After returning to the football playoffs last year following a decade-long absence, the Lopez Lobos are back and hungry for more program success this season.
And over the first few days of practice, players have followed a few words that they feel will help lead to their goal.
It starts with attitude, attendance and — arguably the most important — accountability.
“I see (attitude and attendance) being modeled,” Starkey said. “We’re looking to model exactly what we expect in our team and we want our kids to control what they can control. We want them to focus on what they can control as an individual and how that contributes to helping the team as a whole.
“Everyone is in control of their attitude and their attendance and everyone is buying into it — that’s our focus this week.”
As for Starkey and his staff, their role during the first two weeks is all about figuring out which spots players can thrive in.
And after a successful spring utilizing athletic periods, the Lopez coaches believe they are familiar enough with the team to accomplish that.
“We want to maximize their strengths and we know who can do what for us,” Starkey said. “We had a great spring time with these kids in the athletic period and really identified the strengths and weaknesses of an individual and therefore, the team. We have really customized what we are doing offensively and defensively to maximize that.
“We have to make sure they’re accustomed to the play calls, the verbiage, the communication and energy — that’s what the first week is all about to me.”
Despite being just midway through Week 1 of practice, the Lobos players’ level of mental intensity is high.
Not wanting to dwell on the accomplishments of last season, Lopez aims to leave 2016 in the rear view and focus on readying themselves for the season ahead.
“It feels awesome and to be honest, being out on the field is one of the greatest feelings of all time,” said senior defensive end Josue Lucio, “It’s part of Texas. Football is just part of Texas. Everybody is ready and we’ve been waiting for this moment since last season. Coaches have been telling us that last year was just the beginning— we’re going to start something great with this program.
“In the past, Lopez hasn’t been so successful, but that’s all going to change.”
The mood in general has shifted on the practice field and around the locker room and the Lobos veterans, who have been with the program for the last four years, are starting to notice.
Senior wide receiver Leo Alaniz says practices have a taken a step up as players have begun to work noticeably harder and the schemes more complex.
“We seem a little more professional than in the years before,” Alaniz said. “Now, it’s a lot more intense, more fast-paced with new formations that make you think and try to confuse defenses. We’re making sure to get down the footwork and conditioning especially since it’s going to be more fast-paced (during games).”
While the Lopez players are ready and oozing confidence, Starkey knows that the actual season is still weeks away and his team must use that time to prepare.
“We have a lot of great opponents down the road and a great district that we’re a proud member of, but we don’t have time today to focus on them,” he said. “We have to focus on us and that’s what we’re doing right now.”