Tidwell: Pioneers need more players
While he was pleased with the enthusiasm, aggression and attitude displayed by his team during Monday’s opening day of fall football practice, head coach Gerald Tidwell had one negative factor still on his mind — the number of players participating in drills.
At Monday’s morning practice, approximately 47 players were present, including a small number who weren’t allowed to participate due to injuries or because they hadn’t yet completed a physical examination.
Tidwell said he’d hoped a school with WCHS’s enrollment would have a larger group interested in football, but felt he knew why participation had dwindled.
“The only thing I stay concerned about is the numbers,” he said. “It’s very disappointing to me.
“I understand that our program has been down for two years, and even more than that. But for a school this size, we should have 60 or 70 kids out there.”
While stocked with linemen, Tidwell said he’s most concerned about a lack of depth at the Pioneers’ skill positions. When asked what the team can do to increase their numbers, his answer was simple.
“It’s obvious to me, we’ve got to win,” he said. “Nobody wants to come out and be on the short end of a 41-7 score, getting that hind end kicked and getting embarrassed.
“But the good thing about these kids that we have coming out is they’ve been a part of that, and they’re here. They love football. The kids we’ve got with us are really good kids that want to be here, but we’ve got to win in the years to come to get those other kids out.”