Dragons picked first by coaches

After being tabbed as the preseason football favorite in the Southeast Kansas League, Pittsburg High School Merle Clark questioned just why the Purple Dragons were slated as the top team in the league.
“I am very honored to be picked at the top but the polls are for the kids and the fans,” Clark said. “We probably have three starters back on offense so it is difficult to understand why we were picked first.”
Nonetheless, other league coaches voted Pittsburg as the preseason favorite during the 1340 The Ticket SEK Preseason Coaches’ Luncheon on Thursday.
Clark said that there is a primary issue that leaves the question as to why the Dragons were picked as the top team in the league.
“For the first time in about 10 years, we don’t know who our I-back will be and when you run the I that is difficult,” Clark said.
Behind Pittsburg (63), Fort Scott (57) was second with Chanute (47), Columbus (45), Coffeyville (33), Labette County (31), Independence (22), Iola (16) and Parsons (12).
Parsons first-year head coach Dustin Perkins said that this is a good time to be part of the SEK League.
“I am a 28-year-old kid and I am stepping into this league at a great time,” Perkins said.
While Chanute head coach Don Simmons had to make the trip from Dallas to Chanute after his brother-in-law died on Sunday.
Simmons said that the event in Texas made him reflect on several things, including football.
“You have to make sure to take the time to tell the ones that you love that you do love them,” Simmons said. “Then you have to apologize for all the time you spend away from home during football season.
“Don’t take life for granted,” Simmons said. “We tell the kids that they need to play every play like it was their last.”
But, he was not outside talking about the prospects for the Blue Comets.
Chanute returns Craig Gilmore at quarterback and will look to mix the pass and the run
But, Simmons told coaches that he will probably run the wishbone.
Then, he quickly changed his stance.
“My dad would roll over in his grave if he heard me talk about running the wishbone,” Simmons joked.
Fort Scott head coach Don Epps was with just one of his assistant coaches because most of them were in Topeka for the Kansas Coaches Clinic.
“I would say that I am not going to Topeka but I will probably have to bail out our coaches tonight,” Epps said.
Epps was not alone — at least when it came to absent coaches.
Iola, Independence and Columbus were absent during the lunch because their staff’s were also in Topeka.
Despite flying virtually solo, Epps did say that his numbers will give him plenty of company on the sidelines for the Tigers.
“We have about 19 seniors and those guys have really taken on the role of leadership,” Epps said.
That is just part of the 88 kids he is projecting being out for football when practice starts next week.
“Our junior high is intramural and we never know how that is going to work out with numbers,” Epps said.
However, there were other league schools that will be fighting the numbers game this season.
“We will have a very small number of kids and a very low number of returning players so that is going to bring a big challenge for the coaching staff,” said Labette County head coach Craig Hartman. “When you don’t return many men, you just don’t know what is going to happen and where we were picked is about where we would put ourselves.”
But, for coaches like Perkins in Parsons, the numbers will not be the biggest hurdle.
“We are going to be a lot different than we have been in the last two years,” Perkins said. “We are just concentrating on doing things right and working hard.
“When you are changing systems, it is a process,” Perkins said. “The kids are starting to buy in to what we are doing.”
Despite his own questions, Clark said that the Dragons will also be challenged by a schedule that finds Pittsburg playing their first five games against league opponents, starting with their season opener at home against Coffeyville on Sept. 5.
“There is no question that we have a very tough schedule,” Clark said. “We know that we are going to have our work cut out for us, even in district this year.”
Their district includes Gardner-Edgerton, Ottawa and St. Thomas-Aquinas, but Clark said that it is about taking one game at a time.
“I know that Coffeyville is going to be better and they are going to present us with a challenge,” Clark said.

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140

2008 1340 The Ticket SEK Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Pittsburg        63 (7)
2. Fort Scott    57 (2)
3. Chanute        47
4. Columbus    45
5. Coffeyville     33
6. Labette County    31
7. Independence    22   
8. Iola        16
9. Parsons        12
First place votes are indicated in ()
Coaches are not allowed to vote for themselves.