Today's interviewee is Harrison coach Matt Dickmann, whose team beat No. 1-ranked Dacula 38-7 last week in the Class AAAAAA semifinals. Harrison is in the finals for the first time since its 2000 runner-up team.
Matt Dickmann, Harrison head coach
1. It was not surprising that Harrison won Friday, but after Dacula won handily vs. defending champion Lee County in the quarterfinals, it was an eye-opener to see that Harrison won so comfortably. What were the keys to such overwhelming success Friday? "The key is execution and communication by the players. Our team is playing at a high level and not making many mistakes. The defense has been playing lights out and is very stingy when it comes to giving up points. Offensively, the offensive line is grading out at a high level, and all the skill players are making big plays for us."
2. You've played Allatoona already. The state finals often have rematches of regular-season games, and lately, the loser of the first game more often wins the rematch. What challenges does Allatoona pose, not just physically but also psychologically/mentallly? "We played Allatoona over eight weeks ago. We will prepare for them just the way we have prepared for every team we played this year. At this point in time, our coaches and players are focused on preparing like we would for any opponent. We will let the papers and other people discuss the other issues. They're a very good team, and that is why they're in the finals. But we are focused on finishing the mission we started."
3. What do you believe was the most important thing that you and your staff have done to bring Harrison back to competing for region and state titles? "Our motto this year is 'Relentless! Finish the Mission.' We felt last year that our players were not focused and disciplined in a couple of close games. We have stressed to the players in the offseason what we need to do to win the region and get to where we are this week. This year they are locked in, focused and playing with discipline. They have done a great job of keeping each other accountable and working hard all of the time instead of most of the time. This is also the same group that was in sixth grade when we arrived. They have lived in the weight room, and it has paid off for us this year. We believe the weight room is the one of the keys to our program's success."
4. The first two really good teams that you had at Harrison came during Justin Fields' time at quarterback. What does it say that the program has been able to maintain that success, even build on it, in Fields' absence? Was there concern among you and the staff that you might regress a little? "We believe as a staff that you must play to your players' strengths. Each team is different each year. Our staff does a great job of evaluating our players' and teams' strengths and putting us in a good position to be competitive each season. This is a veteran group with a lot of experience, and that has paid off, too. We also spend a lot of time working with our young players so they are well-prepared for the future. It takes a lot of work by the staff and players to stay competitive. It is a year-round job, and there is no longer an offseason. We are always working to help our young men reach their full potential in all areas of life."
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