Marion County senior Brad Baxter, left, and coach Ricky Ross, right, have developed a special relationship. Ross is also the team's defensive coordinator, and Baxter, a middle linebacker, is responsible for making sure the Warriors are lined up properly.It's easy to coach Brad Baxter.
Baxter, a senior, has a vested interest in Marion County High School football that goes beyond the current team or even the current coaches.
It's a family thing.
Football, specifically Marion County football, is a huge part of Baxter's life, and it's safe to say he has been to more Warriors games than any fellow student. The team's home field, Bill Baxter Stadium, is named after his grandfather, a former Marion County coach and principal. Brad's father played for the program.
In other words, the Baxter family tradition is deeply rooted around Warriors football, which will take its show on the road Saturday for a Tennessee Class 2A championship game date with west Tennessee power Trezevant at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.
"Our football program and his family and the traditions are very important to him," Marion County coach Ricky Ross said. "You can see how much it matters to him just by his approach to everything we do."
The fact that he's a tight end without a pass reception and a middle linebacker who doesn't lead his team in tackles just don't figure into Baxter's personal philosophy for football.
"Tackles? I have no idea," he said. "I do know I had a couple or three fumble recoveries."
For the record, Baxter is one of the keys to the Warriors' touted running game, whether it's getting to a linebacker or safety, or leading the way if they decide to move the ball on the edge.
It is on defense, though, where Baxter has developed a special relationship with Ross, who doubles as the Warriors' defensive coordinator. It was all but necessity that Baxter become close with his coach.
"He doesn't have a lot of room for error without consequence," said the hard-nosed Ross. "He gets and makes all of our defense calls, and he has to understand what we're doing and why and where everybody's supposed to be, so there's a lot more to football for him than lining up and playing once the ball is snapped.
"The way he's handled the job is just another reason why we value what he does."
Baxter is the team's second-leading tackler - behind Mr. Football semifinalist Alex Kirkendoll - with 107 total tackles, a stat that includes six sacks and 18 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
"He isn't the biggest football player you'll see or the fastest, but football at Marion County matters a whole lot to him," Ross said. "As a coach, I've found that we can depend on him. He does what he is asked to do. And he isn't one to make excuses. When he doesn't get the job done, which is rare, he just says, 'Coach, I'll do better next time.'"
That next - and last - time comes Saturday.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at @wardgossett.