Open week has always been one of those Catch 22 situations for me.
On one hand, you want to keep playing, keep your routine, and keep the season moving forward toward the playoffs. On the other hand, you want the flexibility the open week gives you to work on some things and heal some guys up.
This year the open week couldn’t get here soon enough. The Tigers have played a game every week since Aug. 18, and just about everyone is banged up. The last two weeks have been especially damaging for us, as we have lost seven starters to injury — three offensive lineman and four defensive skill players. Not surprisingly, those are the two areas where we have struggled the most since we hit region play.
Our plan is to use this week to let our guys heal up some, but we will also use this time to work on us.
We’ve got to get a lot better before we play Effingham and Glynn. We need one win in the last two games to have a shot at the playoffs, and we’ll have to fire on all cylinders to make that happen.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS: I do want to celebrate the academic performance of the Bradwell football team and recognize the student-athlete in each grade level who earned the highest overall average for the first grading period:
• Freshman Class: Malcolm Currie (highest of all players)
• Sophomore Class: Kenneth Lockhart, Dariuse Cooper (tied)
• Junior Class: Michael Hagerty
• Senior Class: Riley Smith
Overall, the Tigers earned an 83 percent average during the first grading period, good for a 2.8 gpa for the first 9 weeks.
Out of the 444 classes taken by football players since August, there were only 27 failing grades. Of course we aren’t where I want us to be, but a marked improvement can be seen. These guys are starting to understand the importance of academic success, and we are starting to see players holding each other accountable in the classroom.
TIGER FOOTBALL TRUNK-OR-TREAT: I told you a while back that Bradwell football would host a safe Halloween event for the youth of the community. I’m happy to announce that it will be a Trunk-or-Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Bradwell football complex.
Tiger football players will be in full costume, handing out candy and other treats to the area youth in attendance.
Pre-sale tickets are available now for $3 and include entry to the event, a hot dog or hamburger, a drink, and a treat of your choice (popcorn, cotton candy, etc.). You can buy a ticket at the gate as well for $1, but food is not included with the $1 ticket.
For more information, or to buy a ticket, you have several options. You can email me, head football coach Ross Couch, at wcouch@liberty.k12.ga.us, you can come by practice any day at the B.I. football complex, or you can stop by Bradwell Institute at 100 Pafford St. and ask for me. We think this will be a great event for Liberty County youth. Buy a few tickets, pile the family in the car, and come out for a safe Halloween night event.
GO TIGERS!
Couch is Bradwell Institute’s football coach and a former award winning sportswriter.