Marble Falls football players taking charge, becoming leaders after loss of Dodge

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School incoming senior offensive lineman and tight end Hanner Shipley has a message from his teammates.

The Mustangs are as motivated today as they were before former head coach and athletic director Todd Dodge announced he accepted the same position at Austin Westlake.

Shipley, junior quarterback Brennen Wooten and several other players have been gathering the last several days after school for 7-on-7 practice and receiver drills.

“If you’re a quarterback, there’s a point where you want to rest your arm,” the tight end said. “For receivers, I don’t think you can ever get enough work.”

He acknowledged his disappointment when Dodge told them May 2 he was leaving for another job. But Shipley has seen this situation before and knows how difficult it is for a coach to turn down a position that could potentially offer more money, prestige and recognition. He saw his uncle Bob Shipley struggle with a similar decision when, at the end of the 2006-2007 school year, he resigned at Burnet High School to take over at Coppell.

Still, Shipley said the Mustangs are doing better each day, mostly because of assistant coach Kyle Futrell and Marble Falls Independent School District Superintendent Rob O’Connor.

O’Connor stopped by the high school campus May 5 to talk to the players after an invitation he received from Futrell.

“Coach Futrell has brought amazing spirit,” Shipley said. “We were all down when we came to school (May 2). Coach Futrell sat us down in the weight room, and he got Dr. O’Connor to talk to us. (O’Connor) told us a lot of people want this job, and there are a lot of good people. We understand Dr. O’Connor will find the best fit for a new coach.

“Coach Futrell brought us all together as a team,” he added. “He said, ‘This is a team where we don’t need to be falling apart as a team. We need to come together.’ Coach Futrell did a great job.”

The players see this as a chance to put into action one of the biggest lessons of sports.

“We’re rallying together,” Shipley said. “We’re becoming more of a family. Selfishness does not need to be an issue, and I don’t think it will be.”

The tight end, who committed to play for LSU, said the Mustangs also are using this as a chance to develop more leaders for the upcoming season.

“People are going to see how you react,” Shipley said. “Even college coaches want to see how you react. Other teams are going to be looking at us as not being very good. (Administration is) going to find someone else and get the job done.”

Wooten has encouraged his teammates to join him for after-school sessions, Shipley said, and they hope more of them will arrange their schedules to participate.

The players have been pointing out to each other where improvements in techniques can be made, he said, adding it never feels good to hear those observations. Still, they’ve been receptive to it and are making an effort to listen to each other.

“Brennen is telling me stuff I can do better,” Shipley said. “At his age right now, he could be a coach. He’s gotten everybody up here after school and put us through drills. Brennen is really stepping up.”

The Mustangs have been using the semester to improve their quickness, strength and agility. Many are getting in two lifts every other day.

“I know there have been a lot of guys who’ve gotten so much stronger,” Shipley said.

He’s one of them. Shipley has gone from squatting 380 pounds to 425 pounds and has increased his bench press from 280 pounds to 315 pounds.

LSU tight ends coach Steve Ensminger stopped by the high school May 1 on what was supposed to be the first day of spring practice.

Still, it wasn’t a wasted visit. In addition to Ensminger checking on his future player, he also had a chance to watch Wooten as the quarterback threw to Shipley during drills.

The tight end said Ensminger left impressed with Wooten.

“I think Brennen will pick up an offer from LSU,” he said with a smile.

In all, the Mustangs are doing what coaches have been emphasizing to them for some time, Shipley said, and that includes not worrying about the fact that other District 25-5A members are participating in spring football.

“Keep working and keep doing what you’re doing,” he said. “We can’t control (spring football practices). Our only worries are about the things we can control.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com