October 15, 2003
Richardson plays dual role for Gladiators
St. Francis High School offensive tackle spends football half time marching in the band
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
During home St. Francis High School football games, offensive tackle Caleb Richardson pulls double duty.
During half time, instead of resting or listening to coaches, he doffs his football helmet and shoulder pads and grabs a tuba. Marching in his football jersey, he heads back onto the field. There, Richardson does his part with the marching band before again switching roles as football players pour onto the field. He's got at most five minutes between roles, just enough time to grab a drink and get an update on second half strategy.
While game days are rigorous, keeping his practice schedule straight and games plans sorted out (marching formations versus scoring strategies) is just part of his life. Each day he completes a three-hour football practice after school and each morning he rehearses with the band.
"I balance my schedule between football, band, homework and play," said Richardson, a senior at St. Francis High School who also occasionally plays defensive tackle for the Gladiators. "I crash on the weekends."
This is the second year that Richardson has pulled a two-fer during football season; last year he played the trumpet with the band.
Richardson, who plans to study business next year at Grand Valley State University, said his schedule is demanding but not overwhelming.
"The biggest challenge is getting enough food and rest," he said.
Richardson was joined in his double duties during the 2002 football season by Mike Schram, now a student at Northwestern Michigan College.
Schram began playing varsity football as a freshman and decided then not to give up the marching band. His football coach and the band director helped him coordinate the two practice schedules. By his senior year he served as drum major and co-captain of the football team.
"It was awesome, an experience that not many people can say they did," said Schram, a triple major studying math, biology and chemistry with plans to transfer to a university next year. "It was really cool, very interesting to do. It was fun to play the game, conduct the band, then go play some more."
"The two programs worked out very well," he added.
Bob Sagan, band director at St. Francis High School for 11 years, noted the situation may be unusual locally because the other two high schools are so much larger. Sagan has the numbers down cold: St. Francis, a Class C school, has 323 students. Eighty-five of them play in the band - 28 percent of the school if anyone's counting. In addition, 80 percent of band members play a sport and 70 percent of the band play two or more sports.
So they are busy kids, but perhaps none quite so busy in a few hours as Caleb Richardson is during home games.
Sagan helps Richardson by coordinating schedules closely with the football coach, Josh Sellers. He also helps his other band members who play sports by coordination with the athletic department.
"When I get the band schedule out the first thing I do is shoot it over to athletics," said Sagan. "When I schedule a concert I talk to the athletic department because that is something I can be flexible on."
"The programs compliment each other as opposed to being in competition with each other," he added.
A former band member and three-sport player at St. Francis, principal Robert Bridges said his students' busy schedules usually contribute to their academic success.
"The research all says that when kids are in a sport that their grades are better overall than when they are out of a sport," Bridges said. "That's because our coaches all emphasize academics and when the kids are not in a sport, they get lazy."
"When they have a limited amount of time they can't waste any of it," he added. "I encourage all our kids to get involved in some activity, whether it is band, drama or sports."