MUS Football

Practice Starts Monday

After an outstanding summer of workouts all of us are really looking forward to don the pads and get started this Monday. The 10-12 grade players will report at 7:30am and stay at school for the day. The 9th graders will report for practice at 2:30pm and be dismissed at 4:45. The varsity players will have two practices outdoors, the first from 8:15-10:15 and then a late afternoon practice from 5:00 to 6:45. The frosh will practice outdoors from 3:30 - 4:45.

It is imperative that all of the boys have received their physicals by Monday and that their forms are in Coach Ferebee's hands. We can not allow them to practice without those completed forms.

We also want to make sure that the boys come to practice each day properly hydrated. It is always hot this time of year and we will make sure that the boys have plenty of water during practice. Please read the article posted in the left column about our policies on hydration.

We feel it is imperative to the success of the team that all boys are present for each practice. If someone must miss they need to inform their position coach well ahead of time. We try to run a very efficient practice that keeps all of the boys busy and when anyone is not there they are missed.

Coach Jake Rudolph - First Class

The entire MUS community has mourned this week the passing of Coach Jake Rudolph. He was and forever will be the heart and soul of MUS football. I have many memories of Coach but as a tribute to him I am quoting a column that I cut out of the paper many years ago. One of Jake's favorite words was "class". He wanted us to look "classy" in our uniforms, play with "class" on the field, and always show our "class" when we met adversity. This article not only defines class but also in words better than I could ever put together describes the man that many of us will always call Coach.

CLASS

Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident. It can handle whatever comes along. Class has a sense of humor. It knows that a good laugh is the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes. Class know that good manners are nothing more than a series of small, inconsequential sacrifices.

Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. Some wealthy "blue bloods" have no class, while some individuals who are struggling to make ends meet are loaded with it. Class is real. It cannot be faked.

Class is comfortable in its own skin. It never puts on airs. Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.

Class can "walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch." (Thank you, Rudyard Kipling.) Everyone is comfortable with those who have class because they are comfortable with themselves.

If you have class, you've got it made. If you don't have class, no matter what else you have, it doesn't make any difference."

Youth Football Camp

Our football camp for rising 5th - 8th graders begins Monday, July 7 at 9:00 am. Registration is in the lobby of the Hyde Athletic Building. This is a great camp for young boys where we mix in competitive games with football drills based on their position. Each camper spends time each day at his offensive and defensive position. Teamwork and good sportmanship are promoted through our daily touch football games. If you know of any young people looking for a good football experience please direct them our way.

June Report

The guys have done an excellent job this June with the new TSSAA restrictions. While I think we as coaches have been very nervous missing out on some teaching that we have typically done at this time the boys have shown excellent leadership and managed the team on their own very well. I have also been very impressed with how the team has communicated with the coaches on any attendance questions.

When we crank back up on July 7 we will hit the ground running from an instruction standpoint so if the boys are in town it is important that they are present for these sessions in July. The difficulty of our early season schedule really makes it important that we are well prepared physically and mentally when we don the pads on July 28. Please make sure that all of the forms for the physicals are back into Coach Ferebee before July 28.

Practice schedules are now on the calendar for the first couple of weeks for the Varsity and the freshmen. We hope to add a scrimmage or two for the freshmen as we move ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Football Media Guide Ads

We are closing in on securing all of the ads for our media guide, radio show, and internet broadcast. If your business wishes to advertise with MUS you need to contact Dax Torrey at 260-1341 or dax.torrey@musowls.org.

Summer 7-on-7 Plans

We are now confirmed to participate in two 7-on-7 tournaments this summer. Our first event will be hosted by Vanderbilt on July 18-19. The second event is the following week at Hoover Alabama running July 24-26. We are excited about the possibility to compete in both of these events.

We will only take a limited number of boys to these events. Those boys will receive additional info that they need along with a consent form. We ask all of the boys to understand that this is a form of practice that can be productive but it is not necessarily a sign of how good of a team we can be. The game of football is first and foremost a game that revolves around contact and since contact is discouraged in 7-on-7 it can be misleading.

One of the things that is most fun about these two competitions is the quality of opponent that we see. Many of the best high school football programs and some of the best players will be in attendance. The boys have really enjoyed these events over the years and we welcome the opportunity to compete again this summer.

Friends in Need

Our hearts go out to Coach Finney and his family Kim, Landon and Hunter on the loss of their home early Friday morning in a fire. Fortunately everyone is safe but their house is a total loss.  At this time we are still unsure what the specific needs may be. They will be staying with Kim's mother for the first few days. Angela Counce is coordinating our efforts to help the Finney's in this time of need. Please contact her if you want to help the Finneys.

Carpool Help

With the start of workouts this morning, which went very well by the way, we ran across the age old problem on this side of campus of where to do carpool. The only place that works well is the gym/stadium parking lot. The absolute worst place is the west side of the gym. So starting tomorrow we will "gently" encourage the boys to ask you to park in the lot and they will come to you. Thanks for your help with this matter.

Gossett Mitsubishi 2008 Mid-South Football Combine

Gossett Mitsubishi 2008 Mid-South Football Combine results for Seniors.

Coaching News

Today at our team meeting we announced to the group that Coach Harrison would be stepping down as our offensive line coach. Coach has been a huge asset to MUS since joining us in 1997. His love of the game and ability to motivate and get the very best of his players will always be treasured our team. Coach also had a tremendous impact on our special teams which he coordinated for many years. The "Coach" has not yet decided whether he is returning to school next year in his role as teacher/administrator but we know we will be able to hear him each Friday night and Sunday afternoon on the radio.

Another loss to our team is Coach Bohannon who has assisted Coach Harrison the last several years and also helped with many of our equipment issues. Bo is retiring to spend more time traveling in the fall with his wife Sheila and spoil their new granddaughter Rheagan. Bo will also still be around as we hire him for special construction projects around school.

I am pleased to announce that we have Hamilton Eggers joining our staff next year to coach our offensive line. Hamilton will also be an instructor in the history department. Coach Eggers is an MUS graduate, class of 94, and also a graduate of Rhodes College where he played for 4 years. After a brief stint coaching at Rhodes, he spent six years as a financial adviser before the love of coaching and teaching young people drew him back to education. He has spent the last two years working at ECS and we are glad to have him back home.