Kosy gets first look at new Whippets

By Austin Bishop
The Star Herald

KOSCIUSKO May 08, 2008 10:10 am

— Kosciusko High School football fans can expect to get their eyes full on Friday night, when the Whippets host a public scrimmage beginning at 6 p.m.
That will be the first look the Kosy faithful will have at the 2008 squad and the new offensive and defensive alignments being put in by first-year head coach Trey Rolison.
“Kind of tongue-in-check I’ve been saying I wanted to (have this scrimmage) to give the fans a chance to boo me for not being a two-back guy,” Rolison said with a slight chuckle. “Then I want them to come back the next Friday night (for the spring game against Quitman) and see that is still what we are going to do.”
Rolison said the Whippets are catching on to his one-back spread offense system fairly well.
“We have had a really good offensive day and then a really good defensive day, but we really haven’t put together a good day all around at the same time,” he said.
He said the spring has been a learning process, both for him and the players.
“We are just kind of seeing what kids can go where,” he said. “Spring is a great time to experiment with things. You can try kids out at different places. You don’t do that so much in the fall.”
One of those experiments that may pay immediate dividends, involves KHS defensive standout LaKendrick Carter.
“We were running some drills and I thought to myself, ‘this guy can really run with the football.’” Rolison said. “We talked about it, and know he is seeing some time at running back. He is able to change directions real well and has some natural instincts.”
Also seeing time at the running back spot is Timothy McGee. “We may only have one back in the game, but I like to roll them in and out and keep things mixed up,” Rolison said.
Rolison has also been pleased with the progress of quarterback Corvin Greer.
“He has shown me for sure that when the ball is in his hands good things can happen,” he said. “He’s a playmaker. There is a lot of pressure on him, but he is learning and doing well.”
Rolison also said that defender Chris Duncan has been seeing time at quarterback. “He really gives us a little depth at that position,” he said.
While the defensive unit as a whole has impressed Rolison, he also noted that Steven Triplett has caught his attention.
“Some people play football and others are football players,” Rolison said. “He’s a football player.”
Triplett was looked at initially as the nose guard in Kosy’s 3-5 defensive set, but he is now playing middle linebacker, with Will Martin playing the strong side backer.
Rolison said there will be a $2 charge for Friday night’s scrimmage. He said the event will begin with the No. 1 offense running about 15 plays against the No. 1 defense, then with the No. 2 teams going for 15 plays.
“We really just want to get the kids some experience in playing in front of the fans and with all of the crowd noise,” he said.
The May 16 spring game against Quitman will be a regular football game,, except for special team. The game will begin with the ball at the 30-yard line and the team will have four downs to achieve 10 yards or be forced to punt. Each punt will automatically be 35 yards unless it is inside the 35-yard line, where it will be half the distance.
Admission for that game will be $5.

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