Spring Football: Crestview pushing for perfection with help of new drill

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

travisd@nwfdailynews.com

CRESTVIEW - Go to any high school football practice and the scene is generally the same.

The grass is a shade of green and littered with footballs and tackling dummies.

At Crestview, where eighth-year coach Matt Brunson and the Bulldogs are eager to rid themselves of the bitter aftertaste of last year's 3-6 season, there are footballs and tackling dummies - and shopping carts.

Yes, shopping carts.

The carts make up one part of the eight-station drill Brunson refers to as "The Octagon," an exhausting gauntlet of speed, agility and strength drills the Bulldogs are pushed through to conclude each practice.

"It's kind of like ‘County Fair,'" Brunson explained. "The main thing we're trying to do is see who is going to lead each individual group and who's going to stay behind and feel sorry for themselves."

The idea came to Brunson during his visit to a camp at the University of Tennessee over the winter.

Upon his return to Crestview, Brunson and his staff put their plan in place.

They also began their search for a few shopping carts.

The carts, which are welded to sled-like bottoms, are pushed some 25 yards by a player, spun around, and pushed back where the next player in line does the same.

This, of course, happens only after the players have already made their way through a bear-crawling course, jumping rope and other agility-based drills.

Following each period, the coach at a given station gives the group either thumbs up for a job well done, or a thumbs down signaling the group to start over.

"We haven't had a group have to go back yet," Brunson said. "Some of these guys have really stepped up into leadership roles."

Fortunately for Brunson, the Bulldogs return several starters on both sides of the ball in 2008.

Offensively, quarterback Jason Parker returns along with running backs D.D. Johnson and Jordan Glover.

"We have a couple of backs back and our quarterback back and a couple of linemen that have played some," Brunson said.

On defense, the cupboard is far from bare with linebacker Gabe Goodson, strong safety Chris Pickett, cornerback Amond Roberson and defensive end Darius Robbins giving the Bulldogs a host of returning starters in '08.

As a result, there has been no shortage of intensity through the early stages of spring practice.

"This group is becoming a team," Brunson said. "You can't put your finger on team chemistry and unity and guys developing and stepping into leadership roles."

All, thanks in large part, to pushing shopping carts.