Sometimes a modest remodel is inadequate and a complete restoration project is required. One of those “tear it down to the foundation” type of rebuilds that fills hours of HGTV programming.
It’s a painful process in the short term, but it’s also what’s needed to remove the decay and deterioration that are the result of previous “quick fixes” that failed.
When Chris Brown was hired to take over Cleveland High School’s football program in April, he knew this was no patchwork project. It would be a massive overhaul, which meant reassessing what success looked like early on.
After all, before this season had kicked off, seven starters — who likely would not have adapted to the structure of Brown’s program plans — headed to other schools, taking advantage of the TSSAA’s newly relaxed rules on immediate eligibility for transfers.
That meant the Blue Raiders would have only two returning starters on each side of the ball — and just four seniors who see significant action — to begin a season in which six of their first seven opponents have, at one point this season, been ranked among the state’s top 10 in their respective classification. Add to that three of the first five games coming on the road.