NBA TOP 100 Camp kicks off next week
Even with 18 seniors graduating, winning is expected at Hermitage
by Brandon Mitchell
No. Not that Patrick Kane.
I didn’t expect to see the Right Wing skater from the Chicago Blackhawks; however, when you see that name one starts to wonder. Hermitage hasn’t won any championships lately and that’s where Coach Patrick Kane’s Panthers differentiate from Patrick Kane’s Chicago Blackhawks. Their similarities; however, rest within the consistency both have exhibited over the last several years. Hermitage has been to the playoffs nine consecutive seasons while the Blackhawks have been in it for eight consecutive seasons.
You’re probably asking yourself what the National Hockey League has to do with high school football.
Consistency can be defined as: the achievement of a level of performance that does not vary greatly in quality over time. Consistency can vary in terms of direction, but it’s the level it sustains that demands the most respect.
Therefore, the level of consistency one is compared to is as relevant as it is accurate. Coach Kane, over his tenure at Hermitage, has been both relevant and accurate. No one can deny or refute that claim. Over the last 10 years the Panthers haven’t lost more than three games in a season. Over the same time span the Panthers have also advanced within two games of a state championship berth five times. And yet still Coach Kane is finding new ways to reinvent, reinvigorate, and reestablish the wheel. This is where 7-on-7’s at Hanover High School have played a key role.
“Our main focus is to come out here and try to get better. We’ve been coming out here for several years now. We started in March at Dinwiddie and finished up in May doing that around once a week. We just started coming over here to Hanover this month. It’s good to see some different faces because we’ve been seeing the same ones for a little while now. Of course our main focus is to get better,” stated Coach Kane.
There’s no true preparation for when Coach Kane has his men travel for 7-on-7’s alike. Always on his mind is the fall. What happens now is preparation for the regular season which ties into the overall purpose of monitoring progression. Week-to-week progression is also important for Hermitage and is used as a gauge to determine what needs work on a daily basis. “Hopefully we’ll begin to see the fruits of our labor, but at the same time this is only a 7-on-7 and not real football,” added Coach Kane.
These 7-on-7’s are never taken out of purpose for Hermitage; however, for Coach Kane it’s important to recognize the aspects that need to be changed.
Consistency is not shown in just the quality of seasons the Panthers produce, but also in the way they travel for their 7-on-7’s. Coach Kane has comprised a travel team for his 7-on-7’s. This way the appropriate players get the most beneficial use out of their time on the football field.
“We have a group that we name our travel team that we bring with us. We actually have two groups. Group A is here with us today and Group B is traveling elsewhere. They usually travel week-to-week and that’s how we keep things consistent. Our goal is to always try to win a state championship and we haven’t accomplished that yet. That is the high bar we’ve set for ourselves,” stated Coach Kane
The Panthers had year so it’s imperative that fresh talent be added to their nucleus. Willy Winborn (JR QB 5-9 170) looks to lend his athleticism to the offense for his senior season. Winborn has been a very dynamic athlete for Coach Kane over the last two years and will be expected to step into a superior leadership role this season. Christian Velazquez (JR WR 6-3 180) also looks to step into an elevated role coming into his senior season. The sure-handed receiver should provide a sure target in the passing game for Winborn and Coach Kane.
The Panthers are looking forward to also bringing up a few athletes from their junior varsity team. The Hermitage junior varsity side of the house has gone undefeated in its’ last two seasons. It’s apparent that Hermitage has been stashing and developing talent that should give them a possible advantage in the Colonial District. With two-a-days approaching fast the Panthers pretty much have a set itinerary throughout the rest of the summer.
“We will continue to do this on Tuesdays and then we have four 7-on-7 tournaments we’re going to. We hosted a 7-on- week. We’ll be heading over to the University of Virginia next week and then we’ll be heading over to Lake Taylor for the Adidas 7-on-7. There’s also an Under Armour tournament that follows the other 7-on-7’s and then we’ll shut down in July before we prepare for the upcoming season,” said Coach Kane.
More to come on Hermitage as the off season continues.
– Brandon Mitchell
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