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

GERALDINE, Ala. — For my fourth stop of “Inside The Huddle”, we visited with the Class 3A Geraldine Bulldogs! Geraldine has more than their share of talented players and I expect them to be a powerhouse this fall.

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.

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.

When I arrived at Coolidge-Isbell Field my car thermometer read 98 degrees.  As I sat, watching the team warm up with several sets of sprints, I was uncertain if I could make it on to the field without melting from the heat. The heat did not seem to phase the Bulldogs at all. I could sense that the Bulldogs are willing to go the extra mile because that is what it takes to succeed.

Geraldine has 9 returning seniors with 5 returning on offense and 4 on defense.

Coach Brad Waldrop will return for his fourth 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 and Coach Sid Gillilan coaches defensive secondary.

The Bulldogs have an intense schedule this fall. They begin facing Crossville away on August 24 at the Battle of Skirum Creek. Their first regular season game is against rival Fyffe on the road on August 31. The next two games are home on September 7 and September 14 against Plainview and Brindlee Mountain, respectively. The Bulldogs faced New Hope away on September 21 and Sardis away on September 28. The following week on October 5, the Bulldogs will travel to face Pisgah. After a bye week, Geraldine faces Susan Moore at home on October 19. They face Sylvania away on October 26. The final game of the season will be against Piedmont on November 2.

With the excellent coaching staff and the drive that the Bulldogs have, I expect them to go deep in the State playoffs.