The 2011 version of the W.S. Neal Eagle football team completed their spring training Saturday in East Brewton under new head coach Doug Hoehn.
Dozens of Eagle fans came out Saturday morning to witness and see their Eagles in action in their final practice of the spring and an intersquad game.
Hoehn said he was proud of his Eagles and thinks they had a great spring.
“I think overall the kids came along this spring,” Hoehn said. “They worked hard and it was never a lack of effort or attitude. We just have a lot, a lot of football to learn.”
After having 49 players on the 2010 football roster and ending the 2010 season with less than 30, Hoehn said he had 77 players come out this spring training period.
“I think that is a good number,” Hoehn said. “If you look at the number of students here at the school and the boy to girl ratio, I think it is a good number.”
With a new program to get adjusted to under Hoehn and his new staff, Hoehn said he thinks the players did the best they could learning his system.
“It started in January when I got here with winter workouts and they all made it through the winter workouts and they all made it through the spring,” Hoehn said. “Our winter workouts are not easy. They did not cry. They did not complain. They were completely worn out a few times and they were pushed harder than they have ever been pushed both mentally and physically. A couple of times they were treading water just trying to stay a float, but their attitude and their effort never changed.”
Hoehn said the goal for him and his staff this spring was to evaluate all the players.
“We shared time pretty equally,” Hoehn said. “Being that there was so much to focus on right now, trying to lock in a starting group and give them all a fair chance to compete this spring. We film every practice and we saw some good things from a couple of them on film. Again, their effort and their attitude was good, but we still have a long ways to go.”
Along with the winter and spring workouts, Hoehn said his team had 10 days of practice.
“We will start back in the weight room Monday,” Hoehn said Saturday after the scrimmage and final practice. “There is no time off. We will start back Monday and work all summer. I am just proud of the kids though. I am extremely happy with their attitude and effort. We just have to keep plugging away.”