Giving back, going forward

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: July 31, 2015

[corner-ad id=1]Community service the way the Fayetteville Wolves roll; Talladega County media day highlights

Lincoln’s Devonte Whiteside, K.J. Collins, coach Brad Wallace and Zay Caldwell discuss the season ahead during Friday’s Talladega County football media day. On the cover, Fayetteville’s Darius Cook, Dustin Ingram, John Limbaugh and Luke Murphy talk about the team’s community service efforts.

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

TALLADEGA – John Limbaugh had a little surprise for the three Fayetteville players with him on the stage.

Next Saturday, the Wolves’ fourth-year head coach told the gathering at Friday’s Talladega County Football Media Day, the team would be doing some community service work at the Jimmie Hale Mission.

Given the expressions on the players’ faces, it was news to them. Well, they knew they were going some day during the season, they just didn’t know when.

Doing for others is a regular routine for the Wolves. They used to do groundskeeper work around the school, but now have worked on the grounds at the FarmLinks golf course, cleaned up at various stores in the community and even washed the volunteer fire department’s trucks.

It’s something they’ve done throughout Limbaugh’s three previous seasons and it’s something they’ll continue to do as long as he’s in charge.

“We do things like that because we really believe in community, we really believe in those guys who support us,” Limbaugh said. “They buy the signs, they give us money and so forth that get our program where it needs to be. Well, we’re going to support them by doing the right things.

“It’s not a punishment, it’s not for show, it’s just who we are. When I grew up, my dad made me work for everything I had; I look back on those days. You learn to work and it goes from there. These kids, they’re workers. They’re country boys who don’t mind getting their hands dirty at all.

“This is a cliché, but you get a win when you have a better kid and we really are working to work with quality people. Our team is going to be one with integrity, with character, that helps others and shows pride in their community.”

It’s all part of a character building initiative they hope forms the foundation as they try to get over the hump of making the playoffs after missing by four points each of the last two years.

Over those two seasons the Wolves have enjoyed back-to-back non-losing seasons for the first time in school history, won more games than the previous five years combined and set records for points in a game and a season. But they always have come up one game short of the big prize.

Leading rusher Dustin Ingram said getting into the playoffs this year – for what would be only the second time in school history – would be a “good deal,” but they all know it takes work. The work they do for themselves and the work they do for others.

“It’s not something that everybody just wants to go do,” said Luke Murphy, the team’s only returning starting lineman, “but it’s a reflection on our community.

“We reflect on our community and we reflect on the kids who look up to us. If they see us out there working for people doing community service it makes us look better and, you know, it also keeps the place around us clean.”

KEEPING IT GOING: While the Fayetteville seniors will be looking to get in the playoffs for the first time in their careers, the six seniors at Childersburg will be looking to complete a run in which they’ve never missed.

The Tigers have gone in all three previous seasons under coach Adam Fossett and if they go again it’ll be the first time since 1988-91 under Jack Cook they’ll have gone four years in a row.

“Four in a row for this program would be huge, not only for the school but the community,” Fossett said. “When the seniors four years ago made the playoffs I explained to them you’re building a foundation here for the program. To do something that hasn’t been done in the history of the program is a huge feat.”

Tylan Coleman said it would be “awesome” if they could pull it off.

“When we were in sixth, seventh and eighth grade the football program wasn’t … what we expected it to be,” he said. “But our age group, I knew if we could get in a good program it would work out for us. It would be pretty good going four years making the playoffs, so let’s hope we make it this year.”

WHAT THEY SAID (OR DIDN’T): Every Media Day produces its share of great one-liners. Here is a sampling from Friday.

Fayetteville coach John Limbaugh on the next big thing for running back Dustin Ingram, who has rushed for 1,275 and 1,277 yards the last two seasons. “I keep wondering why he won’t get 1,500 yards and he keeps telling me just give him the ball more.”

Lincoln has made the playoffs seven of the last eight years, won its region last season and had has advanced in each of coach Brad Wallace’s previous two seasons. Now he’s looking for the next step. “It’s been a building process going on for about three years. Well, the building process is over. It’s time for this group to come out and shine and show Lincoln’s community what we’re made of every week. We’ve got a foundation, let’s make the house.”

Talladega County Central coach Chris Mahand revealed the Fighting Tigers were changing defensively this season to better match their personnel, but after numerous attempts to get specifics, he remained coy about what they were going to do. “We’re going to put a great defensive team on the field come Friday night.”

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Don’t mark it down quite yet, but there could be a Herring vs. Herring gridiron matchup in the near future. Robert Herring said Friday he and brother Ryan have talked about a Talladega-Oxford football game to open the season in 2016.