Brooks knows early practices will show mettle of his team
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan JASPER HEAD FOOTBALL COACH THOMAS BROOKS works on blocking techniques during a practice in the afternoon heat. Players and coaches are currently in their second week of two-a-days in preparation for the upcoming football season.The Meet the Bulldogs event is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at The Bone Yard.

Back at the reins of the Jasper football program, Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks knew he had some work to do. He knew there were some players that would have to be weeded out of the mix.

"We started out with a good number of kids but as you keep practicing these two-a-days, you find out who is committed and who's not," Brooks said. "We have kids that miss here and there for some reason because they don't want to get out in the sun. But we are going to go with those who are committed and that won't let their teammates down. We have cut the numbers down some but the ones that are here, are doing well."

Brooks knows the talent level in Jasper is good. It's just a matter of getting that talent focused and working towards a common goal.

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan IN THEIR FIRST DAY IN PADS, Jasper players participated in a four-on-four drill which featured blocking and running techniques.

"We have talent but you have to have everything," Brooks said. "You can't win with just talent alone. You have to have that attitude and commitment to winning. And that takes a lot of work.

"People can talk it but you have to do it," Brooks said. "We are finding out right now, who wants it and who doesn't. We are going to trim it down to the people who want to be here. That's been the hard part because you have to make that commitment to win at football. It takes a special person to do that."

And with the Bulldogs coming off a dismal 2-8 season last year, Brooks knows that winning attitude needs to be reinstalled into this football program.

"Football is a tough sport and you have to love this game - it has to be in your heart," Brooks said. "We are looking for those who love it, who love to play it and if you don't, then you are not going to make it in this program because we demand too much."

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan JASPER COACH DAVID BURT watches kicker David Beck kickoff during special teams drills Monday afternoon.The Bulldogs are in their second week of two-a-days practice.

One factor that is apparent for the Bulldogs this year during the early practices is the increased intensity level. Brooks said he has instilled that early on with this team to prepare them for the upcoming season.

"Football is an intense sport and we want practice to be harder than any game," Brooks said. "When they play a game, they will think this is easy."

Presently, the Dawgs are hitting the field from 7:30- 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. At 10:10 a.m. the team runs timed sprints before returning to the practice field at 11:30 a.m. for another practice.

"We are going to be ready to play a game," Brooks said. "Right now, they don't understand some of things that we are doing but eventually they will understand it."

This type of regime might come as a shock for returning players to the Bulldog football program.

"We're just not going to accept anything less than their very best," Brooks said. "We are going to be aggressive and it might be the few and the proud on Friday nights for the Bulldogs.

"The 11 that are going to be out there are going to hit," Brooks said. "There are no shortcuts. We could make it easy but that's not going to help us win."

Brooks said that even though football is the sport being taught, another valuable life lesson is being worked on well during these practice sessions.

"The bottom line is winning football games and we are also trying to teach these guys to be men," Brooks said. "You have to roll out of that bed every day and you know it's going to be tough but you still go. It's like going to work; it's something that you have to do.

"If you have any quit in your heart, you're not going to make it in this program," Brooks said. "You can't be a quitter in life or football and if you have any of that in you, it will show."

And take a good look at Brooks on the sideline of any practice and you'll find a coach fully involved in the practice. Brooks can often be found working with the offensive and defensive linemen during practice sessions.

"Games are won in the trenches," Brooks said. "Those are not the guys who get the praise but those are the guys that make things happen. If you win those wars, you're going to win some football games."