As the Independence Football team enters another summer of preparation, head coach Matt Burns is looking for every opportunity to make his team stronger—not just physically, but mentally as well.
That opportunity came when members of the Ohio National Guard spent an afternoon putting the Blue Devils through a demanding workout designed to test conditioning, leadership, and teamwork.
For Burns, the event fit perfectly with the culture he’s trying to establish within the program.
“We’ve been preaching since I took over that we hear enough negativity from the outside,” Burns said. “Inside our football family, we have to stay positive with each other and pick each other up.”
The workout challenged players with military-style conditioning drills that included high knees, push-ups, flutter kicks, planks, and running exercises. Throughout the session, National Guard members constantly encouraged—and challenged—the players while creating the pressure and intensity that come with military training.
The signature exercise centered around a 40-pound sandbag that represented the burdens every teammate carries. The rule was simple: the bag could never touch the ground.
Players passed it from teammate to teammate throughout the workout.
“It represented that no one person should have to carry the burden by themselves,” Burns said. “It was the team’s job to help each other.”
Burns watched senior leaders repeatedly volunteer to take the sandbag when younger teammates began to struggle. He also saw incoming middle school players embrace the challenge despite carrying nearly half their body weight.
The effort wasn’t lost on senior Ryan Suhy.
“It is always an honor working with them,” Suhy said. “They took time out of their day to come and work with us. They really push us hard, even if it’s only for an hour.”
The workout served another important purpose for a Blue Devils team that expects many players to contribute on both offense and defense this fall.
“These drills are great for conditioning for the season,” Suhy said. “Our numbers are low, so having this really push us to our breaking point helps because we have so many guys who play both ways. They also talked a lot to the seniors about how to be a leader, which was great to hear from men and women who help protect our country.”
Burns believes the greatest takeaway wasn’t the physical challenge—it was watching players encourage one another through adversity.
“You saw guys leave their own drill to come across the field and take the sandbag from a teammate,” Burns said. “They were telling each other, ‘I’ve got it this time.’ That’s exactly what we’re trying to build.”
That lesson resonated with Suhy as well.
“It is really a great form of team bonding and discipline,” he said. “We are all going through all of these intense drills together, and it really brings us together as a group of guys.”
The event also continues Independence’s growing partnership with the National Guard. The Blue Devils once again plan to wear National Guard-themed uniforms this season, and new helmet decals celebrating America’s 250th anniversary will complement the patriotic look.
For Burns, however, the biggest victory came long before kickoff.
“The culture we’re trying to build is really starting to shine through,” he said. “As a coach, that made me incredibly proud.”
