During the offseason Fenton coach Jeff Setzke and his brother-in-law Noel Dean, who happens to be the head coach at Chelsea High School like to pal around, attend family functions and exchange game plans and strategies.
Not so much this time of year. There is a code of silence between the two because they are busy putting the final touches on what both hope to be state championship seasons.
Fenton (6-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference) clinched the outright Flint Metro League Stripes Division title with a 41-21 road win at Flushing (5-2, 4-2).
Chelsea (6-0, 5-0) nabbed the Southeastern Conference White championship 35-0 against Jackson.
“It’s amazing during the season we don’t talk much,” Setzke said. "He is new here. He is busy learning everything he can, but we do not talk as much as you think. Our schedules are crazy.”
There are two magic numbers Setzke asked his players to focus on.
One and seven.
The Tigers recorded the one win needed to win the conference title over Flushing and earn a berth in the conference championship game against Goodrich.
Seven more wins could earn Fenton an MHSAA state title. The win over Flushing gave Setzke his 200th career win, 136th at Fenton.
Dean is in the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Setzke is making a case to join him. The offseason conversations must be legendary. Dean made his mark at Lowell High School where he won state titles in 2002, 2004 and 2009. He also won nine regional titles, 12 districts, 10 conference championships and made the playoffs 20 seasons.
Meanwhile Setzke has won six consecutive Stripes championships at Fenton and 12 of the last 14. His conference record during that span (88-11) is best by a wide margin. Practices are tough at Fenton because Setzke attempts to spread life lessons. Life is tough. Football is tough also.
“We are family,” said linebacker Chris Dobek. “We might fight, and we might bicker, but all families do. We will always be there for each other. We got each other’s back.”
What made Fenton great under Setzke? Of course, he deflects and credits the Fenton system that begins in grade school, great athletes coming through the system and his coaching staff.
“That’s a good question,” Setzke said. “When we came the program had tradition, but it was broken. We’ve had a nice run. The legacy I want is to have tough, physical teams that you have to prepare for each and every week whether we win or lose.”