HANCEVILLE – Craig Flanigan didn't have any time to waste after he was hired on July 19 to be the new football coach for Hanceville High School.
Flanigan had to organize a coaching staff, and three days after being named the successor to Danny Miller, who retired in June, meet with his squad and give them details on what it would be like once fall workouts began.
Through the first three days of practice, Flanigan has been pleased with how his team is learning the playbook and moving forward with preparations for the season opener in two weeks on Friday night at Cold Springs (Aug. 19).
"We started late, we are behind in comparison to other teams, but we are very upbeat about it," Flanigan said. "We have had three good days of practice. The kids are eager to learn and understand. They are making strides every day."
The numbers are good for Flanigan's first squad with 30 currently on the roster. Seven of them played last season and were part of a season that included a 50-40 upset of No. 10 Oakman in a 3A, Region 5 game Oct. 9 that was followed by a tremendous comeback win at Holly Pond 60-50 one week later (Oct. 16).
Hanceville was in contention for a playoff berth until the Bulldogs fell in a scoring fest to Susan Moore at home Oct. 23 by the margin of 56-48.
Brenan Hurst will be taking controls for Flanigan's multiple offense at quarterback with B.J. Smalls his primary running back, Romeal Simmons at wide receiver, Kaine Yates at tight end and Trey Martin in the line of scrimmage.
"We are wanting to spread the ball around in our multiple sets," Flanigan added. "We want to put the ball into our playmaker's hands."
Flanigan reported the Bulldogs will spend the rest of the week getting more accustomed to what the coach expects when they have the football and when they are on defense.
They will start to work on the specialty part of the game the following week. Thursday will be a good day for Flanigan to analyze where they are, being the first day they can dress out in full gear.
"We will try to figure out who wants to play," he said.
Flanigan's coaching staff consists of Chris Ryan and Randal Waldrop working with the linemen, Corey Ward the quarterbacks, Jeremy Hurst the linebackers, Michael Chandler the secondary and Justin Britt as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
"We've got a coaching staff that has very good knowledge of the game," Flanigan added. "The kids are seeing this and learning from it."
Flanigan is wanting to get his team in better condition than they are and to take it at a steady pace. "It's a process. We have to keep rolling it."
The new leader for the Bulldogs says they will put in their game the week of the opener with Cold Springs. The Bulldogs and Eagles play for the first time since 2009 and have never played in a season opener.
Hanceville's first game for Flanigan at Ray Talley Stadium is Aug. 26 with the Addison Bulldogs. Hanceville is in Region 6 of Class 3A and will get the region schedule underway on Sept. 2 at Fultondale.
Vinemont pays a visit Sept. 9 for a regional battle, with Hanceville hosting J.B. Pennington from Blountsville Sept. 16 in another game in the region. These two schools are back on the gridiron for the first time since 2009 with Hanceville having 32 wins all time in the series of 53 games.
Sept. 23 will be a first-time encounter at home vs. the Clements Colts. Clements is directed by former West Point coach Cody McCain, in his third season with the program in Limestone County.
Back to the regional schedule, the Bulldogs visit Susan Moore Sept. 30 and are at Holly Pond Oct. 7.
The Bulldogs complete the regional part of the schedule Oct. 14 at home against Locust Fork then take off the weekend of Oct. 21.
On Oct. 28, it's a trip to James Shabel Stadium for a game vs. the Good Hope Raiders. The last time Hanceville played there, Yates blocked a field goal on the last snap of the contest and the Bulldogs won 22-21. That was in 2014.
Flanigan comes back to his alma mater with coaching experience as an assistant at Walker, Austin and Hayden High Schools.
He was quarterback and a member of the secondary when he played at Hanceville from 1988 until 1991. In the 1990 season, the final for Ray Talley, Flanigan helped the Bulldogs to eight straight wins and a runner-up berth in 3A, Area 12 to Vinemont. His senior season produced six victories with Keith Burns at the helm and another journey into the 3A postseason.
