NEWBERRY — After coming back from the North Alabama game last year, Coach Todd Knight said the Newberry Wolves came back home and went to work because the team knew what the goal was.

During Touchdown Club, Knight explained that during the off season and pre-season the team has worked hard to reach its goals.

“Going on 16 years here at Newberry College, we had the most demanding off season, and our team has bought into it. We ran at five in the morning more days than I care to remember in the off season, and they have showed me something, they were not going to lay down and roll over and hide,” he said.

In preparation for the upcoming season, Knight wanted his players to not only work hard, but have fun. They would end each night with some sort of competition, like tug of war, arm wrestling or even a dance competition.

“We did all of this after we basically ran in the dirt in the middle of the night. They loved it, they love the challenge. All these things that we are doing is to try and get them to compete and to fight, and get better while they are having fun,” Knight said. “They forgot about the hard work because they were having fun and we were having fun together.”

During the pre-season, the team has had time devoted to film and Xs and Os, but the team also worked to get the players to really get to know each other. Knight said this was trust, care and commitment time, and the players would rotate getting up in front of the room telling their stories, like where they are from and where they played.

“The kids ask them questions to get to know them better. I feel like this is just as important as the Xs and Os because if you know the man beside you and you really get to know him and you care about him, you are going to work harder for them, building those bonds and relationships,” Knight said.

This year one player told a truly emotional story.

Knight said a linebacker told of growing up with just his mother. He never had a birthday party or a birthday present and he never had a Christmas or a Christmas present.

“He said he and his mama sometimes lived in abandoned houses, with no electricity, no nothing. They lived at the church sometimes. He just kept saying, ‘I cannot go home,’” Knight said. “If a man stands up and he is that honest with his teammates, and I looked around the room there was not a dry eye in the room, including mine. I believe everybody in the room is going to fight harder for him, and by golly that boy is getting a Christmas present this year. Santa Claus may not come to the Knight house, but he is coming to his house, I promise you that.”

Pulling the team together is a big part of this year’s season, and Knight said they are going to work hard and build those relationships as a team.

Coach Todd Knight spoke at the Newberry County Touchdown Club’s first meeting. This made the eighth season he has done so.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_DSC_0463.jpgCoach Todd Knight spoke at the Newberry County Touchdown Club’s first meeting. This made the eighth season he has done so. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.