Smith Takes on Next Challenge at Everett
August 6, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
LANSING – On a frequently stormy Monday in the shadow of iconic Archie Ross Stadium, the sun broke in for the end of Lansing Everett’s first football practice – just in time for coach Mike Smith to remind his players they have an opportunity to accomplish great things this fall.
Senior Noah Smith knows it. He may have been a first-grader in 2007 when Mike Smith left one of the state’s top Division 1 programs at Holt, but he’s heard plenty about those Rams – who finished the coach’s tenure with 25 straight league wins over four seasons and a District title.
Noah Smith was following mid-Michigan football much more closely in 2013, when Mike Smith took over an Eaton Rapids program that had never made the playoffs and immediately led the Greyhounds to two postseason appearances in his first two seasons.
“I knew that at Eaton Rapids, he came in and changed the program – and when I heard that he was coming here, I was hoping he would do that here,” Noah Smith said.
And Noah’s reaction after Monday’s first session?
“He’s going to change the program,” Smith adamantly added.
It’s not that easy, and even over-the-top to say Mike Smith has made it look that way. But it’s also impossible to argue with his work over the last 30 years.
The Detroit Denby and Michigan State University graduate took over a Dansville team in 1989 coming off a 1-8 finish and led the Aggies to a combined 32-6 run over four seasons including two they finished at 9-1.
After a one-year stop at Eaton Rapids in 1993 (the Greyhounds went 5-4, their last winning season before 20 straight below .500), Smith moved on to Holt in 1994, taking a Rams varsity that hadn’t won more than six games since 1981 to the Class A championship game in 1995. Holt was 98-54 over his 15 seasons with the Rams.
Smith left to assist at Olivet College, then assisted at Grand Ledge for a season before returning to Eaton Rapids in 2013 and leading the Greyhounds to 7-5 and then 8-4 records over his first two seasons – and a 25-26 run overall while navigating a league that has sent three of its six teams to Ford Field over the last eight seasons.
Add it up, and the first four high school varsities (including Eaton Rapids twice) that Smith has taken over were a combined 8-28 the year before – and a combined 24-15 his first seasons. All told, Smith enters this fall at Everett 160-90 for his career and raring for this next challenge and the greater opportunities to educate that come with it.
“I love to teach. I love this part about, it’s not just the football,” Smith said. “It’s about doing something for someone else, the greater good, the whole thing like that. I just really, really enjoy coaching. But it’s not just that – it’s the teaching as well.”
Everett welcomes Smith coming off a 1-8 finish a year ago after former coach Marcelle Carruthers – who turned the program into a local power over 17 seasons – stepped down in the spring to become principal at Lansing Eastern.
Smith had 25 players on the field Monday, with three more for sure on the way, and he expects to end up with a roster in the low 30s – and with junior varsity and freshman teams as well, the freshman team possibly the largest of the three.
Smith also took over as the school’s athletic director in January. He knew his athletes coming into the first practice, but not as football players – and he admitted to being a little nervous Sunday night as he readied for another start.
Noah Smith said his classmates were a little anxious as well when Mike Smith was hired. But that’s eased as they’ve become familiar with their jolly new leader who long has been known for matching intensity with playfulness and genuine care for his athletes.
Noah Smith is entering his fourth season on varsity and earned all-league honors as a receiver last season in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue. Mike Smith’s “calmer” approach caught his attention Monday, even as the new coach did make vocal points on occasion.
“It brings us together even more. You realize that he’s there. He’s actually coaching us. He’s a real coach for us,” Noah Smith said.
Mike Smith said he’s watching this week to see who shows up every day and works hard every day – another part of the culture he’s bringing from his previous stops.
Noah Smith knows it will be sinking in “when people start listening all the time instead of most of the time. We listen, I can honestly say we listen, but we need to listen all the time instead of most of the time because most of the time’s not going to cut it.”
This first practice was over by noon, and Mike Smith already was enjoying what he saw about 100 yards in front of him – players on both sides of assistant Jacob Wyatt, chatting up the former Sexton and Eastern Michigan standout on their way to the locker room.
“If you do the right thing every day, the game’s going to take care of itself,” he said. “You need to know what kind of offense and defense to run and put your kids in the best spots to be successful. (But) the other thing I’ve always stressed to my teams, this team can’t be my team. It’s gotta be your team. When you can get the kids all playing for each other, you’ve got yourself there.”
PHOTOS: (Top) First-year Lansing Everett football coach Mike Smith talks with his team at the end of their first practice of this season Monday. (Middle) A row of Vikings line up during a kickoff drill. (Photos by Geoff Kimmerly.)
Growing Gobles Preparing for Future with Return to 11-Player Football
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
August 25, 2026
GOBLES — For the last five years, Gobles saw success competing in 8-player football, making the MHSAA Playoffs four of those seasons.
This year, coach Greg Eichler hopes to transition that success into 11-player in spite of grumbling from some fans.
“We’re pretty doubted by the town right now,” sophomore tailback/free safety Case Lord said. “But I see what goes on at practice and in the weight room, and I see our work ethic and how strong we are. I think we can do something great.”
Eichler said numbers-wise, the Tigers could compete in 8-player, but “our district is growing, which is good, so when you look at the projected enrollments a couple years down the line, we’re going to be over that playoff limit for 8-player.
“We have a younger team, but we’ve got a diverse group from sophomores up to seniors in terms of their talents and abilities, and I think they can put together some good success right now and also build for the future.”
Gobles finished a combined 31-10 in 8-player over the last four seasons.
Moving back to 11-player, more athletes will have the opportunity to play big roles in the experience.
“It’s been good to have a JV and varsity consistently with no issue, but at the same time, we have a lot of extra kids on the sideline playing 8-player,” Eichler said. “With 11-player there are more opportunities for the kids.”
Discussing the move, the coach added, "When you’ve got three extra guys on the field, it changes how much space on the field you’ve got to cover and who you’re looking at, who you’re covering, who you’re keying on.”
Another change this fall will be playing several less familiar opponents as part of a combined league. Gobles is among a handful of Southwestern Athletic Conference schools playing football as part of the Southwest 10 Conference this fall.
"We’re playing a majority Southwest 10 schedule but will play Galesburg and Saugatuck from the SAC and everyone else is Southwest (10),” Eichler said. "Traditionally the SAC has been our league. You had to give that up, but you want to make sure you’re putting the kids in the best position.”
Eichler said the Southwest 10 has some great traditions and some solid football programs that will give the Tigers a run.
“We love a new challenge, and we feel that’s what this is. It’s a new step in our program that’s going to challenge everybody, coaches and players alike,” he noted. “Southwest 10 teams are a little bit more our size. They’re still mostly bigger than us, but I think competitively they’re probably the better teams to put on our schedule.”
Senior outside linebacker/wing back Hunter Piper said playing in both conferences is a plus “because we’re playing more schools that I know. We go to those schools for other sports, so it’s nice to play new competition.”
Eichler said one advantage for the Division 8 Tigers this year is that in 11-player “you get bonuses for playing bigger schools and most of the time, we’re the smaller school.
“We have several Division 7 schools on our schedule, so those are like little bonus incentives. That’s win or lose.”
They got their first taste of 11-player in a while last Thursday in a scrimmage against Coloma. Gobles will kick off the “real” season at home Thursday against Niles Brandywine.
“We had a competitive scrimmage, and a lot of our young players got some really good experience,” Eichler said. “I would say the following day’s film session was even more important, as our team learned a lot in order to prepare for our Week 1 matchup versus Niles Brandywine.”
Their second game is a big one for the town: The Tiger Tribute game versus Hartford on Sept. 3.
“It’s the military and first responder appreciation game (which will feature) flyovers, vehicles,” Eichler said.
Honorary captain this year is Navy Lieutenant Commander Ian Weston, a 2010 Gobles alum. The tribute will include a parade and the school choir singing the national anthem.
Sophomore & senior expectations
Eichler said Lord was the first freshman he moved up to varsity over his six years coaching.
“He took some lumps early but really grew as the year went on,” the coach said. “He’s going to bring some varsity experience even as a sophomore.
"I think that’s really good for that sophomore group. He understands what varsity football looks like, even though it was 8-player. We played some really good teams.”
Lord said playing varsity as a freshman was eye-opening.
“Out of the gate I wasn’t prepared for the speed, but I learned very fast that’s a big thing with a varsity game,” he said. “Now I understand what that is, and I can compete with others.
“I’ve been looking forward to this year since last season ended.”
Lord is no stranger to 11-player football, starting the sport 12 years ago on a club team.
“My brother (Adam Vosburg), and my grandpa (Gerald Gravatt) both played football,” Lord said. “My brother had D-I (college) offers everywhere but went to Olivet to stay close to home after my grandpa passed. My brother basically lived through him, and I live through my brother.”
Eichler counts on seniors such as Piper in leadership roles.
“Hunter brings experience, some really good leadership and stability,” the coach said. “I think that’s going to be important because our bigger group right now is our sophomores. We have him and a handful of other seniors to help stabilize them.”
Part of Piper’s experience is from the 2024 team that went undefeated in the regular season before losing its Division 1 8-Player Regional Semifinal to Martin.
Jumping to 11-player is “a little funky with a couple more players, and the field is definitely a little bigger, but it’s still the same game,” Piper said. “I love the game, and I like to bring a lot of leadership. I like to help out the younger kids.”
Piper, who is also on the wrestling team, said that helps him in football.
“I like the testosterone sports,” he said. “I like to go out there and fly around and hit. The energy is beautiful.”
In spite of hearing some of the town’s naysayers, Piper said, “There’s moments in practice where I think this is a great team. People don’t see what we see, and they’re definitely underestimating us.
“Our strength is the bond we have. We have a very strong connection between all of us.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Gobles’ Case Lord follows his blockers during a carry last season. (Middle) From left: Tigers coach Greg Eichler, Hunter Piper and Case Lord. (Below) Piper (7) lines up on defense last fall. (Action photos courtesy of the Gobles football program. Head shots by Pam Shebest.)