In addition to teaching on-field excellence, Thomas County Central High School’s football program has implemented an initiative to encourage achievement in the classroom.
Head coach Ashley Henderson says everyone involved in the football program takes it very seriously and wants to put the same level of care into academics as in strength and conditioning, nutrition and skill development. This gives them a chance to know students on a more personal level and talk to players about topics other than just ball.
“I think, as coaches if the only thing our kids learn from us is how to play ball, we have failed them,” Henderson said. “Being eligible is the bare minimum requirement to play, according to GHSA (Georgia High School Association) rules. We are trying to help our players understand being eligible is not enough. If we don't accept the bare minimum in anything else we do, why would we accept it in the classroom?”
The higher the Grade Point Average, or GPA, the more the recruiting doors are likely to open for them, Henderson continues.
“Our coaches talk about grades to their position players daily,” he said. “We are trying to set our student-athletes up with opportunities after high school. If you have two players a college is recruiting, and one player is Hope Scholarship eligible, and the other is not, all other things being equal, the one with grades gets the offer before the other.”
In February 2018, the TCCHS football team roster had 66 players, and only six had a 3.0 GPA or higher, Henderson explains. Currently, the list of 10th-12th graders totals about 100 members, and almost half have a 3.0 or higher.
“We have not arrived yet but are getting much better,” he said. “I think it’s about creating a culture where everything is important. This includes academics. Kids will always rise or fall to your level of expectation of them.”
Aiding the players on the quest for academic success is coach Tully Payne, whom Henderson says his second sport is year-round academic monitoring. Payne and Henderson run the football study hall program in conjunction with the TCCHS after-school tutoring program.
“Coach Payne does a phenomenal job staying in constant contact with teachers, parents and our student-athletes about academic progress,” Henderson said.
Also, two other coaches act as NCAA liaisons: James Glenn and Mario Drayton. Glenn is the point man for NCAA eligibility highlights videos, camps, etc., and helps students and their families find playing opportunities at the post-secondary level. For example, last year, Glenn helped seven seniors find scholarships to play ball in college.
And this push doesn’t belong to merely the coaches and players, either.
“It takes all hands on deck,” Henderson said. “We have a great academic program at Central with a lot of very talented teachers. Our teachers really care about each one of these kids and don't hesitate to reach out and let us know if one is underperforming or excelling in their class.”
Offensive lineman Garrett Harrell, 17, says academics are essential to him.
“I need a good academic standing so that I can go to college,” he said. “There is no guarantee that every football player will go pro, so I need to have my good grades lined up for the future.”
Al’Kevius Bryant, 17, a defensive lineman, thinks the program’s push toward improved academics is a great thing, especially for players, because it gets them set to be eligible for continued participation.
“All the after-school tutoring programs have been great thanks to the teachers taking their time in helping the players achieve grade goals,” he said. “A high percentage of players’ grades are improving tremendously due to the fact.”
Bryant strives toward better than the minimum goal.
“It’s always my goal to maintain a 3.0 and higher,” he said. “I’ve been focused on school very much…. Grades matter, no matter what, especially if you’re trying to get to the next level with scholarships and making eligibility standards.”
There is a quarterly 3.0 board in the locker room that holds a photo of each student who achieves/maintains this GPA to encourage players. Also, teachers can give out helmet stickers for academic or character reasons throughout the football season.
“That has been a hit with the teachers because it gives them some ownership in the football program as well,” Henderson said. “We have new helmet stickers for our players who have 3.0 or above for the previous year for everyone for next fall.”
While this push is significant, Henderson continues, coaches realize each player is different and some may never make the honor roll.
“But you can win a lot of battles with some of them if they don't fail any classes,” he said. “We will make a big deal out of that to those players.”
Playing football for TCCHS is a once in a lifetime experience for Harrell.
“Not only has it made me into a talented student-athlete, but it has shown me the true meaning of hard work and dedication in the classroom and on the football field,” he said.
Harrell says this initiative has helped him improve his grades this school year.
“The coaches putting academics first makes us see what is most important,” he said. “My coaches encourage after-school tutoring, and they are always there to answer any academic questions during study hall. They are very involved in academic time as well as the field time. It helps me to focus not only on football but to focus on my academic standing. My goal is getting the 3.0 sticker and keeping it.”