Football Wildcats look to ‘spring’ forward
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GCHS set for spring scrimmage at Satsuma
By BRAD CROWE
Herald Staff
The Greene County Wildcats football team began its spring training period last week, a valuable asset that no teams were afforded last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entering his second year at the helm of the program, head coach Rotch Dungan says he and his staff are excited to return to a normal training schedule after a not-so-normal 2020 filled with unusual challenges.
“It’s exciting for us to get back to doing things the way we’re used to doing it,” Dungan said. “We had to make a lot of concessions last year, and we really couldn’t be very strict about it because we just had to understand that there were more important things going on than football. But we’re approaching the 2021 season just like any other normal year, so it’s full steam ahead.”
As for how teams across the state will benefit from returning to a normal offseason schedule, Dungan said there are a multitude of ways the extra time can be utilized based on the preference of each program. For him, the goal is to assess the talent on the roster and get a better idea of how to maximize what each player can bring to the table.
“Some coaches are scheme guys, and some like to rehash what they did the year before,” Dungan said. “We like to use the spring as an identification time. We want to identify guys who might be ready to make that next step and play bigger roles.
The Wildcats’ coaching staff has put a lot of emphasis on versatility this spring, challenging players to not only improve on their roles from last season but search for new ways to make an impact on the field.
“Every single day, we talk to our players about how valuable they can become to the team based on how many different things they can do,” Dungan said. “So everyone out there has had that on their mind, trying to figure out what else they can do that they haven’t already done.”
Greene County played only seven games in 2020, finishing the season with a 3-4 record. With 10 varsity contests and eight junior varsity contests scheduled for this fall, Dungan said he and his team are looking forward to putting all of last year’s obstacles behind them and moving forward in the right direction.
“Being able to get back into normal routines and get our kids to understand what their responsibilities will be is an important step towards getting this program to where we want it to be,” Dungan said. “That’s why we’re here.”
This Thursday the Wildcats will travel to Satsuma High School (Ala.) for a spring jamboree against the Davidson Warriors. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and tickets can be purchased online at GoFan.com.