’ve been telling her for two months that I can’t wait until she gets here, she’s going to love it here, and she can tell already how much I love it, and she was just here that one day and she’s already falling in love. There’s such great people.
“How can you love not being here?”
Details, energy critical
As Nesbitt and the Chiefs worked through an almost hour-and-a-half session that consisted of several drills, and even some relay events, there was energy and intensity.
But one other thing was made clear by Nesbitt throughout — details matter.
“If you take care of the little things, the big things fall into place,” Nesbitt said. “If you’re not enjoying the process and not having fun, then why are you here? There’s moments you’re not going to enjoy, but overall, you better enjoy the process. If you don’t take care of the details, then the big things don’t take care of themselves.
“(The team is) better now than they were yesterday, and they’re certainly better now than what they were a month ago, in the weight room, understanding what they're doing."
Thursday's event might’ve taken place in July but, at times, it looked like an early-season practice.
And for many Chiefs, they're welcoming the intense environment.
“I like (Coach Nesbitt), and I feel like when I met him it was cool because he was way more energetic and you could look at him as a football coach — loud, energetic,” Cheboygan sophomore Nolan Schley said. “He knows what he’s talking about. He’ll get intense and it helps us, honestly, because when you have a coach hyping you up, it hypes you up.”
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Season coming
As fall approaches, the anticipation grows for the Chiefs, who are hoping to deliver on the field in Nesbitt’s first season.
While waiting might be the hardest part, Nesbitt said that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“You’ve got to learn when to peak and when not to peak," Nesbitt said. "Let’s just say I’m looking forward to getting on the field and working more specifically on some football, getting pads on and hitting.”
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If there’s qualities Nesbitt already notices about his squad, it’s traits all coaches appreciate.
“They’re very coachable, very respectful to each other, to other adults,” Nesbitt said. “I just find them to be great young men, and that’s No. 1. If you have character, you can have success.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf atjgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter@sportsCDT
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