Varsity football head coach and QB coach, Aaron Thumann, stands along the sideline with the rest of the team, coaches, and managers. Waiting for East starting QB, senior Mason Chandler to throw the ball for, hopefully, a touchdown. Chandler threw the ball and it made it a player and then into the endzone for a touchdown. 

Thumann’s second year as the head coach for Bellevue East’s football team. Even though it’s only been a year, there have already been some positive changes that have been happening. 

“It’s really cool to see how much your team has grown from last year to this year,” Thumann said. “The leadership we’re seeing from a lot of our seniors and juniors is really really cool to see and you can really see how it’s bringing our team closer together.”

Leadership wasn’t the only thing that has been changing in the team. Also, the size of the team has been changing for the better.

 “From having 80 players last year to 103 right now which just tells you how much our program is growing, “Thumann said. “I love the energy and effort our kids are bringing every day. They’re super focused, locked in, and really have that one game at a time mindset set which I love because that’s how it should be and I’m excited to see how far they can go this year.”

Many other things come along with a new season other than gaining new players and losing others. There are also the teams that the football team goes against.

“We got all kinds of levels of teams we’re going against some of the worst teams in the state and some of the best teams in the state,” Chandler said. “I personally like playing the better teams to just see where we are at, but they’re all fun to play against.”

Along with the teams, there are many that certain people may be looking forward to playing, either for redemption, homecoming game, or rivalry.

“I think everybody, especially here at Bellevue East, is always looking forward to the west game,” Thumann said. “Especially since I took over last year, we made a kind of a color rush thing where we both wear our home uniforms which I think is a really cool tradition that we’re doing now.”

Not all the players may think the same thing. There is another game that junior Jack Duncan is looking forward to.

“Norfolk this week, ‘cause that was a game that we could have done a lot better last year. I feel like we really have to beat them this year if we want to reach our goal as a team,” Duncan said.

A lot of things go into a game like practice to help players prepare for the game. But what may not seem so obvious is the fans who are there to cheer on the football team.

“Let’s try to pack the stands every Friday night. We have games here. It means a lot for me and the coaches and all the kids out there playing,” Chandler said. “I feel they deserve to have a crowd and we’ll definitely put on a show.”