Want to know what things look like for the upcoming Spartan football season?
Here’s a Q&A with Coach Stephen Magenbauer just after the scrimmage on Friday, August 27 with Stuarts Draft High School.
Q: What are the chances that this team is going to make it to the state championships this year?
A: Really it’s nothing that we really want to think about at this stage. We just try to prepare them like we always do and then if those things happen they just kind of sneak up on you. You just prepare each week the same way and all of a sudden you get the right wins … it’s not something we want to be focusing on at this point in the season.
Q: Is there anything that the coaching staff is doing differently to make the team better this year? I know that there is a “Salem way” of doing things, but how are you tweaking it?
A: That’s probably the same every year – it’s just trying to work to get better on a daily basis. You have to adapt and change things over time. We have, over the years, changed things a whole lot.
Q: Is there anything you’d want to give the fans a heads up on, to keep an eye out for in the way the Spartans will be playing the game?
A: I would just say this: look to have experience on defense and we’re going to work towards having a power running game.
Q: What do you, as a coach on the field, like to hear from the fans?
A: Really just the fact that when you see a lot of the people in the stands and they’re cheering for the kids and they’re loud. That just makes it a good high school football experience.
Q: A fan [Dallas Hedge] reminded me that this is your seventh year at Salem High coaching, and the team has only lost seven games during that time.
A: If that is true, we’re fortunate to have good players, good coaching staff, and good community support.
Q: How are the captains chosen for the varsity team? In the past, it seems like the captains have been strong academically and involved in other extracurriculars.
A: It has a lot to do with who works hard in the off season and just kids that we feel will represent our program well.
Q: How will their leadership help the program?
A: If we’re going to have a successful year, we have leadership that goes well beyond the captains.
MORE ON SALEM SPORTS:
* Q&A with Salem’s football captains
* Photos from the Salem-Turner Ashby football scrimmage
* Photo of Salem JV volleyball vs. Byrd
* Photos of Salem fall sports team
* Photos from Salem-Martinsville football scrimmage
* Fan photos from the Martinsville scrimmage
* Photos of Salem JV volleyball vs. Franklin County
You can share your photos at news@sosalem.com
