Northwest coach knows the score during spring football
Northwest football coach Vernon Wright is as animated on the practice field in May as he is during any point in the fall.
Wright knows what's at stake, and he's been around the Northwest football program long enough to know that complacency is the enemy of success.
"These kids have to show that they want to work to be great," Wright said after Tuesday's spring football practice session ended. "We all know what it will take, but you have to remind these kids on a consistent basis that you can't go half-speed. There's no better time to reiterate that then in the spring, before summer practice begins."
Wright's demanding nature is understandable. There hasn't been a ton of winning at Northwest on a consistent basis. The Vikings finished 6-5 last year, earning the program's first playoff berth in seven years. And Wright isn't interested in watching the program take steps backward.
"It's always about trying to get better," he said. "All coaches are the same way. We all are constantly pushing our kids to get better, to be better."
One way to get the attention of a 15-, 16- or 17-year-old high school football player is to introduce college football scouts to a practice session. On Tuesday, Carson-Newman was at the Vikings' practice. On Thursday, Mississippi State and Chattanooga will be in attendance, and on Friday, Tennessee will get a chance to watch its most recent commitment, Shatar McClay.
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"This (is) a perfect example of never knowing what eyes are on you," Wright said. "Whether its the media out here watching practice, coaches, your parents or college scouts, you have to understand that effort is the key. Desire shows out on the practice field. The kids that are successful on Friday nights are the kids that are putting in work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before a game. Scouts see that."
While McClay is the big name coming into this fall, much like North Carolina signee and Kenwood standout Antwuan Branch was last year, Wright will benefit from a few transfers from schools such as Henry County and Pearl Cohn.
"Spring football for us is about fundamentals and getting back to the basics of blocking, tackling, footwork, proper technique," Wright said. "We don't get too much into X's and O's. We run some shell plays but its really learning proper spacing, how we huddle, how we break the huddle, how we line up, snapping the ball, all of those things. They seem like things that are not that important but those are the little things that matter, that add up."
The Vikings' offense should be in good hands with one of the Midstate's top quarterbacks returning in Hunter Silverstrim next year. He, paired with McClay and rising sophomore Gabe Sebert, give Northwest a nucleus of talent.
"But it all starts in the offseason and into the spring," Wright said. "Your attitude and dedication has to be there early on."
Reach George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.