The Gilmer Bobcats have been on the football field for four weeks this summer. By the time the Cats have four more weeks under their belt, it will nearly be time to play for real.
The Cats have remained active in the weight room all year, and the summer has been no exception. Throughout June, each day started with a 7 a.m. lifting session followed by breakfast. Players were on Pettit Field by 8:50 a.m., and they typically finished around 10:30 a.m.
Head coach Paul Standard said they had over 60 players each day as some split time between multiple sports.
“That’s great for a roster of around 76. The kids who weren’t there were all accounted for,” Standard said. “Now coming back from this dead week, it’s on. All the other sports are finished, and we have two more weeks of some of the same routine.
“For this summer, it’s been important from a defensive standpoint to get all the new terminology and wrinkles that defensive coordinator Matt Kemper has introduced with his version of the 4-3. The kids have done well with it. It’s been a carryover from our 10 days of spring practice, and now we’re getting more in-depth with our install."
The Cats attended three seven-on-seven passing events where teams compete without linemen on the field. Each team is given the same amount of time on offense to sharpen its passing attack.
“We have a pretty significant passing package," Standard said. "I know when people read this they’re gonna laugh and say, ‘Well I haven’t seen it.’ In a way that’s a good thing because we want to run the football and control the clock. As a run-oriented offense, if we get in positions where we have to throw, we want to look like we know what we’re doing. June was for installation of all of our non-play-action passing packages.”
The Bobcats’ yearly Ironman Competition is set for the week of July 20. The acclimation week will follow. Every player must participate before being allowed to wear full pads. The GHSA moved the acclimation period up a week on the calendar, much to the delight of Standard.
“I’m very grateful for this. It allows us to go into helmets and shoulder pads a week early. Now going into the scrimmage, we will have been in pads for eight practices as opposed to just three,” he said.
Gilmer travels to North Cobb Christian Aug. 7 for the scrimmage. The regular season kicks off Aug. 20 at home versus Stephens County.
“The summer has been good so far,” Standard said. “During this time you’re looking for leaders to see who is gonna be the next Bo Cronic, Hunter Britain, Sam Jones and Austin Green. Those guys are all gone and we’ve got to find somebody else who is going to step up, and I think we’re finding those guys.”