Published: August 11, 2008 11:38 pm            

A new attitude, an old tradition

LOUISA — When Luke Salmons took over as the head football coach at Lawrence County in February, he emphasized change.

Change may not be such a bad concept for Lawrence County, which has not had a winning season since 2003.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 1-10 season in 2007.

Billy Goldsmith resigned following a mostly successful 12-year career at Lawrence County from 1986-1993 and then 2004-2007 which gave way to Salmons, who served under Goldsmith as an assistant for two seasons.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach,” said the 27-year-old Salmons. “I just never knew I’d get the opportunity so early. I love Louisa and I’m honored to be the coach at Lawrence County.

“It’s challenging and time consuming,” added Salmons, whose wife just recently had a baby. “God has me in this role and I’m ready for the challenge. I have always dealt with challenges in my life.”

Salmons is used to a leadership role, as he had at Marshall University, where he was a left guard and team captain, aiding the Thundering Herd to three conference championships.

The new coach is declaring a new era in Lawrence County football.

“We started from scratch,” said Salmons, who brought in a whole new coaching staff. “We’re changing all aspects of the program starting with the basics.”

The physical and attitudinal aspects are most important to Salmons.

According to the Bulldogs coach, the main changes include working harder in the weight room, getting student-athletes from other sports to play football and alterations in the team’s venue.

“I believe that you can develop a team in the weight room,” Salmons said. “The kids learn to push themselves and learn as a team.

“Right now, I believe that nobody can outwork us in the weight room,” he added.

Salmons said that good relationships with other sports have helped greatly.

“We started recruiting hard within the school,” Salmons said. “We have maybe five or six possible starters that haven’t played in high school.”

Another one of Salmons’ goals was to increase the total number of players, but, he says, he has not only done that, but discovered the best athletes to put on the field as well.

“We have more numbers, but we also have the best athletes in our school playing,” he said.

Salmons took it upon himself to plunge into the task of renovating the football field.

With assistance from his staff and the baseball coaching staff, the football field features a new look, including new Bermuda grass, an irrigation system and a renovated locker room.

Salmons hopes these changes will help boost the tradition-rich Lawrence County program back to its winning ways.

The Bulldogs’ last trip to the playoffs was in 2004. The most success that the program has seen took place in 1991, 1997 and 1999. In all three of those seasons, Lawrence County advanced to the state semifinals of its class.

However, according to Salmons, any pressure to succeed from others will not amount to the pressure he puts on himself.

“The most pressure to me is the pressure I put on myself,” he said. “Otherwise, it doesn’t mean anything to me. I want the kids to succeed and be on a winning team.”

Salmons adamantly stresses the importance of the little things and the physical aspect of football to his players.

“Snapping the ball, getting good blocks, being physical, being tight,” Salmons rattled off the little things. “Once they learn to understand that, they will have success and it will eventually steamroll.

Salmons believes he has a winning combination alongside of him on the sidelines as well.

“I brought some coaches here that I believe in,” Salmons said. “But they believe in me and what we will accomplish too.”

Lawrence County kicks off its season against North Laurel on Aug. 29.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2658.

        

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