The Guilford Football team is set to kickoff the 2006 season in the newly-renovated Armfield Athletic Center. Much like construction of their new home field, the Quakers also hope to build on a hard-working and confident mentality that they’ve maintained throughout the off season.
“I thought it (Armfield Athletic Center) was going to be a well-done, appropriate renovation, said Head Football Coach Kevin Kiesel about the additions to the stadium. “It is. It has a lot of class, and it represents our school in the right way.”
These additions cost $1.1 million, and include a two-story press box with restrooms, new stadium seating and bleachers, a new scoreboard, and new play clocks.
When asked about the new renovations, team captain and linebacker Mario Paylor, a senior, said, “I love it; it’s like we’re really playing college football now.” Pre-season Division III All-American quarterback Josh Vogelbach added, “It is definitely going to make us look more respectable to other teams that come in, and should bring more fans.”
Student support for the Quakers has been lacking in recent years. Vogelbach said, “I think certain people don’t give us a chance; we are over stereotyped.” Paylor added, “I feel like we get a bad name and people don’t understand how hard we work.”
Indeed, the Quakers did work very hard in the off-season. After the new renovations and a strenuous off-season training schedule that started in January and continued throughout the entire summer, the Quakers’ football program appears revitalized. “The players did a good job of committing to the program,” Kiesel said. “We are a much faster, stronger and quicker team.”
After finishing tied for 2nd in the ODAC in the 2005 season with a 4-2 conference record and 5-5 overall record, the Quakers are determined to take it one step further. Although the Quakers have been seeded 4th in 2006, it doesn’t seem to bother them. “We have our non-conference schedule first, but when the Hampden-Sydney week comes we will definitely hang it up,” Kiesel said about the prediction. “It’s fuel for the fire, and I’d like to thank a lot of people for it.”
New additions have also been made to the defensive coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Michael Vite is looking to remedy a defense that allowed 35.8 points per game last year. Vite has yielded nothing but praise. “He has a tremendous resume and is a likeable person,” Kiesel said. “You can see his charisma and his players love to follow him.”
Although Guilford lost 24 letter-winners in the off-season, the team does return a core group of 11 starters and 30 letter-winners. One of the key and most prolific returning groups is the receiving corp, which incorporates three seniors, including Pre-Season Division III All-American Chris Barnette, along with Micah Rushing and Joe Joyner.
The team’s commitment and enthusiasm is having a profound effect, as Kiesel said, “Their confidence, dedication, and work habits have been passed on to the freshman.” This rub-off effect may have Quaker football fans awaiting many more seasons with optimistic anticipation. That is precisely what the team is doing, as they are patiently waiting and working toward their Sept. 2nd home opener aggainst Ferrum College.