Texas Football News

PLANO, Texas -- Heath Hamrick, receiver coach and assistant varsity coach for Rio Vista High School, Rio Vista, Texas, teamed up with Todd Allen, varsity offensive line coach for The Colony, Plano, Texas, to write a book covering the basic fundamentals of the spread offense.

Hamrick and Allen signed a book contract with Coaches Choice Publishers in mid-June and hopefully the book with be out in time for the 2005 Texas Coaches Convention in San Antonio.

Hamrick is the son of head football coach, Jerry "Slugger" Hamrick, Bremond ISD, Bremond, Texas, and grandson of one of the winningest coaches in Texas high school football history, Bill Hamrick. Allen is the son of long time west Texas coach, Kevin Allen, who is now superintendent for Iraan ISD, Iraan, Texas.

Allen and Hamrick grew up on the sidelines and practice fields listening to the coaches. They played high school football for their dads and college football at Trinity University under Steve Mohr. Coaching football is not a profession to them but a way of life passed down from one generation to another.

They, like most young coaches, study the coaches who have successful programs. More particularly, coaches who successfully run the spread offense. Head football coaches like Art Briles, University of Houston; Mike Leach, Texas Tech University; Steve Mohr, Trinity University; Jimmie Keeling, Hardin Simmons University; Bob McQueen, former head football, Temple High School, Temple, Texas; Todd Dodge, Southlake Carrol High
School, Southlake, Texas; Joey Florence, Denton Ryan High School, Denton, Texas; Randy Allen, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Texas; Lee Fedora, Robinson High School, Robinson, Robinson, Texas; Lucky Gamble, Chilton High School, Chilton, Texas; Sam Harrell, Ennis High School, Ennis, Texas Ennis; Jerry "Slugger" Hamrick, Bremond High School, Bremond, Texas; Joe Willis, Iraan High School, Iraan, Texas; and many more successful coaches using the Spread.

While studying the teams and coaches that run the spread they found many programs were similar but none were coached exactly the same nor could the various versions be implemented by just any coach for any team no matter the size or talent level and make the system work. They found that the existing books on the spread, generally focused on philosophy, not fundamentals. It was a giant puzzle with the pieces scattered across the state of Texas.

They came to the conclusion that until a handbook of the basic fundamentals of the spread offense was published, most coaches who tried to implement the spread offense into their program would fail. Not because of effort but because of lack of knowledge of the basic fundamentals of the spread attack..

For several years, these two young coaches have been researching the fundamentals it takes to run an effective passing and running game out of the spread using what you have at any level. Where did they get the information? By watching and talking to the masters. Now they’ve put the pieces of the puzzle together so you can see the whole picture.

Youth never sees the height of a mountain, they just vision the valley on the other side. Allen and Hamrick climbed the mountain and when they got to the valley on the other side they named it, "Coaching the Spreadbone Attack."

"Coaching the Spreadbone Attack " is a book that coaches across the nation have been waiting for. A book that answers the question, "Will the spread work with our kids?"

It is a book which can be used, a book of fundamental X's and O's. It is for coaches at all classifications: from D1 college powers to the smallest Class A squad. The book addresses the fundamental assignments, routes, blocks, and plays which makes the spread work at all levels.

For years, the sole property of NFL and college teams, the spread is now being used more and more by high school coaches wanting to tap into its limitless potential for a high scoring offense. It is truly the "hot" topic at any coaching clinic or passing camp; it is the offense that everyone who's anyone wants to incorporate into their package. Coaches realize that it can be run with exciting results without college-caliber athletes; all it takes is a firm understanding of the basic principles of the "Fun 'N Gun".

The book will be available at clinics and football conventions attended by Coaches Choice across the nation. It will also be available for purchase on the Coaches Choice website: www.coacheschoice.com or via phone @ 1-888-722-5745. Call and request your copy today.

Friday, June 15, 2005

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