Mario Mincey has been impressed so far with the work ethic he’s seen from Bryan County football players.
Mincey, named interim coach for the 2017 season last month, said about three dozen players have been showing up for voluntary workouts each day this summer. That’s a considerable number seeing as how the Redskins only had 40 players on their roster last fall.
“We’re lifting three days a week and we have it set up with a morning session and an evening session so the guys who work can still come,” Mincey said. “The turnout has been great.”
Mincey said he also is impressed with the players’ attitudes.
“If someone isn’t there, guys are on the phone calling, I don’t have to get after anybody,” he said. “And that’s just what we want. We want them to be accountable to themselves and to each other.”
Along with the weight training, the team also participates in 7 on 7 drills and Mincey plans to take the squad to 7 on 7 camps at Claxton, Effingham and Southeast Bulloch.
“It’s a good way for the offense to develop rhythm and trust in each other,” he said.
But as a defensive-minded coach, Mincey sees another advantage.
“I like the opportunity it gives to our linebackers and secondary because 7 on 7 is such a fast game with lots of passing,” he said.
Summer workouts are also a good time for coaches to take a long look at younger players.
“We’re one of the smaller schools in our region and we don’t have a lot of depth,” he said. “Usually we do OK when it’s our top players against their top players, but the other teams have more depth and can rotate in more players.”
Mincey, who has been the girls’ basketball coach at Bryan County for a decade, also gives the program a stability that had been lacking for a few months. Allen Cartwright, the Redskins coach in 2015 and 2016, but stepped down in March and accepted a defensive coordinator position and teaching job at Tattnall County.
Mark Wilson, who coached Bryan County from 2010 to 2014, was hired in March to replace Cartwright, but changed his mind in April. Tony Glazer, defensive coordinator at Liberty County, was then hired in late April but declined the job in May.
“I’ve known these guys since they were little and started coming to our basketball camp,” he said. “I’ve also coached their older brothers or sisters in football and basketball, so they know what to expect.”