Spring practice ushers in new era for North football
Any time a football team hires a new head coach, there’s always a call by that person for accountability, discipline and attention to detail.
As the North Fort Myers High School football team gather for spring practice, those calls aren’t just talk.
Former NFL running back and Mariner standout Earnest Graham is the new head coach and, if anyone knows the single-mindedness and hard work it takes to play in the NFL and be a winner, it’s Graham.
And it’s demonstrated in his actions during practice and the way they are conducted. It’s more than two hours of intensity, both mentally and physically. It’s no longer enough to make the tackle. You have to have the technique.
It’s this kind of work that Graham hopes will help the Red Knights continue to develop after a 3-7 season last year, when they snuck up on a few teams and played tough football from start to finish.
“We’re trying to build a mentality to the kids, which we’ve already done in the off-season workouts. We’re going to hold the kids accountable and set a new standard in taking initiative with the kids,” Graham said. “Getting them up in the morning and taking control of their academic life. Just a family mentality.”
The goal of any coach in the spring is to see the talent he has, getting them to gel, and to find out what you need to do to accomplish your goals in the fall.
Graham said he also wants to change the mindset of the North program that hasn’t had much success in recent years.
“You have to get kids to climb out of the hole and understand the possibilities. The one thing we can control is effort, and that’s attitude and we need to make sure both are right,” Graham said.
The Red Knights program is hoping that a coach can make all the difference. Graham, as a former NFL player, has instant credibility. He brings a dynamic presence to the team in much the same way Jordan Ingman did at Port Charlotte as he took a moribund program and turned it into a winner almost instantly.
“The kids listen and they take my word more seriously than those who haven’t played in the NFL. Having that experience gives me that advantage,” Graham said. “A new coach coming in to give a breath of fresh air and putting kids in great situations is what it’s all about.”
The players have noticed the difference from last year. Just ask senior lineman Sean Howard.
“The intensity is much higher. We’re getting more mental reps and learning a lot,” Howard said. “He has knowledge at every level and he’s going to help us get to the next level and has insight into offensive schemes. We’re learning a lot.”