pressbox1.com - Expectations high in Coady's 20th year at helm of Chargers
Date: Wednesday, July 28 2010
Expectations high in Coady's 20th year at helm of Chargers
By JOEY GUEST, Associate Editor pressbox1.com
MARTIN, Tenn. – In the past two decades of Westview Charger football, two things have remained the same: Two-a-day practices under the heat of the summer sun have separated the men from the boys, and head coach Don Coady has reigned over those workouts to make sure they do just that.
Westview began its preseason drills Monday just as it has each year for the last 20 seasons, under the watchful eye of the astute coach Coady.
Perhaps another factor will be the same this year, too: The Chargers will be good, if not a little bit better.
Numbers are up. Size is up. Experience is up. A big, strong-armed quarterback, Tanner Spencer, returns to captain the offense, and a blazing speed demon in Abraham Haddad is surely to be a threat every time he touches the ball.
Defensively, linebacker Jake Vincent is a monster against the run and is probably the most vocal leader of the team, while seniors Garrett Vincent, Barkley Legens and Seth Waterfield demand respect as seasoned leaders of the Blue and Gold.
Over the next few weeks, several other players are expected to step into leadership roles and help get this team off to a strong start against an almost identical brutal schedule as last season, which saw Westview start the year 0-4 against top-ranked foes before winning seven straight and finishing 7-5.
There are holes to fill at wide receiver and on the offensive line, where graduation took its biggest toll after the 2009 season, but optimism is high among Charger faithful that this could be a special season for Westview.
The first glimpse of what this team is made of will be Saturday morning, July 31, at UT Martin when the Chargers host a scrimmage with Jackson Central Merry. (Start time yet to be determined.)
Westview will return to a single afternoon practice next week before hosting another scrimmage, this time at the school’s practice field, Saturday, Aug. 7, against Chester County.
The Chargers will follow with a jamboree battle vs. Bruceton at Huntingdon, Aug. 13.
As for coach Coady and his career 157-70 record, those that know him well can attest, he’s not thinking of career win No. 160 or even 170, he’s only thinking of victory No. 158, which he’ll be looking for on Thursday night, Aug. 19, at rival Huntingdon, to kick off the 2010 campaign.
*Editor’s Note: Please check back often with Pressbox1.com for periodic updates regarding the Westview Chargers’ preparation for the 2010 gridiron season.
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