PHOTO: The 2017 Hornets take on the stairs at Wayne C. Hardiman Stadium! (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)
By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
IDER, Ala. — For the fourth installment of “Inside the Huddle," I took a little trip north to visit 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.
I had the opportunity to watch the team, on one of the hottest days of the year, as they went thru agility workouts. If you notice the bleachers are all clean and shiny, when you come to watch the Hornets play, it is because of the sweat dripping from the athletes. They ran up, down and sideways on the bleachers. More than once, I saw a player lose his breakfast. Ider coaches have no mercy. Training does not always have to be on the field, it can be done on the bleachers, the parking lot or in the weight room.
2016 RECORD:
Ider Varsity Football finished the 2016 season with a 4-6 record. Due to realignment, the Varsity Hornets were moved to the tough Region 6. The Ider Hornets are putting last year’s season behind them and are looking forward to the opportunities that this season will bring the team.
PLAYERS:
The Ider Hornets will have 15 returning seniors this year. They will 8 returning offensive starters and 7 returning defensive starters for the 2017 season.
COACHES:
Coach Brett Tinker will return for his fifteenth season as the Head Coach for the Ider Hornets. His coaching staff consist of: Coach Russell Higdon as Defensive Coordinator, Coach Rod Hannah as Offensive Coordinator, Coach Chris Boggs-Special Teams, Coach Adam Watkins-Tight Ends and Defensive Tackles, Coach Billy Black and Coach Casey Gaddis as Offensive Line Coaches.
2017 SCHEDULE:
9/1 vs Valley Head
9/8 vs Collinsville *
9/15 @ Sand Rock *
9/22 vs Fyffe *
9/29 @ North Sand Mtn
10/6 @ Section *
10/13 vs Gaston *
10/20 @ Asbury *
10/27 vs Westbrook Christian *
11/2 @ Sylvania
OUTLOOK:
I feel that the Ider Hornets have what it takes to be a powerhouse in Class 2A this season. The team has several talented players that will help the Hornets succeed this season.
