Trojan football team gets pool day

ALBANY — The Dougherty High School football Trojans got a break and a special treat Thursday from head coach Johnny Gilbert.

After several weeks of hot, humid football practice in the south Georgia heat, the Trojans were treated to a pool day at the Jefferson Boys and Girls Club in Albany.

“It gives them a little break and it is a great team-building event,” Gilbert said. “Before we boarded the bus for trip over, we had a real good discussion about commitment. I told them we have to be committed to our team and to the process, otherwise we won’t reach the goals we have set. Today we are here to relax, get wet and have some fun.”

The boys were thrilled for the opportunity and many of them headed straight to the two diving boards at the Jefferson Boys Club pool. As teenage, competitive football players would do, they were judging each other on how well they jumped into the water. The biggest shouts and clapping were saved for the coaches who joined in the fun, including Gilbert who dove in to excited players cheering him on.

Earlier in the week the Trojans competed in a 7 on 7 with Monroe and Carver of Columbus. Gilbert saw improvement.

“We were better than we were when we went to Athens to the University of Georgia. The offensive and defensive lines killed it in their part,” he said. “On offense, we made some bad throws but our competition was better too. On defense we had some blown coverages, but we are getting better. We are moving in the right direction.”

By Joe Whitfield
By Joe Whitfield

By Joe Whitfield