This offseason, the Gustavus football squad has been hard at work in preparation for next fall. Since last season ended, many different athlete-led workouts continued to occur. The offseason workouts have been completely optional, but the captains on the team emphazise their importance.
“We stress how important it is for the team to come together and workout as a group. The workouts have been extremely beneficial for us,” Junior Captain Marcus Kelly said.
Along with these team workouts, entire position groups sometimes get together and improve their positional skills.
“As position groups we have taken a couple of days a week to come together and work on the fundamentals of each position,” Kelly said.
All of these optional workouts are leading up to seven organized spring practices that will be held in the first two weeks in May.
“This is the time where coaches can get back to being engaged with our players. All of our staff and our players will be at the practices,” Coach Peter Haugen said. Due to NCAA Division III rules and regulations, the practices will involve zero contact.
“These practices are really an opportunity to work on fundamentals and install our schemes and really get into a practice-type tempo without pads,” Haugen said.
“It’s a time for us to get better in every aspect of our game and also to improve on techniques or skills that need work,” Kelly said.
The excitement level among the team for next fall is rising. Ten out of eleven offensive starters from this season will return next year, and the team lost less than half of the starters on the defense.
“Our excitement is in direct proportion to how hard our guys are working. I am really looking forward to continue to see how we progress,” Haugen said. The players are equally excited for next season.
“I cannot wait for August 15 to come so I can get into the regular season. I would imagine that most of the other guys have the same mind set as I do,” Kelly said.

-Jacob Woodrich