By Marla Jones, Sports Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

IDER, Ala. — For my sixth stop of Inside The Huddle, I headed up Highway 75 to meet with the Ider Hornets!

As I walked up to the field house, I could not help but notice the number of athletes at practice.  They were players jumping on boxes and jump ropes, some doing a series of pushups, some lifting dead weights and some doing agility training. Come to find out, at Ider, all student athletes workout together during the summer.  If you play football, baseball or basketball, you still get up bright and early Monday thru Thursday to do summer workouts.  Varsity and junior varsity athletes work out together.

The Hornets went 6-5 last season and made it all the way to the state playoffs before falling to Lamar County in the first round. Due to realignment, the Hornets were moved to Region 6.

Just like the previous two years I’ve done Inside The Huddle, when I went to Ider, it rained. The team was forced to practice in the parking lot due to the wet field.

The Ider Hornets graduated 14 seniors in May, but this year they will start with ten returning seniors. They have four returning players on offense and three on defense.

The Hornets have been coached for sixteen years by Brent Tinker. His coaching staff includes: Coach Russell Higdon (Defensive Coordinator), Coach Rod Hannah (Offensive Coordinator), Coach Chris Boggs (Special Teams), Coach Adam Watkins (Tight Ends and Defensive Tackles), and Coaches Billy Black and Casey Gaddis as Offensive Line Coaches.

The Hornets have a packed season this fall. They begin on August 31 against Holly Pond at home. They continue with another home game on September 7 at Sand Rock. The Hornets’ first away game is against Section on September 14, before having another home game against Collinsville on September 21. Ider faces Valley Head and Asbury away on September 28 and October 5, respectively. They face North Sand Mountain at home on October 12 and then play against Cedar Bluff away the following week. The Hornets take on the Fyffe Red Devils for their last away game on October 26. Their final game is at home against Spring Garden on November 2.

I look forward to seeing the Ider Hornets go the distance this year. I think it may be their moment this fall.