With the sun beaming down and classic rock blaring over a loudspeaker, the Gilmer Bobcats donned full pads for the first time this summer.
The Bobcats toiled in the sun throughout June and July, and they are set to scrimmage Class 5A Sequoyah Friday. While GHS was on the road at times for camps and 7-on-7 passing last month, most of July was spent at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium and in the weight room.
“The first week of July was much like June with four regular practices and lift dates,” said Paul Standard, who enters his fourth season as the Bobcats’ head coach. “Then we got ready for our ‘iron man’ competition and had a lot of kids reach the iron man. The iron man is a designation based on how many points you get in six areas: squat, power clean, bench press, 40-yard dash, pro shuttle and vertical jump.”
Earning the iron man title for 2024 were Bobcats Blane Banks, Douglas Callihan, Grant Ballew, Issac Rellinger, Colton McCollum, Kyle Cowart, Robert Pim, Cheyne Smith, Chaz Curtis, Memphis Lewallen, Jake Hice, Peyton Chancey, Logan Hightower, Bo Cronic and Hunter Britain.
Gilmer held its mini-camp last week, which included the GHSA’s five-day acclimation period that must be completed by all players. They also wrapped up their special teams install in July, and Monday marked the first day of full pads.
“As long as it’s not lightning, we’ll be outside. That’s the plan,” said Standard ahead of Monday’s practice. “We have got to get outside because we don’t have but three days in full pads (before the scrimmage).”
This week is the eighth of the Bobcats’ summer, and the intensity ramped up Monday with the addition of shoulder pads. The three-hour practice concluded at 6 p.m., and the Bobcats will be back on the field Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for Sequoyah.
“It was a great summer,” Standard said. “Our kids did a great job and our coaches did a great job. Our parents did a great job because they had to get the nondrivers up here at 6:45 a.m. every morning. We had great attendance, and our middle school practiced with us until the second week of July. They had a great turnout, too.
“We felt like we got everything accomplished that we planned to. I’m proud of our seniors and how they led us. We’re ready to play against someone else. It’s that time of year when our guys are ready to hit someone else.”
Friday’s scrimmage at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Varsity players will take the field for the first half, and “No. 2s and No. 3s” will play the third quarter, according to Standard. The fourth will be reserved for younger players.
“After the scrimmage we need to figure out if we have everyone in the right place,” Standard said. “That’s the goal, to see where we’re at and to make sure we as coaches have guys in the right place.”