Published: 12:00 AM, Tue Jul 31, 2012
Cape Fear stresses team-first approach at first practice
The blue-lettered phrase "I CAN . I WILL" stretches across one side of the white bracelet. The other side reads, "CF Football - CPP."
At Cape Fear, that stands for Character, Passion and Precision.
About a dozen players earned the right to wear a bracelet, which is awarded based on unselfishness and commitment, during the Colts' first practice Monday morning. But the only player who arrived with one was senior defensive end Cory Robinson.
Cape Fear held a series of youth football camps several weeks ago, and Robinson helped out each day, even though perfect attendance wasn't mandatory.
"I just did what I had to do, making sure the kids coming up here, the next class, the next years ahead, got things right and had the right techniques," Robinson said.
That certainly qualifies as making a commitment to the future of the Cape Fear program. As for the present, second-year coach Bryan Till lost lots of seniors from a team that exceeded outside expectations by claiming the Mid-South 4-A Conference's No. 2 seed and winning a playoff game.
With only a handful of starters returning, Till is stressing the importance of a team-first approach and recognizing noteworthy gestures, like when a player gives a ride to a teammate or sticks around to help clean up after a workout.
Once a senior has received a bracelet, he has the authority to distribute others to his teammates.
"Everyone has the opportunity to be unselfish; everybody can," Till said. "We want to reward guys for doing things that don't necessarily show up anywhere else other than making a team better."
- Bret Strelow