The Howard High School football team rallies around a football at the beginning of practice.Fan's guide to this year's Howard Hustlin' Tigers
Coach: Michael Calloway (0-9 beginning second year here) Stadium: Red Gaston Stadium Address: 2500 South Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37408
THREE STRENGTHS
1) The defensive line will be a plus with big Brandon Walters (6-8, 279) and Xavier Harris (6-3, 232) as the anchors. They may be standing up at the snap and coming through to disrupt.
2) Running back could be a strength with senior LaWayane Ruffin, but coaches would feel better if they knew the offensive line would develop. A definite leader is center Antonio Woodall. If they didn't play until September the Tigers might have been able to develop depth before beginning, but their opener is Aug. 17.
3) Defensive secondary. Calloway believes this group can give opposing quarterbacks and receivers a tough night. The most talented and experienced are safety Rashad Brummitt, cornerback Jeremy Davis and rover Kentarius Hampton, whom coaches are expecting to have a breakout season.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Small quarterbacks are a concern although Terrance Brooks (5-8) started six games a year ago. Fellow junior Lorenzo McCauley (5-8) is working behind him, and starting slotback Brummitt (55-10) also may take some snaps.
2) There is a need for more linemen. "When we go to practice, I have one coach for wide receivers and he's trying to coach 20 kids," Calloway said. "If they were linemen, that would be fine." He has enough for a starting offensive line, but depth is an issue. He is hoping to keep senior prospect Walters fresh for defense, but Walters could eventually return to starting on both sides of the ball.
3) The Tigers are long on punt- and kick-return candidates but are looking for punters and kickers.
Three questions with ...
RASHAD BRUMMITT
Howard running back
Q: The Tigers went 0-9 last year. How tough was that and how does it affect your goals?
A: It's hard, a tough way to learn, but you find out who's really with you. Our goal? To win for sure. What we ended the season with last year [21 players] is back this year. I think everybody learned from that season."
Q: Best leader on this team?
A: The whole offensive line.
Q: Of all the gadgets you have access to, which is your favorite?
A: My cell phone, without question. I keep in touch with a lot of people.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 - Head coaches Howard has had this century, including Herman Coulter, who was the head coach from 1993 to 2004. The personable Coulter will be the defensive coordinator this year.
6 - Winning seasons for the Hustlin' Tigers in the past decade. Most of those belong to Alvin Tarver, whose 2005-10 span included a best year of 9-2 in 2008.
21 - Total Hustlin' Tigers at the end of the 2011 season. Calloway has been seeing 38 on a regular basis this preseason and still hopes to bolster the overall numbers with more freshmen. He has 55 helmets and would love to have a player for each.
2011 stats leaders
stats unavailable
Recent history
They were 0-9 in 2011, leading Coach Calloway to tell the players there was only one way to go and that was up. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season
2011(0)
2010--------(8)
200--(2)
2008---------(9)
2007--------(8)
Schedule
Aug. 17 at Franklin County, 8
Aug. 31 at Hixson*
Sept. 7 at Boyd-Buchanan
Sept. 14 at Central*
Sept. 21 Greater Atlanta Christian
Sept. 28 Brainerd*
Oct. 5 at East Ridge*
Oct. 12 Red Bank*
Oct. 19 Tyner*
Oct. 26 East Hamilton*
*District 6-AA game
Games start at 7:30 except where noted.
Roster
1 Terrance Brooks Junior
2 Deaunte Evans Srnior
3 Lorenzo McCauley Junior
4 LaWayne Ruffin Senior
5 Rashad Brummitt Senior
6 Cudjoe Young Junior
7 Cordarius Talley Junior
9 Xavier Harris Senior
10 Jeremy Davis Junior
11 Terrance Calhoun Sophomore
12 Tyrell Bell Junior
14 Cedrick Ricks Senior
15 Rhyeem Finley Sophomore
16 Keyshawn King Freshman
17 Roderick McCauley Senior
20 Antonio Smith Senior
21 Demetrick Wynn Sophomore
22 JaDarius Knox Senior
23 Chris Walton Senior
24 Brian Hammonds Senior
25 Ladarius Griffith Senior
27 Ronardo Bussey Senior
28 Antonio Smartt Senior
29 Destin Henderson Freshman
30 Kentarius Hampton Junior
33 Darius Shannon Junior
34 Ronald Wigfall Senior
40 John Pendergrass Freshman
41 Courtney Clay Senior
42 Reginald Cox Senior
43 D'Marquis Bell Junior
52 Ralph James Senior
54 Hunter Coleman Senior
55 Chevelle Gladden Junior
60 Price Gray Freshman
62 Courtney Morris Senior
64 Antonio Woodall Senior
74 Brandon Walters Senior
81 Eric Phinazee Freshman