New Coach, New Rules, New Identity: Sequoyah Flag Football Enters a New Era
A new season this Fall presents fresh and exciting opportunities for the Sequoyah Flag Football Team. After making a statement in the Omega league last year, going 4-2, the Gryphons return with new faces, elevated expectations, and, most importantly, a new head coach.
For Truman George ’27, who has been playing for the program since its early stages, the changes make this season particularly exciting. “Last year was really successful, and I'm really excited this year with a new head coach with Ben [Moran],” says George.
Moran [PE Teacher, Flag Football, Basketball, and Soccer Coach] brings a different, enthusiastic, and positive approach to the game, although he is new to the league and team this year. Truman articulated that Moran’s positive mentality, emphasis on fundamentals, and willingness to learn from his players have already made an impact. “I really do value his humility…What he really brings that's super valuable… is his mentality, the way he coaches, the way he focuses on the fundamentals.”
Senior receiver Zowen Ajemian ’27 also says that Moran has quickly made an impression on the team. “Ben has been amazing so far,” Ajemian says. “He’s such a great leader. He’s so great at making everyone come together.”
That willingness to collaborate and hear the players’ voices has also allowed the players to take on a larger role in developing the team’s strategy. George and Ajemian have worked with Moran to create plays and build the team’s new playbook catered towards the strengths of this year’s team, combining the players’ experience in the league with Moran’s team-forward approach to coaching.
The team will also have to adjust to a completely different set of rules this season. Blocking is no longer allowed, contact is more restricted, and quarterbacks are allowed to run with the ball. The changes will require teams to develop new strategies and adjust to how officials interpret the rules during games. “We’re playing under a whole new set of rules… there’s lots of gray area, lots of interpretation” Moran says.
Ajemian agreed that the changes will force the Gryphons to rethink what worked last year. “Anything we had going last year, we can’t really run…so we kind of have new playbooks” says Ajemian.
However, coaching changes aren't the only difference between this season and the last. The Gryphons also have a different roster after losing several key seniors from last season. And while this may create some difficulties, such as a loss in experience and physical strength, it also opens the door for more creativity within the playcalling.
Instead of relying on physical strength, Ajemian expects the Gryphons to lean more heavily on precision and execution. “We’re going to see an offense where we’re very methodical and efficient… driving down the field, short passes, short passes, short passes is what our QB is really great at,” says Ajemian.
George believes the answer is not trying to replace the players who graduated. “I don't think it's worth trying to live up to, try to replicate what we did last year,” Truman says. Instead, the team will focus on identifying the individual strengths of its current players and building its offense around them.
“We have a great senior class…The leadership’s been phenomenal. The athleticism’s there. The drive is there,” says Moran. For Moran, however, the season is about more than simply adapting to changes on the field. He wants the team to represent Sequoyah well both on and off of the field. “We want to go out there and put our best foot forward…I want us to be upstanders. I want us to be real Sequoyans,” says Moran.
The Gryphons enter the season with plenty of uncertainty, but also with clear goals. Ajemian summed up the team’s ambitions simply: “The goal is to dominate,” he says, before adding that the team’s main aspiration is to win a championship. While last year’s success may provide a foundation, this season will be defined by how quickly the Gryphons can turn their changes into a new identity.