By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Napoleon — When he finds himself on the sideline Wednesday night analyzing the opponent, Jeremy File will have to feel something different than normal.
Even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
File, the first-year Napoleon boys basketball coach was an All-State recipient during his playing days at Hanover-Horton.
He guided the Comets to the quarterfinals in 2002 and the state semifinals in 2003, eventually ending his career as the leading scorer in program history with more than 1,500 to his name.
And again, File will have to feel something different than normal Wednesday, as the sideline general of the Pirates leads his guys against his former coach and former team for the first time ever.
“I’m looking forward to a great atmosphere, and I think that’s the great part,” File said of the 7 p.m. home date against Hanover. “They travel so well. They bring a good crowd. It’s going to be exciting.”
Asked about the obvious aspect of the game, about taking on his former program and going one on one against Chad Mortimer, his former coach, File did his best to downplay it.
“I had a really good career there, and have such good relationships there,” File said. “Through work, I still see and work with some of those kids. It’s going to be a battle. They’ve done so many things the past 15 years, and we’re going to go into the game respecting the kind of team they are.”
As for going against Mortimer, the same person who coached him from 2000 through 2003?
“I’m a person who likes to tell it like it is,” File said. “Really, I don’t think there’s a Coach Chad against me or anything like that. This is a players game, and they are going to go out and win or lose. I have such a great amount of respect for Chad and everything he’s done, but the players are going to decide this one.”
“Of course I look forward to it,” File continued. “But it’s the competition aspect that really drives me. I get to go against a very good coach. If you’re a competitor, you want to go against the best. Chad’s one of the best.”
Napoleon went 8-13 last year and just 7-14 the year before.
Heading into Wednesday night, the Pirates were 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
Hanover is 9-1 overall and 5-1 in league play.
Both teams are chasing Michigan Center, which is 11-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play.
“I’m going into this and treating it as any other game,” File said. “I think that’s how it has to be. If we’re going to win, it comes down to our players simply doing more than theirs. I’m not going to out-coach Chad. It’s impossible. But my players can be better.”
Pushed on how he’s seeing it as just another game, File laughed.
“I wish there was more emotion to this,” he said. “There’s really not. It’s one game. It’s going to be fun, and that’s how I’m approaching it.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.
He’s also a Real Estate agent with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.