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Coach wants more hustle | IndyStar.com
Indiana School for the Deaf football coach Michael Paulone believes his team has the talent to be competitive against its schedule this year . . . he'd just like to see a little more competition in practice.
Indiana Deaf is the state's smallest football-playing school with less than 100 students, and many of Paulone's potential athletes are spread across the state and can't get to campus for preseason practice.
Paulone has been working with just 21 players -- not enough to practice with two separate units -- but they provide a talented and experienced nucleus.
"We try to get them to step it up, raise the bar and have more expectations," he said through an interpreter during a phone call. "I know they have potential, (but) we don't have enough players to replace (someone who isn't working hard enough). It's a lot of help when there's competition and you have to earn your position."
There were 35 players in the program last season, and Paulone expects his roster to grow when school starts. But the latecomers require 10 practices before they can compete in a game, according to Indiana High School Athletic Association rules, and will be at least two weeks behind the players who participated in preseason.
The Deaf Hoosiers, however, lost only one significant contributor to graduation in Ryan Hawkins, who played all over the field. Nearly the entire offense returns, including right guard Mark Alcozer, tight end Jarvis Beaver, center Corey Burton, receiver A.J. Christian, slotback Tony Dall, left guard Hipolito DeLuna, right tackle James Johnson and quarterback Gabriel Paulone. Michael Paulone believes running back Selwyn Abrahamson is a potential impact player in the team's pro set scheme.
With such a small roster, many of the same players will be relied on in the team's 5-2 defensive scheme, as Beaver plays defensive end, DeLuna linebacker and Christian, Gabriel Paulone, Abrahamson and Dall will form the secondary. Michael Paulone also will be counting on Will Fetzer, who will see time on the offensive line, as well, at defensive end.
"This year we have experience," said Michael Paulone, the second-year coach noting the team will benefit from a year of playing in his offensive and defensive systems. "That will help."
Michael Paulone returned to the Deaf Hoosiers after a 10-year absence -- he led the program to a 1-12 record in abbreviated seasons from 1993 to 1996 -- and posted a 4-6 record last season, an improvement of three victories. The team defeated Alabama Deaf and Mississippi Deaf for the first time, in addition to victories over the home-schooled Lions Sports Club and Edinburgh.
This year, the far-more-established Park Tudor has replaced the Lions Sports Club in the schedule, and the Deaf Hoosiers will play improving new private school programs in Guerin and Lutheran again. But they also face teams that have struggled recently in Union (Dugger), the second-smallest football-playing school in the state; Wes-Del; Covington; and Edinburgh.
"We confront unique problems," Michael Paulone said. "At local schools, the boys can train and work out every day during the summer. But I keep positive and stay upbeat. We have a real positive outlook (for this season)."
Indiana School for the Deaf football coach Michael Paulone believes his team has the talent to be competitive against its schedule this year . . . he'd just like to see a little more competition in practice.
Indiana Deaf is the state's smallest football-playing school with less than 100 students, and many of Paulone's potential athletes are spread across the state and can't get to campus for preseason practice.
Paulone has been working with just 21 players -- not enough to practice with two separate units -- but they provide a talented and experienced nucleus.
"We try to get them to step it up, raise the bar and have more expectations," he said through an interpreter during a phone call. "I know they have potential, (but) we don't have enough players to replace (someone who isn't working hard enough). It's a lot of help when there's competition and you have to earn your position."
There were 35 players in the program last season, and Paulone expects his roster to grow when school starts. But the latecomers require 10 practices before they can compete in a game, according to Indiana High School Athletic Association rules, and will be at least two weeks behind the players who participated in preseason.
The Deaf Hoosiers, however, lost only one significant contributor to graduation in Ryan Hawkins, who played all over the field. Nearly the entire offense returns, including right guard Mark Alcozer, tight end Jarvis Beaver, center Corey Burton, receiver A.J. Christian, slotback Tony Dall, left guard Hipolito DeLuna, right tackle James Johnson and quarterback Gabriel Paulone. Michael Paulone believes running back Selwyn Abrahamson is a potential impact player in the team's pro set scheme.
With such a small roster, many of the same players will be relied on in the team's 5-2 defensive scheme, as Beaver plays defensive end, DeLuna linebacker and Christian, Gabriel Paulone, Abrahamson and Dall will form the secondary. Michael Paulone also will be counting on Will Fetzer, who will see time on the offensive line, as well, at defensive end.
"This year we have experience," said Michael Paulone, the second-year coach noting the team will benefit from a year of playing in his offensive and defensive systems. "That will help."
Michael Paulone returned to the Deaf Hoosiers after a 10-year absence -- he led the program to a 1-12 record in abbreviated seasons from 1993 to 1996 -- and posted a 4-6 record last season, an improvement of three victories. The team defeated Alabama Deaf and Mississippi Deaf for the first time, in addition to victories over the home-schooled Lions Sports Club and Edinburgh.
This year, the far-more-established Park Tudor has replaced the Lions Sports Club in the schedule, and the Deaf Hoosiers will play improving new private school programs in Guerin and Lutheran again. But they also face teams that have struggled recently in Union (Dugger), the second-smallest football-playing school in the state; Wes-Del; Covington; and Edinburgh.
"We confront unique problems," Michael Paulone said. "At local schools, the boys can train and work out every day during the summer. But I keep positive and stay upbeat. We have a real positive outlook (for this season)."