Bulldogs football has 'large' turnout in football camps
THE MISSION Bulldogs attempt to gang-tackle the Lincoln ball carrier on opening day of the 2016 football season. At the start of last season, the Mission Bulldogs had 27 kids on its opening day roster. The numbers isn't big in Class B but considered a "huge," number by several local Class-C, 8-man football coaches. (photo by Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
Mission High School football coach Tyler Murray said he is receiving a lot of participation in the weight room early on in the season.
“We are getting some kids in the weight room and they are working out pretty hard,” Murray said. “The kids are loving it so far.”
Murray said he is utilizing social media to try to get the word out about practice.
“I think with a lot of kids and parents now-a-days, getting the word out on Facebook is easier,” Murray said. “You just throw your weekly schedule on Facebook and that is the easiest way to do it.”
The Bulldogs, who are in a stacked conference, that features Charlo, Hot Springs, Twin Bridges, and Arlee just to name a few, may have one distinct advantage over their conference’s competition: numbers.
“We still have to figure out who the best eight guys are on our team,” Murray said. “We will have to wait and see what happens with the numbers. We are excited about it and the kids are excited about it. Next season, we will know what to expect. We will probably have the numbers advantage in the majority of Class-C but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have the skills advantage.”
The Bulldogs went to a 5-on-5 camp in Superior and Murray said he learned a lot about his team.
“We have a lot of young kids in the weight room,” Murray said. “They are really working hard and doing a great job. I finally learned the technique of everything and it’s a little stronger and fundamentally sound. The kids are putting in 100-percent effort and buying into it 100 percent.”
Murray acknowledged that with the type of conference schedule his Bulldogs play, they will have to play well every week to have a chance to win.
“We are going to have to play pretty well and that is what you hope for if you want to make the playoffs and set yourself up for success,” Murray said. “The challenge is the best thing about playing in a tough conference.”