Another season is upon the reigning Mid-West United Football League (MWUF) champions. The Sheboygan County Sabercats are looking to go back-to-back this upcoming season. Their first game will be at Lakeland University on April 20 where they will be taking on the number five team in the nation: the River City Rough Riders. The Sabercats are the 29-ranked team in the nation posing for a great match up. Leading the Sabercats into their championship run is coach TJ Schouten, who is also the team’s owner. Coach Schouten started the Sabercats after leaving the Manitowoc Mariners. Going into Schouten’s fourth year of coaching he has two rings and a league runner up.
The Sheboygan County Sabercats brought semi-professional football back to Sheboygan after the Sheboygan Rebels disbanded. The team was founded in 2021 after Schouten’s time was up with the Manitowoc Mariners. The team has been very successful during its short span of being an organization. When asked about the implications of this games coach Schouten explained his thoughts about the River City Rough Riders. “The biggest thing is respect. They’re a well-known and nationally ranked team in a well-established league. A victory over team will help not only our team but our league gain respect.” Schouten is looking for a clean game for spectators to enjoy. A win will boost the Sabercats national ranking, but also put respect on the MWUF. One game does not determine a team’s season.
It is always hard to go back-to-back champions in any sport, for the Sabercats it is no different. “Hard work, dedication, and playing together as a team will make us successful” Schouten said. There has not been a back-to-back champion in the MWUF, so the Sabercats are looking to become the first team to do it in franchise history. This will not be an easy task for the Sabercats since they will be playing this season with a target on their backs. Schouten not only has to look over all the players as a coach, but as the owner he must look over the organization.
Being an owner of any team is very difficult. With Schouten being the head coach and the owner of the Sabercats he has more responsibility than some other personnel on different teams. “The toughest thing is honestly coaching/holding accountable guys who are the same age or older than you. They become family and some I have played with or against. It is hard for people sometimes to separate who I was as a player versus who I am as a coach.” Schouten played his semi-professional career with the Brown County Blackjacks. Later he would then stop his playing career and then move into coaching.
The Sabercats will kick off their season April 20 at Lakeland University at 4 p.m. Students can get in free with proof of school ID. All the Sabercats home games will be played at Lakeland University for the remainder of the season. The Sabercats will play at 7 p.m. on the following dates: May 11, May 18, June 22, July 20, and possibly August 3 (pending on playoff berth).
