By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

HARPERSVILLE — When the Coosa Valley Academy Rebels return to the gridiron this fall, a new face will be patrolling the sidelines.

Former Morgan Academy head football coach Bob Taylor was named head coach on June 10, and while he’s still getting familiar with the school and its students, he said he’s impressed with what he’s seen so far.

“I don’t know a whole lot,” he said. “Trying to figure out (things), learn the kids. (I heard) they had a good group of kids (who) got after it and good support. That seems to be the case.”
Taylor said one of the things that stuck out to him was the reputation of good support that the athletic program received from its fans and community.

“Everyone asks what they can do to help,” he said.

While coming in early means that Taylor was not with the team for the spring workout season, Taylor said he felt he wasn’t at too much of a disadvantage.

“Yes and no,” he said. “There were kids playing baseball until the end of the year. We’re going to have to double-time it, (but) I’m going to take the opportunity to take it fresh.”

Taylor said he hoped to build on the foundation set by former head coach Arlton Hudson — who left to take a job at Pike Liberal Arts School — albeit with his own twist. Taylor said he planned to incorporate music and other activities to break the monotony of practice.

“We’ll do something different offensively,” he said. “We practice a little differently, try to make practice as up-tempo as possible. They’ve had success fore a few years, (our) ultimate goal is to get to the playoffs.”

Taylor said his main goal for the time being was familiarize himself with his team.

“I’m still trying to take it all in,” he said. “We’ll spruce things up a little bit. (We’re) trying to get them to buy into what we’re doing.”