The Liberty County Panthers greeted the sunrise on the first day of official preseason practice.
The Panthers, who went 7-4 last year, were on the surface of Donell Woods Stadium/Kirk Warner Field as the sun rose over the school Monday morning. Monday marked the first official day teams could practice in pads, under Georgia High School Association rules, and the Panthers chose to beat the clock and the weather.
“This time of year, you’re not practicing after school – it’s just too hot,” Panthers head coach Tony Glazer said after Liberty wrapped its initial workout at 8 a.m. “If we want to practice, this is what we have to do.”
The temperatures and humidity likely would still be too high, even at 6 p.m., to take the field in helmets, Glazer said.
But the summer was successful for the Panthers, he said, with strong numbers and a commitment from the players to show up and take part. The Panthers, now about to start their fifth season under Glazer, also bring back most of last year’s offense and much of what Liberty County wants to do when it comes to schemes and plays is already in hand.
“I think we’re in a better position this year than we were last year,” Glazer said. “We have more installed and we’re attuned to what we want to do on offense and defense. We’re bringing a lot of guys back on offense. This is the third year in the offensive system, so we should be picking it up quicker.”
Liberty travels to Groves on August 7 for a preseason scrimmage and face Bradwell Institute on August 14 in a preseason matchup to determine the winner of the annual Commissioners’ Cup. The Panthers hold the cup following their 21-20 win last season.
While the days of football camp and two-a-days are now memories, the Panthers were kept busy throughout the summer. A padded camp at the end of June pitted Liberty County against the likes of Richmond Hill, Statesboro, Johnson, Jenkins and South Effingham, and the results encouraged Glazer.
“It was a good camp. It was good competition,” Glazer said.
The camp was held over two days, a Tuesday and a Thursday, allowing the Panthers a chance to watch video of their initial day, correct those mistakes and take the field again the next day.
“It was good to see that on film,” Glazer said. “We were so much better on Thursday.”
June’s padded camp also was the first time for the Panthers to put on the pads since the season-ending Class AAA state playoff loss to Cairo. The Panthers did not spend any of their time in spring practice in full pads.
“It was good once we got them out and moving a bit this morning,” Glazer said.
