Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
Now entering his 13th season as head coach of the Reese Rockets, Bob Saylor has only experienced one losing season.
“They way we approach it, all our kids have to train,” Saylor said. “If they don’t strength train and speed train, they don’t get a uniform. We demand that they get themselves ready to play every year.”
Saylor feels that it’s this hard work in the off-season that allows his players to win games against teams that are bigger than they are, sometimes both physically and in numbers.
“That makes up for the size difference,” he said. “I think the reason that we’ve done what we’ve done here is just our commitment to the program and the kids’ commitment to working hard and the coaches’ commitment to seeing that through.”
Saylor has a 98-32 record in his time with the Rockets, with his only losing season coming in 2008 when they went 4-5. Otherwise Reese has made the playoffs every year, making the trip to the state semi-finals three times, in 2001 then in back-to-back seasons in 2004 and 2005.
For the 2012 season, Saylor is counting on junior quarterback Cody Peyock, senior running back Matt Frost, and a host of others to make another run at a Greater Thumb Conference West title and a postseason run.
“Peyock is our quarterback, our captain,” Saylor said. “Frost is a big part of it at running back. Neart will be a big factor at tight end, and Adam Jensen is kind of our utility player who can play anywhere that we need him. Brandon Bauer is a [key] offensive lineman returner. Those kids are going to have to lead our team this season. I know they will; they will lead them by action and just the job that they do on the field.”
The team’s goals this season are consistent with every other year as well.
“Our goal every year is to win the opener, beat USA in the Sugar Bowl, win the league title, and make a long playoff run, hopefully ending at Ford Field,” Saylor said.
Though all these goals aren’t going to come as easily as they have in other years.
“We’ve got to develop our offensive and defensive lines,” Saylor said. “We’ve just got to get better at the basics, and then obviously we have to stay healthy.”
And as for the coach nearing the century mark in wins?
“I didn’t even know I had that many wins here,” Saylor said. “Our goal is to win the next game. We just try to put our best foot forward, get our kids ready to play, and pride ourselves in having great respect for our opponents and ourselves.”