By Jason Shoot
Tyson Roe was an all-conference honorable mention last year for the Havre football team, but this summer he's had the opportunity to improve his game and, in turn, help the Blue Ponies in the fall.
Roe, who plays on the line on both sides of the ball, received guidance from several major college coaches when he attended the University of Nebraska football camp the Big Red Football School in Lincoln, Neb., June 6-9.
"(The Cornhuskers) had their whole coaching staff down there," Roe said. "They also had some surrounding high school coaches and other college coaches."
Roe, who was one of 420 kids at the camp, said the coaches had him working on fundamentals applicable to the offensive and defensive lines.
"(On the offensive line) they had me work on my footwork, a bunch of different blocks pulling and all that stuff," he said. "On the D-line I worked on hitting, getting off the ball and footwork coming off the ball."
Upon arrival at the campus, the camp participants viewed a video about the Cornhuskers' last season, which finished with a 10-2 mark and 66-17 win over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl.
Roe admitted the experience had him salivating over the thought of playing football at the perennial powerhouse, but he's also aware he needs to get a little work done to get there.
"I need to get my weightlifting up and better my work ethic," he said. "I want to be at 430 (pounds) on squats, and I'm at 405 right now. Usually you kind of peak off, and you have to do a lot more reps so your legs get stronger."
Roe also said he wants to shed his honorable mention status from last year.
"I'm going to improve on that and try to get all-state," he said. "I'll have to wait and see this coming season."
