VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) — The Lamar County football team secured a playoff spot last season with a team full of experienced players. This season, head coach Robbie Bradford has to start with the basics, but teaching the game is one of the main reasons he became a coach in the first place.
“It was a unique experience to be around so many new kids, but it was very invigorating for me as a coach to come here because training is so important,” Bradford said.
There is less than a week until the start of the season and the development of the team from day one to today is clearly visible.
“I think we’ve come a long way,” said senior lineman Frank Hughes. “New players have stepped up and some of them are starting players. We just have to keep working on ourselves.”
At the beginning of the off-season there were some doubts about the team. But the players persisted and are now extremely confident that this group has what it takes to have a successful season.
“Everyone didn’t know how we were going to do,” said senior wide receiver Landon Kilpatrick. “We heard from a lot of older players and from around town that we weren’t going to be that good, but we took a big step.”
Bradford is doing everything he can to prepare his team for nights under the lights, but his leadership can only take the Bulldogs so far. He is relying on his players to pick up where last year’s team left off.
“For some of them, this is their first chance to take on a leadership role,” Bradford said. “They’ve had more of a supporting role for the last few years and now it’s their turn, it’s their team.”
There is no doubt that the Bulldogs will grow as the season progresses, but one thing will remain constant.
“Man, I love the enthusiasm,” Bradford said. “I love how willing our kids are to work.”
Lamar County will play against South Lamar under the lights on Friday night, August 23rd.
