The Gilmer High Bobcats have started to assemble the 2023 football season as spring practice got under way Monday.
Paul Standard enters his third season as head coach, and participation has increased dramatically since his first year. Eighty-two players in grades eight through 11 were in attendance Monday. Standard noted that seven players are upperclassmen who have either never played or have not taken the field since entering high school.
“It’s good to see these kids come out and at least give it a try,” he said. “I’m excited, and if they stick it out, they can definitely help us. Our veteran players know that and they’ve welcomed them. It was a good first day, and I’m eager to see how things progress.”
Players will take the field for 10 total practices spread across two and a half weeks. Standard said common objectives at spring practice carry over from year to year, but there are also goals that are specific and unique.
“We have to find our leaders, and that’s one of those common objectives,” he said. “No. 2, we need to figure out which of our older kids who are coming out for the first time can help us, and do we have them in the right place. The third thing is to get our rising ninth graders acclimated to the system. I believe in the ‘Bobcat way’ of doing things, and it’s big to lean on tradition.
“We also want to find out, out of the entire team, who is ready for Friday nights and which ones still have some work to do. Those players who aren’t on the two deep depth chart at the end of spring don’t need to panic.”
The Bobcats will be on the field for four practices this week and next. Spring practice is scheduled to conclude Wednesday, May 17.