Greer Head Coach Will Young found himself on the ground when he tried to separate players at the end of this play. Young said he enjoyed the players' intensity during the first day of spring contact drills.
Emmanuel Kelly has a clear path on the outside as his linemen occupy the defensive linemen during this contact drill.
It all starts on the line. Greer players are head to head as they wait for the play to begin.
Defense won this one-on-one matchup as the defender whips his arm around the offensive lineman to get clear and make his way into the backfield.
Today’s first day of spring contact drills was enthusiastic and intense, as much for Young as the players. Three times Young took spills while in the middle of scrums with the players.
“I loved it. When the kids have a good time, I have a good time,” Young said.
There was little doubt the players had a good time pounding on each other for the first time in four days. The contact drills were punctuated with some extra effort that had Young futilely blowing his whistle.
“I don’t remember seeing Coach Young that excited during the first day of spring practice last year,” a senior who was watching today’s drills said.
Young agreed. “These kids have worked hard in the weight room and they started off the practice with great intensity. We settled down later but it was a good day.”
The enthusiasm began when coaches began sparring verbally during warmup and stretching drills. “There’s nowhere to hide today,” secondary coach Mazzie Drummond said, chiding the players. “Wearing a red shirt (designating no contact) won’t help.”
Travis Perry smiled and added: “We don’t talk about it, we be about it. Coach, we’re ready to bring the pain.”
The players appeared to enjoy the banter and distributing the pain today.
As Young was putting some equipment into storage at the end of practice he jokingly said, “I need some medical attention.”
• The players will continue contact drills today and take the weekend off before getting into its final 5 days of spring practice next week. The spring game is Friday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at Dooley Field.