Pirates experience subtle changes in Danley era

Change is inevitable when a new football coach takes over a program and for the Polson football program change is gradual but evident as the Pirates enter their first season under coach Pat Danley.

Danley, who served as former Pirates’ coach Scott Wilson’s assistant for 17 seasons, started his first-ever season with the Pirates on the first official day of practice Aug 11.

Danley, who has stated in previous interviews he will maintain similar terminology in the Pirates’ defensive and offensive schemes, made one cosmetic change to Polson’s helmets: stickers.

The Pirate players will be rewarded with stickers that are symbolic of individual and team achievements. Danley said he was very conscious with adding the stickers to the back of the helmet about veering too far away from the team concept.

“I’ve got a whole list of both team and individual stickers,” Danley said. “However, I don’t want (the stickers) to become too individualistic because we want to stick with the team concept and (when the stickers were suggested to me) I said ‘that is a good idea lets try it.’”

One pressing issue Danley has faced immediately is who will be the Pirates’ signal-caller when they host their season-opener against Dillon Sept. 1. Polson has narrowed its list of candidates down to two: Colby Soderquist and Bo Kelley.

Danley has stated the Pirates will make an official decision on the two players Aug. 18. Thus far, Danley is adamant about making a decision before the start of the season and the other player will get significant varsity time at one of the key skill positions.

At the end of the last season, the Pirates lost four significant contributors to their team: Matthew Rensvold, Tanner Wilson, Trevor Corley and Jonah Burke. Wilson and Rensvold, became the first Pirate players to sign with the University of Montana since Kirk Murphy signed with the U of M in 1987. Murphy ended up playing for seasons with the Grizzles playing from 1987 to 1991. Corley signed with NCAA Division II Minot State and Burke signed with Montana Tech.

“We have a good mixture of younger players and some senior leadership (entering the season),” Danley said. “We have a lot of athletic kids and with a brand new quarterback (this season) we will probably be very run-heavy.”

With Dillon, Corvallis and Hamilton on the early-portion of the their schedule the Pirates are trying not to look ahead to Sept. 22 when they are scheduled to play in Ronan for the Chiefs’ homecoming game.

Ronan, who used to be Polson’s big rival, will enter Class A for the first time since 2009, will now renew the big rivalry.

Though the Pirates are focusing on improving in the early part of the season, they admit they are “looking forward,” to playing Ronan.

“(That game) will be pretty fun for our players,” Danley said. “(The game) will be on their homecoming and it will just be a fun atmosphere.”

This summer Polson had a solid number of participants in offseason activities.

Last year, the Pirates secured a bye in the playoffs and lost to Billings Central 35-34 in last year’s playoff game.

The turnout has Danley optimistic that the Pirates can have another quality season.

“We’ve had a pretty good list of participants over the course of the summer and the kids are really excited to go out and play football.”