Golden Falcons look sharp in mini-camp

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on July 27, 2016 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- As the aged proverb goes, many hands make light work.

The phrase, borne out of community diligence, is also an accurate preseason measure of the 2016 Charles B. Aycock varsity football team, who took the field yesterday for the second installment of its annual August mini-camp.

Suffice to say, the collective looked sharp.

Fluctuating with precision in and out of a diverse signal-calling session, a total of 16 returning powder blue starters made the activity on both sides of head coach Steve Brooks' line of scrimmage appear, at times, easy.

"Half offense, half defense," the coach said, "it was a basic review of what we've been doing."

"We were efficient today."

There were basic concepts. Whistle-blowing, let's-do-it-again coaching moments. Grind-down, two-minute situational work.

And to cap the affair, a series of gassers.

Welcome back to campus, gentlemen.

Often a hair-splitting process for both players and coaches, Aycock's Tuesday morning shuffle resembled, in many ways, a confident walk through. It's a tiny luxury afforded a program steeped in letter-winning experience.

And furthermore, determination.

Throughout July, many of the senior class conducted individual or small-group workouts, priming themselves for a proper head start once camp arrived.

The early returns are noticeable.

"They did exactly what our coaching staff thought they would do," Brooks said of his players, "They all came back underweight, in shape and ready to go."

"We have really good leadership."

That's not to say, however, his staff isn't targeting improvement in a number of areas.

Brooks noted a need for sharper rounds of consistency, as well as his players' ability to handle position changes as elements critical to the program's success.

And good health --always.

By his estimation, however, this group's rock-solid work ethic has the ability to triumph any and all matters of adversity.

"They've been challenged since they walked in the door (here)," Brooks said, "and they have a chip on their shoulder."

"They (the players) want to prove a point and leave a legacy."

That process, which concludes in part this week, begins anew with a light scrimmage versus Union, Ayden-Grifton and North Johnston on August 9.