SORSN: You’ve lost an impressive Senior class: Defensive Player of the Year – Spencer Myers, All-State Bryan Noland, Special Teams MVP and QB Jude O’Toole, All-Region Caleb Clark, Jason Crask, and Steve “Special Ops” Stansbury, as well as big lineman and SORSN “Best Hair” award winner Cody Turpin, a great LB in Zach Moore, Senior starting defensive backs Justin Pressley and Andrew Davidson, and SORSN “Best Nickname” award winner Keith “Butthead” Norris. These are major players in major positions to lose; however, the coaching staff has been able to comeback season after season following the loss of many key players. Who do you look for to step up and fill these key roles? What position(s) on the field is lacking in experience and possibly a concern for the coaching staff?
Craig: Each year teams loose seniors. Although we lost some key players, we still have a lot of juniors and seniors that have been in the weight room and learning at practice, waiting for it to be their time. Well, its now their time. We are inexperienced at some positions, but we are not necessarily young. If we keep working hard in practice, giving the effort that it takes and come together as a unit, I expect to see a very good season.
SORSN: Do you see something positive on this 2005 squad that you haven’t had on previous teams? If so, what?
Craig: We will have a more balanced offense. With Sr., Woody – QB, Sr. Daniel Bredwell – RB, Jr. Blake Bray – RB, Soph. Harley Davidson – RB, Soph. Eric Stansbury – RB, and Fr. Ray Robinson – RB , we are as deep and talented as any team I have coached. There can be no one man that teams can key on.
At WR, Seniors – Josh Lloyd, Austin Parkinson, Tanner Robinson, Marcus Rue along with Jr. N. David Langley, we have the speed and athleticism to make defenses cover the whole field. Jr. Matt Campbell at TE gives us an experienced blocker and playmaker.
The offensive line has worked very hard to keep up the tradition of physical lines of the boys from down south. Srs. Sam Stansbury and Jon Russell lead a good group. Jrs.- Daniel Chinn, Wendell “Cupcake” Pressley, Keith Keeler, Matt Johnson, Soph. – Dayne Britt, Ryan Hargis, Ashton Chinn, and Ethan Hall all are competing for playing time and to ensure depth.
SORSN: How have the preseason scrimmages gone and what is the overall look and feel of the team?
Craig: We had a 3 way scrimmage with South Pittsburgh, and Scott Co. We held our own. We were not scored upon by either team in the scrimmage session and we were the only team to score an offensive touchdown, against Scott Co.
We are upbeat and excited about the season.
SORSN: You have commented several times that the coaches that you have surrounded yourself with make up the best coaching staff in the state. Does that include O’Toole? Seriously, does that include the “Toole Man”?
Craig: Coach O’Toole is ALL Midway – Dedicated – cares about our school and community – Bald – snazzy dresser, I’ll shut up.
SORSN: The Dukes of Hazard recently made its way onto the big screen. If you were casting the movie with folks from South of the River, who would play the key roles?
Craig:
Uncle Jesse – Claude Evans
Bo – Gary Tefteller (Sophomore on the ’05 team) Yeee Haw
Luke – Tommy Williams
Daisy – Norma Jean Galyon (just imagine her in some Daisy Dukes)
Boss Hogg – Ronnie Lettsinger
Roscoe – Pat Rose
Crazy Cooter – Phillip Branson