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TEXICO - For a spectator, the best part about Tuesday morning's Texico football practice was being able to watch it from the shade.
Even for the Texico players who were out in the blazing sun, it was all good. They were practicing to play the game they love, the game they've played most of their lives. Practices began Monday, meaning the regular season isn't too far behind - it's a little more than two weeks, actually, before the Wolverines visit Jal for the 2019 opener.
New coach, new offense, hot sun. But it's still football. And that was enough metaphoric cool on Tuesday to keep the players happy. That, and plenty of bottled water for hydration.
All in all, a fun week, fun time of year.
"It's pretty exciting," senior quarterback Ben Loewen said, "but it's also kind of nerve-racking, too, being the last two-a-days that we'll get to do, because we're seniors."
"I've been pretty excited. Good to come back. I really missed it," senior offensive/defensive lineman Robby Clauss said. "It's sad that it's the last one. I'll hopefully, maybe try to go for a college scholarship, but we'll see what happens."
"I'm really excited," junior wide receiver/safety Anders Nelson said. "We've been waiting all summer long."
Among those thrilled is Bob Gilbreath, who took over as head coach in the offseason. After years of working in Texas as a ninth-grade and sophomore coach, then as a varsity assistant, Gilbreath finally has a head-coaching position.
"For me it's very exciting," he said, "being in charge and having my own program and being able to lead. It's been a jolt of energy for me to be able to do that. The kids are very responsive to my plan, and the coaches as well. We've spent the first two days learning basically how to practice, learning the tempo and training techniques that I want to implement. I'm very excited, it's been very positive."
The returning players have spent spring and summer - specifically, the first two days of practice - adapting to their new coach.
"We had a new coach two years ago when I was a freshman," Nelson said, "so I've been through it before."
"It's change, because every guy has a different scheme," Loewen said. "But he seems to know what he's doing really well. We did the same thing two years and it's just something that you have to get used to."
"It's been really good," Clauss said. "I like the scheme that he has going. He seems to really know what he's doing. He's got a good positive energy, he's all about the team. I really think it'll be good with him."
"We're just trying to figure each other out," Gilbreath said. "But they're adjusting."
Gilbreath, a Clovis High and Eastern New Mexico University alum, most recently served as defensive coordinator for Texas' Azle High. He won't have to worry too much about running Texico's defense; he has holdover Darrell Davis for that.
On the other side of the ball, there will be a learning curve throughout these practice weeks.
"Offensively, everything's new," Gilbreath said. "Defensively, we have the same defensive scheme as last year, same coordinator. And so the terminology is the same and the kids are familiar with that. On the offensive side, everything's new, and we're implementing my offense and my terminology. So we're a little bit behind on the offensive side, but the kids are grasping onto it. I'm trying to keep things simple and not do too much, and do it over and over and over to get where we can execute things."
Precisely what practices are for.