By William Bretherton
Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer
The Woodstock football team began full-pad practice Monday, and will try to improve upon last season's 5-5 campaign.
With this being the first week of full-contact practice, the team is shaking off the rust from a long layoff since November.
"I feel good about (spring practice)," Woodstock coach Mike O'Brien said. "We're at least flying around and hitting people. We're not where we need to be all the time, and we're not always hitting people where we need to be, but we are attacking the line."
Before their full-pad workouts, the Wolverines players were waking up before sunrise to work out in the weight room and do other conditioning drills starting at 6:30 a.m.
Once Woodstock got onto the field, the Wolverines' offense focused their practice on the I-formation and the shotgun. On defense, Woodstock will be using a twist on the 5-2 setup. Senior Ryan Tweedle will be playing the role of a "down end." The "down end" acts as a tackle, but consistently stays on the outside of the defensive line, towards the strong side of the line.
The Wolverines are implementing this system as a means of defending against the option that many offenses will be using this upcoming season. The Wolverines will be returning four starters on defense including two key linebackers in Corey Carmichael and Alex Polasky.
Shawn Haley and Drew Shields, who recently wrapped up their season with the Woodstock baseball team, are now practicing full-time with the football team and will be the primary focus in the secondary.
While spring practice allows the coaches to introduce new twists to their playbooks and refocus their players on the ways of the old system, the practice sessions allow the players a chance to get their hits on defense and make plays on offense.
"It's great," Carmichael said. "Once you get in there, it's a big relief because when you are in school, you are sitting there wanting to hit somebody."
Carmichael said it will be even better in the fall when he can lay hits on the opposition.
With this being the first week of practice in full pads, the defense gains somewhat of an advantage over the offense due to the lack of playing time the offense has had over the offseason at full game speed.
"The defense is ahead of (the offense) for sure," O'Brien said. "They're making some mistakes, too, so we are getting them ironed out."
The Wolverines will use multiple formations on offense. While using multiple formations will take more time to learn over the spring and summer, it will give defenses fits in the fall as they have less than a week to prepare.
As a two-year starter, senior quarterback Taylor Trotter has helped the Wolverines progress through springs like this as he has been through three others like it.
"I definitely think that I will have an advantage as this is my third year starting," Trotter said. "You definitely work on the mechanics in the spring. You always want to stay sharp, and want to be in and out of your drops. Every year, you've got to re-learn how things are and adjust."

Emmanuel Chu will join Danny Carmichael at Middle Tennessee University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee this summer and will play this fall for the Blue Raiders.  Chu looks to make an immediate impact on the defensive line for the Blue Raiders and make the starting squad along with Carmichael who started at linebacker in the 2007 season.

Bobby Touhy transferred to Georgia Southern University in January, 2008.  Touhy has began working out with Eagles in an attempt to make the squad this fall.  Touhy will join  Nick Ross, standout wide receiver and recent graduate of WHS.  Ross lead the Wolverines in receiving in 2007 with 500 yards worth of receptions.

Friday, December 29, 2006
By Eric Brown
Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer

The Woodstock Wolverines' football season ended Nov. 10, but coach Mike O'Brien has one more opportunity to lead a team to victory this year.
O'Brien, who recently completed his fourth season at the helm, will coach the North squad in the GACA North/South All-Star Football Classic today at Memorial Stadium in Columbus. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
This will be O'Brien's first opportunity to coach in the North/South Classic. The veteran coach has compiled an 89-42-1 record in 12 seasons as a head coach. He won a state championship at Valdosta in 1998.
"It's a great honor," O'Brien said. "To be alongside these other coaches and these kids, it's just been a super experience."
Indeed, O'Brien will have plenty of talented players around him. While not a single player was chosen from Cherokee County, nine players from Cobb will suit up today - running back Hoppo Joseph and defensive lineman Sean Palmer of Campbell, Lassiter wide receiver David Blaylock, defensive back Lonnie Burton and defensive lineman Ted Laurent of McEachern, wide out Austin Kelly and linebacker Dorian Wood of South Cobb, along with defensive end Charles Bay and linebacker Chris Nesbitt of Wheeler.
"These kids are the cream of the crop," O'Brien said. "They are the top players in Georgia and they're great athletes, but what has been a pleasant surprise is they are great young men and they've fulfilled all my expectations."
Unlike the regular season, all-star games don't allow much time for preparation. O'Brien said he and the rest of the team arrived in Columbus the day after Christmas and began practicing that night. After a few two-a-days, it's now time to line up and play. Blaylock, who led Cobb County with 41 receptions and 613 yards, said the team is ready despite the limited practice time.
"The quarterbacks and the receivers are clicking, so it's good," Blaylock said. "Luckily, the offensive coordinator is (Lassiter head coach Greg) Dirst, so the terminology is easy because I already know it."
Blaylock, who's being recruited by several schools including Murray State, The Citadel, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, said there is some level of nervousness playing in a game that is basically an audition to play college football.
"(I'm) a little bit (nervous)," Blaylock admitted. "But, it's a great opportunity, so I don't feel that much pressure. I just want to go out there and play."
Aside from the preparation time, O'Brien said there are subtle differences between this game and others. Still, he wants the team to perform well regardless of whether it's a regular season game or exhibition.
"Anytime you walk between the lines in any sport, you want to win," O'Brien said. "But, you don't want to lose sight of letting the kids play."

South Carolina Touchdown Club
Banquet Feb. 16
Sunday, January 14, 2007
The Garden City will once again take center stage in honoring the Palmetto State’s best college players.
For the second straight year, the Orangeburg Touchdown Club will present its All-State College Team as part of its fifth annual banquet set for Friday, Feb. 16, at The Cinema. Much like last year’s banquet, a sizable number of the 27 players selected for the team based on voting by the OTC board and state journalists who cover college football in South Carolina are expected to attend to receive their personalized trophy.
A “who’s who” of state head coaches are also scheduled to be in attendance, headlined by this year’s speaker guest speaker, University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier. Entering his second season with the Gamecocks, the former Heisman Trophy winner has created mass excitement in Columbia after leading them to an 8-5 record, a win over archrival Clemson and a Liberty Bowl victory.
Joining Spurrier onstage will be former South Carolina State coaching legend Willie Jeffries, who will serve as master of ceremonies as only he knows how. South Carolina State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough will also be there to cap the festivities by presenting his year-end team athletics awards.
The Bulldogs are coming off an 8-4 season in which they finished tied for second place with Delaware State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings despite defeating eventual three-time champion Hampton.
Tickets go on sale this Friday and are $25 in advance, $30 at the door if space is available. Tickets will be sold at the Chamber of Commerce, Community Resource Bank, The Times and Democrat and Hibbits Insurance. The buffet will open at 5:45 p.m. and the program starts at 6:30 p.m.
2006 Orangeburg Touchdown Club
All-State Team

(OFFENSE)

QUARTERBACKS – Josh Stepp (Newberry) & Tyler Thigpen (Coastal Carolina)
RUNNING BACKS – Deshawn Baker (South Carolina State) & James Davis (Clemson)
WIDE RECEIVERS – Tymere Zimmerman (Newberry), Sidney Rice (University of South Carolina) and Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina)
TIGHT END – Thomas Hunter (Clemson)
OFFENSIVE LINE – Nathan Bennett and Dustin Fry (both of Clemson), Brad Poston (Coastal Carolina), Clyde Reed (South Carolina State), Will Rutherford (Wofford) and Chris White (University of South Carolina)