PHOTO: The 2017 Valley Head Tigers take on summer workouts in the weight room. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)
By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
VALLEY HEAD, Ala. — For my sixth stop of Inside the Huddle, I went to Valley Head to watch the Tigers in action.
When I got to practice, the team was in the fieldhouse doing box jumps. I sat in amazement at how high the athletes could jump. The coaches pushed the players to jump higher and higher, and I must admit, I drank the kool-aide. As the players were leaving the workout room, I took a quick jump on one of the boxes. Bad idea….it was not pretty. Good news, they do not think my ankle is broken.
The team then proceeded to run like they were training for a marathon. I lost count of how many sets that the poor guys ran. I had to have a water break just from watching them. Coach Knapp and his coaching staff are determined to have some of the most physically fit athletes around.
Winners are not always created on the field, it takes hours of hard work in the weight room. After all the running, the athletes went back to the fieldhouse to do strength training and more agility training. Sweat was pouring like a water faucet, by me, not the players. They seem use to the tough regimen.
Valley Head is putting in the work on and off the field to be the best and I believe they have what it takes to have a winning season.
THE RECORD:
The 2016 season was rough for Valley Head. In the spring of 2016, Head Coach Sam Graham resigned as Head Coach. The Tigers went without a coach until June 7, 2017 when the Dekalb County Board of Education appointed, Brian Knapp as Head Coach. The players had less than two months to buy into the program that Knapp created before games started. ]The Valley Head Tigers finished the 2016 season with a 2-6 record. Their record did not reflect their strengths.
PREPARATION FOR THIS SEASON:
The Tigers are looking to overcome their previous season by putting in hard work. Valley Head practices Monday-Thursday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The team is planning a two night camp, in Georgia, to work on unity as a team.
PLAYERS:
Valley Head will have ten Seniors this year. They will have five returning starters who play on both sides of the ball.
COACHES:
Coach Brian Knapp will return for his second year as Head Coach of the Valley Head Tigers. His coaching staff will be: Coach Chuck Williams, Coach Matt Ogle, Coach Scott Clifton and Coach Buddy Knapp.
2017 SCHEDULE:
9/1 Ider
9/8 Coosa Christian *
9/15 @ Jacksonville Christian *
9/22 @ Spring Garden *
9/29 OPEN
10/6 Cedar Bluff *
10/13 Gaylesville *
10/20@Woodville *
10/27 OPEN
11/2 @Collinsville
Valley Head has a tough schedule but an even tougher team. They have faced adversity and remained consistent. I look for them to do well this season. They have the speed, dedication and determination to succeed. Valley Head will definitely be a team to watch.
