Back to work
Hartselle head football coach Bob Godsey helps Eli Smith, 5, learn how to hold a football for a handoff. | Brent Maze
Hartselle coaches, players begin fall drills, help local youth football
Complacency is the word that’s been on Bob Godsey’s mind all summer.
However, it’s a word that he doesn’t want to describe his team after winning the Class 5A state championship in 2011.
Ever since Dec. 1, 2011, when the Tigers defeated Vigor 13-3 to complete its first undefeated, state championship season, Godsey has warned his team about becoming complacent.
“What we’ve been trying to tell our team is that what we accomplished last year has nothing to do with what we do this year,” Godsey said. “We don’t want this team to be satisfied with what we did then.”
The Tigers opened fall football camp on Monday. Godsey said there’s still a lot of work to be done before they take their first snap at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa on Aug. 31
“We still have to find our identity,” Godsey said. “Every team has a different identity. So we’ll be looking to see how that develops and who will step up.”
The Tigers do return a large number from last year’s team including starting quarterback Deacon Aldridge. In all, 15 of the 22 starters are back.
However, the team is still facing the loss of key graduates such as middle linebacker Jordan Orr, center/noseguard Will Swann and clutch kicker Garrett Marsh.
Godsey said his team has had another great summer and offseason workout program.
“It’s probably one of the better summer programs that we’ve ever had,” Godsey said. “The kids have worked hard. That is a credit to the personal work ethic and character of our players. That hard work doesn’t necessarily translate into wins, but it does give us the opportunity to be successful.
“We have a very tough schedule this year. Eight of the 10 teams we play made the playoffs last year.”
One of the last things the Tigers players and coaching staff helped with was its eighth annual youth football camp on July 30-31 at the youth football fields. More than 150 players and youth football coaches got first-hand training with the HHS coaching staff working on many of the fundamental aspects of the game, such as running, throwing,
