4 Questions With Bainbridge Football Coach Jeff Littleton
We spoke with Bainbridge football coach Jeff Littleton about the Bearcats’ tough loss to Coffee last week and how he manages the personalities of so many highly recruited players.
Q: Coach, the football season is finally here. How did your team look in the offseason?
A: We had a great offseason and feel like we are in very good shape. We are stronger and a little bigger than we were last year in a few spots. Our kids have worked extremely hard and are excited for the season. Raise the standard!
Q: Your team opened the season this past week with a tough loss against Coffee in Douglas. What did you take away from the game about your team?
A: That we are very young in a few key places and we have to get more physical and play with greater effort and intensity. We have to be able to play four quarters to be able to compete with teams of their talent. Performance is a behavior, not an outcome!
Q: It’s no secret that your team is considered to have one of the most talented rosters in the state. Is it a challenge to manage the personalities of so many highly recruited players on one roster?
A: We have talent in Bainbridge and are very proud of their accomplishments. We have never had multiple highly recruited players on the same team in the same year, so I have not dealt with this as much as maybe some other schools. Our players and coaches do a great job of not letting individual accolades interfere with team unity. Our athletes have always done a great job of not letting outside forces affect their performance.
Q: You have done a phenomenal job at Bainbridge with another 10-win season last year, but it appears your teams get off to a slow start, including the 1-3 start last season. Is there any reason or factor you can point to that may explain this?
A: There may be a few factors that may lead to poor starts for us as a team. Our athletes must be conditioned to playing multiple snaps on offense, defense, and special teams in a real life game situation and not practice. Also, we play top quality opponents (often bigger schools) year-in and year-out to prepare us for our region schedule and tougher teams that we may face with deep runs into the playoffs. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish!
Join us every week for the Bainbridge Football Coach’s Show With Jeff Littleton. We sit down with the head coach to discuss game recaps, upcoming opponents, and other news and updates about the Bearcats football program.
Written by: Phil Jones
