New McCallie head football coach Ralph Potter is 14 weeks from the start spring practice (May14) and seven months from opening game at McMinn County.

Beginning his third coaching tenure for the Blue Tornado (two years as an assistant to his father, Pete Potter (1986-87), and head coach, (1997-2006), Potter wants his players to have strong character and solid moral values and be hard-nosed, tough, well-disciplined football players.

Question: What is your philosophy of success?

Potter: “Winning football starts with good, hard-nosed practices with lots of well-executed repetitions which leads to execution which translates into success which develops confidence.

"I want players who believe that they can beat anybody … tough kids with sound fundamentals and great confidence.”

Question: Your assessment of next year’s team?

Potter: "We will be young compared to this past season’s team (21 seniors), but we will have more speed.”

Question: What type defense and offense will McCallie run?

Potter: "Rick Whitt is our defensive coordinator and we will run a 3-4 defense … Mike Newman is our offensive coordinator and we will continue to run an option-based offense … the specifics will be determined by our quarterback … we need a quarterback who has a lot of courage, is emotionally strong and one who can handle the pressure  … he needs to be one tough kid … we will focus on what he does best, whether it is running or passing, key on that quality and build around it.”

Question: Who are your coaches for next season?

Potter: "I have already mentioned Rick Whitt and Mike Newman … Quarterbacks-Chris Richardson; Running Backs-Andy Smith; Wide Receivers-Corey Simpson; Defensive Ends-Adam Tolar; Outside Linebackers-Eamon Thornton; Inside Linebackers-Chris Johnson."

Question: What Subject Will You Teach?

Potter: "I am really excited about teaching a leadership course for all ninth graders beginning in the fall.

“I will have the opportunity to teach just about every student who comes through McCallie … civics will be part of the course and telling stories of great people in history who have made an impact on society.”

Question: McCallie and Baylor have the oldest football rivalry in the state (first game played in 1905) … Why is it important for your players to have a good knowledge of the McCallie-Baylor rivalry?

Potter: “It is of great value and importance for our players to understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves … there are a lot of people who care deeply about the rivalry and the yearly football game … it is key that our guys play with a since of pride because so many folks do follow both schools … I majored in history at UTC and my background spills over into football … I can tell you the score of nearly every McCallie-Baylor game going back 40 years when my dad first was head coach here in the fall of 1973.”

Question: What is your first memory of the McCallie-Baylor rivalry?

Potter: "My dad was hired at McCallie in the winter of 1973 and I was nine or 10 ... we were at a basketball game at Baylor and their students were wearing t-shirts with the score of the football game (Baylor won 36-0) from the previous fall ... I quickly realized how big this rivalry was.”

Question: There has been great discussion and debate in the past few years on where and what day the McCallie-Baylor game should be played. What are your thoughts?

Potter: ”I am not real concerned about where we play. We can play in a cow pasture for all I care as long as the field is 100 yards long.”

 Question:  What is your philosophy on football players competing in other sports?

Potter: "If our players have the talent to play another sport then I think it important for them to do so ... it is a way to give back to the school … I want the linebackers and lineman to wrestle and for some of the skill players to play basketball.”

Question: Do you have spring practice?

Potter: yes, spring practice starts May 14 and goes for 10 days.

Question: Is the 2012 schedule set?

Potter: "We will play nine games and are in the second year of home and home contracts.

"We open at McMinn County (Aug. 24) and our home opener is with two-time defending D-II state champions Ensworth (Aug.31) ... The Baylor game is Sept.21 at Finley Stadum.”

What You Might Not Know About Ralph Potter … was one of two quarterbacks on UTC’s last Southern Conference championship team in 1984 ... Served as head basketball coach at GPS for two years; 1986-87.

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net