(Post sponsored by Tinsley Law & Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy)
By Michael V. Hannigan
Summer's over and now the real work begins. The Athens Hornets are set to launch their 2024 football season on Monday, building off a summer of sweat.
"We're ready to go on Monday," said Coach Zac Harrell, "and we're fired up about the group we have."
The Hornets saw a strong turnout during the summer, with about 120 players showing up every morning at 7:30 a.m. for strength and conditioning followed by skills-specific training.
"Our kids can now see that if we do these things we have a chance to have a special group," said Coach Harrell. "Last year's group really turned a corner and exceeded a lot of expectations for a lot of people outside of this building."
"We've proven we can compete with the best in the state," he said. "We proved last year we're a playoff team. Now, let's take it a step further."
That process begins Monday with the acclimation period, where players will start with helmets only for the first two days, progress to shoulder pads on days three and four, and then move to full pads on day five. The week will culminate in a "thud" scrimmage on Friday evening, allowing contact without tackling to the ground.
Weeks two and three will see scrimmages against Fairfield and then Lindale before the season opener Aug. 30 against Henderson.
"We open with Henderson which should be a great football game," said Coach Harrell. "They're a great football program with a ton of tradition."
As the Hornets prepare for the challenges ahead, the focus extends beyond just the upcoming games. Academic performance has also been a major focus for Coach Harrell and his staff. Last year, the team achieved a remarkable 100 percent passing rate for boys athletics during the third nine-week grading period after football season.
"We took a hard look at ourselves as a coaching staff and said, 'Hey, if we're serious about preaching this message about doing right all the time, we need to back it up,'" he said. "So we started holding them accountable year-round with grades."
The weight room, the field, the classroom – the Hornets have been putting in hard work across all areas, and now they’re primed for a standout year.
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