Red Oak football season with ongoing minicamp

The Red Oak Tigers football team kicked off their season Monday, running mini-camp Aug. 3-7 from 9-11 a.m.

The two-hour sessions focus on the fundamentals and footwork, as Tiger’s Head Coach Mike Beason and his staff get a chance to observe players for the 2009 season.

“This week helps the players to get familiar with the system,” Assistant Coach Brandon Krause said. “All age groups from seventh grade up are here to get going in the right direction.

The Tigers are coming off a 3-6 season with only five returning starters.

Led by seniors Josh Nix who was named 2008 District Honorable Mention Offensive Lineman, and Jake Payne, the Tigers are hoping hard work and smart play will result in a better season.

“We’ve got some pretty big holes to fill,” Beason said. “We don’t have the depth that we would like to have, so we are going to be looking at some players to spots they may not be as familiar at. That’s a good position for those players to be in.”

An area that the coaching staff is stressing to the team is that you have to practice well to play well on game night.

“To be successful you have to be good practice players,” Beason explained. “Last year a strong point of our team is they worked hard during the week and played hard on Friday night.”

Beason, the Tiger’s assistant coaches, and some players are passing on that message to the elementary age football players during their mini-camp.

Children from first to sixth grade can attend Aug. 4-7 from 6-7 p.m.

This is an opportunity for the younger kids to get to know some of the players on the varsity squad along with getting instruction from Beason and his assistant coaches.

The Tigers start their season with practices starting Aug. 10 and their first game at Corning Aug. 28.

Red Oak’s home opener is Sept. 4 hosting the Nodaway Valley Wolverines.