SUMMER PREPS: Trinity holds final summer workouts heading into preaseason practice
Coach Brian Seymore put the Trinity Wildcats through their final OTAs on Thursday. The Wildcats open preseason practice on July 28. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Trinity wrapped up its summer workouts on Thursday with the second of two OTAs, featuring Robertsdale and Bibb County.
The organized team activity, a high school term for 11-on-11 workouts in helmets and shorts against other teams, wrapped up the summer practice session for the Wildcats, who went against Elmore County and Brantley on Wednesday.
“We were fortunate to get the teams to come over, Brantley and Elmore County on the first day and today, Bibb County and Robertsdale,” Trinity coach Brian Seymore said. “A lot of guys traveled a long way to compete with us and we were appreciative. It’s good work for us. There’s a lot of things we saw that we’ll see on a Friday night and it was good to get a lot of reps.”
Seymore said his team played with a better mindset on Thursday, in part because of the workout the Wildcats faced on Wednesday with the 5A Panthers and the 1A Bulldogs.
“I felt pretty comfortable watching some of the older players, veteran guys that have been around,” he said. “You can’t simulate some of the stuff you’ll see out of other teams. We’ve been installing and learning but seeing other teams, seeing other colored jerseys, I think the competition level goes up a lot.
“Especially playing them back to back, I think we got a lot better from day one to day two. I saw a lot of improvement. Kids weren’t as timid, they were more aggressive, not really worried about making mistakes.”
Thursday’s work also included work against teams with more than twice as many players as the Wildcats.
“I’m hoping (it helps) because we’ve got to condition,” Seymore said. “We know a lot of our guys have to play on both sides of the ball. We’ve got to be in really good condition. More than that, it lets that backup know that the front line guy is going to get tired. You’ve got to be ready and when you get your assignment, you’ve got to go in there and do your job. It’s vital that they get those reps and know what they’re doing.”
The Wildcats will open official practice on July 28 in preparation for an Aug. 15 jamboree in Troy against Pike Liberal Arts and G.W. Long. The Wildcats open the season at home on Aug. 21 against Holtville.