“We have got a dang good football team,” said Billy Kirk, head coach of JCCHS.
Jackson County Comprehensive High School is ahead of their competition in the amount of practice they are getting in before the first contest on August 29.
Kirk decided that this year the Panthers were going to hit the field running, as it were, by cramming as much practice into the players as possible.
Charles Smothers, co-captain, runs the ball during the midnight practice. Photo by Justin Poole
Panthers start football practice, set goals for season
“We are only one of three teams I know of that are doing this [early practice],” Kirk said.
Since the Georgia High School Association mandates that football practice cannot start until August 1, the Panthers were ready to go as soon as the clock hit 12:01 a.m. Friday morning.
With the late night air heavy in the heat of a Georgia summer, the Panthers were under the lights and ready to go. The players broke into stations, began running drills, and put forth a grueling workout as the coaching staff started preparing the team for the coming games.
Any impression that the guys were fooling around was met with stern words from not only the coaching staff but also teammates. The general mood was that this year, Jackson County is not going to be a pushover team.
Kirk called a quick team meeting after the drills and told the guys what was what for the year.
“It ain’t easy coming out here. It’s 2 a.m. right now,” said Kirk. “Your family is asleep, I promise you your opponents are asleep, and you are out here practicing. You are officially one practice ahead of everybody else in the region.”
The team cheered.
Kirk said, ”I am proud of your effort … We are in it and it’s here [football season]. Our three team goals: number one will hit us in three weeks, winning our first game. We can accomplish one of our goals in three weeks. Goal number two is we are going to win six ball games, I think we can do that this year. Third goal – compete for a playoff spot. In our minds, the coaches, we think we are good enough to do that.”
As the team listened to Kirk tell what this year’s goals for the team are, the faces of the veteran players were a mix of determination and hunger for the coming games, as they nodded in silent agreement to what the coach was saying.
Kirk ended the practice telling the team that he was proud of the players and that Jackson County has a “dang good” football team this year.
The Jackson County Panthers will get to use the practice during the August 22 scrimmage against Athens Christian. The Panthers will open against Our Lady of Mercy, at Panther Stadium August 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Since the Georgia High School Association mandates that football practice cannot start until August 1, the Panthers were ready to go as soon as the clock hit 12:01 a.m. Friday morning.
With the late night air heavy in the heat of a Georgia summer, the Panthers were under the lights and ready to go. The players broke into stations, began running drills, and put forth a grueling workout as the coaching staff started preparing the team for the coming games.
Any impression that the guys were fooling around was met with stern words from not only the coaching staff but also teammates. The general mood was that this year, Jackson County is not going to be a pushover team.
Kirk called a quick team meeting after the drills and told the guys what was what for the year.
“It ain’t easy coming out here. It’s 2 a.m. right now,” said Kirk. “Your family is asleep, I promise you your opponents are asleep, and you are out here practicing. You are officially one practice ahead of everybody else in the region.”
Head coach Billy Kirk, standing at right, explains the three goals for this season and how proud he is of the team. Kirk told the team they are going to win the opener, win six games and play for a playoff spot. Photo by Justin Poole
Kirk said, ”I am proud of your effort … We are in it and it’s here [football season]. Our three team goals: number one will hit us in three weeks, winning our first game. We can accomplish one of our goals in three weeks. Goal number two is we are going to win six ball games, I think we can do that this year. Third goal – compete for a playoff spot. In our minds, the coaches, we think we are good enough to do that.”
As the team listened to Kirk tell what this year’s goals for the team are, the faces of the veteran players were a mix of determination and hunger for the coming games, as they nodded in silent agreement to what the coach was saying.
Kirk ended the practice telling the team that he was proud of the players and that Jackson County has a “dang good” football team this year.
The Jackson County Panthers will get to use the practice during the August 22 scrimmage against Athens Christian. The Panthers will open against Our Lady of Mercy, at Panther Stadium August 29 at 7:30 p.m.
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