Father-Son Combo Leading Sapulpa To Great Start In 2013

At Sapulpa, father knows best, son listens.

"I've had a lot of hard times with him but in the end he knows what's best," Sapulpa quarterback Sam Gottsch said.

"Sammy and I have gotten better," said head coach and Sam's father, Mike. "We've had our battles and moments. We had our battles and moments when he was younger. But we're getting along and growing together."

Sam has watched as his father, Mike, has coached in six different states. They say it was frustrating at times, but they've found a home and have led Sapulpa back to respectability. This is the third year it's been Gottsch at quarterback and coach. Mike says he learned the dynamics on how being a coach of a son at quarterback from his high school and junior college days.

"We've had our moments there, but here this year it's a lot different, Mike said. "It's a different position at quarterback, and I know he's a guy that expects excellence and he gets down on himself. But each player, they're different."

Now father and son are preparing to lead their team out onto the field against Jenks. With a big game Friday night, you think they might talk at the dinner table about what wrinkles to put in the playbook. But just like at home, where father is welcome to talk to son, quarterback is welcome to talk to coach in the office.

"We do a lot of our talking here," Sam said. "I'm in the office with him before and after practice."

"He'll come in early and we'll review tape," Mike said. "On Saturday we're here all day. But at home I try to be dad. But it is a blessing to have your quarterback there if you have a question that you need to ask."

So far, father and son have put together the right game plan to go 4-0, the first time for the Chieftains since 2005.