Focused was I at a spring football game

Published 12:07 am Wednesday, May 24, 2017

To those who were at Escambia County’s spring football game on May 19 at Flomaton, I promise I wasn’t in a bad mood.

It may have looked like I had a frown on my face, but in all honesty, I was truly focused on the game.

Going into the exhibition, I was really interested in seeing how the Blue Devils looked for the first time playing under new head football coach Rico Jackson.

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First impression on anything is pretty important.

My first impression of ECHS was that it was quite improved compared to last year. The players seemed to have been playing up and never quitting.

As I perused the sideline, I made sure to take everything in, from the players to the coaches.

When I could see, I made sure to notice the players’ faces, the way the coaches coached the players and the crowd. The crowd, before I go any further, was a good turnout.

I’m sure the players appreciated y’all driving out for the game. Who doesn’t love a little football in May?

I stayed through halftime and early in the third quarter. I had to leave because I went out of town to see some friends in Montgomery.

From what I saw, I left the field impressed with what Jackson has been doing with the players since he started in March. In fact, for the entire spring football practice, Jackson has spent eight days with the players.

Think about this.

Each player had to learn a new offense and defense in eight days. From what I could tell, they grasped the schemes quite well.

Even Jackson told me Monday morning that the players played hard and he was happy with how they grasped the schemes so quickly.

Driving north on Hwy. 113 toward Interstate 65, I thought about the upcoming fall and what ECHS will look like then.

Then Blue Devils have two months or so to get in shape for fall practice, the start of what many hope, to be a good season.