How did a team go from being just another stop on a schedule in the 90’s to being a tradition rich powerhouse regardless of classification. On the 100th Anniversary season we take a look into the modern era of Greenwood Bulldog Football
“Let’s go! Get to your position coaches! No walking on the field!” Head Coach Chris Young exclaims during Pittbulls PAD Camp. I am sure you are asking yourself, “I thought he was the Bulldogs Head Coach?” See, that’s where where this story begins. There are several things that tie together the program, and just how do these all work in unison? Well, to tell the story we have to go back to the mid-90’s.
The Beginning of the Modern Era
It is 1994 and Greenwood makes a Coaching change, Ronnie Peacock who had some success with High School and College coaching stops is hired at Greenwood. Right away things become different. Greenwood becomes the epicenter of the pass heavy offense in Arkansas, something unheard of at the time because across the river at then rival Alma and all over the state the Wing-T offense reigned supreme. Coach Peacock and soon-to-be household name Guz Malzahn at Shiloh Christian discovered that Arkansas not only had guys that can run the ball they can throw and catch pretty well too. The culture within the Greenwood program changed, Father-Son Retreats, Mom’s Night, Thursday Night Theme, amongst other things within the community started popping up. Then came the first State Championship game appearance in 1996. The Bulldogs had arrived and the expectations have never stopped. Since then the Bulldogs have not missed a Playoff appearance in 26 consecutive seasons. Oh and State Championships? Fifteen appearances in that time winning 10 of them.
How is it sustainable? You see programs in the state and the country that have runs and then are competitive but not covered as they once were. For example, our neighbors to the West, Oklahoma. For so long it was Jenks and Tulsa Union, now it’s Owasso and Bixby grabbing the spotlight. In Arkansas things rise and drop like the Arkansas River as well. Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Barton, once proud programs are now shells of what they once were. Bryant, Greenwood, Pulaski Academy, Shiloh Christian are now the teams everyone talks about. The changing landscape and economics play a part sure, but how has Greenwood been able to do it for realistically 28 seasons.
PAD Camp and Pittbulls
Just as Coach Chris Young’s predecessor before him, Coach Rick Jones, for one week during the summer the Varsity program opens up their recipe book and shares what makes it tick like a well oiled machine. From holding drills and coaching the kids just as the High School does, to having players coaching the younger groups. What it does is allows the youth players a chance to talk to the Varsity players that they watch on Friday nights. Along with the coaching of the kids, the High School coaches hold a coaches clinic for the Pittbull coaches to show them how they run a practice and the techniques they teach. With there being two teams usually on the Pittbull level, Coach Young emphasizes both teams working together during practices because when they reach 7th Grade they will have to blend either way. As I was told when I coached it was our duty to prepare these student-athletes for the next level.
During the season it is not unusual to see a High School player assistant Coaching or helping the Pittbull program in some capacity. Roaming the sidelines are former High School Coaches that are now coaching their kids as they move through the program. The play calls on the sideline use the same naming as the Jr. High and Varsity does, albeit simplified given the ages but some teams are running a base Greenwood offense as early as the 3rd Grade. This year the Pittbulls program added 1st and 2nd Grade which will then further the education for when they get to school ball.
Mom’s 101
For a night in August the Mom’s of the players get an opportunity to go through a typical practice that their son’s do. They work the position drills while being coached not only by the High School Coaches but by their Son’s. It starts by Coach Young introducing the mom’s to the coaches and then he gives them a quiz about their football knowledge. They then break off into position meetings with their son’s coach, then the practice starts. After one on one’s and 7 on 7, the moms then get to go through team drill, where there is a full offense and full defense. It is a cool night that allows the players to bond with their mom in a different way. As one said “Mom has been through enough Mom’s 101 she could be a Power 5 Defensive Back.” From what I saw, he was right. It is an incredible experience (I will say this a few more times), not just for the player’s mom but the player’s themselves.
Father-Son Retreat
Started by Ronnie Peacock in the 90’s it was an opportunity for Dad’s and Son’s to bond before their last season. It starts just as the Mom’s 101 where Coach Young introduces the Coaches and then an ultra competitive Volleyball tournament. In the past they have done a ropes course as well. From there it is the Trust Walk. It is fitting as the Father leads their blindfolded son down a path, just as they have in life. During the walk, you talk with your son about not just what lies on the path but the path of life. Once at the end it’s now the son’s turn to lead their dad. There’s a dinner and then the dad’s and son’s are split into two groups. Son’s write letters to their Mom and the Dad’s write one to their son to be opened later.
The groups are brought back together and the dad’s talk to their sons about a moment they were most proud. The sons tell their dad’s their greatest memory. It is a very incredible experience. As an author’s note, when I went on my Father-Son Retreat my dad was living in the Chicagoland area. Coach Peacock got to be my “Dad”. It will change your respect level for that person, I did not see him as just a Coach but like a dad.
Spring Game, Parrot Island, and Jr. High Games
Having a Spring Game since 2000 is nothing new but it was the addition of the 8th and 9th Grade to the program this year that added a neat wrinkle. The 8th and 9th Grade skill players ran a 7 on 7 in front of the crowd, while during the break after 10 plays, the Lineman went through several competitions. During the fall practices the Booster Club rented Parrot Island for the night for the 7th-Varsity players. The addition of the younger grades on those two nights they would probably be home, shows what Coach Young is trying to do, tie the programs together even tighter. It allows the younger players to again get to know the Varsity squad and want to be involved and get to their level.
The usual scene on the sideline during Jr. High games is a mix of upperclassman helping in some form. Helping give tips, being ball boys, or giving support. At a recent 9th grade game that went into Overtime, the Varsity squad lined up on the sideline from the back of the endzone to the sideline to cheer on the Freshmen. As Jr. High Head Coach Luke Hales commented after the game “This was a special night for Greenwood Bulldog Football in general. We dressed out every single kid from 7th through 9th grade. Our High School team was down here supporting us, it’s a special time to be a Greenwood Bulldog.”
FASDOGS
It is hard to have an article about Greenwood Bulldog Footbal and not discuss the summer work out plan. While it is not unheard of to have a summer workout plan for a High School team, but to include grades 3rd through 6th it sets it apart. Hooten’s wrote a great piece on it in 2019 and it made a special cover that year. The younger grades go through a workout similar to that of the High School and Jr. High. They are taught accountability from the start, one knee two eyes on coach. If they fail to do so at any point Coach Young will reset the time on the post workout huddle.
The Program
Has it been easy? Surely not, and the coaches will certainly tell you the same. From August to December, it is a 7-day a week job. From game planning, to logistics, to meal planning, to laundry, to practices it is non-stop. I joked with Head Coach Chris Young about the 10 State Championship rings on the shelf behind his desk during a preseason interview, about if there would be a picture of him wearing all 10. He replied, “You know there are a lot of important people that went into getting those, I am just fortunate I played a small part.” Sitting through meetings as a parent of an athlete, you see the message clearly. “Parents, I know you want to get on Social Media and talk about your kid getting a touchdown or a big stop. But remember, we are a team, congratulate the other kids on the team just as you would your own.” It’s a theme repeated at every pre-season meeting.
There is a lot as a fan we take for granted when we watch Greenwood take the field throughout the week. We expect success. We expect fireworks, to shoot the cannon, and points on the board. One thing we do look forward to is this is One Town, One Team and we would not want it any other way.
