With Mike Brown as the new head football coach, there have been major changes this season in the way Dominion practices and prepares for games. Brown explains his vision for the team is to be more successful and competitive, “We’re going to try to compete every single play. One of my big sayings is ‘next play mentality.’ So if something bad happens, learn from it and move on. If something good happens, remember what you got there and replicate it.”
Dominion is playing against Freedom (South Riding) for the Homecoming game on Friday, September 26. Brown said, “I expect us to go out there and compete every play and have a really competitive game, and it come down to the wire, and let’s hopefully come away with the win.”
One change to the program is that the three teams no longer practice separately. Coach Brown said, “We have about 60 kids total in the program right now. All three levels, and we practice with everybody all together. So we run it as one big program.”
Additionally, the expectations are different this season, as there are more younger players on the team, including varsity starters who are freshmen. “We’re an awfully young team, so they’re still learning just how to play football and how to go full speed,” Brown said.
Despite having no wins this season so far, there has been continuous improvement and striving to increase Dominion’s success rate. “I’m a big believer of getting the foundation built, and then everything goes from there. We’ll continue in the weight room. That’s been a big staple of ours since I got here as we lift a lot to try to get bigger, stronger, and faster,” Brown said.
Receiver Rico Jones explains that the goal is to have more than three wins this year. Brown’s coaching style has developed the work ethic of the team.“[Brown is] much more intense. He’s not laid back as Coach Woodard was. He’ll tell you what you’re doing, and he’ll say it loudly,” Jones said.
Regardless of the outcome of this season, Brown wants the athletes to get more out of football than what can be seen on the field. “I want them to understand the value of hard work, communication is big for me. Having the kids advocate for themselves, which is different than in the past, from my understanding… I want them to have an understanding of the game and compete constantly whether we’re in practice or in a game. Relationship wise, I hope those guys all have found a close teammate and a bond with their teammates and their coaches that will last them a lifetime,” Brown explains.
