A youth cheerleading camp on one end of Franklin's football field were going through some cheers last week as the Franklin Knights worked of their calisthenics drills. The higher pitched soft cheer voices in the background resonated over the artificial turf into coach Matt Turk's ears.
"That's what you guys sounded like when you were freshmen," he said. He then lowered his voice to more of a bass and added, "You're not freshmen anymore." He laughed and went over to shake one of his player's hand and explained how much they have grown over the last three seasons.
In 2020, Turk took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since 2005. He came in and had to start a number of freshmen with the program's participants way down. The Knights beat Titusville in the second game of the season after opening up to a trouncing by returning District 10 champions Oil City. The Titusville game ended up being their only win that season and they didn't win another until week five of Turk's second season. And they have not won since.
That is the motivation they bring into the 2023 campaign.
"That's what you guys sounded like when you were freshmen," he said. He then lowered his voice to more of a bass and added, "You're not freshmen anymore." He laughed and went over to shake one of his player's hand and explained how much they have grown over the last three seasons.
In 2020, Turk took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since 2005. He came in and had to start a number of freshmen with the program's participants way down. The Knights beat Titusville in the second game of the season after opening up to a trouncing by returning District 10 champions Oil City. The Titusville game ended up being their only win that season and they didn't win another until week five of Turk's second season. And they have not won since.
That is the motivation they bring into the 2023 campaign.
"The only positive thing about having that adversity, about getting beat as bad as we did by those much bigger teams, is they now know what it takes in the off-season and what it takes during a game," Turk said last week.
And they are bigger. Those meek voices that were coming out of 150-pound freshmen are now deep voices coming out of 200-pound seniors. They are also more motivated and eager to get started.
And they are bigger. Those meek voices that were coming out of 150-pound freshmen are now deep voices coming out of 200-pound seniors. They are also more motivated and eager to get started.
"They are like a dog inside a cage ready to come out. They are not beat(en) down with their tail between their legs," Turk said about what he's witnessing in practice.
Just before the second practice of the two-a-days last Wednesday, Turk was heading out of the gym while one of his players was headed across the hardwood floor. "Where you headed?" coach asked. "To get a lift in," the player responded.
"That's what I mean. I didn't ask him to do that. They are motivated and they are tired of getting beat."
Just before the second practice of the two-a-days last Wednesday, Turk was heading out of the gym while one of his players was headed across the hardwood floor. "Where you headed?" coach asked. "To get a lift in," the player responded.
"That's what I mean. I didn't ask him to do that. They are motivated and they are tired of getting beat."
Turk said he hasn't changed the system but hopes the players have bought in and grown into the system, bigger and faster, which will turn the tides of the wins and losses. He noted this was the team's best year of off-season workouts since he started coaching. "We’re excited about the opportunity our seniors have, knowing they paid their dues."
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Nine of his 11 expected starters have either started or had significant playing time since they were freshmen. They lost three key players but kept a pretty sure-handed wide receiver Cole Buckley, tight end Alex Wible and speedy Toby Sanchez. Their line is bigger and stronger with Landon Perry, Darrius Graham, Gabe Wright, Kaiden Hughes, Jeremey Cunningham and big freshman Sam Wimer. At quarterback, Turk said Jason Carey, who got a start last year when Hunter Marsteller went down, is looking pretty solid but is being challenged during a strong camp by Landon Lynch.
"This is the first time since I've been here that we have three of four positions being fought for," Turk said. "We have backups fighting for positions that are giving us really good looks right now."
Turk's participation numbers have been in the low 30s but this year they are between 40-45, he said.
"This is the first time since I've been here that we have three of four positions being fought for," Turk said. "We have backups fighting for positions that are giving us really good looks right now."
Turk's participation numbers have been in the low 30s but this year they are between 40-45, he said.
"They’ve bought in and we all trust each other. We’ve been through hell together and we continue to focus on what our mission is and that is to turn around this football program and have a winning season," Turk said. "Adversity doesn’t build character it reveals it. This is a new opportunity - a new year. We're undefeated right now."
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