CENTRE – It’s year two for Alan Beckett at Cedar Bluff, and if his past second years at the schools he’s been a head coach are any indication, then this football season should be an outstanding one for the Tigers.
When Beckett took over as head coach at Collinsville in 2007, the Panthers went 3-7 but then improved to 6-5 with a playoff berth a year later. In Beckett’s first year at the helm at Winterboro in 2013, the Bulldogs were 0-10, but then had four-win improvement his second year.
Last year, Cedar Bluff went 6-5 and won the Class 1A, Region 7 title.
So what’s in store for the Tigers’ second season with Beckett? Time will tell, but by preseason accounts so far, the Tigers are off to a good start during the offseason.
“We were at 32 (players) in the spring,” Beckett said at the Cherokee County football media day at Easy Street in Centre last weekend. “We really made a concerted effort, made a big deal to get people out.”
And judging by the players’ reactions, they’re buying in to what he’s trying to sell.
“I see a big change in our weight room, the leadership and things like that,” senior quarterback/defensive back Bucky Leek said.
“He brought in (a) nutrition (program) to us. He brought in all these coaches from colleges to speak to us and help us out. He’s just really changed a lot,” senior lineman Dylan Kinard said.
“Now we’re familiar with him, you know what he expects, and you know what’s expected of you. I guess you could say we’re in a comfort zone now,” senior linebacker/offensive lineman Hagen Stallings said. “At first, it was knowing and understanding what he wanted to do with the program, what direction he was going. Now it’s clear that it’s all about the culture. It’s not really about the older guys. It’s more about everybody working together, younger guys and older guys, creating a good culture and environment for the younger guys to grow up in and the older guys to leave a legacy.”
Beckett said “we wanted to plant as many seeds as we could to get things going in the direction we wanted.”
“We made a big focus on just trying to be in a cultured way, the way I wanted it,” Beckett said. “Cedar Bluff is a special place. There are a lot of haves and have-nots in high school football throughout this state. This is a have, there’s no doubt about that. It’s just a good place and a good community with good people.”
While the Tigers are seeing some changes during the offseason, one thing that remains relatively the same is the region in which they compete.
Cedar Bluff is still in Region 7, along with Appalachian, Coosa Christian, Gaylesville, Valley Head, and Woodville. The only newcomer to the region is Decatur Heritage, which takes the place of Sumiton Christian.
The Tigers open the 2022 season at home against Winterboro on Aug. 19, then welcome Cherokee County rival Sand Rock on Aug. 25. They open region play at Woodville on Sept. 2.
“At this place, it matters whether you win or lose,” Beckett said. “We’re grinding and working year around, just as hard as anywhere I’ve ever been.
“Obviously my last stop at Gadsden City (as an assistant coach), you could have the players to fit whatever offense you wanted, defense, whatever. (Class) 1A is different. You kind of have to mold things. You’ve got to make it work. You’ve got to make personalities work. You’ve got to work your way in and buy in. These guys are committed. They’re as good as it gets.”
