There are just 34 days left until the kickoff of the 2016 high school football season, but make no mistake, preparations for the 2016 season got underway months ago in weight rooms, sand pits and practice fields throughout the state. And teams from throughout northeast Georgia are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind we spent the last few days catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going and what coaches believe the fall will look like. We call the series "Two-a-Days" in honor of the grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall. And for the next few days, AccessWDUN will get you prepped for the start of gridiron action with responses from coaches throughout northeast Georgia. (Teams run in alphabetical order)...
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
Benji Harrison saw a lot of glimmers during his first season in charge of Habersham Central. The Raiders are working hard to shed the tough times of 2012-15 and get back to their winning ways, and Harrison sees a team closer to doing just that in 2016.
With that in mind, AccessWDUN sports editor Morgan Lee talked with Habersham Central's coach on the verge of his second season and asked about the progress underway in Mt. Airy
QUESTION: How much progress did you see from your program in your first season in charge, and how has that continued into your second summer with the Raiders?
ANSWER: The improvements we've seen from the time we got here until now have been huge. The kids have gotten comfortable knowing what's expected of them and in how we're asking them to play and handle themselves. They're doing everything we ask; they're hungry and want to have success. It's been a good year, and we've come a long way in doing little things the right way.
Q: Teams often see their biggest leaps forward in year two under a coaching staff. Do you expect that to be the case with this team? Why?
A: I hope so. We want to get better each year and set those expectations higher, and the kids are really buying into that. I really like this team and how they work and practice and just how they mesh with each other. Everyone is in this together and working for the good of the team; there is not a single player out there for himself. They're a fun group and cry close-knit. I expect us -- and they expect us -- to be much better. We're looking forward to a good year.
Previously in Two-a-Days: GAINESVILLE
Up Next in Two-a-Days: JACKSON COUNTY
