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SoCon Media Day. Coaches and players from each school come together in Greenville, South Carolina to speak on their upcoming seasons. From Johnson City, ETSU is represented by Charlie Browder, Brenden LeBlanc, and Coach Will Healy to speak on their program.
Week 2 Outlook; Bucs on the Road to Kenan
ETSU has a very special opportunity, to go face a HOF level coach at a stadium that has a very passionate fanbase that shows up. There’s no argument, Bill Belichick is a force of a coach, and his career as a stats back that up. Coach Healy knows this, and stated ‘it would be an honor to meet him, and is an honor to compete against him.’
This opportunity has also impacted the players. In Charlie Browder’s words; ‘growing up I never thought I would be playing a game and watching film to play against a Bill Belichick defense, but it’s a challenge.. To go to Kenan Stadium and play. As a kid, these are the kinds of games you wanna play in, really excited for that. We got two games before that though to focus on.’
Brenden LeBlanc responded as well, ‘Oh it’s awesome. That’s a guy I’ve idolized, it doesn’t feel real. When I line up and look to my sideline and see him just strolling around, that’s just awesome. I’m grateful for the experience and the opportunity to play a school like that, especially with a coach of his stature.’
Needless to say, The Bucs are of course prepping, watching film and practicing week by week, opponent by opponent. The awe of opportunity has not worn off though for The Bucs going to Chapel Hill.
Spring into Fall, Building a Championship Team at ETSU
Both Browder and LeBlanc, as well as Coach Healy were asked if there’s been improvement from the first spring practices going into summer camp. All were in agreement that the group of veterans and transfers have become a unit. More importantly, they are more comfortable as teammates.
With 9 new transfers, and a need for a tight knit brotherhood, Coach Healy spoke to the community that is ETSU. Just as Coach Savage spoke about Bucs MBB, the community of the students, the city, the region, and the fans make ETSU what it is. However, it doesn’t stop there. The players and fans feed off of each others’ energy and the more energy there is, the more the players come together.
Speaking of community, I got to speak with Browder about how being back home for a second season has impacted him when leading the team. ‘I’m familiar with the area and with the culture we have. So I feel like, even though that’s not my job, but I feel really comfortable bringing these guys along and showing them what Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Tri-Cities region is all about. As an older guy, I’ve seen a lot of ball so I understand what out culture should look like and what we want it to be. So just bringing those guys along and trying to instill what it means to be a Buc, and trying to be a good older voice in the room that can bring those guys along.’
After a successful first season for Coach Healy with The Bucs, it’s easy to say there’s a lot this program will be looking forward to in his second season; A team built from determination and hard work, and a hunger to show the SoCon what ETSU is all about.
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