So, Coach, first question for you.

You go through last season, you finish up at ten and three.

What were some of the lessons from that ten and three season that you've taken with you forward to this year?

Well, you know, I mean, it was like I told you before, when we when we met last year, you know, getting the job, you know, my first head job and trying to figure out all the the different things that that entails as opposed to just calling football, you know, offensive plays.

You know, so it was a kind of a learning curve, trying to figure out all the different things that go into being a head coach, being responsible for the entire team instead of just a, you know, one unit on one side of the ball.

So, you know, just figuring that out and and learning really to be excited and practice.

I tell people this all the time in practice, you know, I'm an offensive guy, so if we have a not so good day, our defense does good.

You know, that's still good because they're on our team, you know, So, you know, getting used to to get to doing it that way and just just being, you know, being around the guys and just being there for them whenever they need it, I think is important.

And so just being a presence for them and and just, you know, a support system, as has been a big deal.

Well, now you're turning the page.

Season two with the Bears.

You said you just got off the practice field.

How is practice going?

What is film looking like?

How are some of your top players shaping up?

Just give us an entire summary of how spring and summer ball has been.

Yeah, it's been really busy.

We've got several guys getting offers and recruited and several guys that have already committed and and really kind of put that put that out of the way so they can focus on their senior year.

But yeah, it's, it's been real busy, it's been real positive.

We we linked up before the dead weight with with Valdosta down there for an OTA and so got some good work with those guys and some other teams and yeah it's just been real positive we're just trying to build on last year obviously it was very positive for the for the program went in ten games but these kids are hungry and you know we return we've got 34 seniors this season, so it's going to be a big year.

We feel we feel real good about it.

We're got to stay healthy, obviously, And the we're excited and the kids are excited.

They've done a great job of working hard, bought into our program.

You're in region 168 for folks that that may not know the geography after reclassification it's a region Scott Thomas County central north side Lee you guys veterans and TIFF look at your schedule and look at the region for me.

What do you see here in 23.

Well I mean obviously we last year we had to go down to Lee and we had to go down to Central Thomas County Central, which were two tough places to play.

Fortunately, this year, they got to come to us.

You know, we're actually playing Thomas County Central on a Saturday, which is different because of a scheduling conflict at Freedom Field.

But that's going to be that's going to be fun for our kids, going to be an afternoon game.

But we feel good about, you know, those teams are always going to be tough no matter what.

But we feel a little bit better about them being the fact that they have to come to us.

So you mentioned some of your players getting offers.

Tell me about that.

And also, is there a player on your team that's shaping up to be a really good player but hasn't gotten an offer yet for Make That Kid an Offer segme Yeah, I mean, the kids that are getting offers, I mean, obviously the little house is committed to Stanford.

He is are often to guard play center some as well.

Ricky Johnson's committed to Stanford so we got to go into Stanford.

Cal Woodburn is committed to Cincinnati and Ricardo Tarver is committed to Detroit.

Jeremy Blue's committed to Air Force.

So, I mean, he's an offensive lineman, so but I would say if there is a guy on our team that is very deserving of an offer, it's got to be our linebacker.

Brandon Walton.

You know, I think he has in an offer to a smaller school Division three school, but he is he's a great player.

In fact, every time the colleges were coming through to see these other guys, they're always wondering who that guy is.

He was number three.

He changed his number.

He wore 38 last year.

But he's a great kid.

He's a he's a team guy.

We'll do anything for the Tokyo Bears, which we love.

And just he's going to it's going to happen.

He's just being patient, but he's he's a heck of a football player.

Then the last question for you.

You've been in central Georgia, in middle Georgia.

You've been hanging around there on, you know, Georgia, 247 and part in exits north and south of that for a while.

For someone who's never had the chance to come and see House and County to come and see central Georgia football, what does it mean to the community there in Houston County?

What does football mean for someone who's never been?

Well, it's like I was telling the kids today, you know, we're sitting right on Highway 96, which is the busiest highway and middle Georgian.

And, you know, people drive by and they're always talking, you know, so they're all excited about the Go bears, you know, as far as sponsorships and fundraising, it's been phenomenal, the support from the community.

We got, you know, signs on our fence on 96 stretch all the way down.

So, you know, that's a tribute to the community and how they feel about sports.

Obviously, not just football, where, you know, our school is very good at baseball and we won state championship, baseball and cheer.

And so it's just a great place to be.

We've got a great administration that's super supportive, which I think is the biggest key.

You know, got a change in principal.

Our assistant principal took over for not Eraser.

He went on to the to the board office.

So it's just a real it's just a real family atmosphere here, here and just a lot of families that these kids grew up together.

And so with this senior class, it's very special.

So we're we're excited and we're just, you know, this is home for me now.

I'm not from here, but it's I've been here for a little over four years now, so I feel real good about it.

My family loves it.

So it's it's good times here in middle Georgia.

And our bonus question, do you have a funny coaching moment, coaching memory, game day, tradition or superstition that you would like to add?

Yeah, well, yeah, I've got a superstition.

I always take a shower before the games and my coaching staff laughs at me for that.

But it doesn't matter.

We're randomly assigned to showers and I always tell and then just kind of a thing that I started doing.

I lost my father in law before the 21 season when I was at Warner Robins, and he meant a lot to me.

And so before the games, I'll take a knee for him in the end zone.

Just say a quick prayer before the game.

So that that's a thing that means a lot to me.

And he meant a lot to me, so I just honor him in that way.