Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about Bradwell football and about how we are 5-0 at the halfway point of the season. Everybody wants to know what we are doing different or what has changed or why we are winning games.

To be honest, I don’t think there’s a single thing I can point to that will explain our early success. However, I do know that it’s all about the players and how hard they’ve worked and how they have committed to the process.

Since we started workouts in June, the Tigers have committed to embracing competition every day.

The expectation we have set is for our players to come out ready to fly around, ready to compete, and ready to get better every time we are on the field. If we aren’t competing every day, if we aren’t fighting tooth and nail to improve our craft every day, we’re going to fall behind quickly.

Our guys have bought into the idea that every day is a chance to improve. They have bought into beating the guy in front of them every snap. They have bought into becoming the best at everything they do.

We still have a long way to go before that competitive spirit becomes second nature and the team reaches its potential, but we are off to a good start.

The Tigers have also committed to each other, on and off the field. They have each other’s back, they hold each other to high expectations, and they trust in each other.

We started spring practice in May with 123 players on the roster. That number has dropped over the last few months (if football were easy, everybody would do it) but the 80 we have left are all in. The 80 we have left have shed blood, sweat and tears getting each other prepared for every Friday night.

The 80 we have left have turned this program into a family, and these players are committed to the success of this family.

Finally, I’ll tell you that the Tigers are committed to this community and making Liberty County the best it can be.

These players want to be a constant reminder of the best that Hinesville has to offer, and these players want to bring something positive to the community every week. We have found a lot of success early in the season, but win or lose, Bradwell football will work harder than anyone to put a product on the field and citizens in this community that everyone can be proud of.
GO TIGERS!

THIS WEEK’S MATCHUP: We hit the road for our longest road trip of the season this week, traveling to Augusta to play Lakeside-Evans.

The early part of the Panthers’ schedule has been tough, playing Burke County, Jefferson County, and Richmond Hill, but they are better than their 0-3 record.

This game will be a strong test for us before we begin region play against Brunswick next week.

A former award-winning sportswriter, Couch is in his first year as head coach of the Bradwell Institute football team.