The Brownwood Lions wrapped up the first week of practice heading into their 2012 season, and head coach Bob Shipley said that he is looking forward to what this season will bring with new and returning players, several new coaches and a new district.
According Shipley, approximately 140 players are working hard, bearing the heat and building their skills as the Lions prepare to take on the new district which includes Liberty Hill, Burnet, Llano and Gatesville.
Coach Shipley said that the team has many new faces among players and coaches that have caused some excitement for the team.
“We have some new coaches and players to our varsity, some moving up from freshman and JV teams and a few kids that have moved in,” said Shipley. “I’m excited about them and all of our kids.”
Shipley explained that it is too early to single out any players as standouts right now, but that the offensive line is very promising.
“The offensive line as a whole is looking good but we knew they would be the strength of our team,” Shipley said.
New additions to the coaching staff include assistants with high level coaching skills and passion for the game that will compliment the current coaches to make his staff the strongest he has ever had, according to Shipley.
“This is the best staff I’ve ever been a part of. We have 6 assistant coaches who have been head coaches at the college or high school level and aspire to be head coaches again so they bring a lot of experience and passion to our staff,” Shipley said. “The rest of our varsity staff will be excellent head coaches as well when they get that opportunity. I’m blessed to have them and our kids are too. They are men of high character – that’s the most important thing to me.”
Although the Lions will be playing in the new 8-3A district, Shipley said that past experience will help moving through district play this year.
“I’m very familiar with the new district, having coached in Burnet for 6 years. In fact, since I’ve been in Brownwood, we’ve played Liberty Hill, Burnet, Llano and Gatesville so we know a little about them as they do us,” stated Shipley. “I couldn’t say the new district is tougher or easier. I’d say it’s an even swap. Almost every team is capable of making a playoff run. Liberty Hill is the “Wylie” of our new district. They are incredibly successful in every sport. They’ve won a couple of football state championships in recent years so they have good tradition.”
Shipley said that it is business as usual for the Lions in practice, working hard through the hot summer days. When asked about the heat, he stated that there is typically no difference from year to year regarding two-a-days.
“They haven’t been tougher or easier to me. Every two-a-days is hot and tough,” said Shipley. “There’s no easy way around it.”
Preseason will kick off in scrimmages of all teams (including Freshman, JV and Varsity) against Godley on August 17th at Gordon Wood Stadium. Game times will be 4:30pm, 5:30pm and 7:00pm respectively. A second scrimmage will be at Marble Falls on August 24th for all teams with the same game times.
The nondistrict season opener against Fort Worth All Saints will be August 31st at 7:30pm at Fort Worth Brewer Stadium.
Season tickets are still available through August 17th Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the BISD administration building. Parking permits for this 2012 season may be purchased at that time if available.
Click the photo gallery below from the first week of Lions’ practice.
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