Excited. First-year Houston football coach Eric Sloan uses the word often. That’s because he means it.
“That’s probably the word I’ve used the most,” Sloan said. “There are so many positives.”
The Tigers continued a busy offseason last week with five days of camp as they attempt to turn around the struggling program. Participation was strong at the high school level with nearly 50 players. Middle school numbers were lower with about 18 players.
Fundamentals were the focus of the camp as the Tigers continue to install a new offensive system. They are moving from former coach Billy O’Neil’s double wing to a spread look under Sloan.
Sloan, an assistant last season who was named head coach in February, said the team is further ahead defensively as it continues a similar system from last year. The offensive progression has been slower but positive as the Tigers learn arm signals for their no huddle approach.
“More than anything, we’re hitting on fundamentals and trying to break the game down,” Sloan said.
Led by a group of 16 seniors – more than 10 who are four-year participants – Sloan praised the work ethic of the group. He said an average of 37 players participated during two different weight room sessions five days per week throughout the summer.
The high school players, who played in a two-day camp at Higginsville last month, returned for camp sessions on Monday and Tuesday before heading to East Newton on Wednesday. They complete the week Thursday and Friday with a 12-team camp at Evangel University.
“It’s a fun group of kids to be around,” Sloan said. “It doesn’t feel like work. It’s not a job. They have great attitudes and everyone gets along. They’ve bought into what we’re trying to do. They show up ready to work and get better.”
Sloan is hopeful middle school numbers will improve when school returns to session on Aug. 13. He said he plans to have a few players from Raymondville and Success play for the Tigers.
For middle schoolers who have never played or are weighing their options, Sloan encourages them to give football a try.
“It doesn’t hurt anything to come out and see if you like it,” he said. “I think it’s an offense where smaller kids can be successful. You don’t have to be big or extremely fast.”
Sloan recently completed his coaching staff with the additions of Boulder McKinney and Nate Christeson. McKinney, who coached the Houston Middle School team in the Ozarks Football League in the spring, is a HHS graduate who coached with the Tigers in previous years. Christeson is a 2012 Cabool High School graduate who played four years under Sloan there.
The duo join Vince McCrosky, Ken Cooperman and Todd McKinney as returning coaches. Christeson and Todd McKinney will coach the middle school while Sloan (receivers, running backs and defensive backs), McCrosky (quarterbacks and inside linebackers), Cooperman (offensive and defensive lines) and Boulder McKinney (receivers and outside linebackers) coach the high school teams.
Sloan said the Tigers will have one week off beginning Monday before returning Aug. 3 for the first official day of practice. The annual pig roast is Aug. 8, the jamboree is Aug. 14 at Strafford and the season kicks off Aug. 21 at Hollister.
Sloan said his players’ approach to the season has been encouraging.
“The kids are happy to be there,” he said. “They don’t walk around with their heads down. They have great camaraderie and work hard.”