Karchner turns to technology to keep injury bug at bay for Maumee football

Photo by Pride of the Panthers

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

It’s never fun and rarely productive to play the “what if” game, but for Maumee football coach Evan Karchner, doing just that might be extremely valuable.

While the Panthers had their best season in years last year, they still suffered through a rash of season-ending injuries — most notably quarterback Chase Maulucci and running back Cody Wulf — that left many people wondering, What if?

Instead of hoping that his players will stay healthy for a full slate of games this season, Karchner decided to go out and do something about it.

Starting this summer, some Maumee varsity players will be wearing a Titan GPS vest during practices and games. The technology will allow Karchner and his coaches to accurately track how much and how fast the players are running, along with the severity and type of physical impact they receive.

Karchner believes what they do with all of that data and information will keep his top-15 players healthy and ready to perform all season.

“We had some injuries last year that I think resulted in us losing some games last year, especially late,” Karchner said. “Every year, people battle injuries. You look at the best teams, and they have all their players playing in the last game. You sit there and say you don’t think we could beat Otsego if we didn’t have Cody? I think that would be a totally different game on both sides of the ball.

“I’m just looking for answers and I hope this is it.”

Battling for a playoff spot last year, the Panthers lost to the Knights, 37-32, to finish 5-5 overall and just outside of the Division III playoff race. Both Maulucci and Wulf were on the sidelines while some of the remaining players were showing the wear and tear of trying to pick up the slack.

Karchner admits that every football coach probably stole at least one idea from someone else. So it is with the Titan GPS units; during a conference in Chicago, Karchner learned about the technology and spoke with coaches who already used them.

He came back to Maumee and received enough money from private donors to purchase 15 units, which he has placed on the 15 players he and his staff deemed as the ones who will run around and do the most.

“We can track all that, and it goes back to keeping our kids healthy, making sure they’re playing at 100 percent, week in and week out,” he said.

Not only is the technology new, but the theory that goes with them as well. The Panthers use the “wave theory” for practices, having a hard, physical practice followed by an easier, recovery practice that can focus on the mental side of the game.

It’s certainly a far cry from football of the past, where every practice was physically intense.

“That’s how I was brought up, too — practice should be the hardest thing of your football career, practice should be harder than the games,” Karchner said. “If you look at the science, no, games should be harder. You have the most motivation there.

“Don’t let a Wednesday be the hardest, where you break a kid down and then two days later, you need them to play full go and run full speed and at their top ability.

“There are a lot of coaches who would roll their eyes at me, but one thing that I always said is, I’m never going to be afraid to change and look for new things. I’m going to try to get ahead of the curve on stuff.”

The Titan GPS units will not only impact the Maumee team as a whole but the individual players, giving Karchner and his staff information on how they practice and how they use kids during practice.

“When we have those down days, we try to get some guys who are backups or subs more reps so the Carson Graetzs, the Cody Wulfs, the Keishon Midcalfs can get off the field and be more rested, so the next day at practice, we can hit the ground running,” Karchner said. “We want to make sure they’re hitting their top level on Friday nights.

“I don’t want to watch Keishon on a kickoff return on Friday and say, ‘Man, he looks slow.’ I want him to look electric, to look fast, and if we have to give up some tough practices, I’m willing to do that.

“It’s all about performance and winning games. It’s all about getting your best players to play their best on Friday nights.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com