This is our t-shirt for Friday Night camp, July 18 @ Bob Ware Field, 7:30 pm - 10 pm. Still spots available. Will be a basic skills camp. Grades 2 thru 8. Message me if you want to save a spot... don't have to be a Bearcat to attend!

 

70 in attendance for Bearcat Football Camp last night. Nemo Wilson, who is going to Georgetown on a football scholarship, was our speaker. 

75 on the roster. 65 lockers. In 33 years… biggest roster ever. I like that number.

30 are freshmen. Our assistants have worked like dogs to get kids out and then they do a super job once they get here. 
 

We are much improved. Hopefully the results will reflect that improvement , sooner than later. 
 

Good job, Coach!

Outstanding !

Love our progress. We are still very much at a point that we must be intentional in building our program and doing what is right, what is best. At this stage, we can assume nothing and we can take nothing for granted. We have spell out exactly what must be done to win. 

Also, the Pr1de shorts go all the way back to Coach Randy Reese & Paris HS. Larry Harris played for Coach Reese. Larry & I coached together at Paris & Mason County. Some will argue that Larry is the greatest Greyhound football player, ever.  I can tell you he is a wonderful man, friend & football coach. Trying to get him in red and navy. Hope we can coach together one last time. 

 

One of the best things we do for our kids, and have been doing it for over the past 20 years. 

The Commonwealth Attorney speaks to our team. Some of the highlights... hazing, electronics, and topics connected to young ladies. It really helps our guys and believe it prevents alot of mistakes, drama, problems. You should see their faces during the talk. They get some good information. 

Origin... we got back from an away game one night.  A Mom & daughter from the opposing team followed our bus home. They accused one of our star players of inappropriate behavior. He denied it. I call an attorney about midnight. As it turns out, the little girl had tried to talk to him. He laughed at her and it hurt her feelings. 

But, the attorney I called told me it would be better to talk to the team during the day time than me call him at midnight. Became a tradition that is super for our kids and I believe has become a critical part of our football program. 

 

This will definitely be a team that’s going to upset some ball clubs this year! They are physical, well coached, and the third most underrated ingredient is the community shows up no matter the opponent! It’s hard looking across that sideline at the Red Sea with not a lot of road support! Looking for this team to be standing in the 2nd and 3rd round of the playoffs. 

Good night. Good crowd. This little town is a special place for Friday Night HS football. Looking forward to the season. 

Still alot of work to do... but much better. 

 

 

 

Also, pregame, our old DC from Mason County, Shawn Thompson was there. And, saw one of my favorite old Rebels, Pete Kendrick.  Shawn was a big reason we got things turned around at Mason. In the dead of winter, when he couldn't sleep, he would put in the Russell video and work on the Red Devils. When he would tell me that, walking into school on a cold winter morning, I would be fired up for the rest of the day. .

Not alot of perks to being old, but got phone calls last week from Cory Dumphord (my old Paris HS QB) who is now the MS coach at Paris, Jonathan TD Taylor (former Tailback Mason Co. HS), and legendary writer from the past 5 decades, Larry Vaught. 

Those guys don't call me often because they know I will want to talk about the old days and they will never get off the phone. 

Cory called to ask me about something we did at Paris. I said, "I never did that." He says, "Michael (Jackson... coaching with him, Paris HS LB & FB, Cory's teammate)  told me that is what you will say." ?

My best thing.... by far.... surrounding myself with good people. There is no substitute. I am the poster boy for riding the coat tails of winners. One of the reasons I feel GREAT about getting the Bearcats turned around... lots of really good people .... staff, players, administration & community. 

 

Met an old Bearcat at lunch today. Realized, we played against each other in 1982 in HS. He gave me $100 donation for Bearcat Football. Very cool town. They love kids and they love Bearcat Football.

 

Great place for HS football. Bermuda grass. No track. Old school bleachers. Students, crowd right on top of the playing field. Our parents mark the game field & practice field for the football program. Volunteers.

Not a big deal to most people, but huge deal to me. Our guys got these travel bags today. Theirs to keep when they graduate. They were genuinely grateful and excited to receive them. Didn't see a shred of entitlement or taking anything for granted. Our guys earned these by working hard and showing up. Didn't cost them a dime.

Our generous community allows us to do things like this for our kids. Nothing extravagant. But meaningful in an old school culture where we appreciate what we have, appreciate others, and appreciate what others do to help us.  

We still have much work to do and we know that. But, pieces like our beautiful field, earning what we have, appreciating others... they add up. And, over time, will lead to improvement, lead to success, lead to winning and results. 

 

Love it all, Coach!