A NEW MENTALITY: Legacy Eagles set new standards

Nine of Legacy Charter’s 26 football players not only are new to the team, they’re also new to the sport.

“We don’t take too much time allowing the new kids to get acclimated,” head football coach Zachary Fox said. “We kind of just throw them in right away, and we kind of expect them to get their understanding as they go. We have a rule with our seniors: Every time a new kids comes in, they have to hang out with a new person the entire practice. So, every water break during individual drills, they just let them know right away they are part of the family.” 

For the Eagles, a new season brings in many changes — new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new players and a new mentality — and all have been positively received by the players. 

“Our O-line has very much improved since last year,” linebacker and running back Jake Threadgill, 16, said. “Everything is going according to plan. Coach Fox keeps us on a very disciplined schedule, making sure we are ready to go.” 

Because of its small roster, Legacy’s players have had to learn how to play both sides of the ball and understand how to read the field differently according to the position they are playing at any given moment during games. 

“We have seven guys who start both ways, and everyone on our team rotates on offense and defense,” Fox said. “Just letting them know that there are a lot more opportunities to fulfill and experience (to acquire) rather than being in a big school, where you are just set to one side of the ball. Here, they are able to get that experience, as well.”

For wide receiver and safety Vaughn Scusa, 17, this season is the first time he has stepped on a football field. However, already, he’s showing growth on both sides of the ball. And it all starts with the right attitude.

“I just try to power through and go with the mindset that if I can push myself to be as strong after as I was before … I can focus on the next play and focus on doing better,” he said. 

The team’s mentality — and scheming — changed, as well. 

“We’ve definitely put an emphasis on keeping everybody together and putting in new standards, and our playbook changed a little bit, too,” Fox said. “We were just a basic defense last year, because we had the offense for it. But, this year, we just have to get a little more complex within our scheming. … (We need them to understand) that when we go out there on Friday nights, it is 11 on 11, and our 11 just has to be better.”

The Eagles aim to be strong on both sides of the ball.

“Offensively, we look good, because we are so multidimensional, so that definitely helps a lot,” Fox said. “But, we have to make sure our spacing is correct and not just letting up routes or stopping blocks because the play may be away from us. That’s something we still need to work on a little bit.” 

And, being competitive on the field comes with understanding that every practice is just as important as every game. 

“We treat every game like it’s playoff game,” Fox said. “We treat every practice like it’s a game, and they have to have that same mentality (during games).”