As the 2023 season is set to begin, North Clayton head coach Cap Burnett tweaked his approach to the team this year.
This year, he’s working on the team’s mental approach to the game.
“This year, I made it my purpose to attack my guys’ mental,” Burnett said as the team has been struggling the last several years.
“I think last year was tough for us (going 1-9),” Burnett said. “We’ve been going through some rough patches so this year I said ‘let’s try something different.’ We did all the physical things but my main thing was attacking their mental. You are capable of doing what you need to do but are you willing to do it?
“We know everything that needs to go into the game — you go to practice, you’re able to run, you’re able to catch — do all that stuff but are you willing to do the things that separate you?”
That also means instilling good habits and to not just settle.
“When you reach a goal just don’t settle,” he said. “Don’t just have a goal mindset but have a growth mindset. When you reach a goal, you just keep climbing — mindset not just for football but the classroom and life and home and community.”
North Clayton has only three seniors this year — offensive lineman Gabriel Harris, and defensive linemen Isaiah Mitchell and Ta’Shaun Begley.
They have been key in turning around the team’s approach to the game and the team’s mindset.
As far as numbers, 28 players came out for the team during the summer and while that’s still a small number, it’s more than in the past.
“We’re still going to be a small team but again I tell them, you can only play 11,” Burnett sad. “I don’t care if a team shows up with 150, only 11 guys are going to be on the field. We put our best 11 against their best 11 and we’ll let the chips fall where they may.”
North Clayton took a tough 69-0…
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