Bulldogs focus on fundamentals

Thursday was a case of good news and bad news for Strong.

The good news was that although practice was limited to an hour and 10 minutes, the Bulldogs got plenty of individual work done.

However, several absentees didn't allow the Bulldogs to get any kind of team work in.

Strong coach Greg Anthony, who missed practice himself due to a stomach virus, was not happy when informed by his staff of the players that did not attend.

"I was sick, but the guys didn't know that," Anthony said. "They were off the field after an hour and 10 minutes because we had about five or six maybe seven that weren't there. Whenever your numbers are low, it's very important that you're at every practice for a couple of reasons.

"One, you get better. Two, the team gets better because when you're not there, you can't do anything and the team can't do anything, so there has to be a commitment that you're going to be at practice regardless of what happens and quit looking for reasons not to show up.

"I understand whenever a parent says that they're going out of town that you have to go if they make you go. I understand that, but there are situations that come up that they look for reasons not to come to practice, and they use the least little thing they can, so when that happens, you're not a

very good football team.

"I thought we had three very good days, and then we have this. That's what loses ballgames for you."

On the field, the Bulldogs worked on both sides of the ball, doing some 7-on-7 work, as well as tackling drills as part of their individual work.

Despite the limited numbers, Anthony said that the coaching staff was pleased with the work that was accomplished on the field.

"The main thing that the coaches told me was that the ones that were there went about their business and didn't make a big deal out of it. They got more reps," Anthony said.

But while the work on the field has been a positive, the absences left Anthony bewildered.

"It had been going really good, and now all of a sudden, we've had this hiccup," Anthony said.

"It's not fair for these seniors for these underclassmen not to show up.

"These seniors have a lot riding on this year."

Terrance Armstard/News-Times Back to pass: Strong's Mahkalis Jefferson (20) throws the ball during a practice on Thursday afternoon in Strong. The Bulldogs worked on individual drills during Thursday's practice.