Hartselle looking for new leaders

Spring practice for Hartselle football was business as usual for head coach Bob Godsey.

This time, the team had to work without nine guys who will likely be starting this season. Five were out due to injuries while four others were involved with other sports, including those who participated on the 2013 state champion baseball team.

However, this is nothing new to their coach who is entering his 11th season in Hartselle.

“We’re kind of used to that,” Godsey said. “Our baseball team usually goes deep into the playoffs. Plus we have other guys involved in other sports.

“Usually during the spring, we’re focusing on the running game and trying to build depth,” Godsey said. “It’s been a good spring. Everyone has worked hard.”

This year, Hartselle will have to replace a good number of starters, including two-year starting quarterback Deacon Aldridge.

Godsey said that won’t be an easy task.

“We have several guys that are competing for that position at this time, but we haven’t made any decision at this time,” Godsey said. “No positions are safe at this time, except for maybe our kicker Jack Waterman. He’s been solid this spring.”

Waterman made a field goad in the Tigers 24-21 spring game win on the road at Deshler in May. D’Andre Mack scored two touchdowns while Jake Tiffin passed to Tabias Mitchell for the other scores.

Hartselle is coming off a 8-5 season after going 15-0 and winning its first football state championship in 2011. Godsey praised the way his team finished the season after playing one of the most difficult schedules in Class 5A.

“We had some great leadership last year,” Godsey said. “Last year was one of the toughest seasons that we’ve had since I’ve been here. We finished our regular season at 6-4. Many teams would have packed it in after that kind of a season, but these guys didn’t do that. They kept fighting and got to the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season.

“We’re going to need to have some guys to take on those leadership roles that our senior class had last year,” Godsey said.