|
|
|
Newsletter>
Building a Tradition
August 30, 2007
It's not very often a coach gets the chance to build a tradition.
But that's exactly what Frank Hepler is doing at the brand new West Forsyth High School.
Hepler takes over as the Wolverines first coach, a position he said he's excited about.
"We're building a program," he said.
The Wolverines will begin their first season playing nine games at home against junior varsity opponents before adding a varsity level schedule next year.
Hepler said it's a "rock 'em sock 'em" schedule this year.
"They're all good teams," he said. "We may be playing their JV, but they're still tough teams."
But Hepler said he likes that the first season is a tough schedule.
"I don't think we'd be prepared next year unless we took on a tough schedule," he said. "This will be getting us battle-tested."
The Wolverine offensive attack will operate out of the multi Wing-T while the defense will run what Hepler calls the multi-40.
"Each week we're going to be learning," he said. "By next year, they will be able to grasp what we're doing and we'll be read to roll into 2008."
Building 'iron men'
All coaches experience a flood of players during spring and summer practice. However, the heat and rigorous practice schedule usually thins out the ranks.
Not so at the new West Forsyth High School, according to Coach Frank Hepler.
A total of 148 players from the three grades currently attending West Forsyth turned out for the football team.
"Everyone said that once practice starts, some of them will start quitting," Hepler said.
To his surprise and delight, the Wolverines averaged 120 players at every practice.
"We've seen a lot of gains this summer," he said. "I think we've learned a lot."
At first, the team was working without a weight room. This made practice appear like a boot camp.
Players were running up and down hills carrying heavy buckets. They did old school workouts like the wheelbarrow where one player held another's ankles while the other moved as quickly as possible on their hands.
"We called those our iron man workouts," he said. "The kids were working hard."
Despite any hardships in their preparations, the players kept coming back. The weight room was ready in mid-July.
Hepler said he wouldn't trade these workouts for anything.
"The workouts brought them together," he said. "It really bonded them together."
Spring practice for a year
Most coaches would probably agree that spring practice is always too short. Teams have a tendency to really come together during the last week or so of practice.
For Coach Frank Hepler, he gets the chance to play in a year-long spring practice.
At least, that's what he is calling the first year of West Forsyth High School football.
"All the kids will get the chance to play in game situations," he said. "We will rotate the kids through. You never know what kid will blossom."
Hepler said no Wolverine player will be putting in time just at offense or defense.
"The focus this entire year will be getting ready for next year," he said. "Let's put the wins and losses aside."
Hepler said he believes the team's size and speed will continue to improve throughout the season.
A team with no seniors
Having no seniors on the team provides a coach an interesting situation.
On one hand, you don't have the older leadership that most coaches enjoy having on the field – especially during high pressure fourth quarters.
On the other hand, there is not fear of graduation wiping out your entire defensive line or your starting wingbacks.
That's exactly the situation Frank Hepler finds himself in as the coach of the new West Forsyth High School.
Hepler has no seniors on his team because the school doesn't have a senior class. This puts a great deal of anticipation on the juniors.
And Hepler likes what he sees.
"I liked the way the juniors have stepped up," he said. "They are really learning how to become leaders and they get the chance to do this for two years. I really hope this will trickle down through the ranks."
Hepler said positive leadership can develop through positive comments, which is what his coaching philosophy is all about.
"We as coaches are teachers, too," he said. "We're out here to teach and that's really what my philosophy is all about. We have all different types of teachers on this coaching staff. That's why I think they're good coaches."
Building a strong core of leaders to move into 2008 is one of the top goals for Hepler this season.
"I'd say that's the biggest thing we hope to get out of this year," he said.
Logan Thomas - NorthFulton.com
Site Editors: Michael Hickman & Kimberly Brown Please email any suggestions / corrections.
|
|
