By T. Scott Boatright
Sometimes it’s the little things — extra things — that can impact an athletic team in a big way.
And one of those key, if maybe not so little, things is an exceptional work ethic.
As the Lincoln Preparatory School football team continued workouts Wednesday afternoon in preparation for Friday’s season opener at home against D’Arbonne Woods, that kind of work ethic was shown thanks in part to senior receiver Tre Spann, who stayed half an hour after practice’s end to continue working on his technique, particularly footwork on this day.
“You see what he’s doing out there right now — he’s doing extra work,” said coach Chaunce Davison after the team workout. “Tre does that after every practice. It’s not something that’s required. Pretty much everybody else has left the field and gone inside the fieldhouse. But there’s Tre out there still working.”
“That kind of thing — the work ethic — can be coached into a kid. Not at this point as a senior in high school. But Tre wants to be out there working. Tre and his dad get up early every morning and go to Louisiana Tech. They’re working out all the time. And he might leave here (football practice) and go inside and put (basketball) shots up. He’s just that kind of worker. That kind of kid.”
Davison said it’s Spann’s father Joseph that is the driving force in the Tre’s work ethic.
“He’s pushing them, in a good way … in a needed way” Davison said of Joseph Spann. “He wants his kids to be the best they can be. And he pushes him to do the work that can help make that happen. You always see him around and about working with his kids. It’s always the whole family, working hard together to become better individually.”
Spann admits his father puts in those “extras” as a parent that have helped his children excel in athletics as well as their classwork.
“He’s tough,” Spann said of his dad. “He expects a lot. He’s always pushed me to be great. He’s always been like that. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Davison said he only wishes he had more players with Spann’s attitude.
“You just thank the Lord you have a player like that,” Davison said. “The more his attitude, the more his focus on the little things — hopefully that rubs off and makes us better as a team just as it makes him better as a player.”
Spann said his work ethic is all about being focused on the reward it could bring.
“The future,” Spann said about why he puts in the practice work he does day after day. “I want a ring. I want to go to (the state football championships in) New Orleans.”
That work ethic is also about moving on to compete and earn an education.
“It doesn’t matter whatever it is, basketball or football,” said Spann, who said he wants to major in computer science in college. “It’s about what gives me the best opportunity. I just love competing. Even against myself trying to be the best I can be. That’s where all the work comes from. I’m working for the future.”
Spann said he’s excited about the offense new Lincoln Prep offensive coordinator Vyron Brown is installing with basketball teammate Zion Hicks making a gridiron move from tight end to quarterback.
“It feels a lot better knowing that we have a good quarterback that can throw the ball, that can get it to us in spots where we can make plays,” Spann said. “And it’s better knowing that we have an offensive coordinator who’s going to throw the ball. The defenses aren’t going to know what to expect from our offense, and that makes us a better team.
“And it’s exciting for me because I know I’m going to get the ball a lot more this season.”
Davison said Spann should become an even bigger part of the Panthers’ offense this season while also returning to his role as a standout defensive back.
“He’s going to be somebody we’re going to try and go to as much as we can.” Davison said. “He’s going to be our possession receiver and is going to be a big part of this offense.”
“This is 1-A football, so we have to use guys like him, especially guys with that kind of work ethic, on both sides of the ball. So, he’ll be playing in the defensive backfield, too. The more touches we can get him the better, on either side of the ball.”
And as he focuses on Lincoln Prep’s season opener, it’s those little things that remain at the forefront of Spann’s thoughts.
“It’s going to take executing the gameplan and putting ourselves in the right position,” Spann said of preparing for the Timberwolves. “It’s about listening, being disciplined and executing.”
