By Jamie Wachter
May 08, 2008 12:15 am
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CAIRO — Coming off a state championship appearance, expectations are high for Cairo in 2008.
Just not any higher than usual for the Syrupmakers, who started spring practice Wednesday.
“That’s usually what’s expected, I don’t think it’s any higher than normal,” Cairo coach Tom Fallaw said about the Syrupmakers, who return 28 rising seniors off last year’s 13-2 Class AAA runners-up. “That’s what we talk about every yea. Last year was just a year that it all came together. We were fortunate, but right now, we’re 0-0 and the expectations don’t change.
“You’ve got a lot of seniors coming back with a lot of experience — playing 15 games — but you also lost 11 seniors that gave you valuable playing time and you have to see some young kids ready to step up. There’s no doubt that those 28 kids can play, but they have to keep the same pace they did last year. Sometimes they can get complacent, and that’s the one thing we have to fight.”
While the championship expectations surround the Syrupmakers, Fallaw’s focus is making the most out of the 10 spring practices — not next fall.
“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to get ready,” he added. “These kids have worked their butts off, and they know no different. Everybody else can talk about those expectations, we know we’ve got to take it one game at a time.
“We’re sitting here in May and already talking about December. I’m not ready for December. I know we’ve got a long battle.”
Aiding that cause is the experienced lineup returning for Cairo. The Syrupmakers bring back rising senior quarterback Angelo Pease and rising senior running backs Reginald Bryant and Ronnie Wooten. The trio combined for 3,203 rushing yards last season.
Cairo also returns four starters on the offensive line and a host of defensive starters, too. Still, Cairo is looking for some young Syrupmakers to step up and compete, as well.
“This spring we do have to find some guys,” Fallaw said. “We know those 28 seniors can play, but this time of year we’re trying to find those other guys that are going to step in and help us. That was the question mark today, and the older guys kind of stole the show because they wanted to play.”
n POPULAR PRACTICE: The Syrupmakers’ return to the football field was accompanied by the presence of four college coaches. Assistants from South Florida, UAB and Western Kentucky watched Cairo’s spring debut alongside Georgia offensive coordinator and former Thomasville standout Mike Bobo.
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