Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Episode 47: We talk football and golf caddying with Tony Salazar, head football coach for Westlake HS.

Tony Salazar is the head football coach for Westlake HS and also assistant athletic director the district, Eanes ISD.  These roles keep him very busy leading one of the top 6A programs in the state.  But he still takes time for the important things, like caddying for his son, who plays competitive golf around the state.  Whatever the activity is, his expectations are high.  As a member of the Westlake Chaparrals, players know their roll on the team and each roll is important. Whether it is a scout team player or starting QB, players are expected to know their responsibilities for the week and get the job done.  From his high school and college playing days, Coach Salazar has learned from the best and applied it all here in Westlake, which is why we will have the opportunity to watch the Chaparrals play well into the post season.

Episode 46: Adam Cummings, head football coach and athletic director for the West Plains Wolves begins year 4 of developing leaders for Canyon ISD.

Adam Cummings is beginning year 4 for West Plains high school as the only man to have headed the football program in the schools existence.  Coach Cummings was born and raised in west Texas and has spent all of his coaching years there as well, learning under some west Texas legends.  In the schools first 3 years he has already accumulated 30 wins but winning isn't priority #1.  For him, it's faith and family first.  He and his staff work to reinforce family values and work ethic through character and leadership development programs within the athletic arena.

Episode 45: Kevin Salazar, head football coach and athletic director for Goliad ISD, leads his hometown where the Tigers hope to continue their string of 10 win seasons.

Coach Salazar is a Goliad native who has spent most of his coaching years within a stones throw of home.  He begins his 6th season at the helm for the Tigers and hopes to continue their successful ways.  He believes "attitude reflects leadership" (as Julius reminded Gary- you football movie fans should get that) and he models this for his players.  He loves what he does and it shows in his smile when he talks about football and the town he has called home for most of his life.  And if you're a Texas history fan, there's plenty in the books about the small town of Goliad!

Episode 44: Brian Hodnett, Head football coach and athletic director for Sweetwater ISD talks about the importance of relationships and a good staff.

Brian Hodnett knows the history of Sweetwater football, having grown up just down the road in Hamlin.  Although one day he might go back to the cotton farms he came from, right now he has answered the call to help grow and develop young men and women to be successful after their athletic careers have ended.  Promoted to the head coach and AD this year, he is looking to take his 10 years of experience as a head coach at Jacksboro and Haskell and combine them with his predecessors teachings to battle in a tough 3A-1 district that includes Jim Ned and Comanche.  With a good coaching staff and a good community behind him, Coach Hodnett and his Mustangs will be a force to contend with in 3A west Texas football this year.

Episode 43: Jim Kerbow, head football coach and AD for Meridian ISD, talks about the importance of being there for your athletes.

There are a lot of good coaches and men in Texas high school football, and Jim Kerbow definitely ranks towards the top of the list.  Every school across this great state where Coach Kerbow has been, he has gone above and beyond to meet the needs of his students and athletes at school and also at home.  He stresses the importance of being someone others can depend on and he works to instill this trait in his athletes.

Episode 42: Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football coach and athletic director for the Bandera Bulldogs, left his home in Louisiana to pursue the career he has planned for since high school.

Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football coach and athletic director for the Bandera Bulldogs, talks about the importance of having a community that feels like family and balancing priorities not just for himself but for his athletes.  He has know he wanted to be a coach since high school but did not expect to wind up in Texas high school football after growing up and playing college ball in his home state of Louisiana.

Episode 41: David Lucio, head football coach and AD for Tidehaven ISD talks about how hard work and toughness have made the Tigers one of the top 3A schools in the state.

David Lucio starts year 10 in his hometown of Tidehaven with his Tigers ranked as one of the top 3A-2 schools in the state.  His background of Madden football and the military have created the perfect combination of strategy and discipline that have helped him to be successful everywhere he has been.  The pillars of his program are hard work and toughness, and with his son, Eric, at his side, the Tigers will look to make another run at Jerry's World this year!

Episode 40: Head football coach and AD for the Mart Panthers, Chris Lancaster, brings over 30 years of football experience to one of the most successful programs in Texas HS football.

Head football coach and Athletic director for Mart ISD, Chris Lancaster, has spent his entire life on the football field, from high school to the college level and back to high school again.  His years of experience and travel have brought him to one of the most successful football programs in the state, with 8 state championships and 15 state appearances.  There is always pressure in a program with this kind of history,  but Coach Lancaster is welcoming the challenge in his new home where putting kids first is priority #1.

Episode 39: Jax Brown, Pflugerville Weiss graduate, is a recent QB addition to the Arkansas State Red Wolves football roster. This week we get an athletes take on some of our weekly topics.

Jax Brown recently signed with Arkansas State to play football for the Red Wolves.  But previously he had signed and played spring ball at Sam Houston State before entering the portal.  Jax is a good example of why the portal is necessary for athletes.  We discuss the portal and how he managed his serious injuries in high school to keep on his path to the D1 level.  I am joined in this episode by co-host Josh Brown, who coaches at Salado and is also my oldest son.

Episode 38: Head football coach and AD for the Giddings Buffaloes, Luke Hobbs, talks about the strong coaches he has worked for and the importance of having strong coaches on your staff.

Head football coach and AD for the Giddings Buffaloes, Luke Hobbs, started his journey from over 1200 miles away but knew Texas was the place to be on Friday nights.  His family has been in Giddings before, but this time he is holding the reigns for the program.  He has a good staff around him and hopes to do big things for the Buffaloes.