After 20 years, the Robert E. Lee Generals are finally back on top of district 7A-2 football in Florida. Not bad for a program that produced talents such as the great Corky Rogers, Leroy Butler, Atrews Bell, and Stephen Nicholas. The program has been mostly down until recently. Led by young head coach OJ Small, the last four years have been dedicated to cleaning house and revamping the program.
Small’s journey to head general of Lee’s football program is an example of being in the right place at the right time and being ready to roll. Small stepped into coaching by helping out previous head coach and friend Myrick Anderson. Anderson parted ways with the program in 2011 after starting 0-2, and Small stepped up to the plate as interim coach. After posting a 5-3 record as interim coach, Small was given the head coach position, and the rest is today’s history.
But Small didn’t build off that 5-3 record. He actually started rebuilding the following year (2012), posting a 3-7 record after losing players to due to transfers and losing upperclassmen who didn’t want to buy into what the new coach was selling, which is typical with change. 2013 ended with the same 3-7 record after dealing with the same issues.
At that point, Small looked himself in the mirror and knew he had to do something different. Small took the off-season to scout local area football power programs to see how they ran their practices. In 2014 and 2015, Small ended 7-3 and 7-4, respectively, making the program’s first playoff debut in eight years but ultimately falling short to Tallahassee Lincoln in the first round. Small contributes that success to his players finally buying into his system.
“Coach what you have (and) you’ll have a more positive team culture with kids that want to be in your program” Small said. He doesn’t believe in going out and recruiting kids to come to the backyard and play football.
With that philosophy, in 2016, Lee defeated Bolles and Trinity, two teams that have more state titles then all the area’s public schools combined. Not bad for a team with only one Division I commit. Small admits to not having the biggest, strongest, or fastest team in the area, but having 23 seniors who have fun playing together is just as productive. Finishing this season at 7-1, Lee is looking to make some noise opening up the first round of the 7A playoffs with Tallahassee Leon at the backyard. Small said the mindset going into the playoffs this year is not being content on making the playoffs, making one play at a time, and not leaving the game up to the refs.
We all know the story of OJ Small, a local athlete who excelled at the University of Florida, made it to the NFL, and came back to his hometown to give back to the community to coach high school football. But did you know he was one of three Small brothers to play at Forrest and in the SEC?
Eddie Small
The lesser known of the three Small brothers, Eddie played at Forrest from 1987 to 1989 before continuing his college career at Ole Miss from 1990 to 1993. According to Ole Miss records, Eddie is 12th all-time in career receiving yards with 1,493 yards and eight touchdowns on 91 catches. Eddie led Ole Miss in receiving yards, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards his senior season with 624 yards, six touchdowns, and 749 total yards respectively. Following Ole Miss, Eddie played one year with the Ottawa franchise of the Canadian Football League in 1995 before ending his career.
Tony Small
By the time he left Forrest, Tony Small was a Super 24, Super 75, and Blue Chip Illustrated All-American after leading Northeast Florida with 861 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Rebels. Tony continued his playing career at UGA, where he played from 1995 to 1998. After barely seeing playing time his first two years, Small finished his college career with 1,084 yards and four touchdowns, including 48 catches for 675 yards and three touchdowns his senior season.
OJ Small
OJ was the Times Union first team quarterback in 1999 after throwing for 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing his high school career with 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. After leaving Forrest, OJ played at Florida from 2001 to 2004, where he finished his college career with 719 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year, including the third-longest streak in school history with a catch in 30 straight games. Following his time at UF, he became the first Small brother to play in the NFL by playing in two games with the Tennessee Titans in 2005, catching one pass for six yards.
