HAVRE — After 50 years in football, Jerome Souers still loves showing up to practice.
The longtime coach is entering his fifth season leading the MSU-Northern football program, and despite a rebuild that has tested the patience of everyone involved, his enthusiasm for the game hasn't faded.
“I'm a blessed man,” Souers said. “I'm very fortunate to have an opportunity to stay in the game that I love and that has been so good to me and my family.”
WATCH THE VIDEO:
Now the question is whether the progress Souers has seen behind the scenes can finally translate to the win column.
The Lights have won just three games in Souers' first four seasons. But there is a different energy around the program entering 2026.
Part of that comes from several new additions to the coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Sidhart Krishnamurthi and offensive line coach Reagan Williams. Both played at Stanford, with Williams blocking for Christian McCaffrey during his college career.
Souers said the new coaches have brought experience with successful programs along with plenty of energy to Havre. His players are noticing it, too.
“The competitiveness is different in the weight room, on the field,” senior defensive end De'Amoni Wright said. “It's just different than what we've had the four years that I've been here.”
Wright is among a group of veterans who have stuck with Northern through some difficult seasons.
Souers doesn't shy away from what they've experienced.
“They've suffered,” Souers said. “They've gone through some hard times and it's been really — when it comes to wins and losses — not anywhere what you would hope to have as a football player.”
But those veterans now give Northern something it hasn't always had during the rebuild: experience.
Souers likes the maturity of his receiving corps and the veterans on defense, while a young offensive line has shown promise during fall camp. Senior linebacker Braydon Cline, a Big Sandy native, believes that group could be one of the biggest reasons for optimism.
“The training program is way better than it used to be,” Cline said. “Our offensive coordinator and offensive line coach are doing a phenomenal job of getting these guys coached up, and I think this is the best the Northern offensive line has looked since I've been here.”
Fellow senior linebacker Crawford Terry, a Havre High product, has noticed a similar change.
“We got new coaching staff, new conditioning program, new strength program,” Terry said. “I think it's just the change with the offensive coordinator, the O-line coach. It brings a competitive nature that we haven't seen yet in my time.”
There are still questions to answer before the season begins. Souers said the quarterback competition remains unsettled, while a number of newcomers are still finding their roles.
But after four years of recruiting, developing and trying to establish a culture, Souers believes the Lights have what they need.
“We have what we have, and that's all we need,” Souers said. “We're approaching the year that we're going to do it. We're going to give it everything we've got.”
