2015 Football Preview

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Good Luck Area Football Teams! Main Branch 110 E. Broadway 580.482.7700 www.fnbaltus.com Real Estate Loans VA/FHA/RD/Conventional Go Altus Bulldogs! 60603561 2015 Football Season Preview I’ve seen the teams. I’ve heard their expectations. We’ve seen the hashtags claiming the latest motiva- tional line, and we may have even seen some brother of a friend who claims he was childhood buddies with Joe Montana, and that he has the scoop on how this season will unfold for this year’s trophy hunters. However, unless he or she has broken their way into my brain and stolen my notes, they have no idea what 2015 has in store for the Altus Bulldogs, Hollis Tigers, Mangum Tigers, Tipton Tigers or the Duke Tigers. Luckily, for all of us, I have kept my files from get- ting into enemy hands. I have some evidence that I would like to present that may shake up some of the power balance in classes 5A, 2A and class C. I feel confident that I can make some bold claims here, even though, at the time these season previews were submitted, no team had even scrimmaged another oppo- nent. Although I would like to have more pre-season to compile, more info in order to cast judgment on these teams’ projected records by year’s end and whether extra games in the playoffs await them, I’ve seen enough for now to give you my SEA- SON PREVIEWS for 2015. Brad Gilbert Football Preview 2015 Altus Bulldogs Duke Tigers, Mangum Tigers Hollis Tigers, Tipton Tigers Photos, Schedules and More

Transcript of 2015 Football Preview

Page 1: 2015 Football Preview

Good Luck Area Football Teams! Main Branch110 E. Broadway

580.482.7700www.fnbaltus.com

Real Estate LoansVA/FHA/RD/ConventionalGo Altus Bulldogs!

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2015 Football Season Preview

I’ve seen the teams. I’ve heard their expectations. We’ve seen the hashtags claiming the latest motiva-tional line, and we may have

even seen some brother of a friend who claims he was childhood buddies with Joe Montana, and that he has the scoop

on how this season will unfold for this year’s trophy hunters. However, unless he or she has broken their way into my brain and stolen my notes, they have no idea what 2015 has in store for the Altus Bulldogs, Hollis Tigers, Mangum Tigers, Tipton Tigers or the Duke Tigers.

Luckily, for all of us, I have kept my fi les from get-ting into enemy hands.

I have some evidence that I would like to present that may shake up some of the power balance in classes 5A, 2A and class C.

I feel confi dent that I can make some bold claims here, even though, at the time these season previews were submitted, no team had even scrimmaged another oppo-nent.

Although I would like to have more pre-season to compile, more info in order to cast judgment on these teams’ projected records by year’s end and whether extra games in the playoffs await them, I’ve seen enough for now to give you my SEA-SON PREVIEWS for 2015.

Brad Gilbert

Football Preview2015

Altus BulldogsDuke Tigers, Mangum TigersHollis Tigers, Tipton TigersPhotos, Schedules and More

Page 2: 2015 Football Preview

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Altus Times2 Thursday, August 27, 2015

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2015 Altus Bulldogs - THE HYPE

Brad [email protected]

THE HYPE - There is swelling noise coming from the Southwest cor-ner of the state - a buzz if you will. It’s the noise of wheels against the surface as they roll down a beaten path towards their destination. It’s the sound of the Altus Bull-dogs’ bandwagon. There are a few seats left, and they are filling up fast.

On the heels of their breakout 2014 cam-paign, with a record of 8-3, under the new and much improved direc-tion of head coach, Jer-emy Reed, the Bulldogs enter the 2015 season hungry for more suc-cess. Starving might be a more accurate term for it.

In the ten years at Altus before coach Reed came to town, the Bull-dogs managed only two winning seasons. A pair of 6-5 seasons, the last one being in 2008, were the bright spots in the program’s recent history.

A change was necessary. A complete paradigm shift is more like it.

When a team is strug-gling to find success, it’s easy to blame a coach, rid him of the program, and hire someone new. It’s much more difficult

to take a step back and get a good, long look inwardly, and notice the root of the problem.

The problem was attitude. Altus had a bad attitude. Those days are gone. Coach Reed brought much more than a new offense and new coaches with new terminologies. He brought a new life into a community. It’s palpable. The conversations have changed from wanting to know “why is this our reality” to now wanting to know if this is real.

The pace of the whole town has picked up almost as quickly as the misdirections of the flexbone system the Bulldogs now employ. Quarterback, Jayden Benway, took to the flex-bone system in his first year - like a kid who had worked on it in his front yard since his grade

school days, just hoping it would come to town some day. He ran it like he was a coach’s son.

Now, for his second year in the system, he has an added luxury in the backfield. His best friend moved back to town from Florida in hopes of creating some senior year memories worthy of reminiscing about for many years to come. Taven Birdow, Altus’ record holder for yards in a season (1,796) as a sophomore, spent his junior season in the backfield at IMG Academy in Florida helping them finish the season ranked 17th in the nation. He brings his near 9 yards per carry with him, together with a work ethic all young athletes would do well to emulate, and a character we all hope to instill in our children. Sounds exactly like the return-ing Bulldogs from 2014. Therefore, Taven’s tran-sition back to Bulldogs’ blue has been seamless.

The 2015 Bulldogs have a group of seniors

use to winning. They were undefeated as freshmen. These Bull-dogs are skilled and prepared for the 2015 season. They have a plan, a purpose, and an intent to win. The flexbone is real and very hard to defend since it is almost impossible for an opponent’s scout team to simulate it in practice.

The flexbone is excit-ing and will give oppo-nents worrisome fits for sure. But it’s coach Todd Vargas’ Bulldog defense that you need to look out for, because they are coming, and they are bringing their aggressive intent with them.

Brace yourselves Bulldog fans. The 2015 season looks to be fun, and should be easier for the Bulldogs. Playing football is fun, and hit-ting, blocking, passing, catching and running is easy.

Changing our attitude was the hard part.

Reach Brad Gilbert @482-1221 ext. 2076 or [email protected]

Bulldogs at the point of no return

Jayden Benway rolls out and looks downfield for another completion.

The Altus High School football locker room underwent a facelift on the inside this summer. It looks great. Most of the credit and sore backs belong to (CLASSIFIED). I won’t name them because they aren’t looking for any credit, and because many more people had a hand in helping on this project. However, if you look on the Bulldogs’ side of the field, you can spot these guys wearing team colors and generally making all of the onfield decisions.

Henry Holub and Brad Gilbert | Altus TimesSenior kicker, Gabe “The Weapon” Barton (38), connects on another made field goal attempt during practice.

Tito Jones (22) shows his open field speed as he heads to the end zone.

Good Luck to all area athletes!

Page 3: 2015 Football Preview

Thursday, August 27, 2015 3Altus Times 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2015 Altus Bulldogs - THE HOPE & THE HICCUPBrad [email protected]

THE HOPE -The expectations for this season started before last season even ended. Controlling those expec-tations may prove a more diffi cult task than turn-ing the program around from no one expecting anything, to a point where everyone expects everything. I know I am not the only one that loves the current state of the Bulldogs’ football program. I like things the way they are right now. I don’t want to go back to the pre-Reed days. There is no turning back now. Let’s move this train on down these 5A tracks. There is gold at the end of the line. There is no reason to feel it doesn’t belong to us.

Sometimes as fans, we get caught up in the end result, and base all perceptions of the pro-gram on whether or not a trophy comes home. As I learned my fi rst day on the job as an assistant coach at Frederick in 2012, a successful football season is not measured by the way it ends. It can’t be. It just isn’t fair to anyone, especially the kids.

In the fi rst meeting I had with the rest of the coaching staff in 2012 as a coach at Frederick, I learned a quick lesson on managing expectations. I had watched the Bomb-ers on fi lm from the year before and saw an offense having an easy time scor-ing, and a stout defense with size and speed. I wanted to impress my head coach and the oth-ers on the staff by letting them know I had a clear understanding of what I was coming into. I didn’t want them to think I was oblivious to what this team was.

That was a team that was returning 20 of 22 starters from the year before. We had players who were bigger, better and faster than the ones that were graduating. Therefore I felt all ele-ments were in place to make a run at the trophy. With confi dence I said, “So, if I’m seeing this right, … We are trying to win a title here?” I just wanted them to know that I was aware of the hard work that had been put in on this by every-one in the program, and that I was aware of the stakes. The room was an awkward shuffl e for a few seconds and Coach Hugh Farmer said, “No, we are trying to get better every

day. That’s really all we can control, and to focus on our one-game sched-ule. To see it as an all or nothing season just isn’t fair to anyone. If seasons are measured by only championships, then only one team has a good sea-son. That isn’t right.”

I said, “One-game schedule?” Farmer said, “Yep, the next game is the only game on our sched-ule.”

It’s hard to make a prediction for this team. It’s not because I’m not

confi dent in my view of things. It’s because the coach in me doesn’t want me to get ahead of myself and look beyond the Vernon game. However, my job is to help to sell newspapers. It’s much easier to sell newspapers if the sports brings good local color. If I’m telling you that I see weaknesses and expect some losses, I am not only a liar, I am a bad employee. Therefore, since the radio stations haven’t come calling me wanting me to provide

some Bulldog hype, I have this paper space to do so.

In that light, here comes some more hype - I think Altus has a legiti-mate shot to win every game on their schedule - A LEGITIMATE SHOT. The coaches on the staff, top to bottom, know their roles, and they are very good at what they do. The head coach instills an air of confi dence within his staff and his team. There is no silly show-boating. There is no thug mentality. Only positivity surrounds the program. The quarterback is experienced and highly skilled. Now, add in that Benway’s passes look like a completions every time they are released. Last year, it didn’t look like that. His passing wasn’t bad by any means. It just looked like a kid who had to pass because of a game situation, but didn’t really want to. Now Benway looks like a veteran shot-gun arm in the pro-set, instead of an option run only threat. When the number ones had posses-sion for the fi rst time at the Weatherford scrim-

mage, Benway threw 5 times in the fi rst 7 plays. The offensive minds should have a fi eld day with this. Altus very well may have the best back in the state. They may also have the best backfi eld in the state. Benway, Birdow, French, Harris and Jones make up this backfi eld. I dare you to fi nd any better collection of backs than that.

The wide-outs are somewhat untested because we ran almost all the time. But they do know how to block and Benway’s accuracy will make it easy to grab receptions. The line, believe it or not, is already better now than the line that fi nished the year last season. McCrae Stephens is an excellent addition. He and Jackson Herring are huge and mobile. Do I even need to

hype this defense? I don’t see why, they do just fi ne without any hype from me. Then aain why not? Benway is an absolute force at safety. He had seven interceptions a year ago. Hunter Cleveland and Austin Baldwin lived in the opponents’ back-fi eld all night/all season long. Ybarra, Torres, Fell-er, Ridenour, and Abuan are studs as well.

Coach Vargas has proven himself to be not a only an adept game planner, but his abil-ity to make half-time adjustments is supreme. That Ardmore display launched coach Vargas into the “Halftime Adjust-ments Hall of Fame” if you want my opinion. Ardmore speedster, Orin Walker, burned the Bull-dogs twice in the fi rst half and his total yards for one half was 183. This was obviously a focus of halftime and the second half proved Vargas is not locked down to one style. Orin Walker never found the end zone again and added a negative 3 yards to his fi rst half total of 183. Now, add in Taven Birdow to the mix. I still claim Taven is best back be the best running back in the state of Oklahoma. He now goes in at linebacker, and is not only trying to win, he is trying to get to the next level, and feels showing an ability to be multi-dimensional can help land him the big school offers he deserves. Taven may be a better linebacker than running back. Time will tell us. If I leave the special teams out, you might think the Bulldogs have a weak-

Henry Holub / Altus TimesThis tells you exactly what is holding this team together.

Henry Holub / Altus TimesThe Bulldogs take the field.

Henry Holub / Altus TimesQuarterback, Jayden Benway (14) looks like he is on a mission.

See HOPE | 6

Page 4: 2015 Football Preview

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Altus Times4 Thursday, August 27, 2015

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COACHSPEAK - Q&A with coach ReedBrad [email protected]

COACHSPEAK - I really enjoy talking with coach Reed and all of the Bulldogs on the staff. Some of the guys are still a little bit shy with me, or maybe they are just that way with everyone they encounter. This year though, they need to talk to me as much as they can. The goal for me is to brag about the players. They should want to brag about their players too. It makes my job easier. It gives me something to write about, and this is a season we should have plenty to write about. Last year after my fi rst inter-view with coach Reed, I went home and my wife, Tara, (Hi Tara), knowing where I had been, asked me about the new coach. My response was, “We can’t keep him.” I meant it too. Coach Reed just had a presence about him that I wasn’t ready for from a coach here. He was too polished to be here for long. He said all the right things, and with a tone and cadence that reminded me of coaches at the collegiate level. He has always maintained his affi nity with the Altus community, and was intent on “building an empire here.” Those are my words, not his. If you know him, or talk to him at all, you know he would never say that. As the season went on last year, and the Bulldogs kept win-ning, I couldn’t help but feel a little reserved about it. I thought that with all this success on such a turnaround of this magni-tude, no way he wouldn’t move on to bigger, better

higher paying gigs instead of coming back.

Well, he didn’t go somewhere else and pull the rug out from under us. Not only did he not leave, no one inside the football program left. Not one coach bounced out.

Remarkable considering they had eight losing sea-sons in the last 10 years, and turn that around to really make some noise in 5A. So, if you heard any of that noise last year, brace yourself. The volume this season is at a steady 11!

Don’t even ask to turn it down either.

Here is an interview I had before the Weath-erford scrimmage with coach Reed, and here is my offi cial thank you to coach Reed and his fam-ily, coach Vargas and his family, and the rest of you dedicated souls saddled with the task of coaching our boys up.

I, for one, sincerely appreciate not only the incredible, immediate results of Altus athletics since you have arrived here, but also and more so than the wins we appreciate the manner in which you have produced those wins. It’s obvious and clear to all observers, and more importantly to all the players, that you genuinely care for the kids and take them into your heart. I will never forget

my interview with coach Vargas last year on the practice fi eld when I asked him why he came out of coaching retirement to follow coach Reed to the S. W. corner of this state to coach in Altus. After a lengthy pause and fi ghting back tears that eventu-ally won the battle, coach Vargas said, “Because my wife and I trust coach Reed with our son, Jake.” I ended the interview right there because there were no other words he could say that would mean more than that short little sentence. As a parent, that sentence crosses over so many areas of raising a child and wow does it speak volumes about coach Reed’s character.

My interview with coach Reed-

ME: Not much down time on our schedule Coach. It looks like the Bulldogs have to bring their best every week. How do you feel about the schedule this season?

REED: No doubt we play in the toughest dis-trict of any class in Okla-homa. There are arguably four teams in the top 10, possibly top 5. Knowing that alone, should keep our team’s focus. Anything can happen on any given week. We will be tested each week, beginning with

Vernon, and must bring our best mental and physi-cal game all week, every week. There are no off weeks.

ME: Jayden Benway was spectacular last sea-son. He always seemed to have a way of pulling our feet out of the fi re when we were looking done for. That pass to Tyler Phillips down to the 1 late in the game against Ardmore will live in the reminiscent minds of Bulldog fans forever. It propelled the Bulldogs to score, and set up even more drama with the defensive denial of Ardmore on four plays inside the 1 ft. line. The moments that followed that, as the home fans stormed the fi eld to pour our adulation all over the team, is what always comes to my mind when I hear someone claim there isn’t anything fun to do here. Coach, when I watch Jayden at practice this year though, I get the sense that the game has really slowed down for him. He looks comfortable with what you are trying to do offensively. My ques-tion is, when did his pass-ing take such a noticeable leap forward? He is really throwing the ball with accurate zip.

Henry Holub and Brad Gilbert | Altus TimesThese are cheerleaders leading the postgame crowd in the singing of the Altus High School Alma Mater.

Henry Holub and Brad Gilbert | Altus TimesCoach Reed shares some of the Ardmore postgame limelight with some players, cheerleaders and some young Altus fans in what made for a great moment.

Aug. 28, scrimmage, Frederick and ElginSept. 4, Kickoff 2015 - at Vernon, Texas - 7:30 p.m.Sept. 11, Homecoming - hosting Anadarko - 7:30 p.m.Sept. 18, at Elk City - 7 p.m.Sept. 25, hosting El Reno - 7:30 p.m.Oct. 2, at Lawton Mac - 7 p.m.Oct. 9, hosting Del City (Pink Out) - 7:30 p.m.Oct. 15, at Chickasha - 7 p.m.Oct. 23, at Ardmore - 7:30 p.m.Oct. 30, hosting Duncan (Pep Squeakers) - 7:30 p.m.Nov. 6, hosting NW Classen (Senior Night) - 7:30 p.m.

Altus Bulldog Football 2015

See COACHSPEAK | 8

Page 5: 2015 Football Preview

Thursday, August 27, 2015 5Altus Times 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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Duke makes a BIG changeBrad [email protected]

Duke has made some big BIG changes to their football program. I mean humongous changes. Changes that should excite any Duke football fan. Coach Matt Warner is now the new head coach. He is assisted by Micah Harman and Steve Farmer.

As I came across various people within the Duke community (to be referred to as the Dukes for this article), football kept unexpectedly coming up in conversations. This was a new development from any other time in my life. Although the Dukes are proud to offer football as an athletic activity for their students, there just haven’t been very many reasons to rally the town to get behind the program. Those days are gone.

Like I said, there are some BIG changes at Duke. Let’s just get this out of the way now. Tatum Crouch is playing football this year. If you have seen Tatum on the basketball fl oor, you have seen exactly what I saw a year ago. Tatum has amazing feet in the post position. He has very good hands, and agility for a post man. And he can jump. I also saw a frustrated, fi ery competi-tor when watching Duke basketball last year. As Tipton denied him the ball down low, I couldn’t help but think if they had some football gear on, Tatum could clear himself some space. My intention

here wasn’t to sell Tatum Crouch to you. However, Tatum’s best sport just might be football. Stand-ing at a mammoth 6’8” and carrying 265 lbs. Tatum is most likely the biggest lineman in the state. He just might be the biggest in the nation. Talking 8-man footballs or not, I challenge you to fi nd another kid that size that has the athleti-cism of Crouch. If you do fi nd one, along with the name of the kid, please include all the Division 1 scholarship offers he has, or where he has already signed. Tatum’s hands make him a serious receiv-

ing threat as well. Since he can jump, too, Duke has an unstoppable red zone set.

Quarterback, Orin McGee Jr. 6’1 `170 QB/DB- is quick and athletic as well. I played ball with his daddy, so, I know what kind of will to win Orin has inside of him. Jaylan Hamersley Sr. 5’10 165- is also a very good athlete.

The anchors on the line on both sides of the ball are the boys Martinez; Jacob Martinez Sr. 5’10 210 G/DE and Isaac Mar-tinez Sr. 5’10 240 G/DE.

Nolan Drennan Sr. 5’8 170 will play both fullback

and linebacker, and Paul Hennessey Sr. 6’0 190 at linebacker and tight end will need to be key forces on defense. Look for these two to make some plays on defense.

I will let coach Warner introduce himself:

Duke head football coach Matt Warner - “I graduated from Konawa H.S. in 2006. Graduated from East Central Univer-sity in Ada with a Math Education Degree. I have a wife, Julie, who teaches 5th grade at Duke. This is year one as a head coach, and year fi ve over-all. I coached at Konawa for two years as RB/LB

coach my fi rst year, and Co-Defensive Coordina-tor my second year, as well as RB/DB coach. My previous two years has been at Maud where I was the defensive coordinator both years, and OL/DL coach my fi rst year and RB/DB my second year.”

Coach Warner, like many football coaches, often uses quotes to help inspire his team. One of the quotes he uses stood out to me that refl ect the Duke footballs woes recently, “Get a little bet-ter each day, take it piece by piece and chunk by chunk, because a little each day adds up to be a

lot later.”I really believe Duke is

the most intriguing story this season. With only 13 wins in 10 years, Duke has a chance to add up the victories at an unprec-edented rate.

Come on Duke fans. You travel in multitudes for a basketball game. It’s time to support the football team too, with the Milners and Mr. Rice lurking in the junior high ranks. This season could be the start of something really BIG for the Dukes. Like I said, HUMON-GOUS.Reach Brad Gilbert at 482-1221 ext. 2076

Brad Gilbert/ Altus TimesDuke players are put through their paces at the start of practice.

Brad Gilbert/ Altus TimesScorching hot afternoons spent pushing sleds around reminds me exactly why football players dance around when they score. It’s because they have worked hard for that celebration.

Page 6: 2015 Football Preview

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Altus Times6 Thursday, August 27, 2015

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Hollis is hiding somethingBrad Gilbert/Altus Times

This is the first event in the triple option. The quarterback’s decision to put it in the fullback’s belly or keep it himself.

Brad Ryan [email protected]

I understand that some people may get upset that I am sharing some team secrets that may help Hollis’ opponents when they face the Crimson and White Tigers this season. However, I thought I would risk it and try to see if I could level some playing fields in class 2A by telling all those taking on Hollis in 2015. So, SSHH-HHH…. don’t tell them I told you.

Here goes… HOLLIS WILL RUN THE TRIPLE OPTION THIS YEAR. Now I’ve done it. No team should have trouble stopping them from scoring anymore. Wait, what’s that? You say you already knew that? Well, never mind then. I don’t have anything else that can help you. I though I was doing you a big favor.

Hold on here. If you know what’s coming, then why can’t you stop it? Ahhhh…. Now that

is the 65-year-old question. If an option team has the right personnel in place, and any experience running it, stop-ping it for four quarters is near impossible. There will be times when you have success against the Wishbone attack. However, those times are just illusions. You are being set up for that scoring run that just went right through your gloating defense because you had no idea who

had the ball.Hollis certainly has the right

personnel in place again this year for the Tigers to make a very deep run in the playoffs. They have another one of Soop’s boys in the backfield, and their fullback looks like he has been training for Mr. Olym-pia competitions.

They have the experience running the option game as well. Their senior quarterback

has a state championship ring already. As an added bonus, the Hollis masterminds have hired a new offensive line coach, Justin “call me Matt” Humble. I was on the staff with coach Humble in 2012 at Frederick. Although that offense required the O-line go backwards every snap to protect our gunslinger, that offense went forward faster, and more often, than any other in the state’s history. I encour-age you to go to YouTube and watch the Frederick Bombers 2012 highlights. You will get to see the line on both sides of the ball completely dismantle their

opponent. Get some popcorn though. I don’t know of any other high school team that has a 2-hour highlight film.

Head Coach Reade Box hired an assistant who actually wants to win just as much as he does, or maybe they just hate to lose that much.

Hollis again finds itself at the front of the line in class 2A. To all those willing to oppose them this year, if you already knew what offense was coming at you, and you were hoping to read this to get a secret on how to stop them, I guess I have noth-ing for you. Best of luck to you.

Tigers’ winning secret -EXPOSED

Brad Gilbert/Altus TimesThe quick thinking, self sacrificing, magical disappearing act of the triple option. “But coach, I almost had him.” “Good hit… But you tackled the wrong guy.” It’s perhaps the most artistic moment in sports that I have seen since Nolan Ryan retired, the art of the pitch.

Brad Gilbert/Altus TimesThis is not part of the triple option. I just like this picture.

ness. Not so, Gabe Barton may be the best kicker in the state. He thinks it’s between himself and a kid from Piedmont. This isn’t a Piedmont paper. So, you heard it here first. Gabe Barton is the best kicker in the state. Go by practice sometime and be entertained by Gabe’s 60+ yards of kicking field goals accurately and clearing the

crossbar with ease. Gabe has deep, high onside kicks down to an art.

Like I said, I think the Bulldogs have a chance to defeat every opponent they face on their sched-ule. I just can’t say the words you are wanting me to say. Too many things can happen. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t say it. It’s our time at the front of the line people. So, enjoy it. Soak it up. There is prob-ably some room on the bandwagon left, but if you

aren’t on board yet, I can’t imagine why not.

SUPPORT THE 12TH MAN CLUB. They take care of everything that the staff shouldn’t have to. Sandwiches provided to the team during that extended rain delay at Del City came from 12th Man Club. It seriously looked like the difference maker between the two teams in the second half. The heat-ers on sideline at Guthrie came from 12th Man Club. The list goes on and on. Pre-game tailgating is

theirs as well. Catch my drift? SUPPORT THE 12TH MAN CLUB.

GO AHEAD BULL-DOGS !! GO ON - GET THAT WHICH YOU HAVE WORKED FOR.

THE HICCUP - The only thing that concerns me is this year’s schedule doesn’t set up well for the Bulldogs. Open on the road at rival Vernon. Then, the week two opponent, Anadarko, was a three-time defending state champion in class 4A when the Bulldogs went to

Anadarko for their week two match-up last year. Once the dust settled, the Bulldogs brought back a 42-7 loss. It was set up last year to make another deep run into the playoffs. However, injuries by key personnel ended that run. This is a very dangerous opponent for a home opener. Especially since it’s homecoming. Elk City, Chickasha, Ardmore and defending state champion, Lawton Mac, are all on the road. Duncan, Del City, and Anadarko are home

games inside “The Rock.” The Bulldog fans do everything in their power to make the boys feel at home when they are away from “The Rock.” How-ever, it doesn’t change the fact that road games in football are a logistical nightmare for most teams. Transportation for a large group of players, coaches and managers and train-ers to and from the site is only the surface getting scratched. All the pads

From page 3

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Page 7: 2015 Football Preview

Thursday, August 27, 2015 7Altus Times 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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The 2014 State Champion Tipton Tigers celebrate after the huge win in last year’s finals. If you can’t read the numbers on the scoreboard behind them, it says Tipton 58 and “The toughest, most qualified opponent that Class C could find to oppose them” 12.

Tipton gets new fi eld and new Rushing attackBrad [email protected]

Tipton made true on my prediction from a year ago. The Tigers claimed the 2014 state championship of Class C. This really came at no surprise. However, I do get credit with putting it on paper before the season started.

There really wasn’t much doubt about it. As guarded as football coaches are about pro-viding bulletin board motiva-tional material for opponents, scheme secrets and injury reports, Tipton head coach Travis White, in his fi rst year at the helm of the Tipton pro-gram, was up front with me in agreeing that the Tiger’s would 45 every opponent on their schedule. They also 45’ed their opponent in the fi nals 58-12.

Yep, you read that correctly. Tipton’s opponent, the team I refuse to acknowledge in print, the most qualifi ed team that worked to win the games on their schedule, and battled up through the playoffs, the one team that gets to forever call itself the 2014 state runner-up, (generally an amazing achieve-ment) got 45’ed by Tipton. And the game was cut short. I know… I know what you are probably thinking. The answer is, yes. Tipton WAS most defi nitely that good. For all the people that followed the Tipton juggernaut as it fl oated through the season, one question lingered from that champion-

ship game. I saw that 46-point spread that Tipton won by and I couldn’t help but think, “How did that team ever score 12 on Tipton?”

I understand Tipton wants me to tell them “all is well” and that this year’s team is just as good. However, before we even begin to approach that discus-sion, let me offer a lil’ recap of that senior class of 2014 as a reminder to the up and comers of the legacy they are having to live up to. I’m sorry that this is their reality. A team should not have to live up to any other.

No team should have to live up to last year’s Tipton squad. If at anytime in the future, Tip-ton has a class come through

that goes undefeated and wins big and claims the title, that team won’t compare to last year’s. I hate that. But, that’s how good the 2014 Tigers were.

Those seniors had been to four straight state champion-ship games and won it all three times. Their trophy case looks mighty impressive. Tipton also found itself in the basketball state tournament twice, reach-ing the fi nals in 2013 and a surprising fi rst round exit of the state playoffs in 2014. Then came the spring season. The Tipton baseball team lost in the championship game to fi nish runner up. The Tipton golf team qualifi ed for state

fi nishing 6th and Tipton even had Royce Bernal qualify for state in track. They had power lifting state qualifi ers, and even more FFA achievements just as dominant.

The class of 2014 will live on in Tipton lore for eternity, but those days are gone.

The 2015 season has new faces everywhere. Still coach Travis White claims that they expect to win.

Terence Rushing will be in the backfi eld and will get a large bulk of the carries. Rush-ing (perhaps the best name ever for a running back) will also be a formidable linebacker. Corey Jones at 6’4 295 is the center, and will anchor the line.

He will get some help from Conley Gilbert at the tight end and defensive end positions.

“We will be quite a bit big-ger up front than we were last year,” said head coach Travis White, “We will probably look to pound the ball and try to wear people down throughout the game.” This is the oppo-site of the attack the Tipton offense had a year ago. Tipton was loaded with speed, speed, speed at almost every position. The rest of the positions were fi lled with really fast players.

The new quarterback to lead the Tigers is as new as you can get in high school. Shon-Claude Boothe, a freshman, takes over under center. “Boothe is very skilled athletically,” said coach White. “He is talented, smart and just needs some game experience.”

No matter how the team looks for 2015, they will look a little better anytime they are at home. They have installed a new artifi cial surface at Tipton. It is absolutely gorgeous, and no one has to mow it, and not a drop of water is necessary to keep it green. Every time a player lands on it, they will know what to expect.

I encourage everyone to check the fi eld out at Tipton. The only thing better looking than Tipton’s fi eld is the shin-ing precious metals in their trophy case.

Reach Brad Gilbert@482-1221 ext.2076or [email protected]

Tired of rising temperatures and maintenance costs, Tipton re-surfaced their field. Out with the old bermuda grass, and the hours upon hours of mowing it and trying to keep it watered in drought conditions. Now in with a beautiful artificial surface. Just one of the perks of winning multiple state championships.

have to be accounted for, as well as several sets of extra gear because…. you never know. If something breaks and you don’t have another to use, you are away from home, so you better have it with you. Helmets alone make a huge luggage for the trip. The training gear is a little

more than some white ath-letic tape and some Band-aids. Multiple tables for ankles being taped, or for massaging a mean muscle strain. The amount of tape and pre-wrap that a foot-ball team goes through in one week is mind blowing. Now times that amount by 15 weeks or more, and its clear that the logistics of a football team to travel to play a game is like no other sport.

For example, in base-

ball, if you aren’t a catcher and you wore your uni-form to the bus, as long as you had your mit, you were good to fi nish a double-header and get back home. The hydra-tion of a team the size of Altus is more than a little water jug. Please respect the kids on the sidelines holding the water. They are a valued member of the team if they hear a timeout and are sprint-ing out to the players

for a water break. You waterboys and watergirls remember the towel you are carrying is as impor-tant to the player as the water. They are sweating like Patrick Ewing did in a clutch moment trying to make a free throw late in the game. To make a deep run into playoffs means 14-17 weeks straight not including pre-season. It’s a long grind and work, work, work and some-where these coaches have

to teach and grade papers and do lesson plans. These young Bulldog athletes somehow have to fi nd the time to be a student athlete. It isn’t all fi ght songs and standing ovations.

SPEAKING OF WATER: THE BULLDOGS WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND DONATE BOTTLED WATER FOR ROAD GAMES. MAKE

IT SO. My hope is that before week one, the team is overwhelmed by so much bottled water that they have to turn it away. They won’t, because there are several road games and seriously, the players have to stay hydrated or they cramp. Don’t let a Bulldog’s leg cramp be on your head. Donate some water and have peace of mind.

Reach Brad Gilbert@482-1221 ext. 2076

From page 6

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Mangum have experienced team and coachBrad [email protected]

Longtime baseball coach and assistant football coach, Mike Wendt, takes over the head coaching duties at Mangum this season. Wendt replaces Forrest Mazey who leaves the program after only a year, and takes a coaching job at Poteau.

The 2014 season went as I expected it would. Well, at least it did after Kade Wendt was moved to quarterback. Although the win-loss record is all anyone ever looks at, Mang-

um did manage to score some points, even in games they lost big. The spread offense will do that. Wendt will keep the spread attack, and hopes his son Kade will deliver some strikes to what looks to be a very strong wide receiver group. Xavy Pineda, Bryce Peeler and Aus-tin Warner lead the wide-outs . Look for them to head some direction in a mad dash to fi nd some space in the opponents’ defenses. They saw a bunch of action last season, and have looked great so far this year. The Tigers also return their ball

carrier, Colby Hamlett.Mangum will be in the 50

scheme defensively. Dawson Henry will be the rock at the middle linebacker position. He was a key factor a year ago, as well as Christian Ochoa, and Alex Villa helping us on the line. The Tigers are looking forward to the return of Joe Holt. Holt, a starting guard last year, has a broken hand and is expected to return to practice soon.

Mangum brings experienced personnel to the stadium, and this will be their second year in

the spread offense. The spread is amazing at the high school level, if and only if the quarter-back is accurate. I know coach Wendt to be a talented baseball mind. But more so, Wendt is a life-long study of the fi ner aspects of sport skills and ath-letic abilities. Between his years of experience coaching base-ball arms, and his son, Kade’s time at shortstop, they should be able to get some catchable throws to their experienced wide receivers.

I’m not sure exactly what Mangum is expecting from this

football season. Maybe they are just being tight lipped about it.

However, from the outside looking in, other coaches in their district have voiced their opinion and believe Mangum will compete for the top spot in the district.

If this pans out, Mike Wendt should be coach of the year. Good Luck Tigers, avoid the dead ball fouls and maybe coach Wendt can hit a home run on this one.

Reach Brad Gilbert@482-1221 ext. 2076 or [email protected]

REED: Jayden worked very hard in early Spring and all Summer. He worked to correct a few of his mechanics issues. He is also much stron-ger in the weight room than he was a year ago. Seven on Seven helped us, but most of the work was done before we ever started that.

ME: I kept hearing loud booms during all the prac-tices I have been to. At fi rst, I thought it was the music playing at the fi eld, or a passing car stereo, or even some left over fi re-works exploding nearby. As I investigated a bit, I found the weapon causing the booms. Of course, I am kidding. Well, maybe a little bit. Gabe Barton is hammering his practice attempts from 60 yards or more. You ever catch a look over and watch him kick during practice?

REED: Gabe is a true weapon in both kickoffs and fi eld goals. He’s a true specialist that works daily to improve his craft. He has a written kicking

workout daily that he is given to cover everything we will need from him. We’re glad we have Gabe.

ME: Coach, it looks like several Bulldogs are emerging into starring roles. For my last ques-tion, I want to know what your impressions of young Taven Birdow are? I know what I see, and I know what others have told me they see. Can I get you to take your coach hat off for a second and put your fan cap on? Or even your scouting report goggles on? Or whatever they wear, and give me your impression about #33?

REED: The fi rst description that comes to mind is that Taven is a great kid. He is very hum-ble, and he came in and blended the transition back home very smoothly. He certainly did not bring any ego with him back from Florida. His talent is undeniable. He pos-sesses the combination all football coaches are want-ing. He has great power, strength, and speed. I feel like I’ve known Taven forever, but I have never seen him in live action against an opponent. I’m

looking forward to see-ing him compete. We are fortunate to have many great players. Although we know many of these players’ names, and will see them in headlines, it’s the unknown role players at the core of this team that will make us success-

ful this year. This holds true for any great team. There are always players that emerge that help you win games each week that the common fan never notices.

ME: Expectations are exponentially growing as the season approaches.

How do you keep these young men from looking too far into the season toward the “what ifs” that tempt the mind, impair judgments, and distract from the now? How do you keep a team focused in the moment?

REED: Our approach to practice has a great infl uence on keeping kids in the moment. We don’t accept anything but the best effort daily, no matter our record or opponent. We are dealing with 14 to 18-year-old young men. So, outside resources can persuade their minds at times to get relaxed and compla-cent. I think this group understands the magni-tude of what this season can hold, and are hungry to work daily toward that goal. We love our team and its capabilities, but we understand, we have a long way to go to be ready for the schedule we will be facing. The X factor that has the big-gest infl uence on a team is cohesion. This team is very close, and genuinely enjoys being with each other. That is a by-prod-uct of the coaching staff. The leadership qualities

these coaches have has shown the boys what it looks like to have a Broth-erhood. They see the closeness, laughter, and friendships within their coaches, which bleeds over to our locker room.

Me: They look hungry. Starving is a look I see from some of the boys. I know the fan base here in Altus is famished. Keep feeding us coach.

Reed: As the season progressed last year, our crowd kept grow-ing and played a major role in our games. The players and the coaches feed off the energy and emotion that our crowd provides. Hopefully, we can continue to feed each other. The support our community gives for our football team and all our athletics is amazing. Many places claim to be athletic towns. Altus can defi nitely back it up. THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO COACH OR PLAY THAN ALTUS, OKLAHOMA!!

(I added the all-caps. Coach Reed would’ve wanted it that way)

G O B U L L D O G S !!

Reach Brad Gilbert@482-1221 ext. 2076 or [email protected]

From page 4

Coachspeak

Henry Holub and Brad Gilbert | Altus TimesCoach Reed just has a look of a coach that isn’t agreeing with the information this referee is giving.

Henry Holub and Brad Gilbert | Altus TimesCoach Reed keeps a close eye on his quarterback, Jayden Benway as he connects again on a nice out route.