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Floyd steers Bulldogs to monumental season
In 2007 the Bulldogs had a benchmark season. It was one where they won the most games ever in history, had their first ever perfect 10-win regular season and they won the county championship. "This was an easy team to coach," Allan Floyd, the Southwest Alabama Coach of the Year said. "From day one we stressed attention to detail. You could see how much they grew up over the summer because they saw the potential of what could be and they knew the difference between a 10-2 or 12- 0 type season." Floyd has been the head coach for four years and this group can truly be called his team, but Floyd sees lessons learned by each of the preceeding teams. "That first team taught us how to win, and the second group was one that learned as they went. Last year's team taught us toughness and this group, literally took our 'Jump the Hump' motto to heart," he added. The Bulldog coaching staff had a slightly different look than most other area schools. At most schools a head coach also doubles as either an offensive or defensive coordinator. That was not the case in Grove Hill as Floyd really took a role as an administrator. "You really can't have a head coach of the year without having 'coaches of the year'" Floyd said. "The staff here really had a great idea of what we wanted to do as a team and they were able to get that point across to the players. "I think having a true offensive and defensive coordinator freed me up to do so many of the little things that a team needs to have success," he added. "There was never any doubt with any of the work or decisions they made." Another irony about Floyd was how the players on the CCHS team view him. The term "player's coach" may be the best way to describe how they see him and just how approachable he is to his players. "Anytime anyone needed something or if someone had a problem, they could go to Coach Floyd and he would make it right," senior running back Kenneth Kimbrough said. That mantra could easily be repeated by any of the 2007 Bulldogs. "It all starts with the seniors," Floyd said. "It truly is leading by example. They worked hard and the juniors saw that, so did the sophomores and the freshmen. "It is the ground-work for future teams and players," Floyd added. When asked to look back at this season and find the key game or a turning point Floyd laughs because there are so many different aspects that we find essential in the success. "You look back and you have to say the Jackson game because of the way we were able to come back and win, but you can point to the Thomasville game and the way they were focused. The Winfield game was huge because we were out of it but found a way to win a game that allowed us to keep playing," he said. "All of those parts made our season." Floyd is quick to point out that this season there were several other coaches who were just as deserving of the honor of Coach of the Year. "Obviously you have Sweet Water and Leroy who won titles, and Teddy (Millry) did a great job, plus Jack (Hankins) at Thomasville," he said. "And I am probably missing some."
That attitude of selflessness was one of the main reasons Floyd is named the SW Alabama Coach of the Year.
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