This week the #SFL met up with Second year SM North Indians Head Coach Ben Bartlett. Coach Bartlett's back ground begins as an Student-athlete for four years under former Indians Head Coach Sam Brown. Coach Bartlett has been a teacher at SM North for nine years entering the 15-16 school year. Coach Bartlett's Overall, and Sunflower records stand at 2-8, 0-5. This will be the 94th season of Indians Football dating back to its beginnings as the Shawnee-Mission Indians in 1922 led by AL Berry 1922-1923.
#SFN - JR Will Schneider
has been spectacular numbers wise in his first two seasons as QB. What are his
strengths coming in to this 2015 season as he now has 19 games under his belt?
Ben Bartlett
Will
has established himself as the clear leader on the offense. In addition
to his varsity experience the last couple of years he has worked incredibly
hard in the off season. I anticipate him taking another step forward in
his progression at the QB position.
#SFN - Everyone on the
outside believes the Indians will struggle this season due to the loss of Nick
Perez to graduation. Who do you see stepping in to his place?
Ben Bartlett
Haha,
“everyone” is a rather blanket statement Kevin. There is no doubt that
Nick Perez was a special athlete and his absents will be felt, but we have many
athletes that are looking forward to the opportunity to establishing a name for
themselves at the wide receiver position in his absence.
#SFN - In recent seasons
the Indians have lost 12 straight Hula Bowl games to the NW Cougars since 2002.
Can this be the season that number changes?
Ben Bartlett
Our
players are highly motivated to win every game that they play. Our game
against the Cougars will be no different.
#SFN - Your Shawnee-Mission
Indians are the second longest tenured team in the league outside of the Chesty Lions.
Who is the biggest rival the team has circled on their calendar each year
before school starts?
Ben Bartlett
Traditionally
our rival had been the Cougars due to the fact that there was a middle school
(Hocker) in which students of both SMN and SMNW shared before splitting to go
to high school. I believe that familiarity with each other at that time
helped fuel the rivalry. Since the school district changed a few years
ago so that each high school has just one middle school feeding each of the one
of the high schools I don’t think the rivalry is as strong as it once was.
#SFN - As the Indians enter
their 94th season, is their one thing as an alumni you bring to your players
before the season starts, or stories of Indians games of the past that help
make the season get off to a great year?
Ben Bartlett
I
believe my experiences as a SM North alum help me in relating to the players
and imparting some of the great traditions of the past. This team though
is looking forward to writing their own chapter in our schools storied history
this seasons.
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