Cougars Optimistic As They Prepare For 2011 Season

By Colin Murphy

Spring may be the season of rebirth, but for the Chesapeake High School football team it’s the end of summer and beginning of fall that have given rise to a renewed commitment to winning and an enthusiastic outlook for the 2011 season.

 “It’s going to be a good year,” said senior captain and center Colby Burl before beginning a six-hour practice session on August 17. “We definitely have a group that wants to win, we have an excellent coaching staff, and if we put our minds to it - which I know we will - we’re going to be successful.”

Such is the level of anticipation and eagerness amongst the players, who are anxious to hit the gridiron running this fall. They won’t have to wait very long: the Cougars play a round-robin of scrimmages against three area schools on August 20, then open up the season officially when they travel to South River to face the Seahawks on September 2.

With the regular season fast approaching, the Cougars are putting in the effort with intense six-hour practices under the hot August sun. And despite a 1-9 record in 2010, the team nonetheless has reasons to be optimistic in 2011. Over 70 boys tried out for the team - the highest number in years – providing the coaches a welcome opportunity to evaluate a relatively deep talent pool. A senior-laden offense equipped with a formidable line, a deep and versatile running game, and a strong receiving corps returns with another season of experience under their belts.

In addition to that, after an in-house shuffling of coaches, the Cougars will be guided this season by longtime JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Rob Elliott (Chesapeake ’86), who is taking over as Varsity Head Coach for the first time.

“It’s huge,” said an enthusiastic Elliott of the opportunity to assume the varsity post. “I’m a Chesapeake alum, and I played on the first winning team in school history, so it’s a great challenge to go back where you started and try to make a difference.”

As team captains led the squad through stretches and warm-ups in the opening moments of practice on August 17, Elliott went on to forecast the team’s likely strengths, as well as areas that still need shoring up.

“Our starting O-line is rock-solid, but we don’t have a lot of depth, so we need to stay healthy,” said Elliott. “We have an outstanding group of receivers and we’re deep at running back. Defensively, we have two outstanding ends who will be the anchor of our defense. Linebacker… that’s going to be the key: developing our linebackers.”

The most important point of focus for Coach Elliott and his players, however, is the so-far successful shift in attitude.

“We’ve got to change the losing mentality. These kids have lost a lot and some of them have grown used to losing, but that’s going to change. The ones who don’t buy in and believe in it won’t be around. With 70 players trying out for varsity, we’ve got plenty to choose from.”

Burl, for one, agrees with Coach Elliott and believes the team is on the same page at this early point in the season. “[Yesterday’s practice] was tough, we were going through some defensive drills and hitting pretty hard, but that’s what we’re out here for,” said Burl. “We’re out here to do it, and it doesn’t matter how hard it is, we’re all out here to succeed.”