Burnet Middle School football completes successful season

CAPTION: Burnet seventh-grader Brantley Corbell was one of the top contributors this season. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Optimism reigns supreme at Burnet Middle School after the seventh- and eighth-grade football teams played 23 games and lost only once all season.

The seventh-grade A team finished 7-0-1, the seventh-grade B team went 5-0-2, and the eighth-graders were 7-1.

As pleased as new Burnet Middle School athletic coordinator Mark Zeigler is with the results, he pointed out other accomplishments long before he got to district titles and runner-up finishes.

“I think we did very well,” he said. “We had other intentions, other things in mind, of course — the seventh grade A accomplished that by being district champs and the eighth grade only lost to Lampasas — that we felt we had the kids and had a great chance at doing that. It was just a great year. And yes, we had higher expectations. We always set our expectations high. If you don’t set your expectations high, then your kids will definitely not get there.”

He noted that during the football season, only five Bulldogs were academically ineligible out of 186 kids. Zeigler makes no apologies for emphasizing the athletes commit to learning in the classroom as much as they learn in film study and on the practice field.

“We set a high standard on academics, and it’s not just passing,” he said. “If they don’t have a certain grade, if they’re not in the B average, then we push them to go, and we can’t make them, but we basically make sure they know that we want them to be at tutorials. Academics is first and athletics is second – that’s how it is here.”

Second, athletes showed up for classes and for practices, he said.

“We had no problem with attendance,” the coordinator said.

Third, coaches emphasized “character education” where they chose a word and talked about it with their athletes.

“We’ve had integrity, we’ve had encourage,” Zeigler said. “I think this week is attitude. Every week, we study it and we work it. We ask our kids to have conversations with everyone, and it’s a big open conversation at least twice a week for 10 minutes. Everyone gives their viewpoint on the word, and I think that’s really helped us. I think it’s really helped our kids in the classroom. I think it’s helped our kids on the field.”

And finally, he pointed out the athletes spent three days a week in the weight room where coaches are showing the youngsters the proper way to lift, where to put their hands and feet, when to inhale and exhale, and how to get the most out of the sessions while still taking care of their bodies.

“We don’t do football, we don’t do basketball, we don’t do track during the period,” he said. “During the period we go to the weight room and I really think that’s helped our kids on both levels towards the end of the game. We can see a little bit of fatigue set in. I think our kids were a little bit stronger, mentally and physically, to try to finish these games, so I think it’s helped.”

Just how much do these youngsters love their weight sessions?

“We get to turn up the music in there and get loud and the kids love it,” Zeigler said. “They get very animated and they get very vocal with singing and getting after it. And we allow them to do that as long as they’re working, so it’s a great time. It’s a great atmosphere. Our kids eat it up – they love it.” 

Though the football program had an outstanding season, the coordinator said coaches and athletes want to accomplish as much or more on the hardwood and track.

“We’re really proud of the kiddos,” he said. “They worked hard. They fought hard. You have to set them high and try to reach for those goals. And that’s what we do over here at Burnet. That’s what our staff has done, and we’re going to do that in every sport that we do. That’s our goal is to be district champions in basketball, track. We’re going to get after it. I tell everyone we have the best kids in Texas. They say, ‘Congratulations coach, you’re the difference.’ No I’m not. As coaches we’re doing our jobs. We’re here to provide the best possible atmosphere for them to be successful. And that’s our job. It’s been great working here.”

CAPTION: Burnet seventh-graders Bradyn Houston (1) and Graydon O’Hair (11) play key roles in the Bulldogs’ championship season. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro