Hendrix Football Reboot: First Gameday Is Here

Chris Murray Bio
CONWAY – A crowd in excess of 3,000 – way more than standing-room only – is expected as the Hendrix Warriors field a varsity football team today for the first time since 1960.

Numerous pregame festivities are planned, including rampant tailgating and a ceremonial handoff from Warriors of the past. Hendrix has no marching band, so the Steel Cats Orchestra – a steel drum band from Episcopal Collegiate in Little Rock – is being brought in for a non-traditional take on football music.

Amidst all the pomp and revelry, the team and its coaches are trying to avoid distractions, yet remain aware of what Saturday’s game means to so many in the Hendrix community. Many former players from the 1960 team and teams from the 1950s have been involved with the new group of Warriors, and will be welcomed back for today’s game. Hendrix dropped varsity football following the 1960 season due to budget concerns.

“It’s hard not to be excited,” said Hendrix coach Buck Buchanan. “We’re ready to get to (game day). We’re tired of banging on each other. We’re not going to down play it – it’s the first game in 53 years and we want to represent the institution very well.

“We had a whole bunch of people at our pep rally, and we want to make a good first impression (to students and alums). We want them to know we represent them when we take the field.”

Hendrix had its final full-scale practice of fall camp on Thursday, then the standard walkthrough on Friday. With the almost exclusively freshman roster, Hendrix had roughly 25 practices starting in mid-August to install its schemes and establish its depth chart.

“We came out of fall camp fairly healthy,” Buchanan said. “We’ve done a good job of making positive strides every day. We have a good idea who we can put our faith in. We feel good about who we can put out there and know what they can do.”

Buchanan and staff did release their two-deep charts, but with the limited roster number of 55, most team members are sure to see action. Seth Peters of Greenbrier will start at quarterback, but Tanner Frye is also expected to take many snaps. The Warriors will work out of the spread, so fans can expect to see lots of passing. Defensively, Hendrix figures to mostly work from a 3-4 alignment.

The Warriors’ opponent in the season-opener is the Westminster Blue Jays. Located in Fulton, Mo., Westminster is a fellow Division III member, and plays in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The Blue Jays struggled to a 4-6 record in 2012, but were 8-2 in 2011.
Westminster restarted its program in 1996 following 65-year layoff. Head coach John Welty is in his 15th season. Quarterback Joe Plassmeyer returns after throwing for 3,000 yards and 27 touchdwons as a junior in 2012.

Hendrix has an advantage in that it has previous seasons’ results and stats to work from, and Buchanan joked about offering to trade tapes with Westminster – the Bluejays’ from last season and Hendrix’s from 1960.

“They traditionally have over 100 players,” Buchanan said. “That’s always an advantage going into the fall, but only 11 play at a time. We definitely don’t want to be in a track meet. They’re going to give us multiple looks. They have a really good defensive line and a good quarterback. “

Temporary seating has been set up on the east side of the field, and those attending are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, which can be set up around the track. Fans should also consider arriving early, as parking figures to be hard to come by. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Young-Wyse Stadium.

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