Pioneers ready to get down to business: Football squad can begin practice in pads Monday
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State regulations allow teams from across Tennessee to begin full-pad workouts Monday, on a day highly anticipated by high school football players, coaches and fans across the state.
The Pioneers are no exception, as they’ve been eagerly awaiting this time of year through an off-season of conditioning programs.
“I think everybody’s looking forward to it — I know I am,” said senior Josh Holland. “It’s my senior season, and I’m ready to get out there and bust some heads.”
Fellow senior Ramsey Black, who saw time at running back and linebacker last year, said the beginning of summer practice is a special time each season.
“You go all summer thinking football’s never going to start,” he said. “But that first day, when you put on those pads and buckle them down, you know it’s time to go to work.”
In the Pioneers’ case, however, there has been plenty of work already this off-season.
Head coach Gerald Tidwell and his staff established a busy schedule of morning conditioning drills and weight training, encouraging each player to participate in at least 20 of the 24 sessions held this summer.
Holland noted participation in conditioning programs has been high throughout the off-season.
“We’ve had at least 30 at every practice and workout,” he said, “so if that’s any indication we’ll have a big group ready to go on Monday.”
Jonathan Bratcher, whose junior season last year was shortened by an injury, said the hectic conditioning schedule seems to have paid off.
“Going into this season we’ve been running a lot more, and everybody’s working hard in the weight room,” he said. “Looking back to last year, I feel like we’re already past where we were when it was time to get into ‘game shape.’ So conditioning wise, we’re way ahead of schedule.
“We’re going to be a lot faster, and for the people that play on both sides of the ball, all the work this summer is going to really pay off. They’re going to be ready to go.”
After three days of padded practice this week, the Pioneers will leave Thursday for a five-day camp at Circle Ranch in La Vergne. While there, Warren County will practice with other teams including Westmoreland, Clarksville Northeast, Goodpasture and Houston County.
Black, who along with the rest of last year’s squad traveled to a similar camp in Westmoreland, said going out of town for the camp experience is very beneficial to the team’s preparation.
“It helps us learn to get along and come together as a team, because we’re only around each other and only focused on football,” he said. “There aren’t any other distractions, you’re just there to get ready and to put your game face on.”
The Pioneers’ season begins Aug. 22 with a home game against Livingston Academy.