Clovers focused on fundamentals with young team

Cloverdale head coach Tony Meyer talks to his players during a Cloverdale practice last week. CHS will face South Putnam in the season opener. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The Cloverdale football team "may take its lumps early." Those were the words of first-year head coach Tony Meyer, who took over the Clover program after Jarrod Duff's departure.

Cloverdale is full of underclassmen and with this many freshman and sophomores playing pivotal roles struggles, early are to be expected.

"Results I'm not going to measure in wins and losses," Meyer explained. "We are already seeing some results. The kids are recruiting more kids to play. Our participation is up and that is a direct result of our kids and they way we are doing things."

The Cloverdale quarterback makes a toss during the Linton-Stockton scrimmage. (Banner Graphic/Travis Davis)

The Putnam County native went on to explain that the results he wants to see are a less tangible than a win-loss record.

"If we can get kids to finish games and to compete on every down, those are the successes I'm looking for. Wins and losses are going to come. They may come this year, next year or they may come down the road. But we are doing things the right way and we'll get our results, one way or another."

Last season the Clovers ended a tough season with a single win against Brown County. Many Clover fans are hoping this can be the start of a winning tradition as the younger players mature and learn from their new coach.

CHS linemen work on drill before the regular season begins. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Meyer said that when the players have completely taken to the program, the drive required to finish games comes effortlessly.

"Once you get players to buy in and take ownership in the program it becomes very easy," Meyer said. "The kids have to feel as though they have a voice. They have to feel that there is a direction. If we can convey that to them, pardon the cheesy phrase but you've got to love them up a bunch.

"The kids are going to school every day. Everyone's got a different situation. You've got to let them know that you are in their corner," he continued. "When they feel that and when they believe that more importantly, they are going to take ownership. Then they'll start doing the little things."

Meyer explained that his coaching staff has tried to emphasize the doing little things in order to help the younger players develop into skillful athletes.

"We are just working on the basics and fundamentals," Meyer said. "We are re-teaching the kids literally from the ground up, as far as which offense and defenses we want to run, which is different from what they've done. We are building up."

Meyer believes his coaching staff's strongest quality pertains to the staff commitment to the players in the Clover uniform. He wants his players to feel united with each other and the coaches.

"We believe in the kids," Meyer said. "We're all in this together, if you'll pardon the 'High School Musical' reference. We don't have any grand expectations. The guys I hired are willing to come and teach the kids, knowing that we may take our lumps here and there, but that is their strengths."

Meyer believes his players are progressing as well as can be expected, considering the new programs that are being implemented. At a Clover practice last week, the offense ran a variety of plays out of different formations and that could potentially lead to a complex offensive scheme that will be hard for defense to match up against.

"I think everybody is buying in. They are all taking ownership," Meyer said. "As long as they are willing to take ownership in the team, things look good for the future."

Cloverdale will travel to face county rival South Putnam for its season opener Friday and Greencastle will follow on Aug. 28 at home.