The Rivera Raiders’ turnaround didn’t start with the first week of practice. It started after 2015’s final whistle.
Rivera went 0-10 last season after finishing tied for first place in 2014 and advancing to the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Coach Tom Chavez says the team started moving on as soon as the final play was called last season and looks forward to getting back to the familiar ground of postseason contention in a revamped District 32-6A.
“We had a bad season last year, and the mission statement is not what (has) taken place this week,” Chavez said. “The mission statement took place at the end of the season last year. We had a good offseason, and hopefully it will carry over for what we’re doing now in two-a-days and (in getting) ready for the season. We’re just going from there and (seeing) what happens.”
“It’s definitely motivation for us since last year,” senior quarterback Oscar Gonzalez said. “But we let that go in the offseason, and we’re up here for the new season.”
Chavez and the coaching staff have kept the team focused on improving performance and not reminiscing over a down season by emphasizing team concepts during the summer and through the first week of official practices.
At the end of the day, the team members play for each other.
“We just have to come back as a team,” Chavez said. “We emphasize that a lot, get together as a team, play as a team, work hard as a team and all that. That’s all focused from the time we have after the season until where we are now. So we just want to continue what we’ve done in the offseason, just go forward with it from what we’re doing now.
“It’s early in the preseason right now. We’ll just see what happens. We have a really tough schedule, and we know that. I think everybody in the district knows that, too.”
That schedule is comprised of non-district dates against Porter, Brownsville Veterans Memorial and PSJA High before starting off District 32-6A play against Hanna.
One thing that Chavez has noticed is the attitude the Raiders have brought to practice so far.
“This week I’ve seen some good attitude,” Chavez said. “The team really wants to turn the season around and not let what happened this year (happen again). We’re ready to go just like everybody else.”
Gonzalez agrees that his teammates have brought a strong mindset to 2016.
“The best thing I’ve seen from the team is the work ethic that they bring,” he said. “The whole team has been working this offseason. This offseason has been the best one I’ve had at Rivera.”
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.com