Dublin athletic Director and Head Football Coach Greg Hardcastle stated appreciation for his players and spoke of the experience gained by the 2022 Lions whose season ended in a 63-0 loss to the Jacksboro Tigers on the Bob and Norma Cervetto Field Thursday.
The game was preceded by senior night festivities in which senior members of the football team, cheerleader, Dandi-Lions and the band were honored. (Photos of the seniors and families will be shared on the Dublin Citizen facebook.)
“We’ve had some of those guys been with us since the 7th grade,” Hardcastle said of the players aging out of the program. “We’re going to miss them. I appreciate the leadership they showed to younger guys in difficult times, and I wish them the best wherever their path takes them. I hope they’re successful in whatever they do.”
The benefit for the Lions moving forward is that they got to learn under this leadership and got real-world experience under the Friday night lights this season.
“They’ve got game experience so that’s something you can’t replace,” Hardcastle said.
The coach reported that there will be 18-19 returning players next year as well as players moving up from JV. They’ve got that experience; they just need to get stronger.
Some of this will come from players keeping keen while playing basketball and baseball but a priority is also getting the football boys into the weight room in between seasons.
Hardcastle there are already several hitting the iron even before powerlifting season has officially started.
The coaches from Jr. High all the way to varsity will continue to work together to build up the program and instill success in their athletes.
“We’ll always evaluate what we’re doing,” Hardcastle said. “We’ll always looking at what we can do to improve.”