Coach Atley, the Blue Jays had an impressive record last year, finishing 8-3 and starting the season with a 7-game winning streak. What were some of the key factors that contributed to such a strong start and successful season?
We had a pretty tight knit group last season. That played a huge role in developing the team chemistry that we had. We also made quite a few changes last season, but our kids believed in what we were doing and that allowed us to have success. We were fortunate to have some talented individuals as well. Some individuals that are returning and quite a few that aren’t. That definitely helped.
The team had a tough postseason loss to Lift for Life Academy to finish out the season last year. How has that experience shaped your approach to the upcoming season?
One of the few good things about a loss is it puts into perspective your strengths & weaknesses. We have been able to take an honest look within our program and determine the things we need to address to prevent that loss from happening again. Lack of fundamentals really hurt us in that game and so that has been a huge point of emphasis. When you lose a game like that, especially one where you’re winning by two scores at one point it definitely motivates the returning players a little bit more. So there is a bit of a brightside to it, but we definitely want to make sure we clean up those weaknesses.
You’re kicking off this season with a Saturday afternoon game at Priory, which is a bit of an unusual way to get the team on a routine schedule. How are you preparing the team for that early start and unique start to the season?
We aren’t putting a lot of thought into playing on a Saturday. It’s going to be a hot, August day for both sides. We just want to make sure our kids are conditioned and ready for a competitive football game against a quality opponent.
This year, you’ve added the 2023 state champions, Central Rebels, to your schedule. What challenges do you anticipate from facing such a strong opponent, and how are you planning to prepare the team for what is sure to be a tough matchup?
Anytime you are playing a team like the Central Rebels it’s going to be tough. I know they lost a talented group, but they also have some starters back from that team on both sides of the ball. There is no doubt we’re going to see a fundamentally sound and physical football team. We need to make sure our kids are ready to match that intensity they are going to bring. To prepare for that we have to continue to stress our kids in practice as much as we can to continue developing that physicality and toughness it takes to play teams like Park Hills. We had a solid off-season of lifting which should help against a physical team, but it’s definitely going to be an early test for us.
In terms of team cohesiveness and bonding, it looks like you’ve included a lot of team building activities into your summer program. What are you focusing on this year to ensure the Blue Jays are not only strong on the field but also unified off the field?
Main thing we have focused on is developing leadership and putting aside egos. We lost a group of seniors who paved the way for us last season and we’re such a large part of keeping us together as a unit. So we have had the national guard come in and work with our team and we have also had team get togethers where we discuss what we need to work one and how we can develop to be the best versions of ourselves. I believe this summer we put our kids in some tough spots during camp and they were able to see pretty quickly what we meant by needing leadership. It’s not easy to do, but we believe it’s necessary for team success.
What message do you have for the Jefferson R-7 community as you head into another exciting season of Blue Jays football?
Thank you. We appreciate all the support that the Jefferson R-7 community provides for us. Rather it be the Mama Jays, Booster Club, Administration or just families of the district. We always know we have their support. We look forward to the opportunity to make the Jefferson community proud this fall.
The Jefferson Blue Jays kick off their 2024 football season with an unusual Saturday afternoon matchup against the Priory Ravens. The Blue Jays will take the field at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 31st, at Priory, eager to build on last season’s momentum. This week 1 game promises to set the tone for what could be another thrilling season for Jefferson.
The Barn 