Gobbla2001
08-08-2006, 12:21 PM
Gobblers begin working toward state title shot
August 8, 2006
MIKE FORMAN - Advocate Sports Writer
CUERO - Clouds filled the sky but the mood was sunny as the Cuero Gobblers took the field Monday morning for the first of what they hope will be five months worth of football practices.
Cuero has posted a 36-4 record and won three straight district championships since Mark Reeve took over as head coach and the Gobblers, who were ranked No. 2 in Texas Football magazine's preseason Class 3A poll, will take a 28-game regular season winning streak into their season opener on Sept. 1 at Sinton.
But Cuero has seen the last three seasons end in final-minute playoff losses - the Division I bi-district in 2003, the Division I final in 2004, and the Division II semifinals last season - and the Gobblers enter this season determined to make another run at their first state championship since 1987.
"It's always nice to have a chance," Reeve said. "It's the little things like team chemistry, the focus, and the things you sometimes can't control that determine how you do."
The Gobblers have a wealth of talent and experience at the skill positions with the return of quarterback Kyle Noack, running back Fabian Olguin, and wide receivers Tre Gray and Quincey Whittington.
But what excites Reeve about this year's team is the number of linemen vying for positions.
"The last several years we've had so many linemen playing both ways," Reeve said. "We had only so many backup positions in the lines. This year we should have more depth. We should have almost two kids with experience and a lot of kids who are very, very close. They can all play defense and they can all play offense."
While Reeve and his staff will look closely at personnel during the first few weeks of practice, they'll also be watching the way the team develops internally.
"You want to establish a positive attitude, work on conditioning, and really get grounded in the fundamentals," Reeve said. "We feel like if we work hard on the little things, the big picture will come."
The Gobblers spent much of Monday working on one phase of their offense and will continue to expand their practices in the coming weeks.
"It's a matter of getting yourself into game shape and getting our younger guys some experience," Noack said. "We also want to feel out what kind of team this is, whether it's loud or quiet or laid back or intense. Most teams take on a mold in the first few weeks."
Reeve is hoping to see steady progress as Cuero works toward its Aug. 19 scrimmage against Austin LBJ. But for the Gobblers to win a state championship, he knows they must continue to get better throughout the season.
"It's not a blastoff, it's a process," Reeve said. "That's one of the things we talked about in our Boot Camp. If you're going to try and win the whole thing, it's exciting but it's also a grind. You can't do everything in two weeks. You have to make a commitment to come out and fulfill the whole thing. But you also have to come out and have fun."
August 8, 2006
MIKE FORMAN - Advocate Sports Writer
CUERO - Clouds filled the sky but the mood was sunny as the Cuero Gobblers took the field Monday morning for the first of what they hope will be five months worth of football practices.
Cuero has posted a 36-4 record and won three straight district championships since Mark Reeve took over as head coach and the Gobblers, who were ranked No. 2 in Texas Football magazine's preseason Class 3A poll, will take a 28-game regular season winning streak into their season opener on Sept. 1 at Sinton.
But Cuero has seen the last three seasons end in final-minute playoff losses - the Division I bi-district in 2003, the Division I final in 2004, and the Division II semifinals last season - and the Gobblers enter this season determined to make another run at their first state championship since 1987.
"It's always nice to have a chance," Reeve said. "It's the little things like team chemistry, the focus, and the things you sometimes can't control that determine how you do."
The Gobblers have a wealth of talent and experience at the skill positions with the return of quarterback Kyle Noack, running back Fabian Olguin, and wide receivers Tre Gray and Quincey Whittington.
But what excites Reeve about this year's team is the number of linemen vying for positions.
"The last several years we've had so many linemen playing both ways," Reeve said. "We had only so many backup positions in the lines. This year we should have more depth. We should have almost two kids with experience and a lot of kids who are very, very close. They can all play defense and they can all play offense."
While Reeve and his staff will look closely at personnel during the first few weeks of practice, they'll also be watching the way the team develops internally.
"You want to establish a positive attitude, work on conditioning, and really get grounded in the fundamentals," Reeve said. "We feel like if we work hard on the little things, the big picture will come."
The Gobblers spent much of Monday working on one phase of their offense and will continue to expand their practices in the coming weeks.
"It's a matter of getting yourself into game shape and getting our younger guys some experience," Noack said. "We also want to feel out what kind of team this is, whether it's loud or quiet or laid back or intense. Most teams take on a mold in the first few weeks."
Reeve is hoping to see steady progress as Cuero works toward its Aug. 19 scrimmage against Austin LBJ. But for the Gobblers to win a state championship, he knows they must continue to get better throughout the season.
"It's not a blastoff, it's a process," Reeve said. "That's one of the things we talked about in our Boot Camp. If you're going to try and win the whole thing, it's exciting but it's also a grind. You can't do everything in two weeks. You have to make a commitment to come out and fulfill the whole thing. But you also have to come out and have fun."