Chaffee preview: Vickery brings optimism for woeful program

Charlie Vickery has heard the numerous excuses for the current state of Chaffee's football program.

They are too young, they have too few kids to choose from, there simply is not enough talent to work with.

Vickery, a Chaffee alumnus, does not want to hear any excuses.

"I know every year's been, 'we're young, we're young,'" Vickery said. "I feel the kids we have now, we're going to keep. I just don't think it's going to be as big a turnover from now on. They've put too much into the program since the first of June."

The return of Vickery, a 2004 inductee into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has seemed to re-energize a long-decaying football school. The scene is quite different from when Vickery last patrolled the sidelines at Chaffee from 1974 to 1977. The Red Devils were 16-22 in that span, including an 8-2 mark in 1976.

While Vickery was in Sikeston, where he coached for 26 years, the Red Devils won a state title in 1983.

Then came the long funk.

The team hasn't won a district title since 1983.

It hasn't even won a game the last two seasons, riding a 24-game winning streak into this season that dates back to an October 2002 win against East Prairie.

Chaffee is 3-37 in the last four years following back-to-back 3-7 seasons in 1999 and 2000.

Vickery doesn't mind the challenge.

"I've really had a good time. I've just really enjoyed it," Vickery said. "You always put pressure on yourself to do well. I have heard in the past, we don't have talent. I don't know what they had in the past, but we've got some ability. It's raw, but we have some ability. It's not like the cupboard's bare."

The road back to respectability will be long, though. The Red Devils have 14 consecutive losing seasons in which the team has not won more than three games in a season.

"We told them from Day One, it's a new beginning," Vickery said. "I don't care about the past. I don't think they feel like they're carrying the burden of a losing streak."

For a team which has not won a game in more than two years, there are plenty of positive signs.

Chaffee has 36 players out for the team this year, up from 28 last season. The Red Devils had nearly a 100 percent attendance rate at their summer weightlifting program.

"We had outstanding attendance in the weight program," assistant coach Terry Glenzy said. "We started out the first week of June starting at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. We had so many kids the first week we had to break it up to 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m."

Added Vickery: "What I'm just seeing is everything's been positive. From the number of kids we had for weightlifting to the number of kids we have that are out there."

While the Red Devils still have just four seniors, there is plenty of experience to go around since young players had their opportunities in the past. While most varsity coaches don't play a lot of freshmen and sophomores, Chaffee's numbers the past few years dictated otherwise. Several players have at least two years of varsity experience.

"You'd like to be able to play your younger kids [on] JV and not get them beat up on the varsity level," Vickery said. "But some of the kids have had to learn on the run. We'll have some sophomores start now. I don't think they'll play like sophomores because they have some experience.

"We do have some experience coming back and hopefully that will help. Game experience is one thing you can't give them."

One thing Chaffee will not have to worry about is high expectations from people outside the program. After two straight winless seasons, another nine- or 10-loss season is expected from the Red Devils.

Vickery is not among that group.

"I think we're going to be competitive, I really do," Vickery said. "I think we'll get better every week. They want to learn."

Chaffee will start the season with Grandview. The Red Devils beat Grandview three straight years from 1999 to 2001 and had their narrowest loss during the 24-game losing streak with a 15-6 loss to Grandview in 2003.

Vickery said the coaching staff will put no more emphasis on its meeting with Grandview as any other game on the schedule.

"We tell them every game is important," he said. "The first game is the most important game, then after that the second game is the most important game. You have to take them one game at a time. If you do that, you stay away from the extreme highs and low."

Vickery's impact on the program has not only brought a new feeling among the players but also some added excitement throughout the community.

Glenzy, also Chaffee's athletic director, said there is a buzz around the program now.

"There's no doubt. There really is," he said. "I've talked to people who haven't been out to a football game in five or six years that plan on coming out. I think that first game, we'll have a packed stadium. I think everyone's anticipating it."

For Vickery, the task to rebuild Chaffee's program will be great, but it is a task he eagerly takes on.

"I'm from here, I started my career here," Vickery said. "I still really like coaching, being around the kids. It's just going back to teaching. You teach the kids how to play.

"I wanted to come back here, see if we could get it going the right direction. 'It won't be anything I do,' is what I tell the kids. 'It's what you do.'

"We're starting to turn the corner, we're not there yet."

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Chaffee Info

• Coach: Charlie Vickery, first season
• Last year: The Red Devils were 0-10 for the second straight year and have lost 24 straight.
• Key departures: Gabe Walter, OL/DL; Brad Uhrhan, RB; Matt Sanders, OL/DL.

2004 results

at Grandview L 27-0

at Corning, Ark. L 36-0

at Crystal City L 37-7

Portageville L 39-14

at Scott City L 47-20

East Prairie L 55-28

Malden L 52-20

at St. Vincent L 61-6

Hayti L 51-6

Valle L 40-0

2005 schedule

Sept. 2 Grandview 7

Sept. 9 Corning, Ark. 7

Sept. 16 Crystal City 7

Sept. 24 at Portageville 4

Sept. 30 Scott City 7

Oct. 8 at East Prairie 2

Oct. 14 at Malden 7

Oct. 21 St. Vincent 7

Oct. 28 at Hayti 7

Nov. 3 at Valle 7

Offense

• Chaffee averaged just 10.5 points per game, but that includes two shutouts that started the season and a district that included the eventual state champion. Quarterback Jeff Daugherty returns after passing for 1,191 yards last year. Geoff Mirly was one of his favorite targets with 25 catches for a team-leading 493 yards. The Red Devils have a pair of new running backs who could help bolster an undersized unit.

Returning starters:

QB Jeff Daugherty 5-11 205 Sr.

C Adam Urhahn 5-9 170 Jr.

WR Geoff Mirly 6-2 187 Sr.

Defense

• The Red Devils gave up an average of 44.5 points a game last year and held only one opponent below 35 points. Chaffee had nearly perfect attendance in the weight room over the summer and added strength will be a key.

Returning starters:

DT Kippy Lawson 5-11 295 Jr.

LB Adam Urhahn 5-9 170 Jr.

DB Michael Lee 6-1 173 Jr.

DB Zach McDaniel 5-6 140 Jr.

Special teams

• Chaffee attempted few extra points last season -- and actually had some success with fake field goals -- but lost its main kicker. The Red Devils have added some quickness so the return game could be improved.

Returning starters:

None

Outlook

• Chaffee has lost 24 straight but a new coaching staff and new attitude could bring an end to the skid. The Red Devils have only four seniors on the roster so finding leadership will be a key.