Published: 11:30 PM, Mon Jul 30, 2012
Veteran quarterback Troy Cain runs South View football practice
Randy Ledford is a soft-spoken, Southern gentleman off the football field. But Monday morning, as he directed approximately 95 South View Tigers through their first preseason practice, Ledford's voice boomed across the field.
"Hustle! We don't walk to the line!'' Ledford said to his first-team offense.
Junior quarterback Troy Cain followed his head coach's lead and encouraged his teammates to move quicker. They rushed to the line, Cain took the snap and executed a perfect pass to senior tight end Greg Gimore.
It's the kind of reaction Ledford expected from a three-year veteran who played on the varsity as a freshman.
"Because of his experience, we're able to do a lot of things on the first day we wouldn't be able to do with an inexperienced quarterback,'' Ledford said. "He knows the offense so well, we're able to try some new things.''
Ledford also is appreciative of another one of Cain's attributes.
"He's one of the toughest quarterbacks I've ever had,'' Ledford said. "He's 6-foot-3 and weighs about 210 pounds. If he wasn't playing quarterback, he'd probably be a linebacker.''
- Sammy Batten