Tigers
aiming higher in '10
by
Michael Butler
Tallassee
enters its fifth season of 5A football
in 2010. It will be the fourth year
under Head Coach Rodney Dollar. Dollar
Houston Academy team thrived as a
perennial 2A playoff contender, consistently
making runs deep into the playoffs.
Tiger fans yearn for post-season runs
in Tallassee.
Dollar
took THS to its first 5A playoff berth
in 2008. Last season, he led them
to a region championship. Both post-season
trips were short-lived though, with
first round exits.
This
year's squad is a preseason #10 pick,
a selection that Dollar thinks might
be a bit lofty. "We aren't a
top ten team right now, but we can
be by the end of the season,"
he said.
The
Tigers have just one returning starter
on the offensive front in Tyler Lynn.
Defensive senior starters Caleb Parker
and T.C. Robinson will be asked to
play on both sides of the ball early
in the year.
"This
is a sign to the young guys that you've
got to earn it," Dollar noted.
"When you've got to have a big
drive or a big first down, we're going
to put the best we've got on the field
no matter who that is."
The
Tigers have 61 varsity players. 22
are seniors. "One thing about
this senior class, they don't stand
around. Most of them are players,
Dollar said. "They don't run
their mouth a lot. They lead by example."
Davis
Knapp is a senior who wants to get
Tallassee its first 5A playoff win.
"We've got to get past the first
round," he said. Knapp's father,
Chris, kicked for Auburn University.
He has been working with Davis and
Tallassee's kickers as a volunteer
coach. Tallassee has to replace Hunter
Mullins who handled kicking and punting
duties the last two seasons.
"Hunter
was the MVP of our football team for
the past few years," Dollar said.
Knapp was the holder last year. He
will punt this year and compete for
the placekicking job. Is it possible
for Knapp to kick and hold? "He
says he can," Dollar quipped.
"My main concern is to get somebody
for the kickoffs. We may go back to
the square toe, straight-on kicking."
Tallassee
must replace Mike Smith and Quan Williams
in the offensive backfield. The two
combined for more than 2,000 yards
last season. Hooper Academy transfer
Morgan Faulkner and Michael Henderson
are capable. "We'll have more
depth, Dollar added. Chris Adams and
Darius Williams will also fill at
wing, slot and running back positions.
Tallassee
averaged single digit pass attempts
last year. Dollar said they might
throw it "25 or 30 times"
a game in 2010. Trey Cochran-Gill,
an Auburn baseball signee, has a terrific
arm and enters his third full-season
as the starter at quarterback. Still,
"Air Tallassee" will be
something fans will have to see to
believe.
Dollar
feels that his defense might be the
best he has had in 25 years of coaching.
"If we stay healthy, we can be
really good."
Tallassee
opens the season against Class 6A
Benjamin Russell in the newly renovated
5,000 seat J. E. "Hot" O'Brien
Stadium on August 27th. All games
will be broadcast on 1300 WTLS/106.5
FM, www.1300wtls.com
and Bright House Networks Cable TV
Channel 15. A live webcam can be seen
on www.tallasseetimestv.com
and www.networkalabama.com.
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