NOTE: There are only 42 days left until the start of the 2015 high school football season -- both around the state and right here in northeast Georgia. With that in mind, AccessWDUN is already in full preparation mode. Over the next three weeks we will give you a sneak peek of what’s in store for 2015 with our "Two-A-Days" series. We will bring you two key questions -- and answers -- for each program in our coverage area, twice a day. Each morning will start a new program, with another highlighted each afternoon. And at the end of each week we will also provide some video footage and commentary from area coaches. Programs will run in alphabetical order.
East Jackson coach Gary Hughes knew three years ago when he took over the Eagles program that it would take some time. He and his staff are hoping that the time has arrived as they prepare for the 2015 campaign.
The Eagles, however, play in perhaps the most rugged of all Class AAA regions -- 8-AAA -- which saw three teams advance to the Elite 8 in 2014.
We talked to Coach Hughes about the progress of his program as a whole and how they plan to try and make a name for themselves in ridiculously competitive region.
QUESTION: What needs to happen as a staff and as individual players to get the program back on a winning path? (The Eagles have had just one winning season -- in 2009 -- as a program.)
ANSWER: The first thing we had to do when we got here was to assess the quality of the program from top to bottom. Then, we had to figure what we needed to do to fix it. That takes time. As a whole we needed to work on our strength, our fitness, and our committment level as the key areas. I think that we have done those things. We also had to learn how to work toward a cause. We are a in a very tough region and our demographics are not what some of the top teams in the region are as far as numbers. But I feel like we should be more competitive this year. We're definitely improving across the board.
QUESTION: Your offense scored just 78 total points last season. Have you found some playmakers on offense to improve in that area in an offensive-minded region?
ANSWER: We were young the last couple of years on offense. But those guys that were freshmen and sophomores are juniors and seniors now. We won't have as many playmakers as the Jeffersons, the Elbert Countys, or the Hart Countys, so we have to be consistent in what we do and execute extremely well. Our line should be bigger and stronger and (junior quarterback) Josh Adair is bigger and much more experienced now. I don't know if we'll be able to light up the scoreboard like Jefferson or Hart County, but hopefully we can put a few more on the board this year. I expect us to be much more competitive overall. Hopefully that will translate into a few more wins.
COMING UP NEXT: Fannin County
