Interview with Coach Driskell: Malakoff set to take on Mildred

Coach Jamie Driskell huddles with his players. (File Photo)
Coach Jamie Driskell huddles with his players. (File Photo)

Listen to Michael V. Hannigan interview Coach Driskell.

Matchup

Mildred (0-0) v. Malakoff (0-0)

Location

Tigers Stadium in Malakoff, kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

Breakdown

— Head football coach Jamie Driskell is starting his seventh season at Malakoff. The Tigers have made the playoffs in each of Driskell’s previous six years.

— First game on the new turf. — “We love it. The kids love it. It ‘s got a soft, spongy feel to it. It looks good. The biggest thing for me is I want the kids, and the community, and the school district, and just anybody involved with our program to take pride in our facilities. And this is truly something we can be proud of.”

— The operative word for the week is new. It is the first game of the season with a lot of new players, a new emphasis for the offense, and a brand new turf to play on for the first time. — “We have some question marks that are going to be answered throughout this season. Probably more than we’ve had in the past few years. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing, but it is just some question marks that some kids are going to have to step up and play and you got to be ready to go.”

— Coach runs down some of the players fans can expect to see make a big impact on Friday night.

— Mildred is better than last year. — “They’re going to do everything the right way most of the time. They are going to play extremely hard.”

Extra Points

– Michael Hannigan will be in Malakoff Friday night, tweeting live @hctxnow and posting on Facebook.com/hendersoncounty now.

TVCC to kick off season against No. 5 Nassau

battle of the valley flyer

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

With a 21-game unbeaten streak on the line, the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals can hardly be accused of easing into the 2015 season.

They put the streak and their preseason No. 2 NJCAA ranking at peril Saturday against No. 5-ranked Nassau Community College in the fourth annual Battle In The Valley at Bruce Field. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Cardinals and Nassau were two of three NJCAA teams finishing unbeaten last season. Ninth-year coach Brad Smiley’s Cardinals went 12-0, the third such season in school history, and the Lions went 10-0. Continue reading “TVCC to kick off season against No. 5 Nassau”

TVCC Cardinals first day of contact

The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals held their first full-contact practice Wednesday at Bruce Field in Athens.

The Cardinals are scheduled to kickoff the season 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at home against Nassau Community College in the Battle in the Valley, sponsored by Virtual Communications Specialists President Paul Benson.

Nassau finished last season 10-0 and ranked No. 6 in the nation. The Cardinals finished last season with a 12-0 record and Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) champions. TVCC ended the year ranked No. 2 in the nation.  Continue reading “TVCC Cardinals first day of contact”