Before we start practice today, here's a few things to understand and a few rules to follow:

(1) Always hustle, everywhere, all the time, DO NOT walk

(2) Always respect your coaches; listen to your coaches and do what they say; when a coach is talking, zip it

(3) No teasing, taunting, cursing, cussing, picking, poking, hitting, kicking, pinching, prodding or being persnickety

(4) No sitting on dummies or your helmet; when you take a break, “take a knee, don’t sit on your hiney”

(5) If you make a mistake, it’s okay; hustle and fix it the next time ...

(5a) Football is not about what you did on the last play, it’s what you’re going to do on the next play!

(6) Coaches will yell. It doesn’t mean we don’t like you, we want you to do better, and know you can!

(7) Take responsibility for your actions!

Finally, if you act up, you may find yourself “running to the other end of the field to get me a handful of grass” so that we can check the soil content.

We’re all the same team.

We’re all trying to get better.

Help each other out, help each other up.

Cheer for each other.

When Hornets play well, it’s because we do these HORNET HITS:

We play with Heart, we never give up, and give 100%

We play with Integrity

We play as a Team, no one person is bigger than the team

After much discussion regarding the Mystery Cooler and whether you boys would want to have the Mystery Cooler or not … we decided to let you vote … how many want the Mystery Cooler this year? And how many don’t? … (we will vote to keep the Mystery Cooler for another year).

Regarding your equipment … if you lose a chinstrap or clip, mouthpiece, shoulder pad strap or clip, ear pad, pants pad or anything else and come to practice needing one … we have extras in my BLACK BAG ...  that you can purchase for $2 each … If you find the one you lost, bring it back, and I’ll refund your money. Money collected will be used to fund the "Mystery Cooler" prizes throughout the year.

For the first 4-days of practice, we’re going to have in Helmets, Shorts, T-Shirts and Cleats ... we’re going to drills to see who can do what, and by golly you better hustle.

After 4-days, your coaches are going to fill out a report card on each of you (blocking / tackling / running / listening / being respectful).

Then we’re going to have 2 days of drills in full pads, and your coaches are going to fill out another report card on you.

After we  look at those report cards, we’ll put you in positions where you will HELP this team, this year the most, and where you’ll be able to do your best on this team, this year.

It’s not what you did last year … it’s what you do today, and for the next 6-days, that will help the coaches see where you’re best suited. So, do your best, and make sure the coaches can give you good report cards.