By KATHY COPELAND / Community Columnist

Vincent’s new football coach has taken Xs and Os beyond the high school football team. During the week of Vincent’s first scrimmage, Coach Lucas Weatherford participated in a Community Connection event hosted by the Revival Center.

About 25 men came out to meet the man students call “Coach,” and to hear his plans for the team this year.

When asked to describe the event, Weatherford said talking Xs and Os to the dads is something borrowed from a previous head coach where he worked as an assistant, and added meeting with dads and talking about both offensive and defensive schemes was great fun.

“It was a great time of fellowship and gave them a chance to learn what their sons are being coached,” Weatherford said.

And this was not an evening all about football and fellowship. Like with any good southern gathering, it is rumored that the ladies at the Revival Center made sure everyone left with not only smiles, but full bellies.

As for his views on the first scrimmage Friday, Aug. 17, Weatherford said, “I saw some good things and also some not-so-good things.”

He said working with a small roster comes with challenges, but he thought the kids played hard and are looking forward to lining up against someone besides each other.

“I was very proud of our community for coming out and supporting the event despite the rainy weather,” Weatherford said.

Then, without skipping a beat, Weatherford continued to boast about community involvement, saying, “We also just held our first ever Alumni 7-on-7 competition, and I am very appreciative of all the guys that came back to play and hang out. It was a fun night.”

Fret not, ladies; Coach Weatherford has plans to talk football with you, too. He plans to hold a “Mom’s Clinic” in the spring.

“I think the moms learned more that the dads,” he said of one he participated in as an assistant coach, noting moms would watch film and then walk up to him and say, “Your linebackers aren’t spilling the run!”

By the time this article is in the hands of the reader, Vincent will have played its first football game of the year against White Plains, which Weatherford described as a physical and disciplined team.

“In order to have a chance, we will have to be the tougher team both mentally and physically,” Weatherford said.

Vincent’s new football coach is a man who both inspires and is inspired by community involvement and participation.

Vincent is a place where community spirit is alive.