2008

ROBBIE ROBERTSON/THE NEWTON RECORD

East Central had several close calls last year and will try to tum those close losses into wins th1s season.

Cheathan1 stresses winning attitude in first season

"Win baby win!" That phrase is mostly attrib· uted to Al Davis, owner of the NFL Oakland Raiders. The same slogan can be applied to the 2008 East Central Community College football squad. But first-year head coach Steve Cheatham said winning "on the field" is just part of the equation. "We want our players to not only be winners on the score– board but also m the classroom and in everyday life," said the 30-year coaching veteran. "That's why we have adopted as this year's slogan, 'Winning Is An All-The-Time Thing,' and we are stressing that fact to our players." Cheatham, who took over the Warrior football program at mid-year following the resigna– tion of his former boss, Terry Underwood, said "winning games" is the result of a "win– ning attitude." "If you can be a winner in all you do, especially when no one is looking,'' Cheatham

"excited but a little nervous" about leading a college football program for the first time. He does have experience on the college level, having served as a graduate assistant at Clemson University and most recently as director of football opera– tions for Coach David Cutcliff at the University of Mississip– pi. He said being named head coach took him by surprise.

TheBIGstat East Central lost four games last year by a combined 11 points, three of those in the last minutes. · Cheatham and his squad will have their first opportunity at ·'winning" a football game when the Warriors travel to Coahoina Community College on Thursda~~ August 28. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the Clarks· dale campus. East Central defeated the Tigers 32·21 to conclude the Warriors' 3-6 campaign in 2007. The Coahoma squad is coached by former Warrior assistant Freeman Horton, a former foot– ball standout at the University of Southern Mississippi and Lake High School. Cheatham, a former high school head coach, said he is explained, "then good things will be the result."

"I did not expect this (promo– tion) to happen... J just wanted to be an assistant coach, finish out my t ime, have fun and enjoy coaching," Cheatham stated. "We've had a lot to learn in a ~hort period of time and I IEMOCRAT certainlv want to thank Coach Underwood for his help in the:coRD transition. I learned a lot from-

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The Warriors began fall workouts in shorts on Wednes- :OGER d;ly, August 6 and put on the - ------- pads for the first time the fol- ELPHIAN,_ ___ _ _ lowing Saturday. Eighty-one Sec ECCC Page + 3 --- ---- - -