First-year coach sees improvement for
Early
DISTRICT 6-3A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Coach Robbie Tindol picked a tough season
to enter as a first-year coach for the Early Longhorns.
The 2003 season will be just the second year for Early in District
6-3A. The Longhorns played in District 5-3A, but the 2002 realignment
placed them, along with Comanche and Brady, in the new district
with Ballinger, Wylie and Clyde.
With both Ballinger and Wylie perennial favorites to take the
District 6-3A title, and the ‘Horns coming off a forgettable
2002 season, Tindol knows it may be a struggle. But at the same
time, he is confident his team will be much better than the 2-8,
0-5 record it posted last season.
“We have had good spring and summer workouts,” he
said. “Our strength, speed and attitude (this season) will
be improved.”
Early will need that strength and speed to compensate for its
lack of size. The average weight of the entire preseason roster
is just 185 pounds; only seven of the 28 players listed weighed
more than 191 pounds.
Some of the returning seniors who will play big roles for the
Longhorns will be Bryan Adams, Kreg Boyd and A.J. Brown. All three
will be two-way players.
Adams, 5-7, 160 pounds, will be at wide receiver/cornerback, Boyd,
6-0, 175, at running back/linebacker and Brown, 6-1, 190, at tight
end/defensive end.
Other seniors returning will be Clay Bryant, a 6-0, 175-pound
defensive end, Lane Chandler, a 6-3, 255-pound offensive lineman,
Jonathan Clark, a 6-0, 220-pound lineman and Kris Culverhouse,
a 6-1, 165 defensive back.
In all, there are 14 returning seniors on Early’s roster,
so Tindol should have no trouble finding players to play a leadership
role, and there will be no lack of experience in the Longhorns’
huddle.
Early will start its 6-3A battles on Oct. 10, when it faces
Comanche in the district opener. The Longhorns will be fighting
for their first district title and first playoff appearance since
1958.
SCHEDULE
n August
29 at Goldthwaite 7:30 p.m.
September
5 Llano 7:30 p.m.
12 at De Leon 7:30 p.m.
19 at Hamilton 7:30 p.m.
26 Breckenridge 7:30 p.m.
October
10 Comanche* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Wylie* 7:30 p.m.
24 Ballinger* 7:30 p.m.
31 at Clyde* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Brady* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Early Longhorns
- School colors: purple and gold
- District: 6-3A
- Last year’s record: 2-8 (0-5, last place)
- Last playoff appearance: 1958
- Last district championship: 1958
- Head coach: Robbie Tindol
- Career record: 29-9
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: Alan Luker, Casey Dacus, Blake Sandford,
Ben Chaplin, Darren Barley, Jake Freeman, Matt Stapp
- Returning and/or probable starters: WR-CB Bryan Adams, 5-7,
160, Sr.; C-DE Brandon Anderson, 6-3, 215, Jr.; RB-LB Kreg Boyd,
6-0, 175, Sr.; TE-DE A.J. Brown, 6-1, 190, Sr.; WR-DB Shaun Brown,
5-10 160, Jr.; DE Clay Bryant, 6-0, 175, Sr.; LB Nathan Burditt,
6-2, 180, Jr.; OL Lane Chandler, 6-3, 255, Sr.; WR Tim Chandler,
5-10, 10, So.; OL-DL Jonathan Clark, 6-0, 220, Sr.; RB Chris
Cooley, 5-6, 150, Jr.; DB Kris Culverhouse, 6-1, 165, Sr.; TE
Chase Drinnon, 6-3, 180, Jr.; QB Tim Everitt, 6-2, 190, Jr.;
DB Chris Finlayson, 5-9, 165, Jr.; OL James Gleaton, 6-1, 195,
Sr.; OL David Hathcock, 6-2, 250, Jr.; LB Bryan Hopper, 5-10,
180, Sr.; LB Walt Howard, 5-10, 180, Jr.; DE Tyler Jones, 6-1,
260, Jr.; OL Jonathan Jones, 6-1, 260, Jr.; QB Cody Lilley, 6-2,
190, Jr.; OL Ricky Martinez, 6-0, 200, So.; OL Jonathan McCullough,
5-9, 180, Sr.; WR-DB Skyler Middleton, 5-8, 170, Sr.; WR Blake
Reid, 6-0, 165, So.; WR-DB Marshall Thornhill, 5-7, 165, Sr.;
WR-DB Jeremy Woodard, 6-5, 165, Sr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: none listed
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: none listed
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: none listed
- Team weaknesses: none listed
|
