JAMESTOWN – The biggest statement for the University of Jamestown and Jamestown High School football teams will be their age.
The Jimmies have 10 fifth-year seniors and are expected to have a total of 77 seniors this year, and the Blue Jays have between 13 and 15 seniors this year.
“I think it’s great,” said Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro. “It shows the commitment of the guys that have stuck with it their whole career. It’s really good for us as a coaching staff to have guys that we can rely on that know how things work and how practice is done and that know the expectations and standards that are already set so they can help the young guys.”
During his talks with his younger players, Blue Jays head coach Bill Nelson said he constantly encourages them to be leaders and learn from their older leaders. He said he wants them to learn what type of leadership they like and don’t like and shape the program in their own way.
“Every single one of them hears from me at the end of the year when we have our one-on-ones,” Nelson said. “You’ve seen leadership that you like and you’ve seen leadership that you don’t like. What do you want the team to look like next year? Over the course of the winter, spring and summer, we provide a lot of opportunities and many, many of these kids take advantage of them.”
The Jimmies’ experience allows Mistro and his staff a little more distance, but also brings with it unexpected challenges.
“It also allows me and our team to really help these old guys become and develop into better leaders,” Mistro said. “I think now it’s about how to lead leaders and I think that’s something that changes the mindset of us as a coaching staff rather than making things easier in any way. But I think it’s just different, but it’s a good and fun experience.”
Mistro said his team’s experience helps him better assess his expectations for the season.
“I don’t expect a group of older guys to fall flat on their faces and have a terrible senior year,” Mistro said. “So I think it’s one of those where our expectations and our standards are high because of how they’ve done it. Our guys have made our job easier in the sense that we can challenge them more because their expectations are higher. So I think overall it’s a good thing.”
The Jimmies’ 10 fifth-year seniors include their second-leading runner, Carlos Julian. The Jimmies’ second-leading receiver, Isaiah Roebuck, is also expected to return for his fourth year.
“Having experienced guys is really great because when you come in, they know exactly what you need to do to get better,” Roebuck said. “My freshman year, there weren’t that many (seniors), there were a couple that stayed until my sophomore year and they were great. Having those guys there definitely helps the younger guys exceed expectations. It also helps you learn from the older guys and prepare for the next year when you might have your breakout year.”
For some of the Jimmies, the decision to come back was easy. Julian said he felt he couldn’t let his teammates down, so he came back.
“It was actually a team,” said Jimmies defenseman Rashawn Benners. “We’re a family. The standard we set for ourselves made me feel like I was part of the family. That’s why I wanted to come back. I also wanted to put Jamestown on the map. That’s very important to me this year.”
It’s really great to have experienced guys because when you come in, they know exactly what you need to do to get better. My freshman year, there weren’t that many (seniors), a few stayed until my sophomore year and they were great. Having those guys there definitely helps the younger guys exceed expectations.
Said Jimmies wide receiver Isaiah Roebuck.
Last year, the Jimmies’ defensive backs Parker Chaffee and Benners combined for 78 tackles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions for 38 yards.
“I think it’s going to be a big challenge for them,” Benners said. “I think it’s going to be difficult for them. With me being in the corner and Parker being outstanding, there’s probably going to be a lot of interceptions this year.”
Julian said that as one of the older players in the Jimmies’ running back room, he can help his younger teammates by teaching them everything he knows.
“Let me put it this way: It’s like knowing the answers to the test before you take it,” said Julian. “I teach all the young people my tricks and secrets so that they don’t have as much trouble as I did.”
The older Blue Jays prepare for the season
This season, their starting quarterback, their second-leading rusher, their best receiver and their best tackler return to the Blue Jays.
“I think it’s going to help a lot because I remember from my first game to my last game last year, I grew a lot and I was a lot more comfortable,” Blue Jays quarterback Ryan Kallenbach said. “So if we have a lot of guys already comfortable this year, that’s going to help a lot.”
Although the Blue Jays’ offensive line is very young, they return Vaughn Romsdal, their center from last season. Romsdal said he expects to rotate the offensive line as needed and has experience as an offensive guard.
“I would expect a lot, probably a lot of attention just because I was on the first team my second and third year and this is my last season,” Romsdal said of being viewed as the leader of the offensive line. “So I’m ready to lead a younger O-line and probably a D-line as well. … We know the young guys coming up can step in and it’s about confidence and working together and that’s what the O-line is all about. I know we can do that and it’s going to be good.”
The veterans on both teams this year are a mix of vocal leaders and players who lead by example. Mistro said Jed Rantz and Kole Mack are veterans who tend to be vocal leaders, while Ezra Belingheri and David Diaz are quiet leaders for his team.
“You want everyone to voice their opinion,” Blue Jays head coach Bill Nelson said. “Most people voice their opinion in their own way, some are a little different than others. But if there’s a guy that’s not doing something right, help him change it. We have a really good group of coaches that obviously want to continually move this thing forward and try to do things as well as we can.”
Nelson said he got advice from former NDSU coach Tyler Roehl that leaders should be vocal and not be afraid to speak their minds.
“Leadership is hard, there are things you have to say, sometimes you have to do things and sometimes you have to say things that you know what they are,” Nelson said. “Even from their perspective, sometimes kids have a hard time telling their buddy, ‘Hey, you have to do this or you have to get better here. You have a bad memory, it’s OK. Just because I yell at you about something doesn’t mean I don’t care about you, doesn’t mean I don’t want the best for you.'”
This season, the Blue Jays will continue their leadership council, in which veterans act as mediators between their teammates and the coaches.
“It’s kind of the people between our team and our coaches,” Blue Jays quarterback Ryan Kallenbach said. “We make decisions and let the coaches know what’s going on and what would best help our team.”
Benners said he is not a great leader, but when necessary, he will go up to a teammate during practice or a game and tell him what he thinks he did wrong.
Of the 10 fifth-year Jimmies seniors returning, seven played at least one game in their first season. One of those players, Chaffee, humorously responded to the thoughts of fans watching the Jimmies veterans.
“Obviously not all of us played as rookies, but with some of us who have been here for a few years now, there are probably fans wondering how we are still eligible to play and how long we are going to be here,” Chaffee said.
Off the field, the Jimmies have endeared themselves to the community through volunteer work and time spent with fans.
“I bet it’s pretty cool to meet people out in the community and talk to them and they always say the same thing. The team has definitely gotten better and they’re excited about what’s next,” Julian said.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
