The Princeton Tigers have a new head football coach going into 2016, as 24-year old Thomas Hotmer moved up the ranks from Bolivar High School assistant coach to the head man of the Tigers last spring, replacing former coach John Goodin, who remains in the district as Athletics Director.
There are early signs that the rebuilding project done by Coach Goodin could result in gridiron success for Coach Hotmer, as Princeton’s overmatched youngsters from the past two years are beginning to see work in the weight room mean bigger and stronger athletes. In addition, a Tiger team that struggled with low numbers suddenly has potential depth working into its roster this year:
Princeton, looking to build early Friday night confidence, will play a four-team jamboree at Milan High School on Friday, August 12th, playing the host Wildcats, the Putnam County Midgets, and the Class 4 Kirksville Tigers:
The Tigers coaching staff is preaching a balanced offensive attack, and admits that getting more consistent and strong offensive line play will be a major key to a potential Tiger turnaround. If the blocking does its job, there are a number of backfield options for Princeton this fall:
The adjustment from the move from Bolivar to Princeton, and getting used to his new team, has been made easier by Goodin’s presence in the athletic director office, both as a former coach and player for the Tigers and Coach Hotmer:
The Tigers open the regular season hosting Mid-Buchanan on Friday, August 19th. The first KTTN play-by-play broadcast for Princeton this season is the following week at North Platte. Princeton opens the GRC season at Milan on Friday, September 2nd on KTTN, and will host the Trenton Bulldogs the following Friday night on Hot Country Z 101.7.
