By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SEB back to work
082710 SEB PORTAL FOOTBALL 03 web
Southeast Bulloch quarterback Taylor Burroughs (13) turns the corner against the Portal defense during the third quarter at Portal in this Friday, August 27, 2010 file photo.

    BROOKLET — To compete for region titles in South Georgia year in and year out, teams must go through a never-ending process of dedication, preparation and execution.
    For teams that have fallen on hard times and are on the march back, the story is no different, but the importance of each step of the process is magnified.
    That is now the case for Southeast Bulloch, a school with a proud football tradition, but one that has also fallen upon hard times in recent years. The Yellow Jackets haven’t compiled a winning season since the 2005 campaign, but after arriving in Brooklet before last season, SEB coach Pat Collins looks to have the program back on the right track.
    To be sure, the 2010 edition of Yellow Jacket football was still a tough one to bear. SEB broke a 19-game losing streak and won its first two contests of the season, but then went on to drop the final eight on its way through a daunting Region 3-AA schedule. Still, morale was high throughout the season and the good spirits have continued through the offseason and into summer workouts as the Jackets prepare to take the next step in their rebuilding process.
    “Last season didn’t have all the wins that you’d like to see, but there was definite improvement,” said Collins. “I can’t say enough about the hard work and the enthusiasm that our kids have for this game, their school, and for this community. Every day of practice last year and every workout in the offseason was just another day where a lot of young men showed up determined to get a little better.”
    After a winter and spring full of weightlifting and conditioning, the newest addition of the Jackets finally got some competition on the field Tuesday as Statesboro came to town for 7-on-7 passing drills.
    While no score was kept and the proceedings were informal, Collins was excited about the change in mentality that came along with his players lining up against players wearing a different uniform.
    “There are a lot of sports that run during the summer and at SEB, we’ve got a lot of guys that play several different sports,” said Collins. “We’re happy for them to do well in the summer with baseball, basketball and other sports, but now in the tail end of the summer, we really start to come together to focus on football and start gearing up for the new season.”
    The weather Tuesday afternoon was also something that Collins was glad to see.
    “It’s not always fun, but it’s something you have to get used to and can benefit from,” said Collins of the scorching, humid conditions on the field. “There’s nothing quite like a 98 degree day with all this humidity and gnats swarming everywhere. It reminds you that football is about to be back.”
    And if the Jackets have anything to say about it this season, so will Southeast Bulloch.

    Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.