EW-CBA football camps have strong first days

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 5, 2011 1:47 PM

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There's nothing like locker room fodder.

Third-year Eastern Wayne varsity football coach Bubba Williams perused the Internet one afternoon and found the preseason NCPreps.com conference predictions. The Warriors are picked to finish fifth in the Eastern Carolina 3-A ranks.

"That's already up on our bulletin board," said Williams, whose team shared the 2010 ECC championship with Triton. "Nothing wrong with finding a little extra motivation."

Nearly 70 kids -- varsity and junior varsity combined -- have attended camp this week in New Hope. Williams is pleased with the turnout for a program that won its first league title since 1978 a year ago and graduated 13 seniors off that squad.

Youth, again, surrounds the Warrior coaching staff. And Williams anxiously awaits to see when the seniors will take leadership roles.

"It's a lot of teaching, but it's the same every year," said Williams. "We (wonder) how the seniors are going to leave their mark. We only have two new guys who weren't already involved in what we were doing.

"I think last year's success helped in the fact that if the kids know they can have success if they do what they're supposed to do (in practice), and they do what we ask them to do (each day)."

Beginning today, Williams can utilize the "option C" practice plan implemented by the N.C. High School Athletic Association. The Warriors are permitted to practice a total of five hours with a mandatory, three-hour cool-down period in between sessions.

Players at Charles B. Aycock can begin live hitting Saturday.

"We're real excited about what's happening out there," said Golden Falcons head coach Randy Pinkowski, who is starting his 13th season in Pikeville.

The coaching staff developed a plan to help counter the oppressive evening heat during its station drills. Players work shorter periods with higher-paced, intense reps and have responded well to the adjustment.

So far, the team has avoided any heat-related incidents.

"My trainer, Tony Coggins, is probably the tiredest guy out there," smiled Pinkowski. "He's running water non-stop."

The Golden Falcons, coming off a three-win season, could start at least five sophomores on any given Friday night. With nearly 40 kids in his varsity camp, Pinkowski expects to employ a two-platoon system, which will help keep the key varsity starters fresh on the sideline.

"This is one of those groups that have a different attitude and approach about how they do things, very dedicated and hard-working," said Pinkowski. "They try to listen and they're a very coachable group. I think that's going to carry them a long way.

"But we have to gain a lot of experience in a hurry."