QUARTERBACK CLUB MEETING -SEPTEMBER 20

1. Quarterback Club Meeting Minutes

Those present were Sean Holt, Jay Hobbs, Heather Hobbs, Darren Newsom, Crystal Newsom, Tamara Holt, Pam Moss, and Therese Logan.

The meeting was called to order by Jay Hobbs.

Minutes from last meeting were not available.

Treasurer's report was not available at this time.

Old Business:  Heather Hobbs reported that the Hilltop Jubilee was set to kick off at 2:00 pm on Saturday.  Coach Bates has agreed to be in charge of garbage cans for the event.  Pre-sale tickets are still available at office.  The local paper has already ran an article on the event and additional advertisement will run tomorrow.  Theresa Logan reported that all food for concessions for Saturday have been ordered.  

Crystal Newsom reported that money from ad sales for the football program are still coming in.  Heather reports that reserved seating monies are up this year, $6000.  There are a few seats still available.

Crystal brought up banking business that was to be discussed at tonight's meeting.  It has been discussed to transfer money from bank C.D. to savings account.  Decision to table for tonight, due to Michael Carter could not be present and had most of the details.

Jay brought up concern he had recently learned about.  Coach Brad Brazeal that was assistant coach for middle school team in the 2010 year, did not receive payment for services.  Further discussion to be tabled until next meeting.

New Business:  Jay brought up concern for lawnmower catcher system.  The current system we have does not have large capacity and takes many unloads to finish job.  He spoke with Athens Farm & Turf about new system.  Per Athens Farm representative, the system we currently have could be resold for $2000.  The system that would best suit our needs cost $3000.  If we could sell our current system and get the new one it would only cost $1000.  Motion made by T. Logan to accept bid for equipment.  Darren Newsom seconds, voted in unanimously.  Jay will take care of this.

Jay also would like to put in long range goals to replace camera that was damaged by weather.  Also, he would like to see us get an equipment trailer for away games.  Both of these discussions were tabled for next meeting.

Coach Holt reports the Kubota needs repair.  Jay is going to take care of this.

Crystal makes a motion to purchase meal for football players for this Friday night.  Steak-Out made bid of 5 oz steak, potato, salad, and roll for all players and coaches.  Approx $550.00 needed.  Motion seconded by T. Logan and passed unanimously.

Crystal, also, made a motion to purchase 200 hotdogs and buns for HomeComing Spirit Walk/ Tailgating.  Darren seconded and passed unanimously.

The following activities were brought up:  October 13, Downtown Pep Rally.  October 27, “Boo at the Boss”.  Heather reports that Snap-on Tools and Electricfil have both agreed to donate a large amount of candy for this event.  More discussion will be done on these two items once Jubilee is completed.

Next meeting, Tuesday, October 4 @ 6:30pm.

Motion to adjourn by T. Logan, seconded by D. Newsom, voted unanimously.

AN INTERVIEW WITH DUANE WALES

This interview is the last in a four part "meet the coaches" series.  Duane Wales is the only Elkmont graduate on the Red Devil Football staff.  He graduated in 1987. During his high school years, he played offensive and defensive tackle under Coach Marvin Young.  Wales' senior year brought with it, All County and All Region honors.  His favorite side of the ball was offense since he liked to block.  "I took great pride in helping Michael Davis gain a bunch of yards."  Michael Davis continued his football career as a Murray State Racer.

Coach Wales then went to Calhoun on an academic scholarship for two years. He transferred to Athens State to complete his Physical Education degree and was voted outstanding P.E. major.  After he finished, P.E. jobs were rare and so he went back to school for an additional year and received certification in Biology.

Duane started his teaching career at Clements in 1992.  He became the defensive coordinator for the Colts for ten years.  His specialty was coaching the defensive and offensive lines.  In 2003, Coach Wales joined the Ardmore Tigers as the special teams coordinator and defensive coordinator.  He also was the head middle school and JV coach for his last 4 years at Ardmore.

In 2009, Coach Wales was able to return to his home of Elkmont High School.  As a graduate, this was something he had always wanted, a chance to give back to the community and school where he grew up.  "I wanted to come back and coach at Elkmont.  I wanted my children to grow up and go to school in the same community as I had.  Most of my family graduated from here.  Elkmont meant family; Elkmont meant home."

This season Wales will be in charge of the running backs and the defensive tackles.  "As a lineman I understand how blocks are made; where the running lanes are; when running backs are supposed to hit holes and look for cut back lanes.  A lineman has to know his position but also he has to know the position of those he is meant to protect."

"My goals for the running backs are ball security, not to fumble, not to be taken down by the first contact and to finish every run falling forward.  My defensive tackles have to protect the linebackers.  They need to draw the double team and stop the run."

"I want the Seniors to have fond memories of me.  To think of me as a good role model, a man that was a husband, father, teacher and coach and did this with integrity and dedication."

"This season my goal for the team is to reach the playoffs.  Winning five games in the playoffs would make for a wonderful year."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR - ETHAN WHITESIDE

Coach Ethan Whiteside is entering into his second year as a member of the Elkmont High School football staff.  He led the East Limestone Indians as quarterback before going to Southern Mississippi to play tight end.  A Limestone County native, Coach Whiteside chose to make a life in his home county after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2006.  His lovely wife is the former Misha McCormick of Anderson.  Ethan and Misha are expectant parents and will be welcoming a little Whiteside into their home in January.  


Coach Whiteside will be taking on the responsibilities of the offensive coordinator this year in addition to coaching the offensive line and defensive backs.  His goal for the offensive line is that they will be aggressive and be the leaders of the offensive unit.   His defensive backs will be charged with stopping the long pass and not getting beat deep.  A common goal of the Elkmont coaches is making sure that each player knows what they are doing and not to be confused.  Coach Whiteside also shares this goal for his defensive backs, " I don't want my backs to be fooled by the opposing offense and the fake shifts and roll outs.  They have to read and watch; they must think on their feet and anticipate the play.  I don't want them getting beat in the flat because they weren't paying attention."


"My goal for this year's team is to win the region and get deep in the state playoffs.  I want the players to become students of the game."  As important as winning football games is to Coach Whiteside, he realizes that the most important lessons that football teaches is the ones that stay with a player once they graduate, discipline, sacrifice, hard work and being part of a team.   Coach Whiteside is the youngest of the staff and a valuable addition to the team.  The Elkmont community welcomes him and wishes him and his Elkmont Red Devil offense well this season.

AN INTERVIEW WITH LEVI TERRY - DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Levi Terry is the defensive coordinator and the linebacker coach of the Elkmont Red Devils.  A native of Decatur, he was an outstanding linebacker at  Austin High School.  Terry continued his football career at the University of North Alabama.  He played outside linebacker for the UNA Lions in 2001.  His favorite memory of  playing at North Alabama was being able to experience the atmosphere and excitement of being part of a college football team.

Coach Terry is married to Sunnee.  He is curently teaching Physical Education and Health.  He also is the assistant varsity baseball coach for the Elkmont Red Devils.

He is excited about this season and seeing how his experienced senior linebacker corp matches up to the teams on the Red Devils schedule.   He had these thoughts about the Elkmont Red Devil Football team.

 "As the defensive coordinator, my goal for the defense is for them to be able to adjust and adapt to any offense that lines up against them."

"As the linebacker coach, I want my linebackers to learn more about the game; to be able to read, evaluate and decide what changes they need to make on the field without me having to tell them.  I believe that my linebackers will be able to do that this year.  They will be coaches on the field, and help the entire defensive team adjust quickly to what they see on the field."

" My goal for the team is more than about wins and losses.  I want them to learn life lessons;  how to manage success and deal with disappointment; to use those experiences to motivate themselves to be better."

Coach Terry became reflective when asked about this senior class.  He has worked with them for four years, seen them grow from boys into young men.  He has been a stable influence for them as they have adjusted to three different head coaches.  His thoughts on what he wants this class to take with them when they graduate from Elkmont High School is "to do whatever is necessary to succeed and don't give up when the going gets tough."

MEET ELKMONT'S HEAD FOOTBALL COACH - SEAN HOLT

After nine years as a coach in the Elkmont Football Program,  Coach Sean Holt will be taking the reins of the 2011 Red Devils Varsity football team.  He has been part of Elkmont Football for 8 years.  His wife Tamara is the middle school cheerleading sponsor.  Their children are Cassidy and Brooklyn, two active young ladies that keep their parents busy.

Coach Holt is an Ardmore High graduate.  He played baseball and then continued his baseball career at Martin Methodist .  His high school years also included a football uniform.  Holt played cornerback on the defensive side of the ball and tight end/ receiver positions on offensive.  "Football has changed so much since I played.  We had one defense (5-3) with a blitz and didn't adjust to the other team's offenses.  We lined up with that defense and that was our game plan.  Today's game is a thinking man's game.  It is so much more technical.  A team will have various defenses and offenses; the game plan changing for each opponent.  There are coverages, checks, and adjustments that the players make on each play.  Studying the other team, developing and implementing an effective game plan happens way before kickoff."

Coach Holt has worked with three head coaches during his eight years on the coaching staff.  His first two years were as a middle school coach.  He then moved up to the varsity program and worked with Coach McGhee.  As an assistant coach, he worked with the defensive line and the quarterbacks/running backs.  Coach McGhee emphasis was defense.   Holt took advantage of that and learned more about the the technical side of the defensive line. 

Coach McGhee left and went back to Georgia and Coach Don Jacobs moved to town.  Coach Holt worked as the defensive coordinator for three years with Jacobs.  "Working with Coach Jacobs was like attending the University of Football.  It was an advanced study of football.  I learned coverages, how to adapt, how to match up defenses to offenses and how to make adjustments as the game was being played.  Working with Coach Jacobs was a steep learning curve.  I became a better defensive coordinator and learned so much about the game of football."

After three years, Coach Jacobs took another football job and left the Red Devils and Coach David Wilson came in.  Holt again served as the defensive coordinator.  "I liked Coach Wilson.  His time here at Elkmont confirmed my belief in the importance of calm and perseverance when dealing with adversity.  Working with three talented head coaches has been a blessing,  I will use what I learned from them to develop a competitive and close knit program that will represent Elkmont High School well."

"This year my goal for this season is to make the playoffs.  Elkmont has a strong group of experienced seniors who know how to work hard and hit hard.  They are the core of this football team and will provide consistent leadership.  My goal for this senior class is help them have positive football experiences.  I want each player on this team to prepare, play hard and know what to do on every play.  I firmly believe that a "CONFUSED PLAYER IS A BAD PLAYER".  My goal is no confused players.  I want my team to learn how to stay calm, evaluate and analyze situations; not to become so tied up in the moment that they forget what they are doing, why they are there.  "Adrenaline quickly runs out but enthusiasm will carry a player throughout a game."

"I'm looking forward to a successful season and being able to work with this group of young men.  I have a great coaching staff.  I would like to invite everyone to come to the games.  The jamboree is at East Lawrence this Thursday, August 18 @ 6:30.   We will evaluate and start preparing as soon we get off the bus after the East Lawrence game for our season opener against Ardmore.  It is big rivalry and has terrific atmosphere.  This game is a great kickoff to the season and I hope everyone will attend and support the Red Devils this season."

left to right:  
Head Coach:  Sean Holt
Offensive Coordinator: Ethan Whiteside
Line Coach:  Duane Wells
Defensive Coordinator: 
Levi Terry