CIRCLEVILLE – Ask any coach or player and they will tell you the locker room is sacred ground. What goes on in there stays in there.
Before the game, at halftime, and after the game is a time when they are together as one, and people on the outside rarely get a chance to see or hear what happens on the inside.
Having all-access to the team is something I have asked coaches before, and it is a case where the coach has to have complete trust in you. He is giving you a behind-the-scenes look at his team.
More: Bloom-Carroll cruises past Circleville and finishes perfect in the MSL-Buckeye Division
More: ‘He did everything for us’: How Beau Sherman’s football attitude leads Bloom-Carroll
When I asked Bloom-Carroll coach Jeremy McKinney about having all-access to his team during a road game last Friday at Circleville, he was all for it − even after I explained that I would be right in the mix of everything, listening to their conversations, listening to what kind of music was playing, all of it. I would be right there.
It may not sound like a big deal, but when players and coaches aren’t used to someone from the outside in their locker room, it can be a little daunting. However, it never felt weird, and I never felt out of place. They were all very welcoming, and I appreciate that. It was a great experience.
So, without further ado, here is my view on what I took in during the Bulldogs’ 41-7 win over the Tigers, which capped off an undefeated season in the Mid-State League-Buckeye Division.
Before the game
I arrived at the stadium before the players and coaches got there, and soon assistant coaches arrived before the team buses got there. The equipment trailer arrived, and the assistant coaches went to work, taking all the football bags out of the trailer and lining them up on the ground so the players could grab them when they got there.
Once the buses arrived with the team, the players, a lot of them wearing dark sunglasses, even though it was cloudy, began to look for their equipment bags and headed into the locker room.
When Coach McKinney got off the bus, he walked over to me, and we had a nice chat outside the locker room. He gave me the pregame script. The sheet began with what time they would leave the locker room for the field and when certain groups would take the field.
I have always made it a point to talk with Coach McKinney before every game I have covered the Bulldogs. We talk about a lot of different things. Most of the time, we talk about football, but sometimes we don’t. I always look forward to those talks with him, and because of that, we have built trust in each other.
I made a point to go into the locker room so the players would get a chance to know I was there. A few of them talked with me, but most of them were going about their business getting ready for the game. It wasn’t long before the boom box they brought started blaring with music.
There was a table set up just outside the locker room, and players started lining up to get taped. Most of the players were just taking in the moment, talking amongst themselves. One of the assistant coaches started the countdown of when they would take the field for warmups.
Before they took the field, senior Beau Sherman gathered the players and told them not to take the (Tigers) too lightly. Bloom-Carroll was heavily favored, and he wanted to make sure his teammates understood, they needed to go out and take care of business.
As the captains met at mid-field for the coin toss, the rest of the team made their way back to the locker room. The one thing that struck me was how focused this group was and how much freedom and trust the coaches gave the players.
They are used to winning, and they understand what it takes to win. There weren’t any rah, rah speeches before the game by Coach McKinney or any of the assistant coaches.
I could tell they were there to take care of business and that’s what it felt like. They were very business-like in their approach. The locker room was small and cramped, but before the players took the field, they all gathered in the tight space, took a knee without the coaches in the locker room, and said a prayer.
With that, it was time to take the field.
Halftime adjustments were minimal
As expected, the Bulldogs started fast by scoring on their first three offensive possessions to take a 20-0 lead. They led 27-7 at halftime.
Senior running back Jude Blair, who transferred from Circleville, had a big first half against his former team by rushing for 143 yards and a touchdown. Bloom-Carroll’s defense was solid. The Tigers’ touchdown came on a 67-yard halfback pass, but it would turn out to be the only points the Tigers would score.
I made sure to get in the locker room before the players and coaches at halftime. I was interested to see what kind of adjustments they would make. They were leading comfortably, so I figured there couldn’t be that many.
As the players made their way into the locker room, they took a seat where they could find one, some sat on the floor, and they talked amongst themselves. A few players were looking at plays on an iPad, but mostly, it was just a relaxed atmosphere.
After a few minutes, the assistant coaches came in, they gathered each of their position groups and went over things. Again, there were no rah, rah speeches or raised voices.
The one thing that impressed me was how much the coaches trusted the players and how much they asked for their input on things.
Bringing home another victory
Bloom-Carroll quickly increased its lead to 41-7 and there was no scoring in the fourth quarter so there wasn’t a lot of drama in the second half. A lot of younger players were able to get into the game, and the starters were right there cheering them on.
It’s interesting. I have covered a lot of high school football during my 32-year career as a sportswriter and I have seen a lot of different ways coaches and teams go about their business. Every coach does it differently. Some are get-in-your-face, yellers, and screamers. Some are more subdued. Bloom-Carroll and coach McKinney aren’t any of those.
He has his own, unique style. As he gathered his team after the game, all eyes were on him as he spoke. It is obvious the players respect him and believe in him. He values their opinion when it comes to what they are seeing on the field. He listens and you can tell they appreciate that. He is matter-of-fact, he is honest with them, and his players play hard for him.
Whether you think it is good, bad, or indifferent, his method works. In his three years as head coach, he has guided the Bulldogs to three straight MSL championships, a state runner-up in his first year, and a regional runner-up finish last season.
Simply put, he gets it. He understands it is about the players and putting them in the best possible position to win. He never makes it about himself and that is enduring to his players and assistant coaches.
McKinney coaches with a purpose. He expects a lot of himself and his players. He doesn’t raise his voice often, and on this night, he doesn’t have to, but when he does, the players sit straight up and listen.
People wonder why Bloom-Carroll has been so successful. Sure, they have had talent, but that can only take you so far. At the high school level, it has much to do with coaching, and coaching the right way. McKinney has certainly proven his way works.
As I returned home to write my game story, I wanted to hurry up and get it done so I could start working on this story. I got a text from Coach McKinney telling me it looked like they were playing Hartley in the playoffs.
I texted back and told him it should be a great game, and said I hope I didn’t get in the way too much the night before at the game, and he responded by saying, “Not at all, the players were excited, and we were glad to have you. I’m only sorry you were subjected to their taste in music.”
I appreciated him saying that, and I was relieved. I fully understand there has to be a trust factor there to allow a reporter into the locker room, so, again, thank you, Coach McKinney, the assistant coaches, and the players for having faith in me to tell this story.
As a reporter, it’s not very often you get all-access to a team, especially at the high school level, but I’m glad I got the opportunity. It was a special night for me and an awesome experience.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: All-access behind the scenes with the Bloom-Carroll football team
