Menominee football's Hofer retires

June 11, 2012

Longtime Menominee football coach Ken Hofer retired today. He finished with a career record of 342-136-3 and led his team to three MHSAA championships.

But he is best known as the state's guru of the single win offense, which doesn't include a traditional quarterback and puzzled opponents who almost always hadn't seen the attack until running into the Maroons in the playoffs.

From Menominee Area Public Schools:

Ken Hofer, Head Varsity Football Coach of the Menominee Maroons, has announced his retirement today.

Coach Hofer first took control of the Maroon Football program in 1966, and led it to 300+ wins in 41 seasons at the helm, including MHSAA championships in 1998, 2006 and 2007.

More importantly, Menominee High School students and the greater Menominee community have been the beneficiaries of his work with young people. Coach Hofer served as teacher, athletic director, assistant principal, coach and mentor in his association with the school. He had helped to shape the adult lives of hundreds of young people through the years. The students, staff, administration and Board of Education of the Menominee Area Public Schools join in congratulating Coach Hofer on his outstanding service to young people. His impact has been felt for generations, and his legacy will continue to inspire students into the future.

--Erik Bergh, Superintendent

Be the Referee: Disconcerting Acts

October 8, 2020

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains a change in football meant to reduce a form of gamesmanship at the line of scrimmage.

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment - Disconcerting Acts - Listen

Among the rules changes in high school football for the 2020-21 school year is an adjustment in the penalty assessed to the defense for disconcerting acts and sounds.

Among the gamesmanship that sometimes takes place near the line of scrimmage at the start of the play, defensive players have been known to make sounds or act in a manner which otherwise might distract an offensive player waiting for the snap signal. Previously, the most egregious of these actions would be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

But beginning this year, the disconcerting act foul is a five-yard penalty. The change in the rule actually makes it more likely that this kind of behavior will be flagged, and may eventually lead to a reduction is this type of activity.

Past editions

10/1: Ball Hits Soccer Referee - Listen
9/24: Clocking the Ball from the Shotgun - Listen