Ozarks Lunkers deliver on 'changes will be made' promise, part ways with general manager

If you thought Ozarks Lunkers football was just an excuse to have something to do during the summer, you thought wrong.

The Lunkers are taking the product on the field seriously and they've made it known through a pair of statements following the season.

A week after saying that "changes will be made" after ending the season on a five-game losing streak, the Lunkers announced Wednesday night they've parted ways with team general manager Caleb Scott.

"This decision, although a difficult one, was reached through deliberate collaboration and thoughtful consideration with input across the entire organization," the Lunkers said in a release. "We believe it is the right move to ensure continued progress and future success of the Lunkers."

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The Lunkers finished the inaugural season of The Arena League 3-6 and in third place in the four-team league. They lost their last three games by an average of 32.7 points.

A previous statement by the Lunkers indicated injuries at key positions might have played a role in the Lunkers' struggles late in the year but noted "it does not excuse the results of our season."

"Changes will be made and we will exhaust every avenue to determine how we arrived at this result and how we can adapt and overcome," the Lunkers said on Aug. 8. "That does not mean we are not proud of our team because the athleticism of our players was only rivaled by their integrity. Moving forward, we are determined to win and win the right way.

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"There will be changes. There will be growth. We are committed to building a championship team and we will not rest until we achieve that goal."

Despite the Lunkers' late-season struggles, the inaugural The Arena League campaign appeared to be successful, especially for the Springfield-based team. The team noted attendance far exceeded its expectations and it has secured corporate partnerships for the future. Games were fun to attend and crowds were engaged.

The Ozark Lunkers aren't going anywhere as they prepare for a 2025 season in an expanding league. And their commitment to a championship? That can't be questioned.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks Lunkers deliver on 'changes will be made' promise, part ways with general manager