No where to go but up for the Grinnell College football team in 2008. Max Hawsey takes over the reigns from Greg Wallace who moved into the role of director of athletics and recreation at Grinnell. The Pioneers were 1-9 in 2007.
Hawsey says they wanted to get more competition this year between the offense and defense and have been able to do that in short periods. He says that’s created some great competition between the two. The Pioneers return ten starters to the defensive side of the ball.
Hawsey says they have a lot of experience and they’re doing well as they put in some new stuff and a new more aggressive philosophy. Hawsey spent the past five years as offensive coordinator at Colorado College and brings a new spread offense with him. Hawsey says they want to run the football and spread teams out and take what the defense gives them.
Three first year quarterbacks are vying for the starting signal-caller, all three do different things. One of the quarterbacks is also playing the slot position some of the time. Hawsey likes the work ethic of the team and says he thinks they’ll be a different team on the field. Grinnell opens the season at Mount Vernon against Cornell College September 6th.