And welcome back to Mix93.
It is time for the Bulldog Bite.
As usual, Chris Solani is here with us in the studios today.
How you doing?
I'm doing well, Sam.
Thanks for asking as always.
How are you doing today?
We're doing quite well.
Good.
Hey, Wednesday.
We just heard the forecast.
We actually, you know, or actually we always kind of start off that way and the wall-to-wall sunshine note that was on the forecast.
Love to hear that.
That's right.
The mild temperatures, so looking forward to it.
And certainly this week in particular, very excited for the weather.
With regard to our outside activities that we'll talk about in a second with regard to our Hancock Bulldog community and family on that note We do have with us this morning again head varsity football coach mr. Brennan the Claire.
How you doing coach?
Good.
Happy to be here.
Excellent.
Well, thanks for being with us this morning.
And, you know, sticking back, we had you on the first week of school, and it was actually the third week of the season.
And here we are almost to the end of October, you know, with a combination of, you know...
the majority of the season one game remaining obviously this is the big week so to speak not that ever you know back when you're a player remember you would you probably heard from the coaching staff each week is the most important week because that's the next game and certainly that's that's the case here this week.
with regard to the Copper Bowl.
We'll talk about that in a minute.
And so what I'd like to have you do is just kind of take a moment to talk about the season thus far.
I know we talked previously in September, just on the startup, how things were going, some of your expectations, some anticipation.
So why don't you walk us through where we've been to date with regard to how the team has performed, some of the things that you've really enjoyed being a part of with regard to that, some of the players themselves that may have stepped out.
support of the program and then we'll get into looking forward to Friday night.
Yeah, I mean, first off, the players this year, you know, have been great.
They were great guys to be around and you couldn't ask for any more.
They're going day in and day out given all their effort they can.
So, you know, that's been a great part of the season.
And then, you know, record-wise, we just wanted to get in that winning mindset.
So, especially having some success at the early
part of the season, you know, it's great to see and, you know, getting those wins and getting the encouragement and then, you know, we had to rub that during the season and, you know, but we were able to beat with some of these, you know, well-established programs, which, you know, I don't think we've been able to do for the last couple of years and, you know, put up a fight, even against some ranked opponents in the state.
So, you know, that's always great to see, you know, guys moving and, you know, not backing down to anybody and then, you know,
Last week, you know, tough loss, couple calls and go our way, but, uh, you know, the boys are, you know, willing to fight against anybody.
So, you know, so far this season, you know, I'm happy where we're at.
You know, obviously we'd like a couple more wins and, but you know, at some points, you know, when we're getting talked about, you know, playoff spots, you know, it's always great being that kind of conversation.
Obviously a couple of games and go our way, you know, kind of fall out of that, but yeah.
And what you said earlier, every game is important, but.
It trumps everybody else.
So, you know, the boys are really excited to play tonight or on Friday and, you know, it's a rivalry week and everything's going on throughout the week.
Gotta make sure we're staying focused and, you know, be ready on Friday.
Yep, it's always the challenge, right?
The focus component and irregardless of where each team is, like you just referenced with regard to the record, I mean, we were very fortunate this year, you know, you've been able to surpass our wins-loss record in combination for the last several years.
And so a great step forward as you indicated with that winning mindset, getting back to that, having that hunger and that compete that's ingrained in the Bulldog tradition.
And so certainly that's been well.
Uh...
It's been very visible, and I think in well regard.
So kudos to you and your staff, and certainly the players like you've indicated.
But as we go on to this week, like you referenced and what we always talk about, records are meaningless with this game.
You know, everything that transpires throughout the week, you know, we had, we're now on day three of Copper Bowl week, you know, activities that we had Monday and yesterday, the downtown decorating here in Hancock with our members of our student body and student athletes.
the Potter Puff game on Monday night where the players were active as being coaches and support personnel for our Lady Bulldogs that are competing, the activities yesterday and today.
All on through, like you said, there's got to be a mindset, there's got to be a focus in support of not only where the players need to be for being effective and having an opportunity.
Friday, but also in support of their classmates and teammates.
You know, the big part of this, too, is, you know, we have the JV game tomorrow night at Houghton, our Copper Cup.
And then, of course, we have the Copper Spike over at Houghton as well with the volleyball program.
So all those things factor into, you know, the mindset and the psyche of the players and the members of the team and the program.
And then as we look to Friday night,
What can you tell us about some of the things that you're hoping to anticipate or some things you're going to be looking out for with regard to Coach Luma and his program and of course just the Bulldog Gremlin rivalry?
Yeah, so I mean, I wouldn't, you know, they have a tough schedule and, you know, so they've been playing tough competition all season long.
So, you know, we got to be ready and
you know they run kind of more of a spread offense so make sure we can be able to tackle in space and you know on offense make sure we're keeping our momentum limiting our turnovers you know all the stuff that you know goes into winning a big rivalry game like this and you know really leaning on our seniors you know we were about half of our varsity squad seniors we got 11 on them you know in big games
you know you want to make sure you can lean on your seniors and we got a couple real good players and guys have been around the program you know and are hungry for this couple and you know we haven't got one in a couple years here so I think these guys are you know I would definitely want to be able to lead on my seniors here which you know I have full um confidence in and uh you know make sure they're in those crucial plays you know game deciding kind of scenarios so you know it's great to have that leadership on
the team this year and uh, you know, making sure we're just coming in ready to play and playing our style and you know, making sure we're in control of the game and you know, not letting home dictate what we do.
Absolutely.
And the other piece of this too, I don't think we've mentioned yet.
Um, we are playing at con and field Friday night.
And so obviously having the home field advantage, uh, so to speak and then having them, uh, you know, the reference of a barn, you know, in our barn, uh, and being able to, you know,
have that semblance of the full tradition of being a bulldog in the copper bull, certainly that also has meaning, I think, for the players as well, correct?
Yep.
Yep.
And, you know, we've been playing real great at home, even in our losses, you know, their battle.
So, you know, it was a big importance at the beginning of the season, you know, you got to spend your home turf.
So, you know, the guys really bought into that this season and, you know, just
You can ask for a better Friday night for a rivalry game last game of season at your own place against your rival.
You know, it can be a great Friday night.
It is and I reference it to just to add to that component, you know, I think the forecast says a kickoff.
It's going to be sunny and 60.
And so, you know, I was having a conversation yesterday with one of my teammates back in the day.
There aren't many copper bowls.
that you can go into looking forward to a very comfortable, mild temperature.
You know, there are vivid memories of the snow-packed field and having to plow it off the old condon raining and sleeting at 38 or 38 degrees and 40 mile an hour winds.
I mean, things like that.
So fortunate with this forecast, fortunate with the environment that we have as a home game for Copper Bowl.
And certainly we're looking forward to how the program competes and
achieves this Friday, coach.
Is there anything else like you'd like to add with regard to just the lead up to the game here this Friday, this season, or anything else?
Yeah, I just wanted to call out, you know, our seniors that, you know, this will be the last game with us and, you know, guys that have been with the program a lot.
So, you know, Logan Larson, Ben Karen, and Forrest LaCour, Trent Bodoine, Jasper Towels, Carter Warrie, Roy Wakeham, Levi Kenden, Drew Larson,
Pierce Johnson and Darren Colbert.
These guys have put in so much effort and I couldn't ask for more from these guys and they're a big part of what we've done successful this season and make sure reminding those younger guys what it is to be a bulldog.
So I just want to call them out.
I've been blessed with these guys this season for my first year and I'm going to ask for more.
Absolutely, and we're gonna have everybody who will be attending the game on Friday will have a chance to help recognize The seniors you just identified with regard to our senior parent appreciation Ceremony as well and that'll be prior to kickoff and so all those folks if you want to make it to the field earlier, you know, I think the plan typically we get lined up about 645 and then we have the recognition piece just prior to kickoff and so Coach thanks for for offering that piece of information again in support of our seniors
in the program and certainly we're going to look forward to a great Friday evening at Condon Field, Copper Bowl 2026 rendition.
And I didn't, I should have known this, I'm not going to ask you.
I didn't have the count in my head to break it down or we're at in the all-time series.
I know we're still ahead.
But with that said, no pressure, right Coach?
Yep.
Excellent.
Well, Coach Brandon and Claire, thanks for being with us this morning and certainly best of luck on Friday and then moving forward.
Yep, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
All right.
Yeah, so It is the proverbial saying right that
You throw the records out the window.
I mean, Houghton, as Coach Leclerc indicated, they're still playing in the big division.
Their schedule is tremendously difficult.
And so we know that they will battle.
Coach Luma, good coach.
The program has a lot of support from his assistants and staff all the way through to having a large body of players who've been part of the program for a long time.
So they'll be geared up.
They'll be ready to go.
We know that.
You know, and so, you know, defensively, we're going to be, as coach said, being able to tackle in space and defend well in space.
And so that's going to be a big piece of it.
And hopefully we can get some offensive momentum and really showcase some of the highlights that we've had thus far this year.
And then certainly for those that have been to some games when we had it rolling, very effective and fun to watch.
So looking forward to it.
Yeah.
So just on that tune, I don't know, I always want to just talk about football, right?
Some people might, you know, say, he's a football guy, whatever.
So getting back to this week, right?
So I just referenced before kind of the activities we have going on.
For our spirit week, we had the students come here on Monday afternoon out in downtown.
And again, thanks to all the businesses who helped support the spirit component to this week in particular and allowing the students to decorate the window fronts.
the store fronts and then we had the powder puff game on Monday evening at connan field, which was Fun, I didn't spend a whole lot of time there.
We had our board of education meeting and went down to watch for a while But the temperature drops tremendously from a ton of sun went down.
I don't drop like 15 20 degrees like so.
Yeah, it's football weather But we'll like definitely look forward to Friday night from that aspect and then yesterday We had costume day just going on with the series of dress scenarios today is USA day today's
So red, white, and blue, and we're gonna have our cornhole tournament, which is actually occurring as we speak, just started here our first period.
And so this is a high school wide cornhole tournament.
So I gotta get back to see how this is going, just to witness it myself, I guess.
You know, tomorrow we have what it's gonna be, it's referred to as winter versus water day.
So again, it's creativity and what the type of tire wear versus winter and water.
And then we're gonna have our powder buff game as well.
And so this is where our,
male student athletes or students, I shouldn't say just not student athletes, participate in a volleyball tournament grade level.
And so that's always kind of the culmination of the week prior to our Friday.
Tomorrow night, as referenced, we have our Copper Cup JV football game over at Houghton and then we have our Copper Bikes series for our volleyball program at Houghton.
Approximately 5.30 start for the JV volleyball.
clock football and then roughly 7 p.m.
for varsity volleyball so a lot of activities going on tomorrow night Friday then we have our our spirit day and assembly in the afternoon I'll be last two periods of the day and then of course kickoff at 7 p.m.
on Friday night
So, lots going on this week.
It always is, you know, a great time of year.
It's always been a focus of mine to help ensure that the spirit aspects and the traditions of being a member of the Bullock community and how this translates to our rivalry with Houghton, whether it be Copper Bull or the Wingding Series and Winter.
It's a very important tradition.
We want to make sure it's alive and well and it's a piece of our identity that we really want to showcase and promote and highlight.
Of what our students and student athletes and community are involved with when we are in this time of year So I just want to put my thanks out there to the staff From principal Choratha and principal Eddie on down to all of our teachers and support staff and the students that help have driven this This week go pretty well thus far and hopefully we'll continue to do so and then culmination after Friday will be a positive one
of course, you know best of luck with all the
The Copper Bowl and the Copper Spike, and along with all the Spirit Week activities, it should be a lot of fun, hopefully.
Yeah, I know it's been so far and we'll continue to help promote the fact that it will remain as a fun opportunity for us, yes.
Okay.
Anything else you want to mention before we go?
No, just as always, thanks for your time, Sam.
The radio station's important, of course.
Our sponsor, Genos.
Alright, thank you very much for being here.
This has been the Bulldog Bung to your Mixed 93.
It's time for Hancock happenings here on mix 93.
Here's Todd gas.
How you doing?
I'm doing great.
How you doing?
I'm okay.
It is a beautiful fall week that we're having.
It's quite amazing to have fall like this here in the Copper Country.
A little bit of a cool start, but the sunrise was gorgeous.
I know you didn't get to see it at all, but I'm just going to let you know it was beautiful.
So it looks like we're going to continue on with beautiful, beautiful weather all week long.
So get outside and enjoy it.
Get those walks in and we still have a wee bit of the color left on the trees.
So our color
season here is a little later than most.
I was just in Marquette.
Most of their leaves are off the trees completely.
So here it's kind of nice to still see our color.
So get out there, enjoy it, and get out there and have
Great times with game night here every Thursday night in downtown Hancock get on over to Casey bonkers at 119 Quincy Street every Thursday for game night and they're open until 8 p.m.
So they got really wonderful board games So what and card games and what a great way to get your family together your friends together co-workers together Get some they think they have some wonderful drink specials there as well like coffee drinks.
So get on over to Casey bonkers.
They're open and
until 8 p.m.
every Thursday for Game Night Plus.
You can skip on over to New Teeny's Supper Club for Trivia Night every Thursday and that is at 8.30 and they're at 3.21 Quincy.
If you love Trivia, this is like the place for you every Thursday.
It is quite the scene.
It's very competitive.
Get on over to New Teeny's for Trivia Night every Thursday at 8.30 and you're gonna have a blast.
We have Open Skates.
at the Hoco Arena, and that's every Friday from 6.45 to 8.00 PM.
And of course, if there is a Hancock Bulldog home game for hockey, we will have to either A, change it, or cancel it.
But we will let you know beforehand, or it'll be on our calendar on our website at www.
cityofhandcock.com so you can always check that out.
And if you would like to rent the ice sheet at the Hoco, it is easy as one, two, three.
Just email arena at cityofhandcock.com and that's arena at cityofhandcock.com and they'll help you with your reservations.
So what a great idea.
If you have a special birthday, special anniversary, you want to celebrate a holiday, this is a wonderful way to do that by renting that ice sheet.
It's very
very economical, what a fun way to do that.
So our calendar is starting to fill up.
So if you'd like to get on board, you got to get your reservation in, okay?
So that's arena at cityofhancock.com.
October Arts in Hancock.
We have got awesome arts here in the city of Hancock at the Copper Country Community Arts Center.
We've got an exhibit remembering Gordon Borswald and that'll be at the Cynthia Cote exhibit.
gallery, and that is through October 31st.
So that's on Halloween.
You got a little time left to get on over to see that show.
It is awesome.
So check that out.
We've got another great show at the Finlandia Art Gallery, presenting the works by Joyce Koskemaki, Keo Maiwa, Maggie Parr, Randy Wakeham, and Kenyon Hansen.
So these works are in painting, printmaking, fiber, drawings, and clay works.
So it'll have a
a lot of variety, different mediums, really wonderful show.
Check that out.
That is through November 20th.
The fall cleanup continues here in the city of Hancock.
We just had Make a Difference Day this past Saturday, and wow, what a difference we had with the Michigan Tech.
Husky Helpers all here in town.
We had over 50 student volunteers helping us clean up our parks.
So we got Quincy Green cleaned up.
We got Memorial Park, Montezuma Park.
the Lauren Grove Park.
We also had Data Chi Epsilon here and they are taking care of their Third Street Park.
We also had OHM advisors.
They were taking care of the stone stairs over on East Hancock, Superior National Bank with their adopted park, Terrace Park.
So we really want to thank all the students that helped out cleaning up these parks, making sure the playground equipment was in good operating condition.
And also we had helpers.
at our Hancock trails, the Mostohito churning rapids trails.
We had approximately 10 volunteers out there.
They're replacing boardwalks, building, moving boardwalks.
What a wonderful job they did there.
And also at Hancock campground for the prepping for Hancock lights the night.
So we got our decorating started there for this year's event.
So we're super happy and we really want to thank all those who are helping out, especially Thompson scholars as well.
here in many, many volunteers from there.
So we really want to thank everybody for all of their help.
Also the fall cleanup continues with our DPW picking up city of Hancock residence leaves in bio bags only with bundle branches that are four feet in length only.
So if you're not getting your bundled sticks or branches picked up, they are not the appropriate size.
If they're not in bio bags, the green bio bags that you can purchase.
at City Hall or at High Rock Hardware, the DPW will not pick those up.
So please get your bio bags.
We're only going to be picking up until the 30th of October, which is next week.
But if you miss that date, you can bring your leaves and your bundle of sticks and branches up to the DPW garage.
And that's at 1401 Tomasi Drive.
The Hancock, the great Hancock Haunt is back.
That is starting tomorrow.
And that's true.
So that's the 22nd through the 24th.
So that's Thursday through Saturday here in the city of Hancock.
So the Hancock Business Association along with the city of Hancock presents the second annual event.
So if you want to come on down and visit your favorite Hancock haunts for ghoulishly spooktacular times, either shopping, dining, hanging out with your friends, this is the great time to do that.
If you would like to get your business on our social media channels, give us a call 906.
We will get your promotion and your sale out there on our social media networks or we'll share yours.
Just has hashtag city of Hancock, Michigan or city of Hancock MI and we will share that out to everybody.
Uh, so we've got the Wolf's head film festival.
That is October 22nd through the 24th and that'll be at venues throughout the city of Hancock like Orphan
theater.
They'll be having quite a lot of the films there.
They'll also be hosting the uh the zombie prom and that is at the uh the Hancock community hub and that is on Saturday at 9 p.m.
So that's the grand finale of the entire film festival.
They'll have the um presentations at Smallcraft, Quincy Mine, New Teeny Supper Club, Wolvenwood Bar Bar.
So this is a wonderful three-day spooky independent and genre
Film Festival, bringing the weird, wild and wacky world of film to all of us here.
So what a fun three days that's going to be.
And you can also get your pumpkins prepped for and your wheels tuned for your for the fourth annual Debman Memorial Pumpkin Races presented by our friends over at Kewana Cape on Saturday, October 24th from noon until 4pm.
You can bring your whole family out to cheer on the racers and ensure
by the autumn festivities right here in downtown Hancock.
And that'll all happen on the hills on Quincy Green.
So if you don't have your pumpkin ready yet, let's get going.
You got to get your pumpkins decorated, your wheels on, get them tested out.
We hope that all the racers have a great time.
We also have the world's largest polio walk, and that'll be presented by the Hancock and Houghton Rotary Clubs.
And that is on Saturday, October 24th at 11 a.m.
So it'll kick off at Kessner Park.
Houghton and they'll walk across to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and it'll end at the Labyrinth in Hancock.
So get that on your calendars, folks.
We also have the Hancock lights the night.
It is back.
So if you have any Christmas decorations that you have in your basement, let's just say that perhaps you're not putting out Christmas decorations because of maybe your age or your health or whatever, you want to give them a new life, you may donate them to Hancock lights.
We would love to, like I said, give them new life, get them into our Hancock lights tonight.
Give us a call, 90648 to 2720 or email city at city of Hancock.com.
We would again love to use your decorations.
They must be working conditioned decorations and they must not be wrecked or ruined.
So gently used, let's just say.
We also have, it is Copper Bowl weekend, right?
That's right.
It is Copper Bowl Bowl weekend.
So we want to end the show with a big go Hancock Bulldogs.
We hope that you'd all do well.
And hopefully it's just a friendly, awesome competition between the Hancock Bulldogs and the Houghton Gremlins.
So everybody have a fun, happy weekend.
We hope everyone's getting out there to enjoy the great Hancock haunt.
And that is October 22nd through to the 24th.
Get out there and enjoy your favorite Hancock haunts.