Aside from battling the elements, which featured a lightning delay more than an hour-long Monday morning, Brownwood football first-year head coach Jeryl Brixey liked what he saw from the Lions at Gordon Wood Stadium.
“I told the kids for a first day we’re in a good place,” Brixey said following the conclusion of Monday’s workout. “We missed some individual time offensively, and then defensively for our JV guys. We got all our individual stuff in defensively and all our team and group stuff in, so that was good. There was recall and recognizing some of what we’re doing, and there were a ton of busts, and that’s not unexpected for a first year when you’re trying to put things in. I’m OK with where we are today.”
Regarding what stood out the most, Brixey said, “Our kids were flying around and did a good job of taking coaching today and responding to it. That’s what we have to do. You have to have kids that want to coached. I tell them all the time they can take coaching like a child or like a champion. A child doesn’t want to hear what they’ve done isn’t good enough. A champion responds and says ‘make me better coach.’”
Brixey stated approximately 80 seniors, juniors and sophomores combined reported for Monday’s initial practice. Freshmen are practicing separately.
“I’m not happy with that number but that’s what was here when we got here for the most part,” Brixey said. “That’s something that takes a long time with intentional effort to correct, and we’re working toward that. It’s part of why we get involved with our junior high kids in the summer, to foster relationships with those kids and make them want to be a part of this.”
The 10th through 12th grade Lions will continue to practice from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. through Friday. at Gordon Wood Stadium. The week will conclude with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday morning at the stadium as varsity, junior varsity and freshman players will all see action.
The Brownwood High School Student Activity Center, part of a $59.5 million bond passed in May 2023, is expected to be complete later this week, which will eliminate weather-related delays and cancellation for practices.
Brownwood will visit Wichita Falls Legacy on Thursday, Aug. 14 in its first scrimmage, host Alvarado on Thursday, Aug. 21 in the final scrimmage, kick off the season Friday, Aug. 29 at Abilene Wylie, and welcome Wall Friday, Sept. 5 in the first game in the revamped Gordon Wood Stadium.
The Lions are coming off a 6-5 campaign and bi-district championship in 2024, the third consecutive opening-round playoff victory for the program.