Bulldogs Head Coach Rick Jones is heading into his 14th year at the helm of the GHS football program. During that time he has won six state titles and played for three others, including the last two, losing to Pine Bluff (2015) and Russellville (2016). And while those losses were disappointing, Jones and his staff and players are moving forward preparing for the upcoming season.
"We have about 116 kids, but a good number of those are in basketball," said Jones. "It's rolling right along. We're getting ready. We [started] the first day we got back from Christmas break. We're back in the middle of it. We lift four days a week and we practice football one day. So it's going good. The kids are doing great."
Asked if he was planning any changes in focus or direction, the coach said, "Every year when the season is over I give a set of individualized questions to each of our coaches, and they take them home and work on them over the Christmas break.
"We do a thorough evaluation of everything we're doing in every phase of the program," he said. "We're always looking and trying to figure out how to do it better. The game is constantly changing and you have to work hard to stay up on it."
Regarding the consecutive losses in the state title game, Jones said that it shouldn't make a difference in how the team approaches the future. "If I knew how to do it any harder, we'd already be doing it. We go hammer down all the time. God put two eyes in front of our bodies and none in the back, and I think we've got to push forward, learn from our mistakes, learn to do better, and move on. Those 48 minutes are gone forever."
Jones also revealed that he and members of his staff were excited to be attending a series of out-of-state clinics. "We have guys going down to Dallas. I'm going to Tulsa. I've also got a free trip to Orlando next week for the NFL and Football USA. They're bring in a large number [350 high school] of coaches. We'll get to listen to guys like [former NFL coaches] John Gruden and Brian Billick and people like that. That will be fun. We're just trying to learn and get better."
Asked about the coaching vacancy at Fayetteville, Jones admitted that he was out of the loop this time around. Amid some controversy, the Purple Dogs changed head coaches last spring and won the 7A state title in December under new coach Bill Blankenship.
But Blankenship is now returning to the Sooner state after only one season at Fayetteville, taking the head job at Owasso, Oklahoma. Jones admitted that he wouldn't be unhappy if Russellville Head Coach Billy Dawson got the Fayetteville job. Dawson is widely viewed as one of the best head coaches in the state and his Cyclones beat the Bulldogs in December at War Memorial Stadium. (Editor’s note: Billy Dawson was named head coach at Fayetteville on January 25th.)
But Fayetteville is not the only high profile large school job opening this off-season. The Texarkana Razorbacks pulled off something of a coupe by prying Barry Norton away from cross-town rival Texas High. The hiring happened suddenly earlier this month, and came as a big surprise to many people familiar with the two schools.
Norton spent 18 years at Texas High, never having a losing season and winning over 150 games. Eleven times his teams won eight games or more per season, including 14-1 and 13-1 in 2002-2003, respectively. His teams are known for their strong defense. He will also become the new Athletic Director for the Razorbacks, who play in the same conference as Greenwood.
Other 6A West conference foes are also changing head coaches. The Lake Hamilton Wolves are currently searching for their next coach, as are the Sheridan Yellowjackets.
The other current large school opening is Class 5A Wynne. After taking his team to the state title game twice, losing badly both times to Pulaski Academy, former Head Coach Chris Hill has departed for an assistant coaching position at Harding University in Searcy. Hill served as an assistant coach in Greenwood under Ronnie Peacock in the 1990s.