By Kyle Roberts
Imagine it’s the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, and your team needs a touchdown to win. It’s hot, you’re exhausted and you don’t know how much is left in the tank, both mentally and physically.
While that feeling can be nearly impossible to simulate, Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh is looking at these first few summer weeks as ways to hone the mental piece of football with the days getting hotter during conditioning and strength training.
“We’ve been focused on consistently lifting weights and running and all the things that you have to do to get yourself physically and mentally prepared to play,” Baugh said. “It’s that third week, which most coaches will tell you that’s when it really turns into work. It’s still kind of brand new for the first couple of weeks, and then everything’s settled in — kids get into a routine, and then it gets old pretty quickly. It’s been a struggle, to be honest, pushing the kids through it, but it’s a necessary evil of what it is you have to do.
“This is the part that nobody really gets the opportunity to see. Our coaches are pushing and pushing the kids, trying to get them to make sure they’re doing correct things, whenever they’re tired. So it’s been a bit of a struggle this week as its gotten warmer.”
This past week, the Bearcats completed their regular workouts, while also competing in Louisiana Tech’s 7-on-7 tournament, which was partially cut short due to weather. Other teams in competition included Calvary Baptist out of Shreveport, Minden High School and Oak Grove High School.
“It was a good opportunity for the kids to compete against somebody other than themselves,” Baugh said of the 7-on-7 competition. “Most of the summer is just lining up against the same faces and have the same coaches pushing you and yelling at you — you get to where you want to compete against somebody different. I think the kids like to take advantage of that.
“And then, when we roll into July, we’ll cut out the 7-on-7 and really start focusing on things and do more football with the entire team. Overall, it was productive, and we got the chance to see some teams that can throw the ball around.”
Ruston High will open its 2024 season at home on Friday, Sept. 6, against Acadiana High at Hoss Garrett Stadium.
