By By Matthew Nascone
New head boy's basketball coach Shane Reid believes the maturity of his Chiefs will be the key factor to success at Northview.
"We have eight seniors in our lineup," Reid said. "I have a lot of guys playing for the first time this year, so I don't know what the experience factor will be, but I hope maturity pays off."
The football players practiced with the team for the first time Monday and the team has six players at least 6-foot-3 on the team. Reid said the height should help the team succeed as well.
The team will have a short time to learn the entire offensive and defensive schemes Reid is implementing, but he said he is not worried.
"Everybody is working hard and I believe they will have success," Reid said. "I am excited because I help coach football so I have been around those football guys and I know what they are made of and I know their personalities so I am excited about what the varsity can do."
The team will try and improve on a 6-18 season in 2004-05 and Reid said the chemistry on the team should help improve upon the record.
"There is not a whole lot of bickering," Reid said. "There are some guys who try to lead and that is taken the wrong way, but I think that is part of the maturity and growing up process."
Playing football together and transitioning into basketball helps this bonding process, Reid said.
"They work and joke around together and there are no boundaries between them," he said. "I don't believe chemistry will be a problem for this team."
Reid goes beyond the normal getting to know your teammates scenario that leads to good chemistry. He said there is another reason the guys get along so well.
"Here at Northview, Ms. (Gayle) Weaver does a good job of preaching the family atmosphere and the whole student body does a good job of getting along," Reid said.
As far as teams to watch out for, Reid said since this is his first year at NHS he doesn't know any teams other than the perennial Alabama powerhouses.
"I know T.R. Miller is going to be tough year in and year out," Reid said. "I know we are in a tough district with Walton, Catholic and South Walton, but district games are tough anyways."
However, Reid said he would focus on every game as it comes up and he will try and be ready for every team the Chiefs face. Reid has expectations for his team like any other coach in the history of time, but he realizes what must come first.
"Most importantly these guys need to have some success and I think the football team having success will pay off," Reid said. "Winning breeds winning even though it is a different sport."
The success of one team can lead to the success of another and that is one thing Reid stressed when he talked about the keys to success.
"I hope the 10 football players will bring the winning attitude and know how to win to basketball," Reid said. "I think that will snowball into great teams throughout the other teams as well as basketball."
Reid's said he told the players his ultimate goal at tryouts and that is to win the district. Reid said he hopes to start out strong against Flomaton in Flomaton on Nov. 21.
The JV boys play at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity Lady Chiefs and the varsity boys at around 7:15.p.m.