Each new football season brings about it’s fair share of challenges for every team.

For the ADM football Tigers in 2017, they will be focused on filling the void left by 18 seniors from last year, at least 13 of which were regular starters. So as new faces find their way onto the varsity scene, they will be battling against one of the toughest challenges awaiting newcomers to the varsity stage which would be adjustment.

Raccoon Valley Radio spoke to ADM defensive coordinator Chris Rupe on the adjustment challenge for players.

“I really think as you step up from grade to grade, it’s adjusting to the speed of the game and being able to react to react to stuff that’s happening around you in a very quick manner. I remember the first time that I took a snap in college and I thought the offensive linemen were track stars because everything was moving so fast,” sounded coach Rupe.

Coach Rupe echoed the phrase perfect practice makes perfect when describing the best way he feels to combat the adjustment to the game for his players.

“With the more and more reps that you can try and replicate in practice at that game speed tempo, we talk about high tempo in practice trying to replicate what it’s going to be like in a game, the more that you can do that for the players time actually slows down as the play is going on. And that’s really cool whenever you see it click in a players mind and you see them actually being able to play fast but they think everything else around them is just going slow because the speed of their game has picked up so much from practice and hopefully from year to year as they progress as an athlete within our program and as a player mentally,” explained coach Rupe.

Coach Rupe and the rest of the Tiger football team will be able to showcase their adjustment to the game for the first time this season this afternoon. They will be heading to HA Lynn Stadium in Newton for a scrimmage against the Clippers of Clear Creek-Amana beginning at 4:00 pm.