Spring football brings renewed energy for Shelby, CHS

Clarksville High coach Isaac Shelby learned a lesson while coaching Northeast High years ago. Days after his Jalen-Reeves Maybin-led Eagles were knocked out of the Class 5A state quarterfinals by Jalen Hurd and Beech in 2012, Shelby spoke about letting go of the past.

He and his team never spoke of that game, nor the 9-4 season Northeast had. It was Shelby's way of committing his team to what lay in front of them instead of pondering the past.

The past two seasons at Clarksville High have been frustrating. After a 5-1 start was derailed by the use of an ineligible player, that left the Wildcats with a 1-9 record in 2015. Last year, Clarksville struggled through a 2-8 year.

But spring has arrived and a new attitude with it.

"This is a new year and a new opportunity and that's how we always approach the spring," Shelby said during his team's second day of spring practice Tuesday at Clarksville High. "We don't worry about last year. We don't speak about it. I don't bring it up. There's no need."

With a lot of skill position players playing baseball, Shelby has only a shell of a team right now during the spring. Most are young, but the Wildcats coach loves the idea of his underclassmen getting the kind of practice reps often reserved for upperclassmen.

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"This is the time when you begin to piece together what you have," Shelby said. "By the summer, you should already have an idea of what guys you can plug into what positions. So the work you do in the spring becomes important. For a lot of the experienced upperclassmen, you kind of know about them. It's the freshman and sophomores who need to stand out in this environment. This is their opportunity to prove themselves."

Shelby's first year at CHS produced a 5A playoff berth. In 2016, the team was on a second straight postseason path until the wheels were yanked. Last year the problems snowballed, from the lack of a consistent offense to a struggling defense and youth.

Despite coaching at his alma mater -- a school older than most of the players' great grandparents, with the largest alumni in the city -- Shelby has never been one to get caught up in pressure.

"Everyone is anxious," Shelby said. "Coaches are, players are, fans are. We're also excited because we feel we can have a really good group."

That is what spring football is all about.

"It's sort of a refresher," Shelby said. "You get a chance to start new. And I've always told our guys at the end of the previous season to let the past be the past. The next day after that last game of the fall, we're thinking about next year and we're thinking about how do we get better. Our 2017 season starts at the end of the previous fall."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports. 

CLARKSVILLE SPRING SCHEDULE

April 27-May 12 (No practice on Wednesdays)

Scrimmages

May 5 vs. Portland, 6 p.m.

May 12 at Muscle Shoals (Ala.), 7 p.m.