Week 6
Week 6 is upon us and what a glorious season it has been so far. We are well into conference play and teams are starting to see their hard work pay off. Yes, indeed, it is a great time of year. Not to mention the break in the weather makes it prime for football play. Long gone, hopefully, are the days of sweating in the heat as we attempt to find comfort while watching the game. One of the best parts is we will no longer have the water breaks in the middle of the quarters. While they are super important in the first part of the season, I personally will be excited to have the ebb and the flow of the game back without the water breaks in the middle of the quarter. So, that brings us to our featured high school football team this week, the Ozark Tigers. Man, it was a blast to visit with Coach Jeremy Cordell and get to know him and his program. I am excited to see how his program blossoms, let’s get to it!
Ozark Football
Coach Cordell is excited about going into year two with the program. He feels like a solid foundation has been laid from last year’s group and really set the program up to take the next step forward during this season of play. This buy-in to what they are doing has continued to have a new light for the program, it is an exciting time to be an Ozark Tiger. Coach Cordell has instituted a foundation of being the standard for the program. What does this mean; it means, being 1-0 in everything that you do. Whether it is the mental reps during film sessions, the weight room workouts that are being conducted throughout the week, the practice reps, or whether it is completing the math worksheet in class…be 1-0. Additionally, this creates a mindset of winning the moment and not allowing the moment to pass by because the focus is on the next movement, play, segment, or step. This creates a winning standard for everything that they do, that standard becomes the foundation that they are building the program on.
Culture is not something that is a miss in the Ozark Tiger football program, it is something that is a focal point. Coaches are interested in developing better humans, and really it is the how they are doing it, is most impressive. It starts with communication with the players and letting them know that they are loved and valued. Continued with setting the standard for football to be a vortex to developing better husbands and fathers. Then pushing players hard but then giving them the love that they need. Lastly, allowing the brotherhood of a football program to be wrapped around them. There is nothing like this and it cannot be replicated in any other environment. There is no way that I have the ability to articulate the importance of the brotherhood feeling that you get in a football program. Through this vortex, a lifelong bonds and a brotherhoods are developed which will be cherished forever.
The Ozark Tiger football program serves its community through many ways. The one thing that stood out to me the most was their Reading Tigers Program. This is where football players will go into elementary school classes and read to the students. Not only are the players giving the elementary students a positive impression of the football program and giving them the opportunity to connect with a high school football player, but they are also setting an example that reading is important. This impression can have a lifelong impact on a young person which can, quite frankly, change the trajectory of their life. This is something that is not taken lightly. Awesome impact, Tigers! Oh, and there is that thing about football players not really having the intellectual ability to possess the smarts; love that they are breaking that stereotype!
Coach Cordell has revolutionized the Ozark team’s routine with an inspiring method where every day of the week has its own unique meaning, crafting a framework that the team can embrace. This passionate approach infuses each day with a powerful sense of purpose, enabling the coaching staff to direct their efforts with clarity, steadfastly propelling them toward their 1-0 goal. Monday ignites as Energy Day, urging the team to unleash enthusiasm. Tuesday is Toughness Day, challenging players to forge physical and mental resilience. Wednesday possesses the spirit of Competition, driving the team through their competitive essence. Thursday is all about F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forget About Me, I Love You), a camaraderie and selflessness that holds the team together. Finally, Friday demands the utmost in Discipline/Finish Day, where diligence and tenacity reign supreme as they strive for their 1-0 excellence. With each day pulsating with its distinct mission, the team remains engaged and inspired, ensuring they are not only aligned with their overarching quest for a 1-0 each week but are also forming character. This impassioned structure engrains dedication and perseverance at every step.
Lastly, the Ozark Football Program does not have a scout team. Scout teams are typically comprised of players who play the opposing team’s offense or defense during the week of practice to give the varsity the look that they will see during the game. It is not that Ozark does not have players fulfill these roles throughout the week, it is that they are not label as a scout team. In the Ozark Tiger Football Program, they are labeled as the Win Team. Why? Because with an outstanding Win Team, the varsity will stand a better chance of winning the game. When a Win Team gives you their best look and they get after your varsity team throughout the week of practice, the team is better prepared for the competition under the Friday night lights. They get on the field, and they are comfortable because they have already seen it; they understand what the other team is trying to do, and they will perform better. This type of preparation puts the varsity players in a better position to be 1-0.
Coach Cordell’s leadership and dedication to his football program leave me impressed. As the program continues to develop and grow, it is evident that the potential for success is enormous. With every game, the players’ commitment to reaching their goals becomes increasingly apparent, and it’s exhilarating to witness their progress. I am eagerly anticipating the remarkable achievements that lie ahead for this football program and can’t wait to see them in action.
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3 responses to “Week 6 – Ozark Football”
Excellent read on Ozark Tigers. Program has it going on for sure!
So exciting!
[…] and is really the only game that holds weight moving forward in the playoffs. Like Ozark football (which I highlighted last week), the mantra moving forward in week 10 is 1-0. Indeed, it is exciting leading up to district play! […]