Coahoma Community College is opening the 2021 football season hosting Hinds Community College at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
Travis Macon is going into his second season as the Tigers coach and is urging the community to come what the new and improved Tigers play.
“Everybody’s feeling good,” Macon said. “They’re excited. Everybody wants to see a different color jersey, so the guys are very excited. They’ve got a lot of energy now. They feel pretty good.”
CCC finished 3-2 in Macon's first season.
Macon has respect for Hinds and talked about what it will take to beat a good football team.
“When you’re going against a good football team like this, make sure you execute well on offense,” Macon said. “Don’t turn the ball over. Defensively, we can’t give up the big play. Play solid defense. Special teams is going to play a big part. We work very hard on special teams. We’re going to be counting on those guys on special teams as well, so we can’t have any letdowns on special teams.”
Macon understands the importance of playing well in the season opener.
“It kind of lets you know where you’re at, especially when you’re playing a team like we’re playing on Thursday,” Macon said. “The first ballgame, you really don’t know what to expect, so you’re kind of going in the game blind. All you can go off on is what they did last year, so it makes you a little nervous, but with a veteran group, I think we’re going to be OK.”
Both teams will be prepared for adjustments during the game.
“As a coaching staff, that’s where we’ve got to play a big part in this first ballgame,” Macon said. “We’ve got to see everything and make sure that we make the adjustments we need to make at halftime and on the sideline. That’s the big part of the first ballgame is your coaching staff, seeing everything that’s happening to you and hurting you and making the right adjustments.
“If you don’t make the proper adjustments, most of the time you’ll get beat. If you can make the adjustments, you win the ballgame.”
The Tigers were ready for the opener in 2020 and the same holds true in 2021.
“The thing about this group is I think they’re always up for a good challenge,” Macon said. “Even going into the first ballgame last year, we had almost 48 true freshmen. They played like sophomores. Every day at practice, they come out and they go to work and they play like they’ve been there before. I don’t expect anything different. I think this group is going to come out and they’re going to play hard. One thing as coaches we demand for them to play hard. I’m excited to just watch them in action again.”
Macon encouraged fans to attend the game.
“I want all the fans to come out and support these guys,” Macon said. “They have been working very hard. Go Tigers.”
