This week at Smoke Signals, the staff decided to interview Football Coach John Small and check in on the football team’s progress.
This year East Coweta Varsity Football is 2-2, winning both home games and losing both away games. Last week we had a bye-week in our preparation for our game with Perry High School this Friday. Perry is 3 and 1. At the Gold Out Game East Coweta took an early lead against Lovejoy, scoring a total of 24 points in the first half.
Q: “What are the greatest strengths and weaknesses of the EC football team?
A: “A lot of the players love EC and love each other, so they play hard for one another. That would be a strength, but a weakness would be human selfishness coming in the way. The players have to put one another above themselves.”
The coach says this great love is the motivation behind their playing; being great for one another is what fuels this team, but everyone can fall prey to their own human selfishness. It’s about battling that to remember what the game is really, not yourself but each other.
Q: “When our team is behind in a game, what techniques do you employ to help get us back in the lead?”
A: “We talk a lot about facing adversity in our program. When we are behind and we have to battle back, we have the opportunity to respond the right way.”
Adversity is defined as “a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune” (Merrium Webster). When our team faces adversity, the program makes sure that they show courage to face that during the games, while being respectful of the other team and each other.
Q: “What does a typical week look like for football players during practice?”
A:”They come to weightlifting in 4th period, and after they meet we go over the game plans and walk through practices. Monday through Wednesday is from 3:30 to 6:30 practice. Thursday is a runthrough practice.”
After the JV and 9th grade football players have games on Thursday, Varsity shows up to a relaxed 4th block weightlifting class. They stay at the school and eat dinner before the game, readying themselves under the Friday Night Lights. The football coach explains that “Their time is very committed.”
Q: “What is the relationship of education in your football program?”
A: “Obviously the most important thing for our players to do is to complete highschool. If they go to college or choose to pursue a career, we are trying to set them up for life.”
Being in any school sport, you have to learn time management skills. Juggling after-school activities with homework and personal time can be difficult. Whether they go on to college or technical school, time management will be a valuable skill they use for the rest of their life.
Q: “What did our team focus on during the bye-week?”
A: “We are focused on getting our students who were hurt healthy again and back on the field. We also wanted to continue to develop our younger players and see growth and on the field. We also gave our players a break, not just from playing but from us too so they can be re-energized for next week’s game.”
A bye-week is always a great time to improve upon a team’s weaknesses, and rest up. Having a Friday night off is a well-deserved break that these football players need, since their time is so committed. The players who are hurt can nurse their injuries and the ones who aren’t can rest their bodies so they don’t get injured.
This Friday at 7:30, EC is playing Perry High School for our 5th regular season game in Perry, GA. Coach Small said “EC students play a big role in our games and program. Because of the school’s support, we want to show up and show out to deliver a win.” So don’t forget to go cheer for our team at the game because your cheers fuel their wins.
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