Football season is right around the corner, and the Gilmer High Bobcats have entered their third week of preseason preparations.
Seventy-five players are on the roster, and they report at 6:45 a.m. four days per week. By 7 a.m., the Bobcats are stretching in the gym ahead of weight lifting. Next up is breakfast around 8:30 a.m., which is also when players attend position meetings to preview the day’s practice.
The Bobcats are on the field for 95 minutes each day. They spend 40 minutes on both offense and defense and 15 minutes sharpening special teams. Players are normally off the field by 10:45 a.m.
“Before the players’ first day June 3, they had a little break. They needed it and the coaches needed it, and they came in refreshed with an incredible amount of enthusiasm,” said head coach Paul Standard. “We started our installs on both sides of the ball, including special teams as well. They had a great first week. They came back the second week and did a great job in the weight room.”
GHS ended both weeks with 7-on-7 passing events. The Cats were at North Murray June 5 and faced the host Mountaineers, Trion and Woodland. A week later, GHS was in Whitfield County and threw against Coahulla Creek and Ridgeland.
“What impressed me was our kids’ carry over from spring and the season,” Standard said of the first two passing events.
Gilmer uses the pass to keep opponents from stacking the line of scrimmage in games. Much of their passing attack comes off play action. However, that element of surprise does not favor the Bobcats at summer events as every play is a pass.
“These events are great for our defense because we’re going to see those offenses, schemes and passing concepts all year long,” Standard said. “Offensively, the good thing about 7-on-7 — and I know the people reading this are going to laugh — is we do work on passing every day at practice.
“During the summer, we get to work on our non play-action passing that we have to be able to do. We’re going to be in situations where everybody in the stands, including my wife, knows we’re about to throw the ball. We need to look like we know what we’re doing, and that is what summer 7-on7s are about for us.”
Gilmer’s linemen also got to show their skills last Friday at the North Metro Lineman Camp at St. Pius. Thirty-seven total linemen made the trip, which included some from Clear Creek Middle School.
“They had a great day in the heat. They competed and got better, so even the linemen are doing extra work outside of the normal workouts,” Standard said.
GHS hosted its annual youth camp last week, and 69 participants were in attendance as the program continues to strengthen its bonds throughout.
“We had great weather and great kids who wanted to be here,” said Standard. “Our players who worked the camp did a great job. We’ve got some great young men who took charge of our camp under the coaches’ leadership. Our kids just ran with it.”
CCMS has been practicing and lifting weights three days per week at the high school as their field undergoes renovations.
“Coach Willie Dodaro and his guys have done a great job, and they’ve had six practices and lifting sessions so far,” Standard said. “The numbers have been great, and they’ve had over 60 every day.”
Gilmer hosted Murray County for 7-on-7 passing at Tuesday’s press deadline. The Cats will sharpen their aerial assault and pass defense again Thursday at Towns County High School.
“So far, it’s been a very productive summer,” said Standard. “Kids have had great attitudes and we’ve got them all here with the exception of a player or two who plays multiple sports, which is what we want. We’ve had a few players out of town with their other sports teams, and we’re happy they’re playing other sports.
“Entering the third week, now the grind starts to set in and our leadership has really started to step forward. We have two more weeks before the second dead week and that can kind of change a kids’ mindset, but our guys have done a great job.”