Enthusiasm is a big part of a high school athletic program.
It is a necessary ingredient in building a program. While the Winder-Barrow High School football team finished 1-9 last fall, enthusiasm has been rampant this offseason for coach Ben Corley’s team.
An unusually high number of players have turned out for spring practice, causing the coach to look at ways to purchase new uniforms. It’s a good problem to have to face.
In looking back at the 2008 campaign, it’s easy to see why the Bulldoggs took some lumps. It was all about growing pains as the program went through a change in head coaching and a change in systems.
With a complete offseason to work with the current coaching staff, WBHS should begin to show signs of improvement when the 2009 season arrives. Will it be easier? Of course not. Region 8-AAAA will once again be rough and all teams play a straight region schedule.
However, if the work done during the offseason is any indication, things will begin to take a turn for the better in year two of Corley’s era. In the past months, players have dedicated themselves to getting stronger, faster and more adept at what the coaching staff wants out of them. These are the months when successful football programs are made.
While some fans — the ones who quarterback from the stands on Friday nights — think teams just begin work for a new season a month before the first game, in reality, work has been going on since the final game of the 2008 season was over.
Now that spring practice has arrived, the enthusiasm has continued for the Bulldoggs.
“I have been pleased with our progress and energy,” Corley said earlier this week.
WBHS will have what the coach terms a “very controlled” scrimmage this Friday beginning at 4:15 p.m. to conclude spring work. There will be no special teams play in the scrimmage.
Once the spring scrimmage is complete, players will prepare to continue working this summer in the weight room and in conditioning drills before preseason practice begins later this summer.
While the WBHS football team won’t be predicted to win Region 8-AAAA this fall, I foresee the Bulldoggs being one of the most improved teams in the region. The reason I foresee this is based on the hard work and dedication shown by the players and coaches during the long offfseason months, when winners are built.
It should be a fun season to follow the WBHS team this fall. Corley, his coaching staff and players have dedicated themselves to being successful.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but I believe the road to success will begin to unveil itself during the 2009 season.
Hard work has a way of paving the way for success.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. E-mail comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
