WEED – First-year Weed varsity head coach Erik Johnson took a different approach than the rest of the Siskiyou County football programs this summer. The other 11-man teams (Yreka, Mt. Shasta, Etna) had traditional preseason practices, which culminated in a scrimmage held at Mt. Shasta High School last Friday. Johnson, however, opted to take his players to boot camp.

Okay, maybe calling it boot camp is a bit of a stretch, but it was certainly the most intense week that any football players in the area experienced.

In his Monday-Friday camp last week, 26 varsity and 19 JV players lived, worked, studied football, practiced, ate and slept at Weed High School, with just a couple of trips to the pool to cool off breaking their tether to the school grounds. The players slept in the gym and ate in a classroom with everyone, including many parents, chipping in to get it all done.

One of Johnson’s goals was to break down the separate groups and rebuild the team members into a family.

“There were a lot of cliques. So, by getting them here and getting them living together, and getting them working together, we’ve done that,” said Johnson. “We’ve been preaching family and team, and taking care of each other. So, all that will translate on to the field. When it’s fourth-and-one, with twenty-two seconds left in the fourth quarter and you need a stop, they know they can rely on each other to get it done.”

Assistant coach Sean Harker said that the coaches were also emphasizing the need for the players to take care of themselves—ice injuries, get rest, and stay hydrated.

Johnson said that one of the things that needs to be done is to break the cycle of losing.

“I think what we wanted to do was really come in and change the paradigms. They’ve had a period when losses have been kind of acceptable. I think they’ve been 5-25 the last three years at the varsity level,” said Johnson.

Apparently the Weed players have bought into Johnson’s methods. “They’re all here,” said Johnson. Harker agreed.

“I think they’re into it. The hardest thing is fighting fatigue. They get out there and they’re kind of dogging it, and then you get on them. They get back into it for about twenty minutes, and then they dog it again. It’s tough. These guys go the whole summer without thinking about getting in shape,” said Harker. “It’s just getting them to buy into committing, and realize we are here for a reason.”

Johnson would make no predictions but said that the coaching staff and team are optimistic.

“We have a good group of kids,” said Johnson.

As well as the head coaching duties, Johnson will coach the offensive line and serve as defensive coordinator. Thomas Covington, a former quarterback, is the offensive coordinator. Harker, also a former QB, will coach the running backs, QBs, receivers, linebackers, and secondary personnel.

The Weed Cougars went 1-9 last year with the only win coming against Chester at home, 18-8. They shared the Shasta Cascade League cellar with Chester and Los Molinos at 1-4. The Cougars open the season at home this Friday against the Etna Lions, who were 8-4 (3-2) last season and advanced to the NSCIF D-IV semi-finals.