By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor
TIPTON — For the first time in seven seasons, the Tipton football program will be sporting new uniforms. The Tigers recently revealed the new uniforms to the public. The Tigers will also have a new look on their helmets.
The Tigers will sport helmets without a decal for the first time since the 2008 season. The new helmets look similar to the University of Michigan, University of Dubuque or Princeton. The helmet has not decal, and the ‘wings’ are painted on. The Tigers helmets were refurbished this offseason and as part of that, the new look was added. The main color will still be black and gold, THS colors. The winged helmets have history from teams that run the wing-T offense, the Tigers offense of choice.
“The kids are excited about the new helmets and uniforms. Kids love getting new stuff and they are excited about the white on white look for our away games. It’s kind of the trend now and players get excited about that,” said Tipton head football coach Joe Zeutenhorst.
The Tigers will wear white tops and pants for road games, black tops and pants for home games, and they will don their alternate gold tops, typically worn for big district contests.
Zuentenhort reports that the design is a little of the old, but new. The uniforms will have an Iowa Hawkeye look with stripes over the shoulders.
“The kids are excited about going white on white for the road games. It’s the in thing now. Our home uniforms are basic and have a classic look to them. The big thing is that they will have gold numbers and Tiger paws on the shoulders,” he said.
The new uniforms and helmets were to be delivered this past spring, and revealed during the program’s late spring meeting. However, a delay forced a change in the plans. Since, the players have filed in this summer, seeing the new gear and are excited.
Uniforms will go down to the freshman level. Old game uniforms are up for sale and if interested, one can call Zeutenhorst to inquire about it. The alternate white uniforms worn by the Tigers at Jesup last season, will become new practice uniforms.
The uniforms are with Riddell, the same company that Tipton has for their helmets. Zeutenhorst noted that the company was easy to deal with and did a great job working with the program to get things set up. The new uniforms also will be tighter and tighter fitting. In past years, with other company uniforms, the Tigers were often tackled by their looser jerseys. In addition, the uniform tops were thick and heavy, making players more hot and sometimes aided in cramping during games.
Zeutenhorst said that donations helped pay for the new uniforms and that for the past 3-4 months, players have written letters to community members asking for donations. Also, some of the money used came from sales of their annual football card fundraisers. The fundraiser will again be available this fall, with football players selling them in a few weeks.
“I, along with my coaching staff and players, would like to personally thank those that donated to getting new uniforms. We couldn’t have gotten these without their investment,” he said.
Zeutenhorst said that the new uniforms are an investment, not only into the program, but into the players as well.
“If you want kids to treat football like its a big deal, then you as a coach and a community have to treat it like a big deal. It was a big financial investment and it sends a message to the players that this is something that is important and we expect you to work hard because we are putting our money into it. We are doubling down and doing what it takes to be successful. We expect the kids to do the same,” he said.
Summer Football Report
Zeutenhorst reports that this summer is very different from his first summer as the head football coach.
“We are getting a lot of guys showing up for summer work. Last year, I got hired late in terms of school hires and the I had to help finish up coaching baseball at the school district I was at, and I didn’t get here until July. That is a little late in getting things going for football. We did our best though, but we struggled to get guys in,” he said.
“Basically, this summer, we are getting almost everyone in and it is a total change from last year. I feel we are way ahead of where we were last year at this time,” he said.
The Tigers have had 7-on-7 work with other schools like Wilton. The wing-T presents some challenges in a 7-on-7 format, but the Tigers are working hard, and taking advantage of the time on both sides of the football.
The Tigers will attend a full padded football camp on July 23-25 in Davenport. The following week, the Tigers will open up preseason camp on July 31.
Zeutenhorst is excited about the upcoming season. The Tigers were a work in progress after installing a new offense, the wing-T. The Tigers will be even better this fall with a year of running it under their belt. Zeutenhorst said that he has spent a lot of time preparing for this season, as has his coaches and they are excited for the upcoming season to start.
Coaching Changes Heading Into 2018
Fans of Tipton football will notice some changes in the coaching staff this fall. Longtime defensive coordinator Kyle Reeve will not be back. Reeve resigned his position this spring, and recently was named the principal at Columbus Junction high school and will leave the school district. Coach Derek Latimer also will be shifting duties, moving to the middle school program in a move to fit his work schedule better.
The new defensive coordinator will be Cole Goodenow. Goodenow, another longtime THS coach, has been the head junior varsity coach recently, and will now coordinate the defense. Also, another longtime THS coach, Rich Fisher, will move to the defensive side of the football at the varsity level. The program also hired Darren Lenz as a varsity coach. Jeremy Langenfeld will be the new head junior varsity coach, taking over for Goodenow.
2018 Varsity Football Schedule:
Friday, August 24 - Home (North Cedar) - 7; Friday, August 31 - Home (Vinton-Shellsburg) - 7; Friday, September 7 - Away (Durant) - 7; Friday, September 14 - Away (West Branch) - 7; Friday, September 21 - Home (Camanche) - 7; Friday, September 28 - Away (Mount Vernon) - 7; Friday, October 5 - Away (West Burlington) - 7; Friday, October 12 - Home (Louisa-Muscatine) - 7; Friday, October 19 - Away (West Liberty) - 7.
2018 Fresh/Soph Football Schedule:
Friday, August 31 - Home (Vinton-Shellsburg) - 5; Tuesday, September 4 - Away (Midland) - 5:30; Friday, September 28 - Away (Mount Vernon) - 5; Friday, October 19 - Away (West Liberty) - 5.
2018 Tipton Junior Varsity Schedule:
Monday, August 27 - Home (North Cedar) - 6; Monday, September 10 - Away (Durant) - 6; Friday, September 14 - Away (West Branch) - 4:30; Monday, September 17 - Home (Vinton-Shellsburg) - 6; Monday, September 24 - Home (Camanche) - 6; Monday, October 15 - Home (West Liberty) - 6.
2018 Tipton Middle School Football Schedule:
Tuesday, September 11 - Home (Camanche) 4:15; Tuesday, September 18 - Away (Monticello) - 4:15; Tuesday, September 25 - Away (Mid-Prairie) 4:15; Tuesday, October 2 - Home (Iowa City Regina) - 4:15; Tuesday, October 9 - Home (West Liberty) - 4:15; Tuesday, October 16 - Away (Anamosa) - 4:15.
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