PHOTO: This week, for Inside the Huddle, we visited the Geraldine Bulldogs! (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)
Marla Jones, Sports Editor
GERALDINE, Ala. — For the second stop of “Inside the Huddle”, we visited the Class 3A, Geraldine Bulldogs!
Coach Brad and Brian Waldrop have been family friends for many years and I was excited to come watch them and the Bulldogs in action. It seems like only yesterday, I was watching the Waldrop boys play high school football. Now they are known across the area, along with their coaching staff, as a force to be reckoned with.
Our Sports Reporter, Amy Thrash, graduated from Geraldine and was excited as well, to attend the Bulldog practice. I began to realize that Amy might get more attention than me so I had to come up with a plan. Exactly one minute into practice, my plan came together, when I had a major nosebleed (the first one in my life). Coach Jamie Gilbert took care of me, all the time assuring me that I was not going to die. I missed the majority of warm ups and practice, but Amy was a trooper and continued taking pictures. She felt that it would not be right to teach the players without me, so a trip back to visit the bulldogs is in order. I am sure the players really missed me calling out plays and yelling at them if they were not fast enough. Being fast is not a problem that the Bulldogs have, from what Amy observed The team is on their way, to becoming a team that will be hard to handle come September. Getting to the top is not easy and requires tons of practice. Geraldine practices three days a week at 5 p.m. Monday is designated on speed training. Tuesday practices work on agility and Thursday packs a powerful punch as the team does a series of “Explosion” workouts. After each practice the players hit the weightroom for strength training.
2016 RECORD:
The Geraldine Bulldogs finished the 2016 season with a 5-7 record. The Bulldogs faced Lauderdale County in the first round of State playoffs.
PLAYERS:
Geraldine has six returning seniors. The team has four returning offensive starters and five returning defensive starters.
COACHES:
Coach Brad Waldrop will return for his third season as Head Coach for the Geraldine Bulldogs. His brother, Coach Brian Waldrop will be his offensive coordinator. Coach Tim Arnold will return as offensive and defensive line coach. Coach Jamie Gilbert will coach the outside linebackers. The Bulldogs will welcome, Coach Sid Gillilan to the coaching staff this season.
SCHEDULE:
The Geraldine Bulldogs will kick off regular season play hosting next door neighbor, Fyffe on September 1. The Bulldogs will welcome Pisgah on September 8, for the first region game of the season. The Bulldogs will host Sardis on September 15. Geraldine will travel to face Plainview in a region game on September 22. The Bulldogs will host D.A.R. on September 29. Geraldine will travel to Brindlee Mountain for region play on October 6. The Bulldogs will be back on the road on October 13 as they face Sylvania in region play. Geraldine will face New Hope on October 20 and North Sand Mountain on October 27, on the road for region play. The Bulldogs will return home for the final regular season game against Crossville.
With the excellent coaching staff and the drive that the Bulldogs have, I expect them to go deep in the state playoffs!
