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Williamston, Plymouth pumped for football season
It’s midnight madness for Tigers
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — How excited for football season are the Williamston Tigers? So excited that they practiced the first possible minute they were allowed.
All area teams are permitted to hold their first day of practice on Aug. 1, and Tigers’ coach Asim McGill didn’t waste a minute getting to work as he held his team’s practice at midnight.
“The first day you can practice football is the first of August, so I am trying to start a new tradition here and get the kids excited about football,” McGill said. “They have done it in the past, but they haven’t done it in a while, so I’m just trying to start a new tradition.”
McGill and the Tigers have a good reason to be excited about this season, as the reigning Atlantic Conference champions have been recently ranked sixth in the state amongst 1-A schools by NCPreps.com.
McGill said the ranking doesn’t mean much to him, that it’s all about what his team can do on Friday night.
“Hopefully, I don’t know if these kids know about that right now, I don’t know if I should have told them,” McGill joked. “But it’s a good thing. I told the kids that we won eight (regular season) games, and we have the bulls-eye on our chest. You have to want that. So we just have to come out everyday and compete hard. You don’t win games on paper.”
Last season, the Tigers posted a 9-4 record, and made it to the second round of the 1-A playoffs before falling to Roanoke. But before Williamston can think about the playoffs, they have to focus on the fundamentals.
McGill, who had nearly 30 athletes show up for his midnight practice and anticipates another 20 or so as the week goes on, said the first few days are all about the basics.
“We are just trying to get the kids in shape conditioning- wise,” McGill said. “It’s just alignment, assignment. Get the kids lined up, and if they know what the are supposed to do, then you got a chance.”
State champs have whole new look
By STEVE FRANKLIN
Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — Robert Cody and the Plymouth Vikings are already reaping the benefits of last year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class-1A State Championship.
On Friday, the Vikings had an eye-popping 63 kids show up for the first day of tryouts for the 2008 season.
“Last year’s success has definitely helped bring more kids out this season,” said Cody, who will enter his 25th season at the helm of Plymouth’s program. “Everyone wants to be part of a winning program.”
The high turnout is certainly needed. The Vikings are trying to replace 17 starters from last year’s state title team. Only defensive end Daniel Downing and outside linebacker Patrick Phelps will return to the starting lineup this season.
“I guess you could call it a rebuilding year,” Cody said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be tough to replace 17 seniors. People are expecting big things, but they have to remember that four years ago, when last year’s seniors were freshman, we went 4-8. It’s going to take patience. It’s going to take time.”
However, the Vikings aren’t about to flush this season down the toilet just yet.
Cody still has high hopes for his ball club.
“Are we a state championship team; probably not, but we are aiming to get there,” Cody said. “As a coach you’ve got to have high expectations. Our goal is to get better every week. Every series. Every snap. If we do that, we’ve got a chance to be a real decent team.”
The longtime head coach plans to spend this week focusing on conditioning and discipline, two key aspects to every football team.
“We’ve got to get these kids into better shape and teach them discipline,” Cody said. “We’ve only got a short time before the season starts, so we’ve got a lot to do. Our first three weeks are against three Class 2A schools, so we’re going to get tested early.”
The Vikings will begin their title defense on August 22 when they welcome Farmville Central to town.
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — How excited for football season are the Williamston Tigers? So excited that they practiced the first possible minute they were allowed.
All area teams are permitted to hold their first day of practice on Aug. 1, and Tigers’ coach Asim McGill didn’t waste a minute getting to work as he held his team’s practice at midnight.
“The first day you can practice football is the first of August, so I am trying to start a new tradition here and get the kids excited about football,” McGill said. “They have done it in the past, but they haven’t done it in a while, so I’m just trying to start a new tradition.”
McGill and the Tigers have a good reason to be excited about this season, as the reigning Atlantic Conference champions have been recently ranked sixth in the state amongst 1-A schools by NCPreps.com.
McGill said the ranking doesn’t mean much to him, that it’s all about what his team can do on Friday night.
“Hopefully, I don’t know if these kids know about that right now, I don’t know if I should have told them,” McGill joked. “But it’s a good thing. I told the kids that we won eight (regular season) games, and we have the bulls-eye on our chest. You have to want that. So we just have to come out everyday and compete hard. You don’t win games on paper.”
Last season, the Tigers posted a 9-4 record, and made it to the second round of the 1-A playoffs before falling to Roanoke. But before Williamston can think about the playoffs, they have to focus on the fundamentals.
McGill, who had nearly 30 athletes show up for his midnight practice and anticipates another 20 or so as the week goes on, said the first few days are all about the basics.
“We are just trying to get the kids in shape conditioning- wise,” McGill said. “It’s just alignment, assignment. Get the kids lined up, and if they know what the are supposed to do, then you got a chance.”
State champs have whole new look
By STEVE FRANKLIN
Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — Robert Cody and the Plymouth Vikings are already reaping the benefits of last year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class-1A State Championship.
On Friday, the Vikings had an eye-popping 63 kids show up for the first day of tryouts for the 2008 season.
“Last year’s success has definitely helped bring more kids out this season,” said Cody, who will enter his 25th season at the helm of Plymouth’s program. “Everyone wants to be part of a winning program.”
The high turnout is certainly needed. The Vikings are trying to replace 17 starters from last year’s state title team. Only defensive end Daniel Downing and outside linebacker Patrick Phelps will return to the starting lineup this season.
“I guess you could call it a rebuilding year,” Cody said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be tough to replace 17 seniors. People are expecting big things, but they have to remember that four years ago, when last year’s seniors were freshman, we went 4-8. It’s going to take patience. It’s going to take time.”
However, the Vikings aren’t about to flush this season down the toilet just yet.
Cody still has high hopes for his ball club.
“Are we a state championship team; probably not, but we are aiming to get there,” Cody said. “As a coach you’ve got to have high expectations. Our goal is to get better every week. Every series. Every snap. If we do that, we’ve got a chance to be a real decent team.”
The longtime head coach plans to spend this week focusing on conditioning and discipline, two key aspects to every football team.
“We’ve got to get these kids into better shape and teach them discipline,” Cody said. “We’ve only got a short time before the season starts, so we’ve got a lot to do. Our first three weeks are against three Class 2A schools, so we’re going to get tested early.”
The Vikings will begin their title defense on August 22 when they welcome Farmville Central to town.
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| High school football officially kicks off |
