It is the time of year when every football team has that renewed hope. Football coaches are trying to install their basic offenses and defenses. Players are vying for positions on the team for next season.
Such is the case for Head Coach Jeff Lee’s Dawson County Tigers.
Lee’s troops began spring practice last Monday and will continue through Saturday, May 22.
In Georgia, each team has 13 school days to get 10 practices in.
“I’m excited,” said Lee. “We are a lot farther along after one week than we ever have been. Our coaches have already installed our basic offenses and defenses.”
Lee’s coaching staff just finished spring practice with the upcoming ninth graders from Riverview and Dawson County middle schools last week. There were around 35 players that went through various drills, agilities, weightlifting and basic football schemes.
Lee and his coaching staff are trying something different this spring. Players are being divided into offense and defense during practice. “Splitting our kids up has been great,” Lee said. “It has given our coaches a chance to spend more teaching time with them. Also, when we scrimmage they know that they don’t have to go both ways and it seems they are playing harder.”
The Tigers have around 55 players out this spring. There are 18 seniors on this year’s squad, which is the highest total since Lee came to Dawson County. “It looks like we are going to have around 80 players to begin next season. That is a pretty good number for a AA school,” Lee said.
“Playing those young kids last year is starting to show at practice,” he said. “You can see that they have a better knowledge of what we are trying to do.”
After one week there are several Tigers that stand out, according to Lee.
Zach Johnson, 6’3” 300 pounds, Ethan Brown, Eian Perry, Zach Martin, Bruce Clark, Steven Johnson, Matthew Satterfield and Mark Dodd have really looked good after the first week.
Spring practice will culminate with a scrimmage game this Saturday, May 22 at Tiger Stadium. Instead of playing a regular game it will be the offensive team versus the defensive team.
Each team will be rewarded with points dependent on certain goals set up by the coaching staff.
Saturday will be a festive-type atmosphere at Tiger Stadium. Vendors, food, music and several fun activities will be set-up for young and old alike. There will also be a field goal contest at halftime.
“We are going to set things up early Saturday morning,” Lee said. “Everybody should come out and have a lot of fun and watch some good football.”
Kick-off for Saturday’s game will be at 1 p.m.