Soddy-Daisy’s Austin Goins is one of 18 seniors who will try to rebuild the Trojans program this season.
There’s a noticeable upswing in excitement on the Soddy-Daisy football practice field this week. A bit more pep in the players’ step, and deservedly so.
Afterall, it had been nearly a full calendar year since the Trojans had experienced the satisfaction that comes with a Friday night victory. The team ended last season, and the coaching tenure of Kevin Orr, with six straight losses, finishing 2-8. That was followed by a summer spent adjusting to new coach Justin Barnes’ up-tempo workout plan and a preseason of wondering whether all that sweat and hard work would pay off.
While last Friday’s storms pushed kickoff back a day, the answer to that question was a resounding yes as the Trojans used a second-half rally to upset Hixson on the road.
The immediate result of that win was validation for everything Barnes and his new staff had been preaching to the players throughout the offseason. The confidence from such a win could carry over into tonight’s game against rival Red Bank and springboard the Trojans into this season’s surprise team.
“We’ve got a whole new attitude,” said Trojans fullback/linebacker Austin Goins, one of 18 seniors. “Last year we kind of gave up at one point and just went through the motions. Coach Barnes came in and changed everything from the way we work out to how we practice.