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Andrew Salmi
andrew.salmi@granitemediapartners. com
Smithvil le — The Smithville High School varsity football team started practice Aug. 5 under first-year Head Coach and Athletic Director Layne Neumann, gearing up for the Tigers’ upcoming 4A-2 season.
“We are going to put a product on the field that they can be very proud of,” Neumann said. “We look to win now and will strive to do so. But, also trust the process as building a new program takes time. Our goal is to make our athletic program one of the best in the state. Success will be determined by multiple factors – winning, coach/ player relationships, number of participants in each sport, ability to share athletes across sports and dedication of players and coaches throughout the year.”
The UIL al lowed schools 4A and below to begin practice Aug. 5 in helmets, with full-contact practices in pads starting on Saturday.
Smithville is looking to bounce back from its 3-7 2023 season in an entirely new district.
The Tigers will share a football district with Jarrell High School, Gonzales High School, Lago Vista High School, Geronimo Navarro High School, Wimberley High School and Salado High School.
“We are in a tough district but we are up to the challenge,” Neumann said. “If you want to be the best, you have to play the best. We will be prepared and ready for all our opponents and we will compete for a full four quarters and give everything we have until the last buzzer. One of our biggest goals is to teach our players to attack any opponent. We will be challenged every week. Can you compete when you are better than your opponent and can you compete when you are not as good as your opponent? That model of consistency will be the hallmark of Tiger Athletics.”
Smithville will have its first scrimmage Aug. 16, hosting Manor New Tech High School, and remain home Aug. 23 for its final scrimmage against Austin Travis High School.
The team will hit the road Aug. 30 for its regular- season opener at Rockdale High School, 7 p.m.
