Spring football starts Saturday
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Ryan Bailey

A winless season can take a toll on an athletic program and a community - if the players in that program and the people in that community let it.

Last fall, the Lampasas High School football team went 0-10 under first-year head coach Ryan Bailey. With spring practice slated to start Saturday, Bailey and his staff are doing everything they can to make sure last year's record does not have a residual effect on the upcoming season.

An intense offseason weight program, a change in offensive strategy and an attempt to instill a higher level of confidence in the players have been the primary focus of the coaching staff since last season ended with a 28-21 loss to Dripping Springs.

"Our kids have worked hard this offseason," Bailey said. "We've gotten stronger, faster and bigger than we were last year. Physically the coaches are very pleased with the progress we've made, and now our biggest challenge is to get the kids to believe in themselves."

While the technical focus of spring drills will be adjusting to what Bailey calls a "hybrid I-formation system" and a new huddle system, he also wants to see the Badgers get more confident in their ability to run the offensive and defensive systems. He thinks an influx of players from a strong junior varsity team will help with that.

"We are turning the corner in that [the confidence] department," the coach said. "Most of our kids are determined to win, and I'd like to encourage the community to get behind the kids and the coaches, and help us get the program back where it belongs - in the playoffs."

The coaching staff understands that the push to get back to playoff contention begins in the weight room, and they've preached that to the players.

"The kids are in tremendous shape," Bailey said. "Yesterday

Tuesday], we took them out and ran 20 110s with only a minute and 15-second break in between each one, and we timed them. Every kid made it.

"In the weight room, you can see the changes in the kids' bodies and attitudes. They know they are stronger and in the best shape of their lives, and they can't wait for practice to start."

Offensively, Bailey's move to the two-back look is designed to develop a more ball control-oriented game plan without losing the ability to put three- and four-receiver sets on the field.

The core of the offensive line graduates this season, but quarterbacks Vann Millican and Ryder Brown, receivers Cole Ball, Seth Fry and Aaron Reyna, and backs Brode DuBose, Ryan Abbott and Jonathan VanLiew all return to the fold.

"The coaches have worked hard to develop an offense that best fits our kids," Bailey said. "This spring, we will be putting in some new twists to the offense, which the kids already know quite a bit about before the spring even starts. I want to have all the base plays and the new huddle systems down pat before the end of spring."

Defensively, coordinator Jimmy Randolph will run many of the same base systems he ran a year ago. The defense was a bright spot early in the season last fall before a tremendous amount of time on the field led to fatigue and injuries.

Linebackers Coleton Lucas and Stephen Eskola will graduate, but the bulk of the secondary and the defensive front will be back, led by defensive tackle Jesse Tobar.

"Defensively, we're looking to find the kids who want to become a stone wall," Bailey said. "Our kids are getting much more physical, and we'll be looking for the best tacklers and cover guys to fit into the system. Our kids have put on a lot of muscle, and they're ready to hit." With key returners at every position except linebacker and offensive line, the coaching staff expects more than just on-the-field production from many of the players with varsity experience.

"We expect these guys to be some of our leaders because of the experience they have," he said. "It's important for them to make this team gel."

Spring Schedule

Saturday: Shorts, 9:15 a.m.
May 2-5: Shorts/helmets, 4 p.m.
May 7-8: Full pads, 4 p.m.
May 10: Scrimmage, 7:30 a.m.
May 12-15: Full pads, 4 p.m.
May 16: Scrimmage, 4 p.m.
May 19-21: Full pads, 4 p.m.
May 22: Spring Games, JV at
5:30 p.m., followed by varsity.