By Staff
Now is not the time to jump ship on the Dowagiac varsity football team.
The Chieftains got off to a hot start, but have fallen on hard times the past three weeks.
Three consecutive losses have many beginning to point fingers.
This is not the time for that.
Dowagiac can win its final three games and go to the playoffs.
The Chieftains could also lose all three games or end up with any combination of wins or losses over these final three weeks.
But let's be serious here folks. Dowagiac is a much better football team than it was a year ago.
The Chieftains have been entertaining to watch and have worked extremely hard to play better and be more competitive.
Going into this season I felt that Dowagiac could win more than the two games (one by forfeit) than it won last season.
That proved to be the case as Dowagiac went 3-0 to start the season.
Now I am a realist and I know that we did not beat the best three teams in the state of Michigan.
But a win is a win and I believed that Dowagiac could still win six games, and perhaps even seven.
I told several people that if we could somehow get by Marshall and Lakeshore I even felt we could run the table and go 9-0.
Obviously we did not get past the Redhawks and Lancers.
I think we let one get away this past Friday night in Sturgis, but I can assure you it was not for a lack of effort.
This team plays hard and practices hard for coach Mike Stanger.
The coaching staff is trying to do its best to prepare this team to be competitive each week.
What they do not need is fans yelling from the stands at both the players and the coaches.
The coaches can take it, they are "big boys" so to speak, but there is no reason for fans to be yelling at the players.
These are just kids and they are going to make mistakes.
Get off their backs!
The time has come for this community to be more supportive of its sports programs - all of them.
Get out to a game and be positive. There are greater tragedies in this world than losing a game.
Get behind the Chieftains these next three weeks and perhaps you will be rewarded with a post season contest.
I know this team can do it and I know this community can be there to help out with their support.