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SPORTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 | kenoshanews.com | SECTION C COMME NTARY Well worth the wait Central Franz takes over spent last year cially was offered. with Central as At that very moment, Franz If you go‌ Central football the defensive line said he was almost speechless. coach. “It’s been an interesting jour- What: Meet-and-greet with new Central football coach hits its DAN TRUTTSCHEL Central athletic ney to get to this point,” he said. [email protected]‌ director Jon Lindh “Two years ago, if you had said Jared Franz ‌In a perfect world, a person’s said it became I’d be the head coach at Central, When: Monday, 6 p.m. journey to success follows a clear that Franz, I would have said, ‘No way, you straight path. Franz 35, was a perfect have the wrong guy.’ Where: Central All-Purpose target Of course, the world is far from fit for the job. “... It all happens, I guess for Room perfect. “The interview committee a reason. ... Every emotion you Who: The event is open to all t didn’t take me long to real- And in Jared Franz’s case, his had a number of qualified candi- could expect to have, excitement, current and future players ize that Jared Franz would be path wasn’t just curvy, it had dates to select from,” Lindh said. anticipation, nervousness (I’ve and their parents ‌Ia head football coach at some many forks in it until recently “However, Coach Franz stood had). I think fear of failure is a point in his high school career. when the longtime Wilmot foot- out from the other candidates good thing.” Sometimes, you can just tell. ball assistant coach landed his who were interviewed based While Central has struggled and his staff did in that area. So it wasn’t a surprise at all first head job at the helm of the on his knowledge of the game, on the field to a 21-69 record the “There’s really great kids (in when Central athletic director Central program. dedication to the Westosha Fal- past 10 years and just one post- the program),” he said. “The Jon Lindh reached out to me Franz replaces Tyson Mengel, con Youth Football Program and season berth in 2010 when it was character piece is there. We have this week to tell me that Franz who resigned at the end of the his investment in the Westosha 6-4, Franz said there are pieces to build off that.” had been chosen to replace for- 2019 season. Central community.” in place to get the train on the The fact that Franz, who mer coach Tyson Mengel at the After 12 years at all levels with And even after confidently right track. teaches social studies at Cen- helm of the program. Wilmot — minus 2016 when he getting through two interviews And that starts with the char- tral, inherits several completed And it’s going to be a fit the took a season off to pursue an for the head job, he still was un- acter of the team, which Franz kids, parents administration degree — Franz certain until the position offi- said is a credit to what Mengel Please see FRANZ, Page C3 and entire Cen- tral community definitely will be pleased with. OREGON 28, WISCONSIN 27 My relation- ship with Franz DAN dates back to our TRUTTSCHEL time together as assistant coaches with the Wilmot football program several years ago. After a couple seasons with the freshmen, I was moved up to coach the varsity defensive line when he took over as the coordinator. And let me say this: Nobody I’ve ever coached with paid more attention to detail than he did when it came to film work, to making sideline adjustments, to the teaching of the game. That’s not in any way a slight to the other coaches I’ve had the pleasure of working with, but more of a tip of the hat to Jared and his skills as a football coach. In fact, sometimes his brain moved too fast for mine to pro- cess. We had several conver- sations over the headsets that usually ended with me asking for a repeat of his instructions. That’s just how quickly he could see things as they devel- oped at any given moment. Naturally, when you work closely together over the grind of a football season, you learn AP PHOTO‌S a lot about that person — and Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan hands off to running back Jonathan Taylor during the second half of the Rose Bowl Wednesday against Oregon. aside from just his skills as a coach, Franz is all about one thing. And that’s the kids he teaches UW left looking and coaches. for answers He pushes them beyond Loss a tough lesson where they ever thought they could go. He’ll be supportive, COLTEN BARTHOLOMEW but he’s not afraid to get after LEE ENTERPRISES‌ them if needed. They are teen- ‌PASADENA, Calif. — Frus- age boys, after all. tration was just one of the many Who can argue that demo- emotions hanging in the air graphic sometimes needs a lit- of the University of Wiscon- tle tough love? sin football team’s locker room At his core, Franz is a social Wednesday night. studies teacher and a good one The Badgers knew their mis- at that. When he was on the takes were more responsible for verge of losing that position at their 28-27 loss to Oregon in the Wilmot in the spring because Rose Bowl than anything the of a drop in enrollment, he Ducks did schematically. Nine reached out to me to keep my penalties deflated UW at times, eyes open for a new opportu- and the four turnovers the Bad- nity. gers (10-4) committed gave Ore- Of course, I was more than gon (12-2) all the ammo it needed willing to do that for a for- to come away with a win. mer coaching colleague and a “Obviously we made a bunch friend. of mistakes and didn’t play our But I also knew it wouldn’t best,” junior quarterback Jack take but a second for him to Coan said. land on his feet. But in that mix of emotions And ironically enough, it there also was joy and appreci- happened at the Panthers’ ation. The Badgers know what nearby and forever rival just they experienced Wednesday seven miles away. and throughout the week in Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs past Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. during the second Hey, life sometimes works in Southern California will stay half of the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. mysterious ways. But it’s all for with them going forward. the best. “Obviously, coming off on a mosphere itself, you’ve got to It took one of the Badgers’ a team-high eight tackles and an Where one opportunity win would be absolutely different appreciate that, too. If you keep sloppiest games of the season to interception in the game. closed at Wilmot, Franz told emotion. But you’ve got to have looking down, you’re never going lose by a point against a top-tier Sophomore tight end Jake Fer- me during our New Year’s Day … you’re going to go through to see what’s in front of you.” opponent. guson — who had four catches interview over coffee, another some ups and downs, that’s just The loss snapped UW’s streak While it might take a while for 44 yards, including a 22-yard one opened up. life itself. Football’s a beautiful of five consecutive bowl wins, for UW players to see this loss catch that proved to be UW’s And he couldn’t be happier to game. For what it’s given me, but it also showed that the pro- through those rose-colored second-longest play of the game be where he’s at. He has a fresh it’s unreal, it’s so much. I think gram had taken a big step for- glasses, the team’s young lead- — had similar thoughts. start, a chance to build some- you’ve got to be able to appre- ward after a disappointing 2018 ers like sophomore linebacker “We’re never going to have the thing with his own two hands ciate it in the tough times and season. Jack Sanborn already know this same team again. The older guys, and do what he loves, and that’s how far you’ve come and how The Badgers’ defense in the will only continue propelling the I know they have a sour taste in teaching and coaching football. far you’ve bought into this sports Rose Bowl controlled the line of Badgers forward. their mouth, it’s not the way we I can’t even hold a grudge for itself and to this team. That goes scrimmage against a strong of- “It’s going to just fuel us in wanted to end it,” Ferguson said. the one day while I was running beyond everything,” junior cen- fensive line, didn’t allow Oregon the offseason. We expect to be “This offseason, (we’ll) work out the defensive linemen through ter Tyler Biadasz said. quarterback Justin Herbert — a in these types of games at Wis- the chutes that Jared did his “I’m just so proud of our guys. likely first-round draft pick — consin, next year we’re expect- Please see BADGERS, Page C2 best Brett Favre impersonation Sometimes smiling is not the to get comfortable throwing the ing no different. We just have and tried to throw a football in worst thing in the world.

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