Story By Heath Hambrick

On a foggy Wednesday morning, the Sylvania Rams began their day at 7:30 with on-the-field work then finished the day in the weight room. 

New Ram Head Coach Brad Waldrop is working with a young online group that has the opportunity to be good. The group is like a clean block of clay that can be molded into the that Waldrop wants them to be. 

“Summer has been good so far, I feel like we have improved, the kids are starting to pick up what we want to do,” said Waldrop.

Waldrop is the third Sylvania coach in as many years. He replaces Tanner Nelson who stepped down in April after only one season. 

“The kids have bought into the way we want to do things, when I took the job, everything was new for the kids that we wanted to do,” said Waldrop. 

The 2025 Rams will be known for their ability to run the football. Sylvania wants to be the team that controls the game and the most physical team on the field. And that's the brand of football that Waldrop wants to build at Sylvania. 

Sylvania returns four starters on offense and four on the defensive side of the ball as well. The Rams will have a new quarterback this season. Slater Waldrop will be under center for Sylvania. 

The Rams will continue summer workouts for the rest of July leading up to the first day of practice on July 28. Sylvania will travel to North Sand Mountain on Monday for an organized team activity (OTA). 

“We are working each day focusing on us and getting better with each snap,” said Waldrop.  

Sylvania will open the season at Cedar Bluff in the fall Jamboree on Aug. 15. The regular season opener will be at North Jackson on Aug. 22 for the Rams.