The Greene County football team kicked off summer practice last week by playing in a 7-on-7 camp.
The Tigers traveled about 40 minutes up the road to compete at Athens Academy. It was their first time competing against another team under the direction of new head coach Darius Robinson, who was hired earlier this year.
Robinson said that it was finally time for his team to compete against players wearing a different jersey color.
“I was very pleased with the overall performance,” Robinson said. “The main thing I was looking for was that everyone just wanted to compete. That was our first time competing collectively against someone who didn’t have Greene across their chest. It was interesting to see how guys responded to the competition we faced.”
Greene County began with Class AAA’s Oconee County, followed by Class 6A powerhouse Parkview, and then North Oconee, the reigning Class 4A state champion. They finished with White County and Monroe Area.
Robinson believed that his team improved throughout the day. The first-year Greene County head coach mentioned that his guys received a wake-up call at lunch, realizing they needed to relax and perform their best.
Robinson referred to it as a “come-to-Jesus moment.”
“I challenged the guys to understand when you step out on the field versus anybody, whether it’s North Oconee or Lincoln County, you are the better team because you train and prepare like it,” Robinson said. “You walk out there with confidence and swag. I challenged them to do that. It was a way better brand of football.”
Quarterback Landon Garretson sparked the Tigers’ offense by connecting with playmakers such as Kalil Dorsey and Denim Harris. The defense also elevated its play during the afternoon portion of the 7-on-7 camp.
Robinson admitted that the team’s skill players will be a huge difference-maker this upcoming season. He said they’re a solid group, but they still have a lot of fundamental things to work on before the team’s first game.
“The sky’s the limit with that group, man,” Robinson said. “We’ve got a very talented skill group across the board. I really don’t envy Landon because it’s a lot of pressure on him to get touches all across the field. But it’s all going to be about timing, progression, and overall continuity as the summer progresses with those guys. Everybody will become increasingly comfortable with this system and understand the speed of things.”
Robinson is trying to instill a championship mentality into his players, but they first need to believe in themselves.
“They needed that wake-up call and a resonating voice to let them know they can be like North Oconee,” Robinson said. “They could be a state championship contender, but to be a state championship contender, they must first believe it in their minds before they can do it.”