The brightness of the “Friday night lights” can be a mystery to schools that don’t have them. Obviously, the start-up cost of a high school program is expensive, but the emotional support of a community is also precious capital. Especially for a school like Long County High School, that had not fielded a high school team in recent memory. First-year head coach Eric McNair knows the trials and tribulations that come with laying the foundation of a new program. He saw the struggles that the Blue Tide had in its infancy, but he has also witnessed as the program has turned the corner.
“The administration and community are committed to establishing great athletic programs at Long County,” McNair says. “They push for and strive for excellence in everything that has the Blue Tide name on it. The administration and community have been behind my staff and I since day one. They see what we are building here and know that Long County is on the rise.”
McNair grew up in Collins and played high school football for the Battle Creek Warriors of Tattanall County High School. Even as a player, he was a student of the game, understanding total blocking concepts, other assignments, and keys of positions besides his own. When he graduated high school, he went on to Georgia Southern, and during his first year of college, he got an opportunity to go back and coach at Tattanall and loved every minute of it.
“I always loved the game, knew everyone’s assignments, you name it,” he says. “When I was a senior, I was contemplating what to do with my life. Jeff Kaiser asked me to become an assistant coach for him. I did it for the first year while in college and fell and love. I’ve been coaching ever since. Jeff Kaiser and John Glanton; both were my head coaches in high school. They are guys who I can call at anytime and ask for advice. They are both sticklers for organization and discipline.”
McNair has seen the numbers of players coming out to play football increase. The school and community’s support has not waned during the first days of the program and continues to be on the rise. This past summer, the Blue Tide averaged almost 60 players during summer pride workouts, which McNair sees as a nucleus to give the Blue Tide a good 2015 campaign.
“One of the hardest things to realize is that winning does not happen overnight,” he says. “Long County has had several coaches who have made it a better place and made big strides, but it has not always been in terms of wins and losses. In my time here as an assistant, as well as head football coach, we are seeing huge strides. Long County is no longer the whipping boy of Region 2; now we are in every game that we play. The interest is up in football, and it should turn into wins soon.”
His Blue Tide battled back against Jeff Davis, and after losing a few games, finally recorded his first victory (also a region 1-AA win) of his career.
“The kids and parents here are awesome,” he says. “It really feels like home to me. It is great to have kids you’ve coached come back to see you on a regular basis and know that you were a small part of what made them who they are. I make my players believe that they can win. We have overcome a lot of obstacles in strength and conditioning, as well as in our work ethic. The kids have bought in and are working hard. We are probably the best winless team in the state.”
One of the most important attributes for McNair is the cohesiveness and dedication of his staff. Long County has a veteran staff of assistants that includes defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Miller. Miller was the defensive coordinator for 20 years at Bradwell Institute. Miller’s father, Jack, coached high school football in Georgia for 53 years.
“Jeff Miller, Deshon Brock, Paul Austin, JT Brown, Mike Stanford, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Morgan; they are quality men of character and are dedicated to turning Long County around,” McNair says. “I could not do what I do if it not for the assistant coaches that I have.”
There was never a question of the time that a football coach spends during the season, but he also understands when you are the head coach, more responsibility falls on you. McNair readily accepts the task.
“It has been good. I have a lot of quality assistants that make my job much easier,” he says. “They do their part to get the job done, and that’s what it takes to be successful. I usually arrive at the school around 6:00 am and leave around 7:00 pm. On Fridays I usually work on stats and film breakdown until about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. I wake up Saturday and watch our opponent. Sunday morning, I break down our opponent. I meet with the defensive staff at 1:00. Then, I meet with the entire staff at 2:00, and offensive staff from 3:00 until.”
When McNair has time away from the field, he enjoys watching college football and spending time with his family.
“I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful wife Ashley of five years,” he says. “We have two sons; Asher, who is two years old, and Jase, who is five months. We live in Ludowici.”
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Keeping the Blue Tide Rolling
By John Wood
