There’s a new sheriff in town!
The Fremont Firebirds football program welcomes new Head Coach RJ Davis this season. Davis replaces long-time coach Rob Swartz, bringing both high school and junior college coaching experience back to the school that he himself graduated from.
Davis is a 2004 Fremont alumnus and has spent time in years past on the Fremont coaching staff. His coaching resume includes time as both Fremont’s defensive coordinator, Lynbrook’s head coach and De Anza College’s defensive line coach. Davis’ familiarity with the school has led to a smooth transition to the new role and his players appear eager to make him proud on the gridiron.
“I like Coach Davis a lot,” chimed junior Aslam Ahmed. “He coached my brothers over at De Anza, so I’m really familiar with his coaching style. I like his way of coaching; everyone gets along well, it’s perfect. He’s phenomenal. Even if someone is new to the game, he will literally go and do the drill with you. He’s not an immobile coach; he knows how to do everything.”
“As a center, he’s very hands on with us because he was a lineman coach for both De Anza and Fremont,” noted junior Jorge Villagomez. “He’s very helpful. He takes his time with us; it’s really easy for me to learn new stuff. If I’m having trouble with a certain technique or messing up my snaps, he stops and shows me how to correct it, so it’s a really positive coaching experience.”
In addition to leaning on Coach Davis’ experience, first-year varsity quarterback Lucus Driscoll is hopeful to be able to lean on senior tailback Elijah Smith. The incredibly talented back was on varsity as a sophomore and has unfortunately had injuries derail his junior season. However, when healthy, Smith is one of the better running backs in the whole section.
“I’m really excited, I’ve been able to see what he can do all summer,” remarked Driscoll on Smith. “We have been working out together and training together. He’s incredibly athletic, strong. A great leader on this team. He helps me with tips here and there. So great to see him healthy now. I know he can have a breakout season this year for us.”
“I wanna get my name out there and show the world what I can do. I was hurt all last season and didn’t get to play,” acknowledged Smith on his individual goals for the season. “I just want to show what I can and do, play the whole season. My main goal is just to stay healthy.”
If Smith and the rest of the Firebirds’ core group can stay relatively healthy, the team could surprise in the El Camino Division this season. A year ago, the Firebirds finished the season 3-7 overall and 2-3 in league play. The Firebirds have a scrimmage scheduled for Friday, August 22 against Cupertino, the team’s first test against an opponent other than themselves. Begs the question: are the Firebirds ready to take flight?
“We’re as ready as we’re gonna be,” noted coach Davis. “We will never truly know until we go live, but all the things we are doing as coaches and the players helping each other out, we are going to do whatever we can to make sure everyone is prepared to play on Friday, Thursday, Saturday or whenever we have to play.”
Related Posts:
Fremont Firebirds Fly Fast and Furious Over Lynbrook
Could Fremont Firebirds Football Go From Last to First?
0 comments