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Plano practices program values
BY Townsend Keller, Staff Writer
Although the Plano Senior football team has only been practicing for a few days in shorts and t-shirts, there is a tangible energy in the air throughout the facility.
An energy of expectation and high hopes.
Wildcats head coach Jaydon McCullough has been instilling a culture of winning during his tenure, a culture that has a new focus of discipline and accountability this season.
McCullough said this focus on discipline started last season and is going to play a vital role in the team’s success in the 2010 campaign.
“We're trying to create a culture,” he said. “Play hard, play fast and finish. We’re trying to create and develop kids that are going to practice hard, they’re going to work hard, they’re going to execute. That usually is going to result in positive results.”
One of the aspects of this new philosophy is how the team practices.
According to McCullough, the coaching staff as a whole has focused on increasing the tempo in practice to maximize the repetitions the Wildcats get. He claims the improvement in this area has been a result of the effort put in by both the players and coaching staff.
“I just think that just comparing this year and last year, in my opinion, we’re getting a lot more reps,” McCullough said. “I think a lot of it has to do with [the coaches]; we've done a little bit better job of communicating. I’ve done a little bit better job of getting things organized. As far as the coaches, they’ve been tremendous getting across to the kids.
“We’re a team that’s not no-huddle, but we're practicing with a no-huddle mentality.”
Perhaps partly as a result of the increased reps, the Wildcats have already installed their offense, defense and most of their kicking game, although a large portion of those were a focus of spring football as well. The Wildcats also had 500 kids in their summer program, a summer 7-on-7 team and the linemen participated in various challenges throughout the Metroplex.
“So far we’ve had three great days,” McCullough said. “I can't be more pleased.”
McCullough, who has been involved with the Wildcats as a player, fan, assistant coach and now head coach, detailed how he is trying to take the program to the next level while staying true to the values he has learned from previous Plano regimes.
“To me, you're always trying to get better,” he said. “Trying to grow, trying to learn. But at the same time, I think you never go away from your core values.”
With that in mind, the coach is looking forward to testing his team as the season draws nearer. He pointed to an Aug. 20 scrimmage at Hanby Stadium against Mesquite as a major indicator of what kind of team he has.
“I’ll tell you what,” McCullough said, “you scrimmage Mesquite, you’re going to find out how physical you are. They’re going to have a lot of sets, so it’s going to be a great opportunity for our defense to make some adjustments.”
Two of team captains, twin senior linemen Arthur and Lee Skinner, are very pleased with how the team has progressed over the beginning of workouts.
“Its gone great,” Arthur said. “The team’s getting more disciplined and we’ve got a lot of leadership on the team now. A lot of people have stepped up and it’s just been cool.”
Lee pointed to the summer linemen challenges as a big reason both the offensive and defensive line have been prepared for two-a-days.
“We did wonderful at those,” he said. “We did great things, the whole line came together as a family and we dominated. Coming back to football, the heat has been beating us down but we get past that and know what we’ve got to do and we do it.”
Both brothers think the 2010 edition of the Plano Wildcats can achieve big things.
“I think we’re capable of going to state and winning it,” Arthur said. “I think it’s because of the family part, that we’ve been together so long now that we built a family relationship, and then that coaches are building up great schemes and great plays on offense and defense.
“We're out there practicing to execute in the game. When I see us execute in practice, I feel like we’re going to execute in the game.”
Arthur’s brother agreed.
“We’re going to try and take it,” Lee said. “It's going to be a battle going there, it’s going to be war, and we’re going to be in trenches fighting. We've got to make sacrifices.”
While McCullough certainly isn’t against that goal, he’s more focused on getting through two-a-days, and he reminded his team to enjoy the times they were sharing, despite the physical toll.
“I told the kids that there’s not a person here that’s not tired and sore and stiff,” he said. “But then I ask them ‘Doesn’t it feel good?’ Because those are the days you’re going to remember the rest of your life.”
What the Wildcats hope is a memorable season begins Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Garland Lakeview Centennial at Clark Stadium.
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