Olathe — Gary Tanner hopes additional practice days will translate to a win when Haskell Indian Nations U. opens its football season tonight against MidAmerica Nazarene's junior varsity.
"We had an extra four or five days and it helped," Tanner said. "We went a little slower in teaching. And that extra week helped us get in shape through hard practices."
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium.
MANU's junior varsity popped the Fightin' Indians, 47-16, in Lawrence last year, but HINU won, 34-32, at the the Pioneers' field in '97.
Tonight will be Haskell's first game as an NAIA school. The Indians are shifting from a two-year program to four-year status this season.
HINU's first four games will be against JV programs. The Indians' last six games will be against varsity programs at four-year schools, beginning with Principia on Oct. 2.
Haskell's home opener will be a week from tonight against Baker's JV.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.