Harris has Terrell Eagles focused on becoming tougher

DAWSON — Jack Harris has coached football long enough to know winning games doesn’t begin on Friday nights.

It starts months earlier, long before the lights come on.

For Terrell Academy, that process began in the weight room.

“The stronger we are, the faster we are,” Harris said. “The better we are, the more confidence we have.”

After guiding the Eagles through a 4-7 season in his first year after retiring from Terrell County High School, Harris identified one issue that affected nearly everything else.

His team simply wasn’t strong enough.

The Eagles were forced to shuffle lineups throughout last season after approximately 30 players missed at least one game because of injuries. At times, Harris had little choice but to rely on backups and players learning unfamiliar positions.

“We played hard,” Harris said. “But we just couldn’t overcome those kinds of problems.”

Rather than dwell on last season’s setbacks, Harris challenged his players to change the program’s mentality.

The message has been consistent throughout the summer.

“I want you better tomorrow than you were today, and better today than you were yesterday.”

It’s a philosophy Harris credits to legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant, and one he believes has taken root inside the Eagles’ locker room.

“Our seniors have really taken ownership,” Harris said. “They’ve done a great job holding each other accountable. The older kids are showing the younger kids what work ethic and commitment look like.”

That accountability has carried over into offseason workouts.

Harris praised his players for attacking the weight room all summer, saying the gains extend well beyond adding muscle.

“The weight room builds confidence, too,” he said. “It’s the physical part, but it’s also the mental part. We’ve got to have the mindset that we’re going to be as tough as we can possibly be.”

Terrell enters preseason practice with 53 players on the roster, including a large senior class and several newcomers experiencing varsity football for the first time.

“I love where we are right now,” Harris said. “We’re still climbing the hill, but we’ve got our foot in the door.”

Competition has been one of the biggest differences.

Several positions remain unsettled, something Harris believes benefits everyone.

“Iron sharpens iron,” he said. “Competition drives athletes.”

The increased depth has also allowed Harris to limit many offensive linemen to one side of the ball, a luxury smaller schools rarely enjoy.

That should help keep players fresher as the season progresses.

“We’re more athletic than we were last year,” Harris said. “And we’ve got kids pushing each other every day.”

The Eagles won’t have long to wait before seeing how far they’ve come.

Terrell Academy will host a preseason jamboree on Friday, Aug. 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the Eagles facing Frederica Academy in a controlled scrimmage. Southwest Georgia Academy and Calvary Christian will play the second scrimmage.

For Harris, the evening won’t be about the scoreboard.

It will be about measuring the progress made since the final whistle of last season.

“We’re excited,” Harris said. “Our kids have worked extremely hard. They’ve bought into what we’re trying to build, and now we just have to keep getting better every week.”