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Schmidt, 34, takes over for Bedesam
New
Neshaminy Coach Aims
To
Restore Winning Tradition
by Dick
Dougherty
Mark
Schmidt doesn't appear to have a jumpy stomach. If
he does, the 34-year-old new head football coach at
Neshaminy is a master of camouflage.
Neshaminy football is high profile. History tells
you that. The Redskins have captured or shared 28
football championships since 1946.
During
one span — 1952 through 1965 — Neshaminy was
128-11-7. There was a 51-game winning streak in the
1960s.
Last
year was difficult on Neshaminy. It began in
Allentown when Dieruff rocked the Redskins, 61-24.
The storm never subsided. The Redskins of Coach Dick
Bedesem ended the season 2-9.
Bedesem,
in his 40th season of coaching football, couldn't
turn the tide. Bedesem retired, and Neshaminy put
its program in Schmidt's hands.
Schmidt,
five seasons as an offensive line coach at Lock
Haven University, knows what is ahead. His first
assignment will be Allentown Dieruff on Sept. 1 at
home.
He's not
intimidated.
"Coaching is a lot like teaching," Schmidt said
calmly. "You have to let people understand what
you're trying to get across."
Neshaminy is in the Suburban One League's National
Conference. Schmidt recruited all the schools he'll
face.
"I know
what's there and what's leaving," he said.
Schmidt,
a 1982 graduate of Ursinus College, was a former
assistant under Roger Grove at Norristown.
"He gave
me my first chance," Schmidt said.
The
first year, Schmidt coached for free. Then he joined
the staff as a paid assistant.
"I can't
wait until I coach against him," Schmidt said. "He
knows it. We've talked about that."
Schmidt
knows weak sisters don't reside in the SOL National
Conference.
"Every
coach has that look in their eyes," he said. "I have
the same feeling about these (Neshaminy) guys.
There's some real fine talent here."
A big
hurdle for Schmidt will be having to follow Bedesem.
"I
absolutely think the world of Dick Bedesem for what
he's done," Schmidt said. "He's an icon of high
school coaching. He's a terrific person and a great
man.
"With a
couple of different things I have in mind, it will
allow us to utilize some of his personnel.”
You just
come here and the walls have voices. You can't help
but be impressed when you pull your car into the
parking lot and see the facilities. They do things
first class."
Football
is important to everyone within a school, Schmidt
said.
"When
the Ws outweigh Ls, that will make things a whole
lot better every day in school," he said.
Schmidt
got his first taste of Neshaminy football when he
was about 9 years old.
"My
father took me to Heartbreak Ridge to see
Neshaminy," he said. "It was a lasting impression."
A 1978
graduate of Lower Moreland, Schmidt was a center and
linebacker for Andy Tryens. In his last two
campaigns, the Lions won the Bicentennial Athletic
League.
"I've
played on this field," Schmidt said. As a junior,
the Lions tangled with Neshaminy Maple Point. Lower
Moreland routed the Point, 36-8.
Neshaminy's football history excites Schmidt.
"How
could it not?" he asked. "You can dwell on a lot of
things. People talk of tradition of doing this and
doing that. I think that's important because people
have to know where they've come from and where
they're going."
Schmidt
is quick to sense things. He knows something
potentially good is growing on Heartbreak Ridge
again.
"(The
kids) really want to step back, then step up and
make this thing go again," Schmidt said. "I think
that's real important.”
I'm kind
of gauging myself on how much I want to talk about
what we can do. You're capable of doing it. Now we
have to get everyone caring.
"I have
to work on that this year. There are some people
here who remember how it was, but these guys have to
begin to take their own steps." Recently hired
Neshaminy football coach Mark Schmidt has high hopes
for the upcoming season.
Schmidt
predicts an exciting offense.
"I have
had the good fortune of being around a number of
offenses where I believe there are some things that
can be utilized once we get our guys situated," he
said.
"I like
to run the football. I'm an old line coach who last
was at a run-and-shoot place. People think I like to
throw a thousand times. I want to run the ball and
maintain the line of scrimmage. I want to pass when
I want to, not when I have to."
Schmidt's staff includes Tom Magdelinskas (tight
ends and defensive ends), Don Wiater (linemen,
weight room and conditioning) and Bernie Gaulik
(receivers). The defensive coordinator is Jay
Weidenbaugh. And John Hyman (offensive line), Steve
Wilmont (defensive line) and Jim McFarland
(linebackers.
"We have
four straight home games," Schmidt said. "It will
allow our guys to settle in. We won't have to worry
about getting places; we'll worry about doing the
right things."
There
are 16 or 17 players who started at least one game
and about 25 to 30 players who played on the varsity
last season.
"We have
enough guys who know what it takes to win," the
coach said. "I want the guys who really want to be
here and want to get the job done. Sure, you'd like
75 or 100 kids. I don't think that will be a
problem." |
