30 years ago

MARQUETTE – At this time last year, Eric Holm was being named coach of the Northern Michigan University football team and scrambling to hold spring practice. Monday afternoon, he opened 1996 Wildcat spring drills for 62 players at the Superior Dome with a 7-3 season under his belt and familiarity with the program and his players. “We hope it’ll be easier. The system’s the same, and we’ve had a year with the terminology. Because we’re furthering along, we can be more specific and focused. Everything was brand new last year, but we’ll hit the ground running (this spring) and hope to be more productive. We have a better idea of where we’re at.” The Wildcats will practice from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week, March 18-21 and March 25-29 before concluding with a spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30. “We’ll be trying to break in some new guys, and look at guys who haven’t played a great deal,” Holm said of his practice plans, “We’ll also work on some fundamentals, and try to iron out a few different schemes. “We’ll prepare as much as we can, and hope it carries over into the fall.” He said his squad is healthy, with only backup lineman Zachary Wagner out while recovering from knee surgery. “We have made phenomenal gains as a team in our strength and conditioning,” Holm noted. “(Strength coach) Shawn Corbett has done a nice job with our off-season program.” All have contributed to what Holm expects to be a more settled spring practice period. “We had the great unknown last year,” he said. “Everything was up in the air. We have a much clearer picture, now.”

60 years ago

MUNISING – Members of the Sno-Explorers Snowmobile Club drew up a set of rules governing membership and conduct at a regular meeting. The club set 18 as the age a member must have attained in order to vote on club issues. A policy adopted for members states that anyone who violates any of the state or local laws governing the use of snowmobiles, or commits any act “which would bring disgrace to the club” will be subject to dismissal from the club for a period of one year. A committee also was named to work with the Munising office of the U.S. Forest Service regarding the building of snowmobile trails in this area.