McNabb Report: THSCA Coaches Convention Talk

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By David McNabb

More than 15,000 visitors with the Texas High School Coaches Association have descended on downtown Fort Worth for its annual coaching school.  The THSCA has more than 13,000 registered coaches and its annual convention marks the beginning of the football season.

Unlike the NFL, there was never a doubt the high school football season begins with kickoff around the state on Aug. 25-27.

To start practices, any Class 4A-5A programs which didn’t have spring football can report with all the Class A-3A and private school programs on Aug. 1 All schools which had spring football can report Aug. 8.

The THSCA convention starts the calendar for coaches to begin preparation for the upcoming season. After Monday’s basketball all-star game, Tuesday’s All-Star football game at Cowboys Stadium, the Hall of Honor inductions on Wednesday and hundreds of coaching seminars in between, coaching staffs will be at their offices Thursday.

Hanging around coaching school…

As always, there is a big presence of college coaches. TCU coach Gary Patterson seemed to be everywhere on Sunday lobby chatting and giving seminars. Patterson had to leave Monday for the Mountain West media day in Las Vegas. And next year, TCU will be attending its first Big East media day in Atlantic City, N.J. Good thing Patterson’s not much of a gambler.

Per tradition – and Mack Brown directives – University of Texas assistant coaches swarm the convention with tons of burnt orange Longhorns gear. Among them is new Longhorns defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who worked hard in spring evaluations to build relationships with coaches across state. Coaches initial reactions are extremely positive but that Diaz and former Texas DC and new Florida coach Will Muschamp have very different styles.  On Wednesday, by the way, all Texas coaches head for the South Texas ranch of the man who is much beloved by Aggies and Longhorns alike – rodeo king and ranch-hand extraordinaire Louis Pearce.

The most-talked about team across the state?

Easily DeSoto coming off it’s championship in the state 7-on-7 state tournament at Texas A&M on July 15-16. DeSoto has super talented DBs with Texas commit Bryson Echols and LSU commit Jalen Mills. What’s even more promising for highly respected coach Claude Mathis’ third season is the fact that DeSoto’s strengths are suited better to the regular season than 7-on-7. The offense loses highly productive quarterback Ryan Polite (UT-San Antonio) but there’s speed all over the field with super Class of ’13 running back Dontre Wilson with Air Force commit RB Devin Rushing and receivers Ridge Jones (son of former SMU sprinter and NFL DB Rod Jones) and Vondrick Jackson.

Year of the Linebacker

The strongest position throughout the state this season? Try linebacker. At least these guys are mentioned most by coaches talking about top players they’ve seen at any other positions.

·       Brenham’s Tim Cole (Texas commit)

·       Tyler John Tyler’s Eric Davis  (A&M commit)

·       Denton Ryan’s Alex De La Torre (Texas commit)

·       Skyline’s Peter Jinkens (Texas commit)

·       Euless Trinity’s Brian Nance (Uncommitted with dozens of national offers)

·       Denton Ryan’s Jordan Richmond (A&M commit)

·       Richland’s Jeremiah Tshimanga (Oklahoma State commit)