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The opening kickoff

Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff August 21, 2008 02:55 PM

08222008millis600.jpg
A 25-man roster and a 17-game losing streak doesn't keep Millis coach Dale Olmsted and his team from dreaming big.

MILLIS -- As football teams hop into full pads and begin two-a-day sessions on the gridiron, Boston.com kicks off its 2008 coverage in Millis. We know what you're thinking: Millis!? One of eight teams to go winless during the 2007 campaign? That's right. Check out the video below to see exactly why we're hanging with the Mohawks to start the season.

  • Click HERE to watch a larger version.
33 comments so far...
  1. ya i def think this is our season! As a team we all think we work harder and we practice alot more then any team around. Most kids tell us " ya u practice alot more because you need it" and there right we do need it more because we want to improve. Also we have to improve because were not like other towns when you mess up you have 5 other player to back you up. We cant do that. because we dont have that many players soo we have to practice more soo we dont make mistakes because wats out there on the field is what we got.

    Posted by Mike Ahl August 21, 08 10:11 PM
  1. Go Mohawks! Have a great season --

    Posted by The Whitlows August 22, 08 12:54 PM
  1. Can we give equal attention to other sports....This is not Texas/Penn/Ohio...

    Posted by Charlie August 22, 08 11:40 PM
  1. I know exactly what you're going through, because we're mired in a 24 game losing streak. Keep working. Good luck fellas,

    Posted by Roy Ferri, Head Coach JEB Stuart HS (VA) August 23, 08 12:13 AM
  1. If I had not moved to Arizona, I would have been in the graduation class of 1980. To see this clip makes me proud to be from Millis. Keep your heads high, do your best and you will be winners. Go Mohawks!

    Posted by Ted Leland August 23, 08 12:24 AM
  1. Come on Charlie, Football supports all sports programs, ticket sales from football in high school and college, keep other sports programs out of the red, or close to.

    I had heard that BU is in session, right now ! looking to get out of the red. Number one on the list, to save the Athletic Program, is to bring back the football team.

    Posted by Supporter August 23, 08 09:00 AM
  1. Go Medway Mustangs!

    Posted by Double D August 23, 08 12:18 PM
  1. Last years record does not truly tell the story of the fine men who played. Many of these games Millis was in the game (tied or winning) at the half. You will rarely see any town whose boys play as hard and put their heart in soul into a game as much as these young men did (do) each week. Most play both sides of the ball, the whole game. They don't have the luxary of having 30 other guys on the side lines to give them a breather. I know first hand the toll both physically and mentally it has on them. My son (and 2 more to go) gave everything he had and then some. Playing for Millis has not only taught him to value the friendships he has made, it has given him life lessons that will be with him forever. Wins will come and go, character stays with you forever. THAT'S WHAT MILLIS BUILDS!!

    Posted by PROUD MILLIS MOM August 23, 08 03:26 PM
  1. L 8-6
    L 21-7
    L 29-0
    L 22-0
    L 22-18
    L 21-7
    L 20-0
    L 29-8
    L 19-0
    L 27-0
    L 9-6

    0-11...These games really were not that close and just cause they have lost so many games gives anyone the right to say but they put so much effort and passion into the game. So does almost every football team in America.

    Posted by Dissapointed fan from Millis August 24, 08 03:53 PM
  1. Would it be so wrong to comment only on the article instead of stating scores from last year. I will never be a dissapointed fan of Millis High School sports for the very reason that in all sports in Millis, the school makes due with what it has. Millis High has proudly represented their school in all sports,- fall,- winter,-spring, male-female-varsity- j.v-freshman season after season. Best of Luck Mohawks

    Posted by Terrence J. Tangney August 24, 08 08:12 PM
  1. PROUD TO BE A MOHAWK , GIVE IT YOUR BEST BOYS !
    MOHAWK MOM--K HOWARD

    Posted by kellyann howard August 25, 08 10:19 AM
  1. The disappointed fan sounds more like a disgruntled individual, I wouldn't call him/her a fan. The long and short of it is Millis is the smallest school in the TVL by at least half the student body. ALL of it's athletes give 110% on the field and in the classroom. I don't remember reading (in comment 8) that no other town/team had less passion. If the Disappointed fan from Millis, is truly that disappointed, move or watch and root for another town. I hope his/her negative attitude doesn't affect the spirit of all the hard working kids in Millis. He/she obviously is missing the point of sports as a whole,TEAMWORK AND SPORTSMANSHIP!!

    Posted by SPORTS LOVER August 25, 08 10:23 AM
  1. One win at a time... Go Mohawks

    Posted by KJ August 25, 08 10:47 AM
  1. If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?

    -vince lombardi

    Posted by dissapointed fan of millis August 25, 08 10:57 AM
  1. Maybe someone should ask WHY there are only 25 kids on the roster? Yeah it's a very small school, but there have been larger teams in the past. ... Until the head varsity coach looks long and hard at what is taking place at frosh & jv levels, the program will continue to flounder at the bottom of the barrel.

    Posted by Representing Disappointed Millis Parents August 25, 08 11:09 AM
  1. Wow. Where to begin?

    A) Millis is the sadest place on earth, they have more fastfood resturants than public buildings such as schools, fire departments, hospitals.

    B) Your sports programs are pathetic, every other team in the TVL works just as hard if not harder thay you. You are not special, you are just god awful.

    C) Why waste publication on Millis, why isn't the Globe talking about Westwood, Mefield, Bellingham, or Holliston...teams that actually matter.

    D) It's always raining in Millis.

    E) Your athletic department has been pathetic, is currently pathetic, and will continue to disgrace the TVL until you guys are finally booted.

    Posted by Bob. August 25, 08 11:13 AM
  1. PATHETIC? Where to begin? Lets start by pointing out that ADULTS are insulting the youth that play sports for Millis. Do you feel good about yourself BOB? Let me guess, you never lost anything. God forbid, your child ever lose. Hate to see the wrath for him. As for Representing Disappointed Millis Parents, why don't you ask your son if he is unhappy with the coach? I played for these coaches, they work very hard both on and off the field. I also played for the coaches ahead of them, who had to deal with loses also, the numbers were low then also. Truth be told, the last of the large classes in Millis was in the late 70's, early 80's. When this "Pathetic" town as Bob states, won the TVL 3 years in a row and a Super Bowl. Enough with the banter, it's not about you parents, it's about us kids!!!

    Posted by Past (grateful) Mohawk August 25, 08 02:21 PM
  1. I somewhat agree with Past grateful mohawk/bob/and disspointed fan of millis.
    Millis athletic department needs to make a even better effort to reinforce the concept of winning in millis. The athletic department is an absolute disgrace, millis was once a powerhouse but is now the doormat of the league. Bob, your comments are a little too harsh, millis has great public schools and is a wonderful little town to live in. And people shouldnt say millis puts so much passion and heart iinto their games, so does every team and the teams who put the most in will win the most. Its not the numbers that killing them its the mentality, they won three superbowls with the same numbers.

    Posted by George from Millis August 26, 08 12:43 AM
  1. OMG! I have never been so embaressed to be a Millis resident as I am right now hearing SOME you people talk about your own this way. Its appauling! These are kids you putting down. I am proud to see the Millis teams out there week after week giving it all they have and not giving up no matter what the score is. BOB, disappointed fans, and parents, how imature you are acting. At least the Millis kids have "CLASS " and know the meaning of "SPORTSMANSHIP", and from what I see here, YOU DO NOT! And as for the Globe, all they do talk about is the other towns. Its great to see Millis students being recognized for a change! And lastly,
    I am sure I speak for a majority of the town, when I say that I would appreciate you not publicly displaying your selfish opions and disgracing the children of Millis.

    Posted by Proud Millis fan and parent August 26, 08 09:00 AM
  1. JUST LET THE KIDS PLAY ..........WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO DO WELL AT EVERYTHING IN LIFE, I JUST HOPE MINE ARE NOT AS PETTY AS SOME OF YOU FOLKS..

    MOHAWK SPIRIT LIVES ON...

    Posted by mohawk spirit August 26, 08 03:15 PM
  1. Millis is nothing special, teams go winless all the time, and every team in the state works hard. If you watch the final game of any teams season and they lose, you will see well over half the team in tears. Theres no need to put Millis down, but they are nothing special, just another team that isnt racking up the wins.

    Posted by dan August 26, 08 04:49 PM
  1. At least the Millis kids have "CLASS " and know the meaning of "SPORTSMANSHIP"

    What is that suppose to mean, are you saying other towns dont? just because your millis teams arent on the winning side doesnt mean they play with class. From what ive seen from the sidelines is anything but class. Some players not all are very dirty on the millis team. But your right about sportsmanship and the passion they put in, its just the class part that needs work

    Posted by George of Holliston August 26, 08 06:15 PM
  1. hey supporter....

    have you been to local football games.....I really doubt the couple of hundred fans at many of those games justify the coverage of the sport compared to the quality and support the other sports in this state get........never mind the lights, uniforms, police details.......Turkey Day games are the only "true" money makers......20 something super bowls for a state the size of MA...let's just give everybody a trophy like youth sports!.....ONLY sport in MIAA that doesn't have one "champ" in each division---never mind that all other sports only have 4 divisions max!

    Posted by Charlie August 26, 08 06:22 PM
  1. Small school, BIG family -- Go Mohawks---- That means all sports...

    Posted by millis family August 27, 08 06:40 AM
  1. Good luck Millis , keep up the good work,, show them who you are the

    "MIGHTY MOHAWKS"

    Posted by fan August 27, 08 06:48 AM
  1. Hey , all you fans- Millis has a scrimmage today at 1:00 (8-27-08) come watch

    Posted by fan August 27, 08 07:13 AM
  1. www.millisfootball.com go see our web page

    Posted by website August 27, 08 12:33 PM
  1. GREAT SCRIMMAGE -- MOHAWKS WON -- WAY TO GO

    Posted by FAN August 27, 08 06:05 PM
  1. The 1999 Millis team won a superbowl with 27 kids officially on varsity... at least 5 of those players never suited up for a meaningful minute (although played plenty of second halves). Millis always has had small rosters, and always will, in all sports. Millis has a challenge of being a smaller school, which may give us some droughts, but it is not any more of a problem now than it was in 1980, 1996, or 1999. When you have 25, 30 players, it's like being dealt a hand. The record is in no way a reflection of the character or heart of the kids on the team. Some years you just get a better or more balanced bunch than others, and that's that. This is not a sad time for Millis. The only way a team would ever be able to tarnish the Millis image is if there was some kind of inappropriate behavior on or off the field, and that's not going to happen

    Posted by DJ August 28, 08 08:24 AM
  1. GO MILLIS! we're going to rock this year! keep up the good work!

    Posted by future cheerleader of millis August 28, 08 10:01 AM
  1. They probably scrimmaged a freshman team

    Posted by jimi whitlow August 28, 08 11:06 AM
  1. it's very simple !!!!! A - - coaching staff { to many chefs in the kitchen ] b - - it all starts in youth sports [ all you millis parents know what i'm talking about]...................

    Posted by have a nice day September 6, 08 11:01 AM
  1. 1994-1997 best teams ever

    Posted by ! December 2, 08 03:07 AM
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