By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
Thu, May 15 2008
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Maybe Todd Hoffner will be the one to energize the Minnesota State football fans. It’s been tried before, without much success.
The Mavericks have had three head coaches — Clarence Holley, Jeff Jamrog and Hoffner — since Dan Runkle retired after the 2001 season, and each has tried various things to connect with the fan base.
Holley sent his players into the community to bunk at boosters’ homes the nights before games, he had the entire team make a home visit to a kid who was seriously injured in a skiing accident, and he brought back the Victory Bell, trying to establish some traditions in a program that had few.
But the team struggled on the field, with quirky formations and odd game management, which overshadowed any progress Holley made off the field, and eventually, personal issues led him back to the South.
Jamrog’s link to Nebraska football seemed to pump up the fan base, and a winning record in his first season caused further excitement. But the on-field product, and the pass-happy offense, killed a lot of the joy from the onlookers. Had there been more victories, perhaps the fans would have been more tolerant of the offense.
However, folks were leery of Jamrog, assuming that one day, the lure of big-time football would pull him away, as it did when Nebraska had openings in its program in January.
Hoffner hasn’t been at the job long, and again, he’s trying to engage the supporters. He’s trying to organize a weekly or bi-weekly gathering in the fall so the fans can keep up-to-date with the program, but the first one netted the usual dozen or so fans that support all programs.
Attendance at spring scrimmages and the spring game was spotty, though the weather didn’t help. Hoffner had every member of the team and coaching staff help out with the tree-planting program a couple of weeks ago, trying to build a bridge between the players and community.
He’s trying to change the culture of the program, from I to we. He says his team will do more cheering, less trash-talking. He’s trying to build a bond within the team, hoping that leads to a better connection with those in the bleachers.
Will it work? Maybe. It would help if somehow the students became interested in spending Saturdays at Blakeslee Stadium.
It’s been a long time since the fan base of Minnesota State football has been really excited about the program. Maybe Hoffner will be the guy who makes that connection.
Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353 or e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com.
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