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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Fayette believes it can repeat ‘07 surprise success
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P’tree Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette Co. • 4/27: Brookwood
Photos: A look at Fayette
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Fayette in ‘08? Can the Tigers repeat 2007’s success? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
In his short time at Fayette County, Tim Pettaway has seen two major attitude adjustments toward the football team from people around the school.
At first, they didn’t believe in the program, but then the 2007 season got started and it was magic on Tiger Trail.
“Once we started winning, they started taking us in like we were their own,” said Pettaway, who transferred last summer from a school in Massachusetts. “Instead of saying, ‘Who are y’all playing,’ it was, ‘Who are we playing?’”
But 2007 is over, and the good will of the people, Pettaway said, has to be earned again.
“It seems like nobody believes in us,” he said, “but we believe in each other. I have trust in my teammates who are coming up to play. I think we’ll get the job done.”
It remains to be seen how far self-belief will take the Tigers, who count Pettaway as their only returning full-time starter on offense, and he could be playing a new position. A running back last year, he’ll be competing for the quarterback slot when spring drills open Monday.
Fayette coach Tommy Webb characterized it as an open tryout to replace Brandon Boykin, who passed for 416 yards and rushed for 728 last year, when the Tigers averaged 33 points per game.
Whether he’s at quarterback or somewhere else, it seems likely the rebuilding project will center around Pettaway’s skills. He rushed for 556 yards in 2007.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” he said. “I just want to help the offense whatever way I can.”
Fayette Co. Tigers
Region 5-AAAA / Subregion A
Spring practice dates: April 28-May 9.
Last year’s record: 11-1, lost in Class AAAA second round to Bainbridge.
Working on: Offense. The Tigers lost 10 of 11 starters from an offense that scored 346 points in 11 games last year. The good news is they got to play a lot of backups during lopsided victories. But there are big holes to fill, starting with the featured running back slot vacated by Matt Daniels, who rushed for 1,436 yards and 21 touchdowns. QB Brandon Boykin heads off to Athens, and his position is up for grabs.
Key starters lost: QB Brandon Boykin (Georgia), FB Matt Daniels (Duke), DE/TE Barack Little (Colgate).
Key starters returning: RB/DB Tim Pettaway, WR/DB Tashawn Pettaway, DL Malcolm Reed.
2008 strengths: The Tigers held nine opponents to two touchdowns or less, and they return seven starters on defense. The secondary was hit by graduation, but the front seven are intact from a unit that had 58 tackles for losses and forced 30 turnovers. Linebackers Andre Columbus, Evan Reid, Josh Atwater and Chad Jones were mainstays, and all of them are back. “The kids we lost in secondary were big-play players and good kids,” said Webb, but the defense should benefit from playing a lot of players in 2007. “We’ll have to play well early while our offense comes around.”
2008 weaknesses: Inexperience, particularly on offense. Webb expressed little concern about his skilled players, but essentially building the line from the ground up poses a big question mark. But the Tigers have more size than they’ve had the majority of Webb’s five years on the job. “That’ll be a big important part of our spring. We’ll be bigger than we’ve been in the past, but we’ll have to see how well these guys play.”
This season’s projection: A repeat of last year, when the Tigers won 11 games for the first time in school history, seems unlikely.
Comment: “I’m hoping that next year’s team took a lot from what transpired last year in terms of character, how well they did in the classroom and how well they did in the offseason. Like I told them, this is a brand new season, a brand new team. They can’t be riding on last year’s coattails.”
Photos: A look at Fayette
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Fayette in ‘08? Can the Tigers repeat 2007’s success? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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By kkhh
April 25, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
man last year i was mad when my team westlake went ova their n they beat us but n the 06 season they was weak we ran all ova them