By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



For months, Rocket fans have bemoaned Gardendale’s move up to 6A football this fall.

However, new Rocket head coach Chris Fancher doesn’t share the doom and gloom outlook of some folks, he and his club don’t want anyone’s pity. He’s looking forward to the Rocket’s journey into the highest classification in the state.

“I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for us,” Fancher said, during Monday’s 2008 Jefferson County High School Football Media Day. “I knew exactly what I was getting into when I took this job. We know we’re in a tough region, but it’s a region Gardendale can compete in eventually.

“‘When is eventually?’ Fancher asked. “It might be now. Our staff is ready to go and we’ve got 10 games on that schedule. If someone will tell me which of those 10 we’re supposed to lose, we won’t practice that week.”

Fancher said he understands the talent level the Rockets will face in 6A, Region 6. The region consists of Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain Brook, Pelham, Spain Park, Thompson and Vestavia Hills, in addition to the Rockets.

“I know those schools,” Fancher said. “I recruited (while at Mississippi College) the Over the Mountain Schools. I know the players and the talent they have.”

Fancher pointed out that not only are there plenty of talented players in Region 6, but also the Rocket’s staff will be working against well-prepared teams each time they face a region opponent.

“There are no poor coaching staffs in our region,” he said. “You aren’t going to out-coach the guys across from you in this region. But your players have to out-prepare them.”

Fancher said the Rockets preparation, fitness and effort in each contest will be the foundation that the Gardendale football program is built on.

“We’ve got three cornerstones to our program,” Fancher said. “Best-disciplined, best-conditioned and hard-working.”

Fancher said the Rockets have skill players talented enough to compete in what many consider the state’s toughest region in any classification.

“I think we can match up with anybody from a skill player stand point,” he said. “‘From a depth stand point are we going to have as much depth as Hoover?’ Absolutely not. They’ve got twice as many players as we do.”

Fancher said he hopes to see improvement in Gardendale’s play in the trenches.

“The biggest difference between 5A and 6A is probably in the line play,” he said. “My biggest concern is probably in our line play. We’ve got to have some questions answered there. But, that’s where you hope the weight room work in the spring and summer helps you. Those players can be made. You can make guys bigger and stronger, but you can’t make someone run a 4.5.”

Senior defensive lineman Nick Pogue thinks the Rockets are more physically prepared for their 2008 schedule than they have been for any season since he’s been on the varsity.

“I think we’ll be a better team this year, on both sides of the ball,” Pogue said. “I know the defense will be better. We’re stronger and faster and we’ve never been in this good of a condition before.”

One of Fancher’s first goals after taking the Rockets job was to get his new club in the best shape possible, so he put his athletes through conditioning drills right away.

“When I got here on March 24, we ran that day,” he said. “We also had to change the attitude in the weight room. You don’t go to the weight room to lift for football. You go into the weight room to train. You have to stay in shape year round today.”