GAINESVILLE — How unusual was the 2016 football season for Gainesville?
It wound up as the program's first losing campaign in 16 years -- the first for any Bruce Miller-led Red Elephants team, with the lowest-scoring offense of any in the Miller tenure.
And yet Gainesville still made the state playoffs for a 17th straight season, missing out on a region title by a scant 12 points -- all while battling one of the toughest schedules the program has faced in years (one that included nine state playoff foes, including four Sweet 16 teams and one semifinalist).
In other words the sky is far from falling, and Miller believes his 2017 team could benefit from the rigors of '16.
"I think we said learn from it. One thing that happens to you when you've had the success we've had -- people don't realize what you have to do to get there," said Miller, who's Gainesville teams have averaged 10.2 wins per season. "I think last year's group hustled and played hard, but a lot of things didn't fall their way."
This year's team also knows that schedule is not getting any easier, with the same foes in place and a Region 8-AAAAAA line-up expected to be even stronger than in '16. The Red Elephants will also turn to some younger faces in the starting line-up -- though there are still talented veterans in key positions, including standouts like linebacker Keith Harris (team-high 175 total tackles in 2016), defensive lineman Trevor Calvert and the entire starting offensive line.
"We're young in some places, but I think we're talented on top of that -- so it'll be how quick those guys grow up.," Miller said.
That certainly includes the acquistion of defensive coordinator Stan Luttrell and his son, junior quarterback Tre Luttrell. Both have made a quick impression on the Red Elephants, with coach Luttrell shifting Gainesville to his version of the 3-3 stack defense and the younger Luttrell quickly making the starting position his own.
"(Tre Luttrell) brings a little bit of everything. He runs the ball extremely well. He's very intelligent. You tell him something once, he's got it. He seems like he's winning his teammates over because of his toughness, because of his willingness to hit it up in there when he has to," Miller said of the player that will be Gainesville's fifth starting quarterback in five seasons. "He throws the ball extremely well. The biggest thing we have right now with him is a little bit of accuracy. But he's gathered what we've done, since he couldn't take part in spring practice, and he's made the best of it."
Meanwhile, coach Luttrell hopes to make the most of Gainesville's speed and athleticism with the scheme changes he's implementing.
"I was ready for a change on the defensive side, and it's looked good so far," Miller said. "(Coach Luttrell is) moving them around -- and that's what we do best on defense, when we move around and we can play fast."
Players like sophomore safety duo Chase and Chandler Watson have shown promise in the summer and will learn on the fly, while freshman running back Montavious Tabor may be too talented to keep on the bench.
"Our schedule doesn't lend itself to letting you grow up any. It's a tough schedule, but I think our young guys will be up to playing," Miller said. "There's been some good things happen in the offseason, and we've just got to hope that continues."
GAINESVILLE: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Red Elephants
- TEAM COLORS: Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Bruce Miller, 16th season, 153-39
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 5-6, first round Class AAAAAA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: RB KD Smith, WR Martavious Davis, WR Rodarious Timmons, WR Andy Hayes, Saf Tyree Robinson, LB Kris Montague, NG Herve Aklotsoie
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Shotgun spread -- Gainesville's wide-open, four- and five-wide receiver sets attempt to string out defenses and get its playmakers in space. This year's team may take on a different look, however, as the Red Elephants look to get a hard-nosed quarterback involved in the run game and get back to the scoring numbers they're accustomed to after averaging 19.5 points last season (it was 26.9 in 2015, 35.8 in 2014 and 43.6 in 2013).
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. WR Tre Blackwell, Sr. WR TK Kabir, Jr. QB Tre Luttrell, All 5 offensive linemen, Jr. RB Quitanvious Hayes, Fr. RB Montavious Tabor, Sr. WR Devonte Mize
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-3 stack -- Gainesville hired former Chestatee head coach and Buford assistant Stan Luttrell to run the defense, and he brought with him the style that helped the War Eagles to historic campaigns in 2012-13. Gainesville will still attack, but look for more movement than ever from the speedy Red Elephants.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. LB Keith Harris (team-high 175 tackles in 2016), Sr. DE Trevor Calvert, Sr. DE Craig Young, Sr. DE Zion Williams, So. NG AJ Tolliver, Sr. LB Malique Johnson, Jr. CB JD Brooks, So. Saf Chase Watson, So. Saf Chandler Watson
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Christian Jaimes
- STRENGTH: Desire to bounce back -- Gainesville's coaches say their players took last season's 5-6 record -- the Red Elephants' lowest win total since 2000 -- personally, and are working as hard as they've seen in years in order to reverse that trend, considering that Miller is entering his 16th season in Gainesville and is the dean of area coaches, that's saying something.
- QUESTION: Youth/experience -- The Red Elephants are very young in spots, especially in the secondary and have several new faces in the offensive backfield (unlike the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage).
- KEY GAMES: The opener against West Hall will be intriguing to see the direction of the offense under its fifth starting quarterback in five seasons and a new defensive base. The entire non-region slate will tell the Red Elephants a lot about themselves, as every one of the five teams on that slate reached the postseason, including 2016 Class AAAA semifinalist Jefferson (Sept. 22, home). Gainesville's home Region 8-AAAAAA opener against a Habersham Central (Oct. 6, home) team that many expect to be improved is also intriguing.
- TRENDING: Last season proved Gainesville's earliest playoff exit in nine years, as the Red Elephants battled though an extraodinarily tough schedule that featured games against eight fellow state playoff teams. A move into Region 8-AAAAAA also proved tough for a team that has been the most consistent winner of any program not named Buford in northeast Georgia. However, Gainesville still impressed over the back end of the season and missed out on a region championship by a mere 12 points combined in one-possession losses to Dacula and Lanier. While there are changes in personnel and on the coaching staff this season, the Red Elephants still have talent on hand and expect it to be battle-tested come region play in October.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 vs. West Hall
Aug. 25 at Alpharetta
Sept. 1 at Clarke Central
Sept. 22 vs. Jefferson
Sept. 29 at Marist
Oct. 6 vs. Habersham Central*
Oct. 13 at Dacula*
Oct. 20 at Winder-Barrow*
Oct. 27 vs. Apalachee*
Nov. 3 vs. Lanier*
*- Indicates region contest
(All Gainesville games can be heard live on 1240 AM ESPN Radio)
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
