With two-a-days behind him and after a 65-19 victory in his debut as head coach of the Blinn Buccaneers, Ronny Feldman can finally get into a routine, spend a few more nights at home and start enjoying those long rides to work with his defensive coordinator.
Feldman had already directed a highly efficient offense for four years at Blinn, so when he was hired to take over for Brad Franchione, he brought on an old friend in Bill Clay to take care of the other side of the ball.
The two, having been coaches at Texas A&M, still live in College Station, and with things settling down somewhat after a hectic offseason, the 45-minute drive together will not only go by fairly quickly, it should save some time when it comes to meetings.
"Two-a-days start so early and we have so much video to watch, we haven't got into a pattern yet but when the season gets going then we'll start commuting," said Feldman, who also rents a place in Brenham. "He's such a joy to be around and we have a lot in common, good families that are important. I won't mind that drive on a daily basis."
Feldman might even pay for the gas since he is more than grateful Clay, who has been a defensive coordinator for seven Division I schools since 1980, said yes when asked to take the job at Blinn.
"I was very, very blessed and lucky to be able to hire him," Feldman said. "When I said 'Bill I can't pay you what your worth to me, this program and the kids,' his response was 'I just want to coach ball.' That's the way he's always been, just wanting to coach ball."
Even though the Bucs lost seven defensive players, including Princeton Jackson, the conference defensive MVP, to four-year schools, Clay takes over an experienced defense with at least eight starting sophomores, most of which have red-shirted.
"We have a really good defensive line, seven of the top eight guys red-shirted so they are here for a second or third year, which is a lot of maturity in junior college," Feldman said. "If you have a good defensive line and quarterback, you have a chance to win a bunch of games."
Defensive end John Gandy, who Feldman described as not being the fastest or biggest, just a real good football player, leads the group the Bucs plan on rotating in and out.
Ishmail Hayes, Roland Bordelon, Kenneth Smith and Jeremy Williams all have experience and were a part of group that helped the Bucs go 8-3 in 2010 and defeat fourth-ranked Arizona Western in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.
Gandy, Hayes and Bordelon are all ends while Smith and Williams should get help in the middle from Rockdale's Logan David, who has already been offered a scholarship by Texas A&M.
"That is a bunch of experience with great work habits that understand the system," Feldman said.
Eddie Porter, a 6-3, 235-pounder leads the charge at linebacker. He has been offered scholarships from several SEC teams. Ricky Francis and Earl Hienz, both red-shirt freshmen, help fill out the linebacking corps along with freshman Dustyn Leonard.
The experience in the secondary, which lost former A&M Consolidated star Kip Daily to Kansas State, is at cornerback with Nashon Davis, Jeremy Baltazar and former UTEP transfer Maurice Poullard.
Andrew Fletcher of A&M Consolidated should see plenty of time at safety.
"We are deep, and that is the thing that's important," said Feldman, who himself graduated from A&M Consolidated in 1972.
On offense, Feldman has coached some of the best quarterbacks in junior college and the best in the NCAA, Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
Feldman had another quarterback move on to an FBS school last year in Justin Tuggle, who is in a battle for a starting job at Kansas State.
Eric Mathews of Brookshire Royal, a red-shirt freshman, replaces Tuggle.
"He has a lot of talent, just hasn't been put through the fire, so to speak," Feldman said. "He has some growing up to do as far as decision-making and those kind of things."
Mathews fared well in his debut as a starter, going 12 for 19 for 188 yards. He also ran for 53 yards.
Mathews also has the luxury of handing off to Marion Grice, a first-team All-SWJCFC back who rushed for 1,169 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman.
He's on his way to breaking all those marks after opening with 241 yards and four TDs on just 16 carries against Fort Scott.
"Offensively, Marion is definitely our nucleus of things as far as us being able to do several different things," Feldman said. "But we've got other talented people too, as in the past."
Blinn has had 16 receivers go on to play Division I ball in the past three years and should again make noise in that category.
Xavier Maxwell caught a 74-yard TD pass in the opener, and he and Jacob Bennett are two of many receivers Feldman plans on using.
The offensive line is arguably the best unit on the team with Armondo Alverez (6-3, 300), David Nealy of Bryan (6-6, 320) and Xavier Ruben (6-3, 305) leading the way.
All are big and very athletic, according to Feldman.
"Three years ago I said I don't want anyone fatter than me on the offensive line, so I changed recruiting around a little bit and got some guys a little more flat-bellied," Feldman said. "Although Marion [Grice] is a good player, our offensive line play right now is the strength of our football team."
NOTES -- Blinn had 15 players go on to four-year colleges from last year's team, and over the past two years has had 32 players move on, including five to Big 12 schools. ... A&M defensive end Jonathon Mathis played at Blinn in 2009. ... Blinn will play its home games at Cub Stadium in Brenham. ... On Oct. 8, the Buccaneers will host Tyler Junior College at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan.
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