‘We have the talent’: Lincoln North Star football ready to embrace winning mentality

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln North Star football team is embracing a culture change that begins with a winning mentality.

First-year coach James Thompson will have some help from some familiar faces in volunteer coaching positions, former Huskers Tommy Armstrong Jr. and Alonzo Moore.

Armstrong Jr., who played quarterback for the Huskers from 2012 to 2016, will be the Navigators’ new offensive coordinator.

With help from the former Husker, the team will decide between two standouts at QB.

Sophomore Beaudree Ball and Junior D.J. Athouris have been competing for the title of starting QB during fall practice.

Thompson says this year is all about continuing to improve with a fairly young team following last year’s disappointing season, which saw the team go 1-8.

“We just have to focus on what we can control and that’s our consistency, our effort and our attitude,” Thompson said.  “We have the talent, we just need to make sure that we’re being disciplined and that we’re showing up every day ready to work.  And every time we step on the field, the expectation is that we win every snap.”

Defensive lineman and tight end Carson Parde says the team has had a “culture change” during the offseason.

“Just overall, with the new coaching staff changes and the new stuff we did this summer, I think we had a whole kind of culture change at North Star from kind of like the losing mentality to a winning mentality,” Parde said.

The senior also said that everybody, including the freshman, are ready to win.

“You know, all the guys, everybody from the freshman level to the varsity level, we’re hungry,” Parde said.  “We want to win games and we don’t want like how it was last year.”

Senior linebacker and tight end Davis Jones says he’s more hopeful than ever for a successful season.

“Over the summer I felt like we prepared a lot better than we have previously,” he said. “I think they’re pushing us really hard and I think we’re on a good path right now.”

The team will open its season against Benson on Aug. 26.