With change, one often needs to adapt.
Senior quarterback Jacob Sullivan is already learning that lesson well for Marmion, preparing to direct a new offense on his new team.
And by the third week of the 2023 season that opens Friday, Sullivan and his teammates will be playing the program’s first game on its new turf, following renovations completed this summer at Fichtel Field.
“My family was on the move,” Sullivan said of his transfer from South Elgin. “Things happen. It’s hard to leave places sometimes. Not everyone is always happy, but we kept the respect.
“This is a tough league, tough academics, tough football. But it’s going to prepare everyone here for what comes after high school, both on and off the field and in life.”
Last season, Sullivan led the Storm to its fourth straight Upstate Eight Conference title, directing a triple-option attack that produced 3,138 yards rushing and 1,232 passing.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Sullivan completed 54% (57 of 106) of his passes for 949 yards with 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. He ran for 330 yards and five TDs.
“I respect my (South Elgin) teammates and those coaches,” said Sullivan, whose family lives in the St. Charles North district. “They’ve done a lot.
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“Our offense was a mix. There were games we threw a lot, games where I didn’t. It depended on the opponent. In terms of leaving South Elgin, that was not a factor.”
Sullivan made the move last January to Marmion for the spring semester.
“This is my second full semester,” he said. “I’ve spent offseason workouts and lifting with the team and I played lacrosse here last spring.
“It was nice to get in and meet everyone, so when we started (preseason football), I wasn’t meeting everyone new. I feel like I’ve been a part of it.”
Sullivan already knew one of his new teammates — two-way senior starter Jack Lesher, who plays linebacker and running back.
They were teammates on a 7-on-7 team for several years in junior high and reconnected last November when both happened to be invited to a college visit at Akron.
“I thought Marmion would be a great fit for him,” said Lesher, who received a scholarship offer from the Zips, then went on to win a Class 3A state wrestling title at 182 pounds for the Cadets. “I’m just grateful Jake transferred in.
“We had a need, and he’s going to help us out this year.”
The starting job wasn’t handed to him, however.
Henry Garrison, a 5-11, 180-pound senior who had filled in last year when starter Ryan Prell missed time with an injury, was also in the mix.
“Henry played well last year, knows every assignment and what to do,” Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said. “They competed all summer and we charted every pass.”
Garrison has a unique twist to his positional capability by also playing defensive line.
“We’ve talked to him about potentially playing linebacker but said no, he likes the line,” Thorpe said. “He’s small and tough and does well.”
Marmion opens with games at Maine West and then Curie before playing Leo in the Sept. 8 home opener.
The Cadets’ CCL/ESCC Purple schedule includes Carmel, St. Patrick and St. Viator. They have crossover games that include St. Rita, St. Laurence and Joliet Catholic.
Sullivan, who has drawn some recruiting interest from smaller schools but no firm offers, hopes to impress.
“This offense feels very pro style,” he said. “We’re under gun, tight, spread, five wide and throwing screen passes. It seems like everything you can find.”
After missing the playoffs last season, Lesher understands why the Cadets (4-5) would be overlooked, but he feels they’re better than the 3-6 record he said one outlet has predicted.
“We have a lot of guys that are underrated as receivers,” he said. “We’re ready to prove people wrong, but we’ll have to prove it.”