By BFS
ms.
Editor’s Note:
Sometimes “gut checks” are good. Sometimes a new cipal’s ofÏce after the 1982 football season at Fort Walton Choctawhatchee High School. “Dwight”, he was politely challenge is what we need to elevate ourselves to a new and higher level. For Dwight Thomas this proved to be a told, “You did a good job building character and you've catalyst for his new job at Escambia High School in Penworked real hard. However, your record of 30-12 with only sacola. one district championship and only one bowl victory isn’t Escambia had drug problems, racial problems and stealing took place everyday. Escambia had enjoyed only one good enough.
Dwight, we just don’t feel you have the capability as a head coach to win a state championship. You're fired!” Trembling with shock, Coach Dwight Thomas’ mind raced to the prospects of next year’s team. Nineteen starters coming back! 1983 was supposed to be the year. Then, reality set in and Dwight determinedly rose from his chair, veins bulging from his neck and with great conviction said, “I’m going to find a losing school, build them up and come back and beat you.” “I had my manhood questioned. I'll never forget it. I’ll never forget driving home that day, almost crying,” remembers Coach Thomas. “Coaches like to talk about gut checks. Boy, that was mine. I was shook. I had worked so hard.”
The previous year Dwight had Greg Shepard come to Choctawhatchee for a BFS Clinic. Greg reflected back, “I sensed that something wasn’t quite right. The kids were winning season in 23 years. In Dwight’s first year, the Escambia Gators went 7-3 and went to the playoffs. The next year of 1984 was when the goal and the dream was realized. Coach Dwight Thomas led his team to AAA State Championship!! The next year Escambia won the AAAA State Championship and held the #2 position in the USA Today National poll for nine weeks! But wait folks, the story isn’t over yet.
This last season, for five weeks, the Gators from Escambia were ranked #1 in America and finished with a 10-1 record and and a bowl victory. Superstar running back Emmitt Smith was selected as America’s high school football player of the year. Emmitt rushed for 8,797 yards in four years and scored 106 touchdowns. Now, in Coach Dwight Thomas’ own words is his own personal “Quest for Greatness” story. fired up and Dwight was fired up. However, it was obvious to me a lack of cohesiveness existed between the rest of the coaches. I felt that Dwight was going to have an uphill battle.”
ESCAMBIA GATOR FOOTBALL: Continued from Page 3 SCHOLASTIC COACH Presents. EMMITT SMITH 1986 ° > :
Coach Dwight Thomas on left with Emmitt Smith. Emmitt had his #24 jersey retired along with being the National High School Football Player of the Year. I am proud to be called Coach. More so than being element you must have . . . or do not take the job. “I wish addressed as Sir, Mister or you. The coaching profession to publicly thank Principal Brock for having the insight and gets criticized, second guessed, and no one is completely wisdom to hire me out of 42 applicants,” concluded Thomas satisfied with the way things are run. But, it is a profession with a wry smile. which enables us to mold young people and influence them in becoming successful and productive citizens of society.
At Escambia, approximately half of my players do not have a father at home. We as coaches have the potential “Anyway”, Dwight continued, “let me describe the situation at Escambia the way I perceived it.”
A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND. . . no truer words were spoken to us. We should be great examples and regard this obligato sum up the attitude at the school. Escambia was against itself. In my first conference with the players, I told them that until they stopped fighting amongst themselves and tion as a sacred trust. We should all have the primary cleaned up the campus, we would not win the big one. So objective of helping young athletes reach their optimum. We coaches are the pace setters at the school and our leaderwe went to work. First, we identified ten problem areas and then set up means to correct them. The following is a ship determines the direction the school goes.
discussion of these problem areas: to be Father figures to many young athletes. They look up I had been spoiled by being involved in four quality programs where few serious problems existed. But, nothing 1. Apathy and indifference pervaded the community and the school. There was no cohesiveness within the commucould prepare me for what I would be faced with at Escamnity, there was no one single rallying point to draw together bia. After seeing the nightmarish problems at Escambia, | went home and told my wife, Kathleen, and my children, this very diversified area. The socio-economic status of the area goes from welfare to millionaire.
Zip codes from 01 to Joshua, Caleb and Jesalee, no way would I ever, ever coach 07. They needed something they could all rally around, at Escambia High. But after a 92 hour non-stop interview something to draw them all together in a spirit of pride with Ireland Brock, my principal, I realized I would have and working together as a unit. the most important item in winning. Administrative Sup- 2. The community was more involved in the recreation department and leagues than they were in the high school. port! My principal was committed to winning and turning things around. Administrative support is the first essential ESCAMBIA GATOR FOOTBALL: Continued from Page 7 8.
The locker room situation for the entire athletic department was atrocious. Weapons, girlie pictures, ads for liquor and tobacco were confiscated from lockers. Showers were dark and mildewed. T-shirts and caps advertising alcohol and tobacco were worn. Antiquated equipment rooms and a small run-down ofÏce for the coaches constituted the athletic department facilities for an entire athletic program. Stealing occurred everyday! 9. The financial situation for the athletic department was no better. It had been operating in the red for years. Escambia’s opponent teams usually had more people in their bands than Escambia had in the stands.
At our first game, the fans cheered more for the band than the team and left at half time.
10. At any function half of the gym was white and the other half was black.
We then came up with seven principles of “What Does It Take To Win!” These principles are what the Escambia program is based on. The Seven Principles:
Surround yourself with winners. Continued on Page 13 Pride is a must for any winning program! It can begin in There is no substitute for loyalty. the weight room.
They expected the school’s practices and games to be scheduled around theirs. No support in attendance or funds and there were only 8 members in the quarterback club.
3. The boys were constantly being assaulted with negative attitudes and negative remarks around the community and their peers such as “who are you going to lose to this week?” “How bad will the score be this time?” The boys were expected to lose, and that is exactly what they did. They didn’t know how to win. Even the mascot looked silly and was a joke.
4 .Racial strife had dominated the campus atmosphere in the 70’s. There was constant fighting, grab-assing, shootings, knifings. The school was divided into cliques and the school mascot (during the racial era) had to be changed from Rebels to Gators. Some people still resent this change. 5. GrafÏti and vandalism dominated. Four deans had to be installed. The grafÏti writing was so bad; one was reminded of the New York subways. Kicked in doors and broken windows were the norm rather than the exception. There was no grass on the fields and litter was everywhere. The chain link fence that encircled the campus reminded someone ofa revolutionary camp rather thana high school.
6. Tobacco was all over the facilities and the floors; drinking and drugs everywhere. Suspensions, skippings and expulsions were commonplace. 7. The faculty was totally frustrated at their lack of control and inability to motivate or change the student body. There was a tremendous turnover in the coaching staff and principals which further compounded the situation. I was some players fourth head coach. 10 STRENGTH BREEDS CONFIDENCE! HARD WORK CREATES THE WILL TO WIN!
ESCAMBIA GATOR FOOTBALL: themselves with what other programs have or what other programs are doing. Go with what YOU’VE got and spend your energies optimizing that which you do have. Spend your time helping your athletes to realize their maximum potential rather than mourning over that which you have no control. Find something good in everything and enhance it.
D. Pride - If you are going to develop pride in a program it must be earned. It will not and should not just be given. The coaches must relay this feeling of pride and they can only do this if they have it themselves, if they have pride in who they are and what they stand for, they will easily ‘* relay this pride to the players. Pride and tradition will not score touchdowns or prevent them, only players put on : helmets, but pride and tradition add to that player that is putting on that helmet. Each team must arrive at its own You don’t have to paint pride on the walls.
Ave. them have input and letting them coach. When I was an assistant all I wanted was my segment and my head coach didn’t have to worry about that segment. We would be ready to play and if they can’t do the job, remove them.
1 Fumbles 1983 — 7-3 Tied District Champs identity. | can walk into a school or listen to the players or coaches and know if pride and tradition are present or not!
E. Qualified — Hire your coaches with the intent of letting When I was first beginning, 1 followed my head coach everywhere. I was just like his shadow and everything he 1985 — 13-1 AAAA State Champs 1986 — 10-1 Florida Bowl Champions Emmitt plays Football in the fall, Basketball and Weight Lifting in the winter, and Track in the spring.
#3 Rusher in High School Football history with 8,804 yards surpassing Billy Sims. said or did 1 wrote down. To this day I have his notebook of football plays. A person is qualified if he knows his material AND (I stress the and) if HE KNOWS HOW TO RELAY HIS INFORMATION TO HIS PLAYERS. Find the right people and if you can’t find the right people, do without.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN?
A. Loyal — Loyalty is the most important ingredient. It goes HARD WORK!! back to the house divided saying . . .people are either for Principle #2 There is no substitute and there is no shortcut for good old fashioned hard work! To us, can’t means you or against you... staff. . . and by loyal I don’t mean someone that is a yes you don’t want to. We do not leave the practice field, the man, that won’t disagree with you or question what you weight room or meeting room until I am satisfied we have do. . . but someone who, once the decision is made, exeaccomplished the day’s objectives. If you have to, start practice over. Blow the whistle, send them up to cals and cutes it without hesitation . .
.and someone who will stand up for you and your program wherever they may be, with just flat start it over. It is similar to putting your money in whomever they may be. And sometimes keeping silent is a savings account and gaining dividends and when you just as bad as speaking out against someone. I like my need a little extra money, you’re able to draw from this account. If you put in the extra effort and time to have the coaches to act as liaison people between the faculty and the athletic department . . .
| don’t want them to sit idle proper balance of rest, nutrition and workouts, then when at faculty meetings, but ratherI want them to set the record straight if there are any misunderstandings and let it be game and three in another or after a 14 game season, you known what we do stand for . . can draw on that extra bit of poise, that extra bit of strength and endurance that is designed to simulate the game. We B. Enthusiasm — enthusiasm is as important if not more bind, like a four time overtime situation in one knowledge a coach has is ENTHUSIASTICALLY. Youth have the boys go full bore for six seconds - about the length of 1 play, rest for 25 seconds and then go again.
All of our needs enthusiasm.
. . they relate to fired-up adults... athletes, boys and girls, during the off-season lift five days Make sure you do not have any coaches that are “just going a week. We want our athletes to know and to believe that through the motions-” Coaches and athletics set the tempos at the schools, and if you have sluggish coaches, you will they have out-prepared their opponents. The bigger, faster and stronger an athlete, the more confidence he will have have a sluggish school. and the more aggressive he will be, thus sustaining fewer important than knowledge . . . the best way to relay the lift and run with the athletes and are examples of what we injuries and rehabilitating faster.
want them to be.
C. Positive Attitude —Surround yourself with positive thin- Something I have worked on to instill in the Escambia kers. Do not tolerate anything negative to be said or done Gators is the self-discipline to say NO: to say no to drugs, around you or your players. Coaches should not concern alcohol, tobacco, stealing and any peer pressure that would 13 be consistent. I make them wear a shirt and tie when we go out to eat on game day because | feel they are better August Ist rolled around and we found ourselves picked to finish second in the conference. John Lowery, an assistant coach for the past 8 years, was named as head coach. behaved dressed like that.
When they put on the jersey they know now is the time to hit somebody. Along with all of the discipline I preach a time and place for everything. We have plenty of times to relax and have fun. We went A pact was made by the team to climb to the top of the to the super dome to a college game. I try to expose them ladder and repeat as the western representative in the state as much as possible to college activities so they will have finals. a desire to set college attendance as one of their goals. We There was a great commitment to the in season program also went to the state capital and the museum of Florida and our strength gains continued. Late in the season we history and the Senior Bowl.
The players had a dance at were in a 5-3-1 week and one of our defensive linemen the country club. Our football banquet this year was held at the Hilton in Pensacola and 425 people attended. This _ benched 300 Ibs. for the first time. A tremendous roar broke out when a 175 lb. linebacker matched his lift. Not to be _ out done five others lifted 300 Ibs. All seven stopped after lifting 310 Ibs. (This was the 1st 300 Ib. lift for all seven).
_ Everyone involved in our program is a believer that gains can be made during the season!
The team rolled to a 10-0 regular season record. We _ found ourselves in the western regional finals again in ‘86.
The quest for another state championship ended that night _ with the team losing to Shelby, the eventual state champiyear [ plan on taking my players to a college practice to show them some real intensity. Every minute of their game day is scheduled. They can’t check out of school except through me. I want total control over what they do and eat on game day. | also determine the music they will listen to. I use inspirational, motivational athletic-type songs, and have made a tape of these. This prevents any discord that may occur over what their personal preferences are. Along with the songs, I play a tape the local radio station made eon. of the play-off games.
_ infull swing. Come August Ist, with BFS’ help, the Yellow the honor of dressing out on game night. Conversely, if | The time has come again to put the off season program Jackets will be Big . . Strong . . .and ready to play.
We at BFS thank everyone in Yellow Jacket land and ‘wish them continued success towards their “Quest for Ex__cellence.”
ESCAMBIA Continued from Page 13 result in negative consequences.
We have three rules at Escambia: Be where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing, when you are supposed to be doing it. Obedience to these three rules will keep the players from having to have that private interview with me, which includes ultimatums. | tell my players the procedure one time and one time only.
They are allowed to ask questions and no question, as far as I'm concerned, is too stupid to ask. Our rules are hard.
Simple and few, but hard. These rules have been tried. It paid off to be firm and consistent. If | catch any of the If you practice during the week, you will have you do not, you will not. We truly believe that it does not matter who does the job or gets the credit as long as the job gets done. I keep any award the players get to prevent any jealousies amongst the players. | do not allow any individual players to be interviewed by the press, not do J allow mohawks, earrings or cutting of the sleeves on the uniforms. No hot dogging. Nothing to draw attention to oneself.
When we score, all 11 players huddle on the three yard line and break the gator, which symbolizes the fact that it took all 11 players to arrive at that point. Now, | don’t wish to give the impression that the individual is not considered or treated or encouraged to be an individual. He is, and we are interested in each one of our players as individuals, their problems, their interests, etc. But when it comes to the game or preparation for the game, we merge into one winning unit. With a total of seven overtimes in the play-off games, to say we had to draw on all of that discipline is an understatement.
Some of my coaching friends were in the end zone and saw this and relayed it players disobeying any of the rules, THEY ARE OFF THE to me. A lot of the credit must also be given to my coaching TEAM; but they are allowed to return at semester break. | staff for us having reached this level of discipline. had one instance of telling the players to be at the school in a certain place at the end of the day. Well, it had been _ atradition at the school for the players to cut that last day.
Out of 105 players, five of them cut and were not where | told them to be whenI told them to be there. Two of those five were college prospects and I cut all five of them from the team. Two went on to play at other high schools. | caught three drinking and those three were off the team.
Some of the parents hired lawyers to get their son back on the team. But it was like I told the players. I did not kick him off the team. He knew the rules and HE made the decision to take himself off of the team when he disobeyed the rules. My decision was upheld. I firmly believe the This year we had no unexcused absences, and | feel it is because of the consequences they would suffer which | term “Opportunity period.” If it is an excused absence or a tardy they only have to do half of the opportunity period. An unexcused absence they will have to do the full opportunity.
One gasser, one crab, one spider, one one-legged, one bellyflop, one roll, one gasser and 25 front-ups progressive each time. They get a one minute break in between each one of these, the distance is across the field and back as one. If two of our players fight, after everyone is gone, I personally handle this opportunity period. We do the complete phase of the opportunity period and I let them butt heads and fight for 15-30 seconds (they can’t get hurt morale of the team is much more important than an individual player. When you make rules, back them up and need to set goals. I have a personal interview with and keep a folder on each of my players.
We fill out a goal sheet for goals both on and off the field and from time to time because they are fully equipped and very tired), then we rep eat the next phase, by the time all of thisis over, they this goal sheet is reviewed with the player. At the banquet their senior year I give them their folder. It is easier to work hhave become friends. I do not allow t-shirts or caps with hard and make sacrifices when you've got something conwould be no tobaccoin our program, I told the players we ads of tobacco or alcohol on them. To emphasize that there crete set in your mind that you are working toward. Know would have no tobaccoin the program.
The next day one is vital that they set these goals and keep them in their of the players came in with tobacco and I stuck him in the mind as a constant reminder for why they are doing what trash can. The players know that if they use drugs, or steal that are OUT of the program. This responsibility lies with the player. they are doing. I ask our players to set goals, daydream about them, and be enthusiastic about them. Our overall goal at Escambia is to be the #1 athletic department in the what you are fighting for. Goals are put in their lockers. It state. This is a goal I have set for myself and one I am still Agood ex-football player might not always make a good working toward.
This is why you need all of your athletes coach, there might be an inability to effectively communito play as many sports as they desire to play and that God fate his thoughts, philosophies and procedures to the gave them the ability to play. It is important for the players cn and to the rest of the coaching staff. We can’t all be to make these decisions rather than the coaches. Grades te in different directions. We must work, act and and conduct are also important. We had 11 F’s and six U’s kas one. Never assume anything. Spell everything out, ‘No matter how trivial it may seem. And once a decision is out of 60 players the last six weeks. My goal is no F’s or made, back it up.
Keep an open door policy, because | a one page essay on why they made the F or U and how of input. Communicate to the parents and the boosters. comments on what she sees as the problem and her sugges- ! ink it is beneficial and growth promoting to have all kinds U's. If a player makes an F or a U, they have to write me they plan to correct this and the teacher will also put her Make sure the parents and the boosters know that they tions to correct it. come to you at any time with any question. Let them know you prefer that they come to you rather than spreading negativism in the community. They might not like the and keep it updated for easy access.
Make sure you write answer they receive, but they will get one. When someone thank-you cards to people that make contributions to the athletic program, do it on athletic stationary. Delegate re- INVOLVED with something, they have a better unerstanding, more pride, and a deeper appreciation of what sponsibilities and see that the job gets done. My coaches s going on. We are calling on all of our parents in all of each have their segment responsibilities and they also have ne sports to get involved with a fund-raising project we other major responsibilities such as equipment, training, hanave going on at our civic center.
Let your boosters work for you, let them do the fund raising, but be aware at all opportunity period and the two coordinators meet with times of whatis going on. Make sure you communicate to them in my ofÏce. They also each have one phase of the locker room monitors after practice, one is in charge of your faculty and administrators what your program is all kicking game for which they are responsible. Be organized about and let the faculty know that you are more than so you can be more available to your coaches, players and g to deal with any problems your players may be causing in class.
Football players are going to be the leaders inyour school and it is up to you to determine which way they lead. I prefer that my players sit at the front of their the public. Speak to service clubs and other organizations to develop support. Stay organized the year round. classes, that they say sir and ma’m, and that they be leaders 4smuchin the classroom as they are on the field. Teachers aS The F.C.A. has really helped to develop this loving feeling of unity. When I first arrived at Escambia maybe 2 are constantly sending me notes about the players positive or 3 players were attending the FCA meetings.
After % ‘attitude and their good leadership abilities, which is a total year with Mickey Lindsey as the head of FCA, we had more players going to the Black Mt. retreat than any other arrived at Escambia. These complimentary notes are posted around from the notes I was receiving when I school. Plus 30 to 40 members attending the weekly FCA m the bulletin board for everyone to see. If you have any meetings and on game day we all attend. At the banquet gripes or complaints about or with your coaches, do not we give them each a Bible with their name inscribed on it. airthemin public, talk to your coachesin private.
I com- Escambia was hungry for something to believe in, hungry municate 10 basic policies to the coaches on what they can for someone to lead them in more than just a physical from me: They are: 1) 100% loyalty and truthfulness, context. Good feelings beget good feelings, and when I thusiasm, 3) 100% backing when right, 4) credit given send the players their own birthday card on their birthday, vhere creditis due, 5) coaching responsibility, a chance to Ixpress your own ideas, 6) an open door, an open mind camaraderie and close-knitness helped us where we are Iout.
D0 ey 7) set an example on and off the field, 8) to be ortoday. The unselfishness and team first concept truly made anized, 9) strive to obtain highest dollar for coach, 10) no a difference. To exemplify this, we were AAA champions other business exploits, Escambia is my business. #5 Principle is SET GOALS To have an idea about where you are going in life, you in the 4th most recruited state in the U.S. and we do not have a fully committed college prospect in our senior class. Continued on Page 56
From BFS Magazine — March/April 1987. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
