Local Sports
Former Sabres football player turned coach talks importance of Homecoming game
This Friday marks a big Homecoming game for the SRSS Sabres Varsity football team, and former player turned coach, Eric Martens, says it's a big deal for the community to come out and support. What it means Martens says this event is a special one, something that he knows is appreciated by the players. "It's always fun to have all the people at your school, your friends, and your family come out. Having a massive crowd being there while you're playing football, I feel like that's maybe something people don't understand about football, just how big of an impact a big crowd can make." Former player From 2019 to 2023, Martens was on the field as a player, and he says it's been a smooth transition moving to coaching. "It's been really good. The kids here are at the point where they don't know me, because they were not at the school when I was going here. That's a good thing, because I get to coach people I don't know. I love getting into the mechanics of football, the brain and knowledge side of the game, and being able to help the kids is awesome. Nothing beats seeing them grow and progress through that." Being an alumnus is special for Martens, and he appreciates all the Sabres do for guys like him. "I feel like the way the coaches treat me, even when I wasn't coaching, I'd just come and hang out at practices, the coaches treated me like I was part of the team. They treat you like you're one of them. It's cool how they treat everyone the same. From grade nine to grade twelve, they love all the players the same. For guys who graduated the program, to be welcomed back and encouraged to come around, it's special." Alumni impact As a former player, Martens believes that when other former players are there cheering, it makes a huge impact. "When I was in JV, the people who were in varsity, they were bigger, stronger, cooler, you think they're the best ever, and then they come watch you when you're playing, it makes you feel like they're watching you because you're great. You're the big, strong varsity player now, and they want to watch you. You like to think they view you the same way you viewed them at one point. From alumni to community members, Martens wants a packed house to make this Homecoming game extra special for the players. "Sometimes I know there are times you hear the volume of the crowd, and it adds to the game. It adds to the pressure on the other team, because they know they are your fans and they want you to succeed. We want people to come out and get loud." Friday at AD Penner Park, with kick off at 4:30 p.m.