Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1481988
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 | maconmagazine.com 89 JOE DUPREE Southwest High School "We create a sense of family on our team by first building relationships. We do this through team-building exercises so they can get to know each other outside of football – watching college football games, fun away from football like Urban Air or Pin Strikes, attending church, and continuing to create a brotherhood." CHANCE JONES Stratford High School "I think football can be tough enough on the boys for the team to naturally come together, so we do not try to force it. We emphasize that everyone on the team has their role, and no man is apart from the team. For example, if you are a star player, you also have a responsibility to mentor the young guys in your position group and to outwardly praise the grinders that do not get the publicity you do. I believe every player and coach buys in; the family atmosphere takes care of itself!" GRAY YATES Mount de Sales Academy "Our sense of family stems from our Catholic faith tradition and our commitment to parent involvement. Attending a school with history over 100 years that is rooted in a faith that is 2000 years old provides so much opportunity to connect to each other and our past. Our team participates in gameday mass together as well as has a weekly devotional on Sunday night with Father Casey. Each Sunday night practice, our senior dads cook a team meal for us each week. Our team moms keep our schedule of pre- and post-game meals on point, and each family contributes to a family potluck. Faith and food are central to our plan of maintaining a family atmosphere at Mount de Sales." SPOON RISPER Westside High School "I make sure to spend time with my guys off the field, and I also make sure to have an open-door policy for them to come talk with me about anything." PAUL CARROLL Howard High School "We do special events for our players, such as inviting the team out in the community for team dinners or a dinner for all seniors at the beginning of season. Assistant coaches have dinner with their position groups. We have parent meetings, and we perform various team-building exercises during the off season and during the season." CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Howard High School, Mount de Sales Academy, Northeast High School, Southwest High School, Rutland High School, Stratford High School, Central High School, Westside High School.