A lot of football teams talk about culture, and what they want their culture to look like.
Actually, it’s coaches who usually talk about the culture they want their players to follow and embrace.
So it’s refreshing when the culture talk comes from players, like it does for this year’s Mountain View Thunder.
Case in point: junior Nile Jones’ ‘We over me’ statement on social media in early June.
And that was that.
“We all work well together,” Jones said. “Everybody on the team is really close with each other, and that will help us throughout the season.”
Coach Adam Mathieson said he has been impressed watching his players be the driving force of their team-specific goals.
“That doesn’t always happen,” he said. “The team gets it; they’ve been connected since then.”
Holding each other accountable for optional summer events is just the start of what Mathieson called a fun culture to be around.
“It’s the kids that have the say,” he said.
The kids also have a big say in what they hope to accomplish on the field, too. Senior lineman Zeek Fromel said confidence has never been higher for the defending 3A Greater St. Helens League champions.
Mathieson called this the deepest team he’s had in his tenure.
“We feel we can make a pretty good run,” he said.
Officially, Mountain View is 10-0 in league play their last two seasons as a Class 3A program. The Thunder were unbeaten last season as well as 2013, their previous season in Class 3A before moving to 4A for two seasons.
And the Thunder don’t just return seven starters on each side of the ball. Every player has experience in their position with the exception of Glen Perry, Jr., an all-league running back who moves to quarterback after rushing for more than 800 yards last season.
Mathieson refers to this year’s squad as Team 37, an annual theme he uses to tie players from past Mountain View teams and the future through the players in the present.
So what the identity of Team 37?
“I think that’s probably to be determined on the field,” Mathieson said.
2016 Record: 7-4, 5-0. First in 3A GSHL
Best State Finish: Semifinals in 2001, 2002
Returning All-League selection in bold
QB Glen Perry, Jr. 5-8 160 Sr.
RB Nile Jones 5-8 175 Jr.
WR Jack Mertens 5-7 155 Jr.
WR Makai Anderson 6-0 165 Jr.
WR Michael Bolds 5-9 135 Jr.
TE Rodolfo Montiel 6-0 195 Jr.
OL Joey Roberts 6-0 195 Jr.
OL Zeek Fromel 6-0 210 Sr.
OL Jack Folden 5-9 190 Sr.
OL Thai Hindman 5-8 180 Jr.
OL Alex Hegel 6-2 235 Sr.
* * *
DL Grant Francis 6-2 215 Sr.
DL Tyler Black 5-8 215 Sr.
DL Nick Jones 6-1 230 Sr.
LB Rodolfo Montiel 6-0 195 Jr.
LB Sean Delmage 5-10 160 Jr.
LB Andrew Gulliford 5-8 165 Jr.
LB Kobe Anderson 5-9 175 Jr.
DB Mitchell Delmage 5-6 155 Sr.
DB Philip Earnhardt 5-8 140 Jr.
DB Jack Mertens 5-7 155 Jr.
DB Payton Regas 5-8 155 Sr.
Coach: Adam Mathieson (10th season)
Home games at McKenzie Stadium
League games in bold
Sept. 2, Ferris 2 p.m.
Sept. 8, Union 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15, Battle Ground 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 22, at Skyview 8 p.m.
Sept. 29, at Hudson’s Bay 8 p.m.
Oct. 6, Kelso 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12, Fort Vancouver 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 20, at Prairie 7 p.m.
Oct. 27, at Evergreen 7:30 p.m.
