Hard work paying off
Baum likes what he sees in Warren’s early practices
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s first-year head coach, Jodi Baum, watches Tucker Sanford run through teammates during a drill Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Members of the Warren football team run 10-yard shuttles during practice Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s Scott Kidmore, left, and Isaac Bleech compete in a blocking drill Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s Tilman Limpert, a German exchange student, catches a pass Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s first-year head coach, Jodi Baum, watches Tucker Sanford run through teammates during a drill Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Members of the Warren football team run 10-yard shuttles during practice Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s Scott Kidmore, left, and Isaac Bleech compete in a blocking drill Tuesday in Warren.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s Tilman Limpert, a German exchange student, catches a pass Tuesday in Warren.
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The Warren Area High School football team has been putting in an immense amount of offseason work, and is ready for that to pay off.
New head coach Jodi Baum brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to the table and he, along with his assistants, cannot wait for that first kickoff.
"We are trying to change the culture here at Warren High," Baum said. "Our goal is to have the kids believe in themselves, create a family atmosphere and play together as one."
Since January, the Dragons have been hitting the weight room, working on agility and promoting that family-oriented mindset Coach Baum is trying to instill.
"We have had a great turnout with the lifting program," he said. "The kids have been showing up and putting the work in. They are buying into what we want to have them understand and their commitment has been phenomenal."
Despite graduating 21 seniors, Baum has praised the underclassmen.
"The younger kids are stepping up and will make an impact this season," he said. "All of the kids have been pushing each other and they understand that success will be a team effort."
It is no mystery that the Warren Dragons football program has had a rough patch of success in recent years, but Baum is not worried about that, and is seeking to turn that around.
"The past is the past," he said. "We need to look to the future and be positive. You learn a lot of life lessons with the game of football. It is easy to sit there and say we can't win games and be successful. We cannot dwell on the past, but rather be in the moment, and I know good things are going to happen. Every game is crucial, every game counts."
Even though this is just Baum's second football season in Warren -- he was an assistant last year -- he understands that wins cannot come from just the team.
"We need support from the community, administration, teachers, parents and fans to make this happen," Baum said. "If we have their support, I know good things will happen. Come out and support Dragon Nation. Let us show you that we are back."
The Dragons open their season on Friday, Aug. 28 when they travel to Erie to take on the Seneca Bobcats.