Coachspeak

By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com

There’s no denying it now: spring is here. And with the turn of the season, high school football coaches across the state are turning their eyes to the 2011 season.
Jim Phillips is one of those coaches. His first season at Pasadena Dobie -- he left Greenville in Feb. 2010 -- had mixed results: an outstanding regular season and a district title, but a first-round exit in the playoffs.  Now, Phillips is setting his sights on more.
He recently answered some of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s questions.

DCTF: On one hand, your team went 8-2 and won District 22-5A outright with an undefeated district record. On the other hand, your team fell to West Brook in the bi-district round. In the end, are you satisfied or disappointed with 2010, and why?
Jim Phillips: I was satisfied to get the team to the playoff the first year; now they know what it will take to stay in the playoffs. West Brook had a good team full of seniors who had been there and they knew what to do. Now maybe we will if we can get back there.

DCTF: Your 2011 squad appears to be loaded with seniors. How important is experience to your goals in 2011?
JP: Very important. Now they are starting to understand what we want on offense and defense. Our goal is to win the district again and then win the next game. Its take time to get a program used to winning.

DCTF: Dual-threat QB Blake Jackson and RB Andrew Robinson turned some heads in their junior seasons in 2010. What do they need to do to take the next step?
JP: They need to step it up -- they will not sneak up on anybody so we told them all spring they are going to have to work a lot harder now. Everyone is watching them.

DCTF: Who is the player on your team that is going to be a household name by the end of 2011?
JP: I think we might have two this next year. I think Robinson is very good. Also, we have a junior linebacker, Jordan Harrison, who was first team All-District last year.

DCTF: In your opinion, what makes Texas high school football so special?
JP: For me it the coaches across the state who do a great job getting their kids ready to play. The coaches have so much passion. You just see it on Friday Nights.

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Roddy McDougald is preparing his program as well. And make no mistake: it’s his program. Or, at least, the McDougald family has left its mark.
McDougald is entering his 18th year at Iola; he served as defensive coordinator under his brother, Randy, until taking over the head job in 2008. The coach is hoping his fourth year in charge of the Bulldogs will be the best one yet.
McDougald recently answered some of DCTF’s questions.

DCTF: Your team went 6-4 last season and scored almost 100 more points than it allowed, yet you were on the outside looking in for the playoffs. What needs to happen to get the Bulldogs back in the postseason?
Roddy McDougald: We missed the playoffs by 7 points. Old man once told me that’s OK;  half the teams in Texas aren’t 5-5. We will have 12 seniors on the team next year, that’s twice as many as the past two seasons. Maybe some good mature leadership can get us back in, since we’ve been out since 2008.

DCTF: District 12-1A is always a dogfight, especially with Thrall and Normangee at the top of the district. Would you rather be in a district where it was easier to get in the playoffs?
RM: Sure, but that s not an option. We’ll play and see what happens.

DCTF: Your older brother Randy was the head coach at Iola for 17 years; now you’ve been at the helm since 2008. How (if at all) has your relationship changed as a result?
RM: Next year will be my 18th year at Iola. I’ve been through the glory years as defensive coordinator. Randy and I still talk football every week and tell stories about the game. We don t have a conversation without bringing up Rex, my son, and his achievements while at Iola.

DCTF: Who is the player on your team that is going to be a household name by the end of 2011?
RM: Heath Barney, Jacob Moore, Devin Espinoza are all seniors and good, but we will be a team who makes it, not just a stud or two.

DCTF: In your opinion, what makes Texas high school football so special?
RM: Memories and the fun of talking trash about seasons in the past and future.