Schaffer brings new style to Greenville
By George Starks 

GREENVILLE - When conditioning started, Greenville football coach Aaron Schaffer started teaching his kids as soon as possible. 

“We got the basic stuff in,” Schaffer said. “Now that the actual practices have started (three-a-days) we are working on making sure the kids are sharp with the new system. We are reviewing everything right now. Things are going to be a little bit different.” 

In the past, Greenville football was smash-mouth football. In other words, run...run...run. 

Now, the Wave look will be different. 

“Over the course of this week, we are going to continue to add to the running game,” Schaffer admitted. “Over the summer we were able to put in a passing game so we are going to try to open things up on offense. We also worked on a pass defense. A lot of our focus will be upfront on the offensive and defensive line and the linebackers, making sure they are lined up right. There’s a lot of things that have to be taken care of over the next three or four days.” 

Currently, all football teams are working in helmets only but it won’t take long to get the pads on and then kids will start hitting each other. 

“Once we get through this first week and get into contact on Saturday, we will start looking to scrimmages on Tuesday,” Schaffer said. “By next Friday, we will be cleaning up some things and working on our screen games and getting some of those worked into the offense. I’ve got things pretty well mapped out and right now, we are pretty much on course. We got a lot of work to do but I feel good about where we’re at right now.” 

Schaffer said he was pleased with the progress his team has made up to this point and the fact that the kids are buying what he’s selling. 

“I feel the kids have bought what I’ve brought to the table,” Schaffer admitted. “I think the offense and defense that we’re bringing to the table is exciting and dynamic. We want to be able to put pressure on offenses and defenses. We want them to react to us instead of us reacting to them. We are going to throw the ball around a little more. We want to mix it up a little. We are not going to be an under center type team. We are going to have some misdirection type stuff. We are going to use formations and motion to our advantage. The kids like what we’re doing because it’s an upbeat type of offense. It’s going to be a different style of football.” 

Playing his high school football at Greenville and his college football at Wittenberg University, Schaffer also helped as a coach at the college level and looks to bring his attitude of the game back to Greenville. 

“One of the things I was always proud of as a player was my hustle and enthusiasm,” said Schaffer. Those are the things I want to instill into our players on this team. Play the game the way it was meant to be played and play it with great pride.” 

Schaffer finished by saying that he was proud to come back to Greenville and renew the old rivals from what was then the GMVC (Greater Miami Valley Conference) now known as the GWOC North. 

His main goal is to win the North championship, then focus on the play-offs.