Chet Pobolish is entering his fourth year and third season as the head coach for the SWOSU football team.
The Bulldogs are returning to the field after the 2020 season was suspended due to COVID-19 concerns.
At the forefront this year is concern for the team’s mental and physical health.
“This past year has been difficult for the young men I am in charge of, and one of my major concerns is their mental health,” Pobolish said. “A lot of our kids are going through it, and you don’t realize it as you see them on the field. This upcoming season is important to us – not just from a playing standpoint but for mental health as well.”
Pobolish said his team is ready to play again. As a precaution, the nearly 140 players on roster are being tested weekly for COVID-19. Pobolish said the team began training camp with no positive tests, but now about 20 of them are in quarantine at any given time.
“We’ve probably changed the roster at least seven times in the last 15 days,” he said.
Testing procedures vary between schools. While SWOSU is regularly testing its entire roster, some universities are only testing a portion of their team if at all. Oklahoma universities also have varying mask requirements and vaccination rates.
Pobolish said his team will play as many games as they can, but his main concern at this point is their health.
Looking at the season, about five or six members from the 2019 team will be playing on a consistent basis this year, with about 20-25 different starters.
“Most of the time you would say, ‘You have a young team,’ but that’s not the case with these guys,” Pobolish said. “The 2019 freshmen who redshirted during that season will be in their third year of college and first year playing.”
Quarterback Tanner Griffin comes in as a threeyear state champion from Bixby who graduated as the No. 3 baseball player and No. 1 third baseman in Oklahoma. A shoulder injury ended his baseball career, but Pobolish said he still can throw a football 70 yards.
Pobolish also said he has an “electric” group of wide receivers going into the new season.
The SWOSU Bulldogs will open their season with a home game against Henderson State University 6 p.m. September 2.