Jackson football players review tapes to improve their game

Seth McDowell, his hair still wet from his post-practice shower, his body still sore from the football game Monday night, clutches a videotape and peeks his head into the tiny coaches' office.

The daily conversation that follows goes something like this:

"Coach, I need another tape."

Assistant coach Van Hitt says, "You got the Riverview tape?"

"No, I got the Beaumont tape."

"Well, give me that one. Here, this is the Webster tape. Make sure I get that back."

"OK, coach."

McDowell, Jackson's starting receiver, goes on his way. The coaches, though they've seen it day after day like clockwork, beam with pride.

Later Thursday, a tape-carrying McDowell was 15 minutes late, and his six teammates were getting impatient. He came strolling into fullback Brad Berry's basement with three things in his hand: two videotapes of a Hazelwood East football game and a frozen treat from Dairy Queen.

And so started the 18th consecutive night of watching film for seven members of Jackson's football team.

These players -- McDowell, Berry, safety Justin Thompson, cornerback Gabe Baugh, center Pete Ressler, linebacker Seth Harrell and running back Mario Whitney -- are more than just teammates. They're more than friends. They're more than the heart and soul of the football team. Perhaps above all, they're students of the game. They're absolute football junkies.

And as nationally ranked, blazing-fast Hazelwood East comes strolling into town today with their eight potential Division I recruits, Jackson's only advantage may be its chemistry and knowledge.

But the football junkies aren't scared. They're prepared.

Knowledge is power, they say, and Jackson head coach Carl Gross said he's never seen any team have a thirst for knowledge like this one.

"We've had groups who have enjoyed playing football as much as these guys," he said. "But we've never had groups who have studied it this much. There's absolutely a special chemistry. They truly love being together. And they love Jackson football."

Hard workers

Jackson hasn't had a day off of practice since Oct. 28. During that span, the team has played three games and practiced 16 times.

The Indians (12-0) watch film at least once a week as a team. But the junkies -- which sometimes include quarterback Bryan Austin, too -- just can't get enough. Through the first nine weeks of the season, they met twice a week.

Since the games have gotten bigger, it's a nightly ritual. They've watched film every non-game night since Oct. 28. They usually watch film of their next opponent, but they'll also critique their own performances.

"When we watch film on Monday, the coaches will point something out, and they'll have seen it twice already," Gross said. "And they're here early. They stay late. On their lunch hour, they'll come down and watch film and ask questions."

Berry said practice time isn't long enough to watch the film -- only 15 minutes. He operated the remote control Thursday night.

"Here, we get to see the plays over and over," he said. "And if we see something the coaches haven't talked about, we can ask about it the next day."

Relaxed on leather furniture and watching games on a big-screen TV at the Berrys, the teammates tease one another constantly.

Justin Thompson took some heavy hits this week after dropping a long pass against Parkway West Monday night. McDowell can't live down dropping a couple of interceptions over the course of a season.

But nobody has to be there. It wasn't even suggested by the coaches. It's totally voluntary.

On Thursday night, the junkies ordered pizza. Where there's seven football players -- if they're not in uniform -- there will always be food. Harrell has the number to Pizza Pro memorized.

But these meetings are much more than a social gathering.

"Is that an option? Or is it just a quarterback keeper?" one asks, referring to types of plays.

"It's an option, but I've never seen them pitch it," another replies.

On one play, a Hazelwood East player easily eluded his defender and was wide open to receive a pass.

"That's what they're going to try to do against us," noted Thompson. "I guarantee it." Throughout the entire film, the junkies -- other than Whitney, who turned his attention to a video game, a football game, of course -- discuss different formations, what the team's tendencies are, what they do when they run motion and so on.

"Nobody did this last year," Thompson said. "I think this has brought us closer together."

With as much time as all Jackson players spend on football, one would think it would have an effect on their grades.

Apparently not.

Five of the seven are honor students.

Thompson has a 4.0 grade-point average and is the top student in his class. He has applied for Harvard and, in a couple of weeks, he will have an interview with a representative of the school.

He toted along some of his books Thursday night, glancing through them from time to time. One of those books was from an advanced placement calculus class.

His buddies all call him "Harvard." If anyone can understand football strategy, it's Thompson.

At least four of the seven have thought about becoming a coach, and Thompson was the only one who ruled it out completely. Harvard isn't known for producing football coaches.

"I wouldn't be surprised if several didn't end up coaching," Gross said

Only half-kidding, he added, "It wouldn't surprise me if a couple of these guys run for president of something."

One thing is for sure: If one of them does run for president, he'll watch the tapes first.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127