From “Blue and White” to “Freshman Football,” leaving 8th grade means a lot of new things. In 8th grade, there are two teams for almost all sports separated into the Blue, which is made of students from Bethel Middle, and the White, made from Bryant Middle students. The students become one team freshman year.
“It’s not much different playing with Bryant Middle. There are just better people on the team and we have better opportunities. I like playing with Bryant on the team more than just Bethel. We are way better now,” Aaron Austin, freshman, said.
As the team grows, so does the competition to be on the team.
“At the beginning during tryouts, if you just showed up you made it on the team so I wasn’t really worried about that. I’m just worried about my spot being taken,” Gabriel Vargas, freshman, said. “At the beginning, there were only six people playing safety but now there’s more so I have to work even harder to keep my spot.”
For most players, this isn’t their first year on the team and so earning their spot was different than 8th grade.
“This is my second year playing for Bryant. There weren’t any tryouts so I wasn’t worried about not making it. Even if there were, I can only control what I can control and do what I can do. I can’t make decisions for other people,” Ian West, freshman, said.
With more players on the team, there is less field time for everyone. But this also means there are more backup players.
“We have more people around if someone gets injured we know someone can step into that spot,” Brenden Murdock, freshman, said.
As there are more players on the team there are also more coaches.
“There’s more talent putting the teams together. The different coaches this year make it more intense and there is more building from what we already knew. This year it’s also more organized,” Logan Lee, freshman, said.
Practices normally are in the morning from six until the first bell and then they work out during first period.
“My favorite part of practice is team offense. We do this pretty much every day,” Rowyn Witherspoon, freshman, said.
In the mornings, players spend the class in the field house working out using different gym equipment.
“I prefer morning practices and we practice for about one and a half to two hours.” AJ Stallman, freshman, said.
When it’s not too hot, the team also practices most afternoons until 5. Despite the long hours, the players look forward to the work.
“My favorite part of practices is hanging out with friends and just getting ready for football,” Stallman, said.
Laila • Apr 10, 2024 at 8:12 pm
I learned about the upside to football by sharing the different point of views of the happy parts and not just a competitive angering sport
The most interesting part was learning about the happy parts of football and the teamwork A suggestion I have for the future is getting The coaches point of view of football and there on the teams, teamwork, and playing ability
Nayla • Mar 26, 2024 at 11:04 am
I learned that the football team has grown from 8th grade they have even said that and the only thing you have to do is sign up and there you go.
Joseph • Mar 7, 2024 at 2:55 pm
I learned that you do not have to tryout just sign up and show up to practice. I like how they ask player about the team. But they did not ask the coach’s about the team.
Joseph • Mar 7, 2024 at 2:45 pm
I like how the player are friendly. I learned that you do not have to tryout you can just sign up and show up to prictice with the team. They could have ask the coach’s, about the team.
Landon A. • Mar 7, 2024 at 1:58 pm
I learned about the different point of fews people had about football. The most interesting part of the article was learning how some people felt nervous about their spot in football and some others were okay with the changes happening. An unanswered question is, were there any chances some of the backups got to practice since they mainly had to work on some of the starters. A suggestion I have is maybe a coaches opinion on how they see the players change happen.
Donavan • Mar 7, 2024 at 1:48 pm
I like this one because it is descriptive but also I like how they really let the players/athletes join in on the article. They added their own part and talked about how it is being on the team and hows it’s stressful sometimes. Who ever made this did a nice job and I really don’t know any flaws it has. This article was on the longer side which isn’t bad but i’m not a good reader.
Alexander • Mar 7, 2024 at 1:44 pm
I thought there was a tryout process coming into football. I also like how they got the player’s perspective.
Cailey • Mar 7, 2024 at 1:34 pm
I learned that you don’t have to try out, you can just sign up. I also like how there is quotes from the players and have emotions. I would like to know more of struggles they faced.
Brennan • Mar 7, 2024 at 10:24 am
I learned that all people feel a different way, and that some players work harder, to make sure they keep their spot, I would like to learn on what it is like to play in the morning more
Lucy • Mar 6, 2024 at 5:05 pm
This article was good because it shared a lot of details that I didn’t know about for example I didn’t know that you don’t have to tryout to make the team. I also really like how there’s some emotion to some of the quotes and they are not just your typical football players.
Paxton • Mar 6, 2024 at 11:09 am
I learned that for the freshman year there is no tryout it is just sign up. I really liked the quotes because it gave the players real opinions and it was interesting hearing everyone’s opinions. I think they should have added the coaches names or add like the head coach’s name.
Brenden • Mar 6, 2024 at 11:08 am
This was great because it showed are mentally in the beginning of the season, and if we are shaping out as a new team together. I do feel like there could be asked more about how was practice in the heat or in general. Overall this was a great article