Shawn Hickey, Galesburg football coach — 80 players, an earlier start, and the Week 4 search

Two summers ago, Shawn Hickey walked into his first day as Galesburg's football coach and counted 38 kids. This June, 80 showed up — and unlike last year's summer mirage of 120 that shrank to 60 by kickoff, the coach says these numbers are real. Now he has to get them all through a brand-new state eligibility rule, with the earliest season start in Illinois history bearing down. His pitch to Galesburg is simple: Friday nights at CBI Bank Stadium are "the best ticket in town." Shawn Hickey joined Galesburg's Morning News on Wednesday, July 15. Listen to the full interview above. They talked about: Why last summer's roster numbers fooled him, and this year's won't The new 12-day rule that could bench players for the opener The Week 4 hole in the schedule, and the road trip nobody wants to repeat Speed school, junior high pipelines, and coaching as "surrogate fathers" Camps for the young kids and a discount card deadline this Friday   Related story: From 38 players to 80: Galesburg football's roster doubles as earliest season ever nears 🎧 Subscribe to Galesburg's Morning News on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.