North Putnam hopes to gel both on, off the field

The Cougars square off against each other in the Blue and Orange scrimmage. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

North Putnam is a team on the up-and-up. The Cougars haven't had a lot of success since the since the state championship game loss but after a 4-6 season the Cougars are ripe for a good season.

"We've got a lot of guys coming back that have some playing time," NPHS coach Greg Barrett said. "We're excited about that. Any time you have an opportunity with kids that have had a chance to get a full year under their belt, you expect them to be a little further ahead. I think right now we are headed in the right direction. We're expecting good things as we always do. But if you don't do those little things then it can get turned around."

Barrett is assured in his team, who is welcoming two players from Cloverdale, Brayden White and Duke Duff, both of whom will figure to play big roles on the team.

A Cougar kicker puts one through the uprights as Brad Hodges holds. (Banner graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The team will also be welcoming back some familiar faces such as seniors Bradley Hodges, Daniel Huffman and Bobby Scheele. But what has Cougar fans most excited are the younger faces like sophomores Hayden Rudes and Gage Bell or juniors Jack Kendall and Corbin Judy.

"We've got good leadership," Barrett said. "We've got good captains and we have players who have bought in. They are team players. There are no 'me, me, me' guys out here and we preach that all the time."

Barrett believes his Cougar team has the kind of mindset that leads to winning and its not all about Xs and Os.

Dylan Hess breaks to the outside for the Cougars during the Orange and Blue Scrimmage at North Putnam. The Cougars will face Greencastle Friday. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"Don't pay attention to the noise coming from the outside," Barrett said. "All that we care about is what takes place in the locker room. Right now that's a bunch of guys that are hungry to start winning and get the ship turned around in the right direction."

With the familiar faces bonding in the locker room and a coaching staff preaching the same messages year after year, Barrett believes it forms a fruitful formula for the team.

"Any time you get along with the guy next to you off the field, it makes that comaraderie and friendship better. It's understanding where they are supposed to be on the football field and off the football field. It's all about having each other's back. Once you have that, good things can happen."

North Putnam will play its first two games on the road, with Greencastle as the season opener Friday. While Barrett says that the new conference is exciting its still business as usual for players on Friday night.

"The new conference is exciting because you do have a championship week and there are two divisions," Barrett said. "That's motivation because you always want to take care of county and conference. But this is a great conference to get us ready for the playoffs because there are bigger schools than us. But we don't look at it like that. We'll play whoever we need to play to get into the playoffs."