Spring practice served as a hub for improvement, and the Grand Valley State University football team’s Spring Game at Houseman Field on Saturday served as a chance to showcase that progress live and outside for the first time this spring.

But the spring has worked in different ways for the team.

The young players have gotten a chance to get their feet wet and the upperclassmen have had a chance to get back into the flow of things, but the main focus this spring wasn’t necessarily improving catching and tackling.

“Coach Mitch has a perfect saying that says ‘be 1/11th,’” said senior receiver Israel Woolfork. “Don’t worry about everyone else on the team, just worry about your position and worry about that one play and winning your match-up — I think that holds for everybody.”

These 15 padded practices have served as a time for the team to improve individually, but that improvement has been aimed toward improving the team as a whole — being able to understand both sides of the ball and improve in that player’s position.

They’re laid back, but confident as they wrap practice up — shown by junior quarterback Heath Parling’s explanation of becoming comfortable in uncomfortable situations ending with “so this guy’s not picking off any of my passes over there.”

That guy was junior safety Erik Thompson, and even the team’s top players have taken a sense of humor, and leadership, during the spring,

Thompson and the defense will look to rebound on a rough start last season. Tackling has been few and far between this spring, but Saturday’s game allowed the unit get out and play while working with that “be 1/11th” mentality in mind.

“It’s really just focusing on all of the little things,” said junior linebacker Sam Power. “You know, like all of our assignments — making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be on the play — it’s really been attention to detail this spring.”

Even though the Spring Game on Saturday was more of an open practice, players like Parling have seen the spring as a chance to learn and the Spring Game is a culmination of that.

“What Coach Mitch always stresses is come mentally prepared to practice and meetings every day and just be ready to learn and get better,” he said. “I think that’s the most difficult, but most important, part.”

Mental preparation is important at any point in the season, but that ideal has given the team more reason to buy into the “be 1/11th” philosophy.

“You don’t need to make the spectacular play, you just got to be consistent making the routine play,” Mitchell said. “That’s what I’ve been all about, just make the routine play, do your job and function as 1/11th of our offense, defense and special team.”

That focus was seen throughout Saturday’s game as guys in all facets of the offense found themselves on the field in different situations.

It wasn’t a finished product on Saturday, but that mindset’s goal is to help make it one by September.

“You want leaders on your team, but at the same time, you want guys who can take care of their business,” Mitchell said. “Just do your job, be a 1/11th, be part of the organization, and by being a part of the organization — if we get everyone rowing in the right direction, we’ll win games.”

[email protected]