By JOE DODD
Eighty-nine Buckeyes reported to Buckeye Stadium Monday (Aug. 4) to start preparations for the 2008 football season. The first practice session was from 6 to 7:30 p.m. followed by another practice from 8:30 until 10 p.m. Forty-two freshmen reported to practice on Tuesday morning.
With only six starters returning from last year’s state finalist team, Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor said that the emphasis of practice has changed from the last two seasons.
“Our big focus right now is to try to become two-deep everywhere,” said Traylor. “This is much like 2004 and 2005 where we lost so many kids the year before. Last year we pretty much hit the ground running.”
Traylor said that despite the high temperatures, no serious heat-related problems were reported. “Our kids did a great job in summer workouts,” commented Traylor. “All of our kids reported in shape. We probably had two or three cramps during practice.”
Despite only five losses the previous five years and two trips to the state championship game, the Buckeyes find themselves outside of most pre-season polls.
“This team doesn’t have the buzz the last two teams have had so they already have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because people aren’t talking about them,” stated Traylor. “People said the same thing about us in 2004 and that team did pretty good.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE finds Ben Griffith in the “Beat L-E” tee shirt practicing against Paul Chesnut as the Buckeye special team’s players practice the “jam drill.” Fall is just around the corner, with all the county’s high schools starting football practice Monday. The Buckeyes will face Jasper in the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic in Tyler Thursday night, Aug. 28, to open the season.
By JOE DODD
The annual Meet the Buckeyes community event will be held Saturday starting at 7 p.m. at Buckeye Stadium. In addition to meeting the 2008 Buckeye football teams, fans will be introduced to this year’s cheerleaders, Stars drill team members, cross country teams, and girl’s volleyball team.
Gilmer head football coach Jeff Traylor said that the event is the highlight of the first week of practice. “It’s just a great event at the end of a tough week,” said Traylor. “It just reminds them of why they do what they do. Kids are kids and you have to give them something to remember why they do all of this hard work.”
The event at Buckeye Stadium is actually the climax of a very busy day for the football team. “We start selling the discount cards that day. We get our pictures taken for the local media that day, and we meet with the parents that night,” explained Traylor.
“The crowd shows up; they get their picture in the paper; they get to eat; those are fun things for a kid. Those are memories they get to keep the rest of their life,” Traylor said.
“For the fans and the coaches, this is something we do every year, but for these kids; it’s their first time as a freshman or it’s their last time as a senior. That’s what you’ve got to remember, that’s why you come out for those kids.”
Meet the Buckeyes
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
Buckeye Stadium
12:00 Buckeye Cards
3:00 Varsity FB pictures
4:00 JV FB pictures
4:30 9th grade FB pictures
5:30 Band and Stars Eat
6:00 Cheerleaders and Cross Country Eat
6:15 Volleyball and Football Teams Eat
7:00 Band and Stars march into stadium
7:10 National Anthem
7:15 Stars perform
7:20 Varsity and JV Cheerleaders – Fight Song
7:25 Majorettes perform
7:30 Introduce female coaches
7:35 Introduce varsity volleyball team
7:40 Introduction of Varsity FB Coaches
7:45 Introduce Varsity Football Soph/Jrs
7:50 Introduce Cross Country Team
7:55 Varsity Cheerleaders Dance
8:00 Introduction of Varsity FB Seniors Recognition of 9th/JV Football teams
8:10 School Song
8:15 Parent’s meeting (7-12 grade football)-Cafeteria Volleyball Parent’s meeting-Gymnasium
Eighty-nine Buckeyes reported to Buckeye Stadium Monday (Aug. 4) to start preparations for the 2008 football season. The first practice session was from 6 to 7:30 p.m. followed by another practice from 8:30 until 10 p.m. Forty-two freshmen reported to practice on Tuesday morning.
With only six starters returning from last year’s state finalist team, Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor said that the emphasis of practice has changed from the last two seasons.
“Our big focus right now is to try to become two-deep everywhere,” said Traylor. “This is much like 2004 and 2005 where we lost so many kids the year before. Last year we pretty much hit the ground running.”
Traylor said that despite the high temperatures, no serious heat-related problems were reported. “Our kids did a great job in summer workouts,” commented Traylor. “All of our kids reported in shape. We probably had two or three cramps during practice.”
Despite only five losses the previous five years and two trips to the state championship game, the Buckeyes find themselves outside of most pre-season polls.
“This team doesn’t have the buzz the last two teams have had so they already have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because people aren’t talking about them,” stated Traylor. “People said the same thing about us in 2004 and that team did pretty good.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE finds Ben Griffith in the “Beat L-E” tee shirt practicing against Paul Chesnut as the Buckeye special team’s players practice the “jam drill.” Fall is just around the corner, with all the county’s high schools starting football practice Monday. The Buckeyes will face Jasper in the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic in Tyler Thursday night, Aug. 28, to open the season.
'Meet the Buckeyes' on Saturday, Aug. 9
By JOE DODD
The annual Meet the Buckeyes community event will be held Saturday starting at 7 p.m. at Buckeye Stadium. In addition to meeting the 2008 Buckeye football teams, fans will be introduced to this year’s cheerleaders, Stars drill team members, cross country teams, and girl’s volleyball team.
Gilmer head football coach Jeff Traylor said that the event is the highlight of the first week of practice. “It’s just a great event at the end of a tough week,” said Traylor. “It just reminds them of why they do what they do. Kids are kids and you have to give them something to remember why they do all of this hard work.”
The event at Buckeye Stadium is actually the climax of a very busy day for the football team. “We start selling the discount cards that day. We get our pictures taken for the local media that day, and we meet with the parents that night,” explained Traylor.
“The crowd shows up; they get their picture in the paper; they get to eat; those are fun things for a kid. Those are memories they get to keep the rest of their life,” Traylor said.
“For the fans and the coaches, this is something we do every year, but for these kids; it’s their first time as a freshman or it’s their last time as a senior. That’s what you’ve got to remember, that’s why you come out for those kids.”
Meet the Buckeyes
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
Buckeye Stadium
12:00 Buckeye Cards
3:00 Varsity FB pictures
4:00 JV FB pictures
4:30 9th grade FB pictures
5:30 Band and Stars Eat
6:00 Cheerleaders and Cross Country Eat
6:15 Volleyball and Football Teams Eat
7:00 Band and Stars march into stadium
7:10 National Anthem
7:15 Stars perform
7:20 Varsity and JV Cheerleaders – Fight Song
7:25 Majorettes perform
7:30 Introduce female coaches
7:35 Introduce varsity volleyball team
7:40 Introduction of Varsity FB Coaches
7:45 Introduce Varsity Football Soph/Jrs
7:50 Introduce Cross Country Team
7:55 Varsity Cheerleaders Dance
8:00 Introduction of Varsity FB Seniors Recognition of 9th/JV Football teams
8:10 School Song
8:15 Parent’s meeting (7-12 grade football)-Cafeteria Volleyball Parent’s meeting-Gymnasium
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