Talented Maine East seniors gaining confidence abilities

Updated: July 12, 2011 12:15PM

Maine East head coach Gabe Corey believes every part of a football player can be measured except for one thing — the size of his heart.

After coaching the Demons from 1993-2002, Corey returned to Maine East in 2009 with the football team in the throes of a 39-game losing streak. The Blue Demons posted a 2-7 record that first season, followed by 1-8 last year.

Corey says combine their talent with some confidence, the Blue Demons could produce the winning season that has eluded them since before his first eight-year stint at the school, which began in 1994.

After last week’s National Football League Player Development Camp at Niles West and a 7-on-7 tournament at Elmwood Park, Corey sees the faith and skill starting to develop.

“I think the more we can do these types of camps the more it’s going to help these kids believe they can actually put it together,” Corey said. “It’s a crucial year for us. We going into our third year (since returning to coach) and the kids are starting to understand my system. The first year they were all lost. Everyone was like a freshman. Seniors and juniors included, were all like first-year players.

“We stayed with the program last year and we didn’t have a strong senior class but our juniors kept us in ball games. We should have won three or four games, we just didn’t know how to put them away. This year what we are hoping is the confidence level improves and that we get off to a good start.”

Corey said the camps provide his players with the opportunity to conduct drills against other teams and see who steps up. He calls that experience “the biggest confidence-builder in the world.”

“I always tell the kids I can measure everything in football but the one thing I can’t measure is the heart,” he said. “In high school football, that the biggest equalizer that you can ever have. So we’re trying to get them to buy into the program and utilize their talents and their hearts to succeed.”

Andrew Lee, a senior who will play tailback and receiver in Corey’s offense and safety on defense, is a prime example of what the Maine East coach envisions.

“He (Lee) rolled his ankle a little today (at the Elmwood Park camp) and wanted to continue playing,” Corey said. “So I said, ‘No, you’re not playing. Give some of the other guys a chance to play.’ They were able to step up and still play with a pretty athletic team. It was a good test for them. It showed a lot of heart from everyone involved.”

Corey said he expects a lot from Lee, not only in terms of talent, but leadership, as well.

“He is our most elusive guy. He has been with me three years now,” Corey said. “He’s got that foot speed and he’s a true 4.5 (second)-40 (yards), so we’ll be using a lot of him in our offense, moving him around and I hope the other guys follow his example. He works hard and takes pride in that.”

Lee admitted he has learned plenty during the summer camps.

“I found out that you have to go full-speed all the time, every play,” he said. “Even if you’re the best player on team, you are always going to face players that are a lot better than you. You always have to work hard to stay on their level.

“I like to work on my hands at these camps on offense, but I think I need to improve most defensively. Learning the opponents’ offense, being able to read what they are going to do, reading the quarterback all take work. To be successful we all need to work hard each day and push each other.

“Compared to last year, I already see an improved team out there. We have a group that likes to learn. They are not a lazy bunch at all.”

Corey hopes a quick start will spark his team’s success this season.

“The biggest thing is we’re going to have to get that taste of victory,” he said. “If we can come out and get a couple of wins early in the season, I think this team can take off. We need to get some victories and confidence early so these kids can believe — and I think that can happen because they already show a lot of heart.”

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