CHEBOYGAN — When I woke up Thursday morning, I was in my football zone. Having chatted with Inland Lakes coach Travis Meyer and some of his key players a day prior, I felt that sort of excitement I get for every football season. CHEBOYGAN CANCELS 2026 FOOTBALL SEASON: Cheboygan High School varsity football program cancels 2026 season No matter how good teams might be, or if they end up struggling, there’s nothing like seeing excitement on the faces of players and coaches who work tirelessly during those opening weeks of practice while logging several more hours of preparation during the summer as a new season arrives. All I could think of on Thursday morning was how much I was looking forward to talking with Cheboygan football coach Bill Nesbitt and his players about what they hoped would be a positive 2026 season. But early that afternoon, I was tipped off by someone who said the season was on the brink, and it was as if my heart sunk. Then, shortly after 3 p.m. at Cheboygan’s fieldhouse at Western Avenue Field, that unfortunate rumor was confirmed after Nesbitt and his staff notified their players that the varsity season was being cancelled because of low numbers. The ultimate buzzkill, you could say. Being somebody who gave those Chiefs their privacy as Nesbitt delivered the news, I sat in Nesbitt’s coach's room and thought about the sheer devastation on the faces of the Chief players, and several minutes later following the meeting, there wasn’t much for them to say. It was pure shock and sadness for a program that’s tried to fight its way back to relevance ever since Jack Coon stepped down over a decade ago. Since, people have constantly asked me why it came to this point. I’ve heard, “Was it the coach?”
I’ve heard, “Do kids just not want to play anymore?” I’ve heard, “How can a school that big struggle to find enough numbers to field a team?” I don’t have those answers right now, and I’ll try to find them out down the road, but that’s not on my mind. What is, though, is that small group of kids who busted their butts to get into football shape. It’s the look on their faces as all of them exited Western Avenue after that meeting. I couldn’t help but feel sick for those kids – especially those seniors – who worked tirelessly and passionately to put themselves and the program in the best spot. I thought about senior Nolan Schley, whose summer consisted of numerous workouts and trips to five or six different football camps with hopes of having his best season in his last year at Cheboygan. He won’t get that chance now – and it sickens me. I thought about Landon Gahn, the gritty, hard-working, ultra-competitor who gives it everything on the gridiron. He won’t get that chance now – and it sickens me. I caught a glimpse of senior Jerzi Mix with a look of disappointment on his face. Mix was one of those kids who made the most of his chance, put in a productive junior season, and had goals of making even bigger plays as a senior. He won’t get that chance now – and it sickens me. I thought about senior Hunter Meldrum, who was going to be a fun Chief to watch this fall. He won’t get that chance now – and it sickens me. VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Meet the Cheboygan-area high school volleyball stars to watch in 2026 LANDON FENSTERMAKER: 'Big play' specialist Landon Fenstermaker leads Inland Lakes football People will continue to point fingers at who or what might be responsible for what happened with Cheboygan football, but I’m simply sick for the Chiefs who put in all that time and effort, only for it to get taken away just hours after arriving back from Lake Louise, where a small team built a connection that might’ve inspired them in 2026. It made me wonder what Fridays ahead are going to be like for those Chiefs who were dying to make an impact. We won’t get any of that now, and quite frankly, it sucks to say that. That’s about all you can say at this point, and while I think those upperclassmen are crestfallen now, they’re a good group that will rise above it and still make the most of their senior years. On a Thursday that was a dark day for Cheboygan football, you always wonder what comes next, but for someone who loves covering this stuff for a living, I’m heartbroken for those kids who did everything right. I’ll talk to some of those players soon, but it will feel strange. That’s for sure, especially since they’ve been classy since the start, just like the coaches who were just as devastated in the minutes leading up to that meeting. It simply sucks. That’s it. Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan football ending season brings a sad, sick feeling | Greenleaf