For many years one of the big differences between larger class football teams and smaller class football teams within the state of Iowa has been roster size.

For the larger schools the larger roster size tends to lead to athletes with more singular roles whether on offense or on defense. Within smaller schools such as Panorama high school, a smaller roster size appears and can present various benefits and challenges and even the birth of the unique two way player.

As with anything, there are challenges and benefits that can come out of a two way player and Raccoon Valley Radio got the chance to sit down with Panorama head football coach Lyle Alumbaugh on the biggest challenge he sees for the two way player.

“I think the biggest challenge is conditioning in itself I mean you’re trying to put them in a position to be successful and it’s an adjustment. I think anytime you’re going one way or anytime that you’ve got enough depth that you can alternate, some years you have that and some years you don’t but conditioning is an issue. You know maybe you’re giving them just a few minutes off here and there, they are going to be on the field most of the time why you’re asking a lot,” stated coach Alumbaugh.

There are two sides to every coin however, and with the two way player, coach Alumbaugh spoke about the biggest benefit that arises.

“Well I think versatility. It gives you the opportunity to have your better athletes on the field all the time. There’s positives and negatives both ways. You talk to the bigger schools and they swear by one way players. We’ve always gone both ways; it gives you the advantage of having your best athletes out there and we’ve been pretty fortunate to have some pretty talented young men over the years so it helps strengthen the situation for us,” stated coach Alumbaugh.

Coach Alumbaugh and all his athletes have just two more days until their first scheduled competitive action of the season takes place with a home scrimmage against ACGC on August 18th.