Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Season 1 had a lot of good information shared by coaches from all of the schools we visited. I put together some of the more memorable moments and some of the funniest/unusual moments to wrap up the season.

From Texas to Oklahoma and back, from small schools to big schools and back, head football coach and AD for Mason ISD, Wade Griffin has seen it all. With four kids in school and a wife who is also a coach, he hopes to make Mason his final resting place on his coaching journey. Join us as Coach Griffin shares his thoughts and ideas for successful football programs and what he is bringing to a town with a rich history of success in academics and athletics.

Coach Dewaine Lee wears a lot of big hats in the small 6-man community of Strawn. Superintendent, head football coach and city council member are just a few. In his 27 years as a head coach he has amassed over 250 wins and 5 state championships. The lure of bigger and better things has not been able to drag him away from the town he has called home for the last 22 years. We discuss the documentary "Texas 6" that was filmed with his 2019 and 2020 teams and also what it means to be "MIS- made in Strawn".

Eli Reinhart is fresh off his state championship win as the OC for the North Crowley Panthers. He is taking over for the Hutto Hippos with his first head coaching role. We discuss everything from Michigan high school football to his expectations for his new athletes as he begins a new era in Hippo football.

Randy Jackson has had experience as a head coach and specifically turning programs around by developing culture and very intentional actions to bring about the desired result: a successful program. Listen to Coach Jackson talk about the first steps and priorities you will want to attend to as you start your program.

Brent Kornegay enters his 22nd year as a head coach and athletic director, starting anew at Johnson City in the hill country. After retiring once, the pull to get back on the field brought him back in 2 years ago and now he looks to revive the Eagles program for Johnson City.

Devon Dorris is closing out his 15th season as head coach for Azle ISD and that is probably the longest tenure of any head football coach in Azle high school history. He has returned to his hometown and kept the hornets playing consistently at a high level against 5A powerhouses in the DFW area. Coach Dorris has taken what he learned from his coaches in high school and college and put them into practice for the Hornets.

Denney Faith is the 2nd winningest active football coach in the state of Texas with 369 wins. Coach Faith talks about what keeps the Lions consistently in winners circle and what the keys are to staying in one place so long. (and it's not just the bass fishing up there!)

Coach Cedric Hardeman of Conroe High School talks about his move from the business world back to the football field. He also talks about the importance of "finding your David", what has God given you to be successful in life and how he teaches that to his athletes to prepare them for life after graduation.

Keith Allen has been selected as the head football coach at Schreiner University as they lay the foundation for their new football program, which will begin games this fall. We talk about what it's like recruiting kids to start a program and how he sells Kerrville and Schreiner University to new recruits.

Clint Dolezel, head football coach for East Texas A&M just finished his second football season as the man in charge for the Lions. Recently they have moved from the divison 2 level to division 1-FCS. As they have changed classifications they have also changed names from Texas A&M Commerce back to East Texas A&M. There is a lot going on in Commerce! Coach Dolezel brings us through his years in the arena football league and what brought him back to his alma mater as he discusses how recruiting works for a division 1-FCS program.

Ryan Mahon is the head football coach for the Blinn Buccaneers. Blinn competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Coach Mahon talks about how he recruits, what his goal is for his athletes and how the portal has affected his level of football.

Bob Wager, former high school football coach and current TCU director of football relations talks about recruiting at the D1 level. We also discuss the effect the portal and NIL are having on college football today.

Episode 22 Jesse Burleson of the Hardin Simmons Cowboys Coach Burleson is the head football coach for Hardin Simmons University. Hardin Simmons is a Division 3 university that participates athletically in the American Southwest Conference. In this episode he talks to us about the recruiting process for prospective student athletes, how to get noticed and the effect of the portal and NIL on his program.

Head football coach David Jones talks about a variety of issues that affect programs and some of the things he does to keep parents involved with their kids as they participate.

While attending Randy Jackson's Fast N Wide Clinic in Plano, I took time to do some short interviews with Joe Cary from Tomball Memorial HS, Brent Pickard of Eau Claire Memorial HS in Wisconsin, Canon McWilliams of Big Spring HS, Dennis Dunn of North Desoto HS in Louisiana and Jeff Caffey of Big Spring.

Coach Eric Luster of Brazoswood HS sits down with me at Randy Jackson's Fast N Wide clinic and talks about the importance of T.H.I.S. : Trust, Heart, Intentionality, and Service.

Michael Hurd, author, sports writer, historian, veteran and occasional baker discusses his book Thursday Night Lights. This book documents the history of black high school football in Texas. Mr. Hurd spent years researching for this book to bring well-deserved recognition to many of the individuals responsible for making Texas high school football what it is today.

Blake Fuschak is in his 3rd season as the head coach for Antonian Prep. His dad helped establish Antonian as a TAPPS powerhouse and now his son is continuing the tradition. Coach Fuschak talks about the importance of humility and always learning and growing as a coach.

Jarrett Lambert was promoted from the DC of the Pearce Mustangs to the head coach 3 years ago and has progressed from 4-6 to 9-3 this year to make the Mustangs a strong contender in the biggest classification in the state. Retired Azle coach and friend, Joel Fuller, joined me for this episode in Richardson.

Post head football coach and AD, John Wright, talks about his movements from west Texas to north Texas and back as he made his way back to Post for a second time. Over the last two years he started over with a new system for the Antelopes that paid off this year with a 13-1 record.

Chris Freytag and I talk with Eric Soza, head football coach and AD for Rockport Fulton. He talks about coaching and playing for his dad and the turnaround season for the Pirates in his first year as the man at Rockport Fulton.

Coach Ricky Beaty takes the helm for the Salado Eagles for his first head coaching job and turns the program around, taking the Eagles to the second round of the playoffs.

Episode 13: Retired head football coach and AD, Randy Jackson talks about his stint in the German football league and the importance of the end-of-season autopsy and mental training for athletes.

Davenport head football coach and athletic coordinator, JD Zimmerhanzel, talks about the unity Friday nights can bring and how the inspiration for his offensive philosophy came from a game of washers!

Carl Abseck talks about the importance of learning from every place you go and program you are in. He emphasizes the need to be able to adjust to best fit the needs of each team. He also talks about how "mudita" has helped keep his teams on track and playing for each other.

Head football coach and AD for Yoakum ISD, Bo Robinson, talks about his coaching blood. Not only is Coach Robinson following in his dad's footsteps of success but his son has entered the profession as well and has found his way back to his hometown of Yoakum to coach with him.

Head football coach and boys coordinator, Todd Patmon, talks about his family and how the Del Valle school district strives to provide the best environment and facilities it can to ensure that its students and athletes have every opportunity to succeed.

Retired AD and head football coach Bob Cervetto joins me to talk with one of his former players, Sterling Doty, who is the current head football coach and AD of the Stephenville Yellow Jackets. Coach Doty talks about what brought him to Stephenville as a kid and the road that brought him back years later.

Head football coach and boys AD for the Benbrook Bobcats, Cody Slater, talks about his coaching staff that have been with him for awhile and the importance of keeping up with former players.

Head football coach and athletic director Billy Mathis discusses how he found his calling as a coach and where pursuing that calling has taken him.

Visit today with head coach and AD Scott Freeman, in his 4th year as Junction head coach. He talks about dealing with adversity with staff and program situations and how he pushes the Junction Boys mentality for his teams with low numbers.

Head football coach and athletic director Jeff Luna talks about the importance of keeping priorities straight as a coach, doing the little things right and what its like to come back and coach in your home town.

Doug Shanafelt joins me again for a visit to Scurry Rosser HS to talk with head football coach John David Caffey. Coach Caffey talks about the importance of faith, family and football.

Doug Shanafelt joins me today in Crawford to visit with Coach Greg Jacobs of the Crawford Pirates and we discuss football, Crawford and some of the reasons behind Crawford's history of success.

We made our first stop in Fredericksburg to visit with head football coach Bill Wilder of the Battlin Billies. Join us as we learn about Coach Wilder and the town of Fredericksburg and part of what makes Texas high school football special.