New Coach, New Spirit
Football coach sets standard
New head coach Clint Fuller at freshman football game.
This KHS football season has been entertaining, fun, and encouraging. The Bulldogs have won and lost; and no matter the outcome, we are still a family, and we still support each other.
The football team has a new head coach, Clint Fuller. Fuller said that he is excited to be the new head coach at Kilgore.
“I lived in Kilgore a long time as a child, and to come back as the head coach is a special opportunity,” Fuller said.
Freshman, JV, and Varsity have been practicing every day and are determined to win.
Even with a loss, or a bad weather night, they still pull through and work even harder each game.
Varsity is first in district, and overall, so far is 4-1 (1-0 in district). JV has an overall of 3-1. They faced bad weather and cancellation due to lightning at the first game against Nacogdoches.
However, the Dogs pull through with support and school spirit to encourage wins.
Coach Fuller said as the season progresses, more and more work is put in to preparation. All levels of the team have the same expectations and standards, which according to Coach Fuller, is a lot. With that, the team is working to win future district and even the state game.
“Our expectations and standards are really high around here,” Fuller said. “Our ultimate goal is to win District Championship and play in December and have a chance to play State. The most important thing for us is that we are developing young men that can lead our school and lead once they get beyond high school.”
The football team is a family who works together to show Kilgore’s determination and love for the sport. To any future high school football players, Coach Fuller has encouraging words that might help with the decision to join the team.
“Hard work pays off,” Fuller said. “It is hard sometimes when you are a young player in the program to understand that there is a process and that process starts freshman year. However, at the end of that process, the payoff is huge.: getting
to play on Friday nights in front of your community, and all the intangibles you learn from playing football throughout your high school career. You carry these with you for the rest of your life.”
On Friday, Sept. 17, against Gladewater, the varsity football team won 54-0. This week is open, and the Dogs will be ready to face Mabank away on Oct. 8.
The season is helping everyone realize how our community comes together to support the team.
“The best thing about this season so far is our kids have improved everyday, and everyday I feel like we get a little better,” Fuller said. “Every week we are better than we were the week before. That gives me a lot of hope that we can do something special this season.”
All of this comes down to us as a community.
The team who gathers arm in arm at the end of each game in the center of the field, no matter the game’s outcome reminds us that we are here to support the Dogs and each other, every game win or lose.
The next home game we host is Chapel Hill on Oct. 15. That game is PINK OUT, so let’s do that and support the Dogs.