Doug Powell was hired as Waldron's head football coach in late January.
But he was not able to get going in his new position until April 20, which was into the coronavirus pandemic.
The Arkansas Activities Association instituted an athletic dead period effective March 15 that prohibited athletes from working out at school facilities.
When Waldron held its first workout Monday under the guidelines set by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health, it was the first time Powell had seen his players in person. The Bulldogs went through conditioning drills during the week in an attempt to get into shape, Powell said.
"The kids were excited to see each other," Powell said. "We got a little bit of work in."
Powell, who was at Magazine from 2012-19 and led the Rattlers to a 4-2A Conference championship last season, said he is transitioning well into his new job in Scott County.
"It hasn't been too bad," Powell said. "But I know I and the kids were anxious and ready to go."
The Bulldogs, similar to most programs throughout the state, held virtual workouts. But Powell says his team, which has 30 players, will have some catching up to do.
"A lot of our guys probably didn't get into the shape the way they wanted to, but that's not unlike most programs right now," Powell said. "We just want to improve and grow."
Waldron went 2-8 last season under Johnathan Bates. The Bulldogs have not reached the playoffs since 2017, and they have a tough task ahead in the 4-4A Conference with state semifinalist Ozark and perennial playoff contender Dardanelle.
"It's the same goals," Powell said. "Obviously, I'd like to get to the playoffs. They've had talent in the past.
"We want to change the culture. But it's not going to be easy."
Powell's first game with the Bulldogs is scheduled for Sept. 4 when they host Mansfield.
GOSNELL
Maintain momentum
In his first season at Gosnell in 2019, Coach Lewis Earnest led the Pirates to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Pirates went 6-6 overall and 5-2 in the 3-4A Conference. They defeated Mena in the first round before losing at Crossett.
Earnest didn't want that momentum to stop, even during a global pandemic.
"We had 100% turnout," Earnest said. "We're at 55 players. They were eager to be there."
Gosnell held workouts from Monday through Thursday. During the two-and-a-half months that the Pirates weren't able to work out together, Earnest sent his players virtual workouts and signed them up for a Nike run club where he could track their speed.
"They knew that we were going to hit the ground running when we were able to come back," Earnest said. "We don't want to have any injuries."
Gosnell is led by a pair of juniors in running back Travelle Anderson and guard Tedarian Blair. With Blair up front, Anderson rushed for 1,025 yards and 9 touchdowns on 111 carries last season. Anderson has been offered a scholarship by Kansas and Arkansas State University.
"They're both in good shape," Earnest said. "They are phenomenal athletes."
Gosnell opens the 2020 season Aug. 28 at former conference member Brookland, which has moved up to Class 5A and will play in the 5A-West this season.
ALMA
Playing catch up
First-year Alma Coach Rusty Bush and his assistants calculated the days from when their offseason workouts were halted until May 31, the day before teams could get together again.
"We had 79 days off," Bush said. "It was good to be back."
From March 14 to May 31, Bush and his staff held virtual workouts for the Airedales.
When they returned Monday, they went through conditioning drills and lifted weights on the field at Airedale Stadium. Bush said Alma has 60 players in the program.
Bush is in his first season at Alma after serving as an assistant coach at Fort Smith Northside. He takes over for Doug Loughridge, who is now Alma's athletic director.
As a first-year head coach, Bush hopes he and his staff can install their offensive and defensive playbooks in-person soon.
"We are so far behind," he said. "I have got to do some football stuff. We want to see the quarterback throw the ball. We want to see the wide receivers catch the ball. We want to see the defensive backs play the football."
But since football is a contact sport, teams are not allowed to hold practices under the current guidelines.
Beginning this Monday, Alma will move into the open bay room of the Frank Vines Field House, which opened in 1994. Bush said that with the current social distancing guidelines, the school's 1,800-square-foot weight room wasn't going to work for the current group of players. So they'll move into the open bay, where it is 6,000 square feet.
"We'll split the groups in half," Bush said. "We'll have 25-30 kids in a group with two people at a station."
Alma hosts Van Buren on Sept. 4 in the annual Battle of the Bone rivalry game.
BENTON
On a schedule
With 92 players in the program, Benton plans on not missing a beat after last season's 6A-West Conference championship team and state runner-up finish.
Benton Coach Brad Harris said seeing his players again last week was beneficial for him and his staff after the coronavirus pandemic halted in-person workouts since mid-March.
"It's been good," Harris said. "We've been trying to get into shape. It's been different."
Harris said he and his staff had players separate into groups of 30 when football teams were allowed to meet in person. One group would start at 8 a.m., then the second group at 8:30 a.m., and the third group at 9 a.m.
Benton is planning to work out four days a week from Monday through Thursday. Players will be off Friday through Sunday.
"We still want our kids to have a summer," Harris said.
Coaches have had to wear masks at all times. Benton's coaches and players are wearing scarf-like masks, which the school district purchased.
"We look like we're all ready to rob a bank," Harris joked.
The guidelines that teams have to follow from the state have been accepted by Harris and the Panthers.
"If that's what we have to do, we'll do it," Harris said. "We're hopeful that it will loosen up a little bit."
Benton takes on Saline County rival Bryant in the annual Salt Bowl in its season opener. A date has not been scheduled, but is expected to be in the first week of the season (Aug. 24-29).
EXTRA POINTS
The Arkansas Activities Association will hold its annual summer workshop meeting Tuesday through Thursday. The association is scheduled to announce at the meeting whether the summer athletic dead period will be lifted to allow teams to work out. Currently, the summer dead period is scheduled for June 21-July 5. ... Gosnell has hired former Crossett offensive coordinator Richard Griffith as an assistant coach. Griffith will coach the Pirates' wide receivers and defensive backs. .... El Dorado will host North Little Rock in a benefit game Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium. North Little Rock is led by J.R. Eldridge, who was hired in March from Arkadelphia. Steven Jones is entering his second season at El Dorado.
