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Keeping It Simple And Successful At Bainbridge
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Bainbridge Head Coach Jeff Littleton tries to keep things fun at football practice and in the weight room. He said that to me -- and I had to press him on it: In the weight room?
“When you’re talking about reps,” he says, “you hold each other accountable. If you see someone dogging it, you get on them a bit. And when they get right, it’s a process of making everyone see the positive things. We’ll turn the music on in the weight room as long as they’re doing right. And we’re all there listening to the music.”
Littleton admits to mixing it up. There are rock days, country days and rap days. There are days when the coach gets to hear new tunes and there are just as many days where the players hear new tunes.
Well, they’re new to them, anyway … and it’s all a part of being together as a group.
“We talk about getting better every day,” Littleton says. “We’ve had great practices and the kids have worked really hard. We had a tough schedule at the beginning and we’ve had tough games in the fourth quarter in region play this season, too. But, I think that’s helped us overcome being behind because of that tough schedule. We haven’t played our best ball yet and we’re looking forward to seeing what this team can do.”
In his time in Bainbridge, Littleton hasn’t been afraid to schedule heavyweights across the board. Geography makes it difficult and what everyone is dealing with everyday this season is adding a different dynamic altogether. This season that meant a 1-3 start hosting Coffee, going to Valdosta, hosting Thomasville, and traveling to Waycross to take on Ware County. Each one is a state powerhouse.
“We learned some good things in that group of games,” Littleton says. “We had a lead going in to the fourth quarter and couldn’t hold on against Coffee. We ran into personnel issues since that was our first game back without a lot of practice. Valdosta just beat us. We had some opportunities to keep the game close early and we just couldn’t do it. It was a tough game with Thomasville and a tough game with Ware. We had a lead there and we couldn’t hold on again. It prepares you for the runs you want to make in the playoffs. Our coaches and players have done a great job of getting better every day.”
Like everyone else I have had the chance to talk to this season, it’s been difficult for Bainbridge to get ready. It wasn't easy back when the season started and it isn't easy going into the last week of the regular season.
“It took some organization, not just with us, but from coaches around the state and around the country,” he admits. “We had workouts with 10-15 people when we started. But everybody is in the same situation and we made the most of it. The kids showed up all along and we didn’t have to chase anybody down. Our coaches have done a great job of communicating and everybody just worked together as a football team. It’s been great working toward all that.”
One of the areas Littleton has had to work on in 2020 has been his patience. At the same time, he knows it’s been a tough time for a lot of people -- people who have it a lot worse when it comes to trying to figure out the day-to-day.
The Bearcats have already clinched the Region 1-4A title with a week to go and have winless Monroe coming up just around the corner. Littleton is making sure the team is looking days ahead -- not weeks.
“You’re the third person who has asked me that question this morning, actually,” he admits. “I just got through talking to varsity kids in the weight room. The question was for them: ‘How do you not overlook Monroe?’ Bottom line is we want to finish the regular-season strong. It’s homecoming week, too.”
Back to the fun part for a sec.
Coach admits that his music likes are across the board: Hank Jr., Jason Aldean, Justin Moore and old rock and roll. I asked him, with his varied musical tastes, if he could come up with a song title to sum up the season.
“A lot of times, with the things we do around here, we try to keep things simple,” he says. “We just try to keep people playing hard. We just like to have fun and keep them going in the right direction, so how about (Lynyrd Skynard's) ‘Simple Man?’”
And this particular coach can’t put into words what it means to Decatur County to have their Football Fridays. So many people asked questions at the beginning about the future and what it may be -- or may not be -- for football. But Coach Littleton admits that the way each individual community and the GHSA handled the situation was the best way for everyone to go forward:
“It’s a great thing for our community.”
Play it safe, everyone… I’ll talk to you soon…
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