Madison County Red Raiders

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal June 7, 2007 edition

Owens says he’s pleased with latest academic report

by BEN MUNRO

When head football coach Randell Owens started reviewing report cards to determine who would have to attend summer school this year, the paper work revealed a pair of pleasant surprises.
One, no one would have to attend summer classes. And two, a hoard of players boasted 3.0 grade point averages or better.

“I was like wow, this is great,” Owens said.

Not only has the Raider football program posted back-to-back trips to the state playoffs, it appears to be on solid footing academically.

In fact, 25 percent of the returning players maintain at least a 3.6 grade point average, according to figures submitted by Owens in an email. Of that mix, four players maintain 4.0 grade point averages — senior place kicker Jack Orr, junior quarterback Spencer Baird, junior Ben Morris and sophomore quarterback Jacob Owens.

“The greatest thing to come out of our football team’s efforts this spring appears to be the players report cards,” Owens said in the email.

Not having any players attending summer classes is a first in Owens’ 27-year coaching career, which relieves a lot of would-be headaches for a coach. Owens said it can be a chore making sure players are getting enough credits to be eligible for the fall.

While the returning players have produced some impressive results in the classroom, Owens noted that the senior class that just departed might have been one of this strongest academically, sporting more gold sashes on graduation night of any team he can remember.
 

“This last year, as a class and key players, might have been the strongest group,” Owens said.
Smarts in classroom from that group translated to the field the coach said, especially on the defensive side which included honor students like Hunter Adams, Chris Jenkins and Tyler Berryman.
“Heck, if we were in a four-deep coverage, both our safeties sitting on the hash were honor students and the linebacker up there getting us lined up front was an honor student,” Owens said.
If the defense was beaten last year, it generally wasn’t because of a mistake in alignment or recognition.

“From a mental standpoint as far as getting lined up and recognizing things … If we got beat, it was usually because they were athletically better,” Owens said.

But as far as overall academic excellence and having everybody eligible for the fall, this might be Owens’ most successful group from top to bottom. Owens said he would like to think coaches’ influence has a little do with that success, but points to the players’ efforts first.

“I think you’re starting with a group of kids in reality,” Owens said. “You’re starting with a good group of kids with good parents. And they’ve got good teachers.”

Owens continued, “Maybe we’re (the coaches) the cherry on top of the cake. We ain’t the cake … I think it all fits together.”

Owens said the academics are stronger in the Madison County football program that at his previous stop, Heritage, and feels that the Raiders would stack up well in the region if there was a way to compare.
 

“I think it would be safe to say we’re sharper than most,” Owens said.

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal May 24, 2007 edition

by BEN MUNRO

The field is just 40 yards long.

You’ve got to move 20 yards to get a first down.

And the game is one-hand touch—below the neck and above the belt.

But it’s a form of football – passing league—and it’s how Madison County will fill the summer months before team camp starts.

“I think the kids enjoy it,” Raider head coach Randell Owens said.

Madison County starts its passing league schedule Tuesday, the first of eight dates. The schedule runs through July 24.

“It’s not as intense. It’s laid-back, but it gets competitive, like all things,” Owens said.

Passing league pits seven players from one high school against seven from another to hone skills in throwing, catching and pass defense.

Of course, rules are altered, like the length of the field and first down yardage. Other regulations are thrown in, like a four-second rule for quarterbacks. Since there’s no pass rush, a limit is set on how long a signal-caller has to get the ball off.

Also, the defense can earn points for a team with interceptions.

“We try to modify the rules to make it a little bit, somewhat competitive,” Owens said.

But most importantly, the league allows football players to keep their thoughts on football at least one night of the week during the summer while a host of other things are going on—jobs, family vacations, summer lifting and obligations to other sports.

“You’ve got to be mindful that the kids are trying to make their summer money,” Owens said. “A lot of our kids are multi-sport athletes. And I tell the other coaches, if you’ll just give me Tuesday night, I’ll give you the other six.

So Owens has designated Tuesday evening for pass league.

Madison County is in a “league” with two other schools, Oglethorpe County and Oconee County. A third opponent is needed.

Passing league caters to skill position players.

Quarterbacks, obviously, get their work in while receivers work on catching the ball and sharpening their routes.

But it’s just as beneficial for a defense, especially for a team that might see its share of passing-oriented teams in the fall.

With cornerbacks and safeties constantly tested during passing league games, coaches have plenty of chances to assess skill level in the secondary.
“It’s a great teaching time,” Owens said.

With Madison County players only seeing action on one side of the ball during spring football, passing league gives coaches a chance to put players on the opposite side of the ball.

Even in passing league games, Owens has seen players showcase potential that he and coaches might not have seen during the spring.

“You pick up on things like how well as kid learns,” he said.