By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
freshman season may tough for many football players across the country.
But for the
Highlands Bluebirds, the sophomore year is perhaps the toughest season because
they have to make some big adjustments. The biggest one is facing players two
years older on the varsity level. Throughout their time in the instructional Fort
Thomas Youth Football League, they faced players their age and a year older or
younger.
Then they
faced other freshmen during their freshmen campaigns. During that season, it
becomes about winning and learning the Highlands schemes.
“The game pace is way faster,” said Jensen Feggins, Highlands junior wide receiver. “If you do get playing time, you need to
stay humble and keep getting better and better every year. Going into your
senior year, you’ll then be 10 times better than you were as a sophomore.”
Another big
adjustment has helped the deeply talented Bluebirds win six straight state
championships. Players play on just offense or defense starting as sophomores
after going both ways as freshmen.
“They like the idea of being good at something as
opposed to semi-mastering two things,”
said Dale Mueller, Highlands Co-Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “Our linebackers are gearing toward being
better linebackers all the time. Our quarterbacks don’t have to stand around
while we’re doing a defensive practice. They’re working on being better
quarterbacks all the time.”
Mueller
previously said a big challenge for the staff is figuring out whether to put
the sophomores on the varsity or junior varsity levels. The sophomores often
provide depth. Nearly 100 players will be on the roster this fall.
“We evaluate the players all the time,” Mueller said. “We
see them in weight lifting. We have guys that play basketball, swimming and
track. We’ll go to those games and evaluate them there. We know them so well so
we can see when they’re ready to do something.”
A number of
sophomores contributed last year. Defensive back Griffin Urlage finished second
on the team with three interceptions and returned them for a total of 92 yards.
That included the team’s only interception return for a touchdown – nearly a
60-yard touchdown in the season finale at Ryle. Feggins had nine receptions for
232 yards and tied with three other teammates for third on the team with four
touchdowns.
Highlands
is so deeply talented that freshmen rarely play on varsity. But Jared Dougherty
handled kickoff duties last year. Dougherty is the first freshman to letter on varsity
since current Highlands assistant and freshman head coach Nick Behymer did in
1998.
“You just have to keep working hard every day,” Dougherty said. “You
obviously need to know the plays or you won’t play. You have to learn them and
understand what’s going on. We go over plays every day.”
The
coaching staff and current players constantly talk to the underclassmen about
continuing the work ethic displayed by previous players to keep the tradition
going. The last thing anyone associated with the program wants to see develop
is a sense of entitlement that has plagued other once-proud programs across the
country.
“If you’re going to win, you have to do the things
required of it,” Mueller said. “We’re not geared toward winning the state
championship if these things go our way. We’re geared to win the state
championship if everything goes against us. If our 15 best players get hurt,
we’re still going to gear toward the state championship.”
That work
ethic starts in the weight room. The eighth graders begin lifting with the returning
players in the winter before their freshmen years. They then play a freshmen
schedule against tough competition like Covington Catholic, Cincinnati Moeller
and Louisville Trinity. They then go through another offseason of the winter
weights.
“For three straight months, you just go into the
weight room and get bigger, faster and stronger,” Feggins said. “It
helps us in every aspect at every position.”
Lifting
weights may not be the funnest thing to do. But Highlands senior tight end Nick
True encourages players to work out with friends.
“We’re almost like brothers when we’re lifting,” True said. “When
you’re with the right people lifting, you motivate each other. I’m really good
friends with many of the linemen. We lift each other up.”
By their
sophomore years, the players have two winters of conditioning in and have faced
the best in the area as freshmen. That makes many of them prepared to
contribute on varsity. But the ones that are not ready for the varsity level
often dress up and play in the games that Highlands holds a huge late into the third
and fourth quarters so they get more experience.
“Our guys do that so well because they have that type
of background where they can battle through tough times,” Mueller said. “They’re
from the kind of families that value trying hard and not giving up.”
Some of
this year’s class may earn their debuts on national television this year. The
season-opener in Fort Thomas takes place on Aug. 24 against the defending Florida
Class 2A champion University Christian Fighting Christians of Jacksonville
(Fla.) at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
True Verbally Commits to WKU:
True made
his college choice a few weeks ago by verbally committing to play at Western
Kentucky University. The Hilltoppers are coming off a 7-6 campaign last year.
“I really loved the coaching staff. I really like
they’re playing style,” True said. “I also like the direction of the program.
I think they’re going to be really good the next couple of years.”
True did
have other teams looking at him, but only Western offered him a scholarship.
That list included Bowling Green (Ohio), Ohio State and Vanderbilt.
“All I tell them is to do what’s best for them,” Mueller said of the recruiting process. “College scholarships are hard to get. If
you get offered one and you don’t take it then, it may not be there months from
now. They may offer 100 guys scholarships when they only have 20. Each situation
is different.”
True comes
in off a highly-productive year blocking and catching passes for the Bluebirds
in their balanced offense. His 6-foot-6-inch frame will give the new starting
quarterback a huge target in the offense this fall. True caught 15 passes for
218 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Former
Louisville, Arkansas and Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Bobby Petrino took over the
program in the offseason after Willie Taggert took the job at the University of
South Florida. Some question Petrino’s integrity after he lost his job at
Arkansas in 2012 because of an extramarital affair. But that was not a concern
for True.
“I’ve talked to him and he’s still a good guy,” True said. “There’s
stuff that happened, but I think I can still give him a chance.”
Petrino,
52, owns an overall record of 75-26 in the college years. He guided the
Cardinals to the Conference-USA championship in 2004 and the Big East crown in
2006.
True can
now focus on his senior season. He said he will also play basketball in the
winter giving new head coach Kevin Listerman and staff some height to build
around near the basket.