O'Neal at January's Meet and Greet

O'Neal finalizes spring schedule

By Michael Butler

L.A. O'Neal now has three months under his belt as Tallassee High School athletic director and head football coach. O'Neal spoke with players and parents at a meet and greet in January.

After the pleasantries at the introduction, the new coach has gotten down to business primarily in the weight room.

"I'm excited about how everything is going in the weight room and can’t wait to see how we look with the pads on," said O'Neal.

The Tigers football team will begin spring workouts in May.

"I can smell spring football in the air," O'Neal wrote in a schedule post on Facebook. O'Neal added that 61 players have been regularly attending workouts.

Equipment will be issued on May 2 and 3. The first practice in pads is set for May 6. Tallassee will have a spring scrimmage against Wetumpka at J.E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium on Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m.

"(I'm) looking to see who and how we compete against Wetumpka, so we can see what we need to work on during summer workouts," O'Neal concluded.

Tallassee will be dropping down to Class 4A for the next two-year cycle in all sports starting with the 2024-25 school year. The Tigers open the season at Montgomery Academy on Aug. 23.

O'Neal was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association 2023 Class 4A Coach of the Year. He led Booker T. Washington to a 9-5 record and the semifinal round of the state playoffs last year.

*2024 Schedule