Lions to start practice for 2023 season
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions football team gets started on its 2023 season with the first practice session at 8:00 a.m. Monday, July 31 at the fieldhouse.
Lions head Denney Faith said the first workout session will start in the green room, with following days starting on the practice field.
“It’s always exciting when you start a new year,” said Faith, who is beginning his 37th season as head coach. “You find out the personality of your team, who your leaders are going to be.”
Players must have undergone a physical examination as well as have forms filled out and signed by both students and parents by the opening day of practice.
The varsity Lions return 12 players from the 2022 state championship team.
“We’ve got a good core coming back,” Faith said. “Those guys worked hard through the spring and summer trying to get their bodies ready for a long football season. I think they’re excited, as well.”
Players must undergo an acclimation period during the first week of practice with helmets being the only protective gear allowed.
“We’ll go to about 11:00 or 11:30 and take as many breaks as we need to during that time period,” Faith said. “The first three or four days will be acclimation, getting used to wearing a helmet again and to the heat. There’ll be a lot of aerobic activity the first couple of days.”
Teams may don “shells” (helmets and shoulder pads) on the fourth day of practice.
“We play that by ear,” Faith said. “Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t.”
The coach said 11 seniors showed up Monday, July 24 to receive equipment, with players from the other classes receiving their gear throughout the week.
“The junior class is going to be the one that’s really small,” he said. “I’m hoping for at least six. There’ll have to be some sophomores step up and play varsity.”
After two weeks of practice, teams may conduct intrasquad scrimmages. Albany has scrimmages planned at Coleman the week of Aug. 11 and at Early the week of Aug. 18. Faith said exact times and dates are still in the works.
“We try to go on Thursday for that second one, but the Early coach hasn’t confirmed that with me yet,” he said.
Faith said that at this time, regular-season games are all scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. The Lions open the season Friday, Aug. 25 at Lubbock Trinity Christian.
“We’ve gotten some information that some games may have to be moved to Thursdays, maybe Saturdays, because of a lack of officials,” he said. “Abilene TLCA still doesn’t have a home field yet. There’s a possibility that game (Friday, Nov. 3) could be at McMurry, but that’s up in the air, and it’s a long way away.”
Junior high practices will begin the first day of school – Wednesday, Aug. 17. The first junior high games will be against Dublin on Thursday, Aug. 31.
