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The skill players: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive backs and linebackers practice Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m.

All linemen practice Tuesdays from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. All the practices are for new players and returning players to learn the basics, and to better their skills.

A big part of football is a commitment to the weight room. The weight room has been open since the end of football season, and continues to be open as the year goes on for players interested in getting fit for football.

All players interested in playing are welcome to attend. Players will be working on the four main lifts that have the most impact on the field: bench, squat, military press, and clean pulls.

Players like Blas Roman, Brandon Avalos, and Nazerdine Abdulla have dramatically increased the weight in their lifts by taking advantage of their opportunities to use the weight room. This makes them top prospects for the upcoming season.

Although these three have increased their strength, it is still not enough for a full football program.

“It’s good to have more guys involved. We need to have 100 plus guys involved. At least 35 on varsity, 35 on JV, and 45 on freshmen; now you’re talking about 110 to 115 guys. That’s our goal to have something like that,” stated Coach David Coldiron.

The success from last year has made more students interested in playing football. Other years when Granite’s football team was doing well, they had a big football program.

There are also other benefits of having a big team. Not only do the players get to play the sport they love but they also make lifelong friends along the way.

After playing on the same team for a while, the team starts to become more like a family and more united. The more time players spend together on the field the more they get to know their teammate’s flaws, which benefit in helping the team grow stronger.

Coach Coldiron believes that having a successful football team can lead to having a successful academic program. There have been many cases in which, when a school has had a winning football season the school overall has done well and exceeded academically. This is something that our school is trying to focus on.

“My buddies and I still talk after 30 years and we’re still as close as we were back in high school,” said Coldiron.

Players are already starting to build connections as they go through spring training together. The skills they work on during spring training are what helps them grow stronger too.

“Spring Training is helping a lot of us learn the basic things we need to know to do well in football. It is also helping the whole team get organized and back on track,” said Carlos Lopez.

Spring training helps players learn all the basic things they need to know to do well in the types of offense and defense they will run during the fall season.

With only a couple of months left until the season begins, more and more players are getting more motivated to get down everything they need. Dedication is the key component needed in order to have yet another playoff spot and be able to have all home playoff games.

“I think our football team is going to succeed because of how hard our players have been working and all the time they have been dedicating to their team,” said junior Adilene Quintana.

The Grizzlies are looking forward to seeing people out there for spring training getting ready to play and have fun doing what they love.