Even with the heat index topping out around 110 degrees at times this past week, excitement is at a much higher level surrounding the Pickering Red Devil football team.
"I'm starting my 14th year at Pickering High School and I've never been so excited for a season in all those years," first-year head coach Lane Cook said. "The coaches are excited and the kids are excited to get out there and show what they can do."
Over the past few years, Pickering has become known as an ironman team, with most of its players having to play on both sides of the ball all the time.
But this year, things are a little different. And in large part, it's because numbers have more than doubled.
"We have 49 players on the roster," Cook said. "It's nice to have those kinds of numbers out there. We have a full two teams to practice and it allows us to do more. Instead of coaches having to fill positions, the players are getting the opportunity to get out there and work, while we can coach."
It is also allowing Cook and his staff the option to two-platoon the players, meaning their will be 11 different starters on both sides of the ball.
"Our goal is to have no two-way starters," Cook said. "Now, we will use some players on both sides of the ball when certain situations occur. But for now, we want no two-way starters."
With no two-way starters in the lineup, it has allowed the players to focus on just one position instead of having to worry about others.
For example, senior Gett Thomas is listed as a starter on the defensive side of the ball at cornerback. For the last couple of years, he also started at quarterback for the Red Devils.
"Gett has the ability to play anywhere we need him to. He could still play quarterback if we need him to because of his experience," Cook said. "Gett is a coaches' kid and he know what everyone is supposed to be doing. He's very knowledgeable of the game."
A couple of other former two-way starters are seniors Matt Walker and Andre Belton. Though both played offense a year ago, Cook has opted to keep them on the defensive side of the ball because of their leadership skills.
"Matt loves to work and loves to play this game," Cook said. "And Andre is really beginning to turn the corner and is a good player who we are expecting big things from. And both can come over and play offense if we need them to."
With the exception of the change at the head coaching position and the number of players on the rise, not much else is different at Pickering, according to Cook.
"The split-back veer is still our base offense, but we are planning on using different formations to show more diversity," Cook said. "Also, we still plan to use the 4-3 base on defense with Eddie Thomas as our defensive coordinator."
One of the main goals for Cook when he took over as head coach of the Red Devils back during the earlier part of this year was to bring respect back to Pickering football.
And it is still high on the agenda.
"I remember back when my brother played at Pickering taking a bus load of fans down to New Orleans to play Newman," Cook recalled. "Regardless of our record this year, I want Pickering football to regain that respectability. These kids deserve to have that feeling and they deserve the support of our fans."
Pickering will go through three days of practice next week leading up to a scrimmage on the road Thursday against Hamilton Christian of Lake Charles. On Aug. 27, the Red Devils will host a jamboree, taking on both Rosepine and Hamilton Christian.
The Red Devils will open up the regular season on Sept. 3 at home against Logansport.
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Even with the heat index topping out around 110 degrees at times this past week, excitement is at a much higher level surrounding the Pickering Red Devil football team.
"I'm starting my 14th year at Pickering High School and I've never been so excited for a season in all those years," first-year head coach Lane Cook said. "The coaches are excited and the kids are excited to get out there and show what they can do."
Over the past few years, Pickering has become known as an ironman team, with most of its players having to play on both sides of the ball all the time.
But this year, things are a little different. And in large part, it's because numbers have more than doubled.
"We have 49 players on the roster," Cook said. "It's nice to have those kinds of numbers out there. We have a full two teams to practice and it allows us to do more. Instead of coaches having to fill positions, the players are getting the opportunity to get out there and work, while we can coach."
It is also allowing Cook and his staff the option to two-platoon the players, meaning their will be 11 different starters on both sides of the ball.
"Our goal is to have no two-way starters," Cook said. "Now, we will use some players on both sides of the ball when certain situations occur. But for now, we want no two-way starters."
With no two-way starters in the lineup, it has allowed the players to focus on just one position instead of having to worry about others.
For example, senior Gett Thomas is listed as a starter on the defensive side of the ball at cornerback. For the last couple of years, he also started at quarterback for the Red Devils.
"Gett has the ability to play anywhere we need him to. He could still play quarterback if we need him to because of his experience," Cook said. "Gett is a coaches' kid and he know what everyone is supposed to be doing. He's very knowledgeable of the game."
A couple of other former two-way starters are seniors Matt Walker and Andre Belton. Though both played offense a year ago, Cook has opted to keep them on the defensive side of the ball because of their leadership skills.
"Matt loves to work and loves to play this game," Cook said. "And Andre is really beginning to turn the corner and is a good player who we are expecting big things from. And both can come over and play offense if we need them to."
With the exception of the change at the head coaching position and the number of players on the rise, not much else is different at Pickering, according to Cook.
"The split-back veer is still our base offense, but we are planning on using different formations to show more diversity," Cook said. "Also, we still plan to use the 4-3 base on defense with Eddie Thomas as our defensive coordinator."
One of the main goals for Cook when he took over as head coach of the Red Devils back during the earlier part of this year was to bring respect back to Pickering football.
And it is still high on the agenda.
"I remember back when my brother played at Pickering taking a bus load of fans down to New Orleans to play Newman," Cook recalled. "Regardless of our record this year, I want Pickering football to regain that respectability. These kids deserve to have that feeling and they deserve the support of our fans."
Pickering will go through three days of practice next week leading up to a scrimmage on the road Thursday against Hamilton Christian of Lake Charles. On Aug. 27, the Red Devils will host a jamboree, taking on both Rosepine and Hamilton Christian.
The Red Devils will open up the regular season on Sept. 3 at home against Logansport.
