KFDM COOP Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Bridge City welcomes home Smalley Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader BRIDGE CITY — Even while working on the Orangefield Bobcats staff last season Josh Smalley found it difficult to see what the Bridge City Cardinals were going through in 2007. The Cardinals suffered an 0-10 season and a 60-35 defeat to the hands of Smalley’s then Bobcats’ squad. Smalley is now officially back with his alma mater Bridge City as the offensive coordinator and is expecting to put Bridge City where he thinks they belong — the playoff hunt. “Coming back to Bridge City and leaving Orangefield was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make,†Smalley said. “I really enjoyed my two years with Orangefield. I have tremendous respect for that community and the kids there. I guess it is like they say ‘There’s no place like home.’†Smalley is a 1994 graduate of Bridge City and has served two stints as a coach with the Cardinals. From 1999 to 2001 Smalley coached freshman football and was assistant baseball coach. Smalley returned to Bridge City from 200-3-06 and was moved to varsity football along with an assistant spot in softball. Bridge City Athletics Director Cris Stump said when he told the Cardinals’ players Smalley was headed back to Cardinal Country something happened he did not expect. “It was a spontaneous excitment,†Stump said. “That really sums it up. They remember him from when he was here before. Anytime you get a guy who works that well with kids, it can only help your program. I was not expecting that great of a response although I did know they would be happy.†Stump will also be looking for Smalley to learn his spread offense which was implemented for the first time at Bridge City in Stump’s first season in 2007. “It is totally different than what I did in Orangefield,†Smalley said. “It is exciting to learn something new. It really is a spread offense to run the ball and throw it around a little bit. We have some good kids coming back and it is going to be a challenge. “I have always said in this profession once you care about the kids you never stop caring. To seem them go 0-10 and know they were struggling, it was tough. I only pulled against those guys in one game last year and wanted them to be successful for the rest of the games.†Smalley is now looking to make sure the Cardinals are setting their eyes on a bigger prize than just trying to seek revenge from last year’s Bayou Bowl. “It is not just about one game,†Smalley added. “We have nine other games to worry about. I am interesting in beating Orangefield, West Orange-Stark, Hardin-Jefferson, Hamshire-Fannett and Silsbee. We can’t put everything into one game even though it is a big rivalry.†Stump said he feels real fortunate to have Smalley back on the Cardinals’ staff. “Josh just has a way of building relationships with kids,†Stump said. “It is really why we are in this profession. On the athletic side of things, he is really going to help us a lot on offense. I know he is someone I will be able to count on during Friday nights.†For now Smalley is just happy to be back home. “It feels real good,†Smalley added. “We are going to try to turn this ship around. We have a lot of kids coming back from last year who gained a lot of experience. Bridge City was under a new system last year and it takes a bit to get going. I really think we will be better on both offense and defense. You go into each season expecting to make the playoffs and we expect to be in that hunt. There is no reason we cannot do that.â€
Plumnelly Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 What a great move for Stump and the Cards. Josh Smalley is one classy individual and also one heck of a Football Coach. He loves kids and does things the right way. Just having him on your side is great. Congrats Coach Smalley!
Recommended Posts