Billy O’Neil has seen the Houston High School football program at its best. He has also been around for the most difficult of times.
During his eight years as an assistant coach, the Tigers qualified for consecutive state semifinals. They have also twice endured 20-game losing streaks. The latest will carry over into the beginning of the 2012 season.
O’Neil believes there is a common denominator between the winning teams and losing teams: the double wing.
O’Neil is spending the summer implementing the offense that made HHS a winning program in the mid-2000s under head coach Wes Beachler. O’Neil said it will be the staple of his program as he begins his tenure as the leader of the Tigers’ football program.
“I know that these kids can succeed. I think the program I’m bringing in is one they can succeed in,” O’Neil said. “I’ve been here when we’ve gone almost as far as you can go under this program. I believe in these kids and that they can succeed. I want to see them enjoy the success that I’ve enjoyed.”
Although the start of the season is more than two months away, the team is staying busy this summer. The players lift weights three times a week as part of the Bigger, Faster, Stronger program. It includes two core lifts per session as well as 6-8 auxiliary lifts, an abdominal workout and sprints. On Thursday nights, the players spend one hour running plays out of the new double wing offense. They get to test the system each Monday night during 7-on-7 games in Willow Springs.
O’Neil said the new offense will be much simpler to learn and execute than what the team has used in recent years.
“We had so many plays the last couple years that during practice, they would only get three or four reps of each play,” he said. “With this offense, they’ll get 10-12 reps per play each practice. It will become muscle memory, and they’ll know exactly what to do. It will be fed to them over and over.”
O’Neil said he regularly communicates with Beachler about the double wing. Since leaving Houston following the team’s second state semifinal appearance, Beachler has resurrected programs at Parkview –– snapping a 58-game losing skid and leading the Vikings to their first playoff appearance since 1996 –– and most recently Nevada, Mo., using the same offense.
“It’s an offense these kids can succeed with,” O’Neil said.
O’Neil said he has been pleased with the players’ enthusiasm this summer. He also said there are a handful of players who until this offseason had not be interested in playing. O’Neil said their additions will upgrade the Tigers’ team speed.
“We have kids coming out that are some of the better athletes in the school that haven’t played in the last couple years,” he said. “We’ve wanted them to come out, and they’re going to give it a shot.”
The team’s fifth coach in eight years, O’Neil said he wants to bring stability to his alma mater. He also wants to turn around the struggling program. None of this year’s starters have won a varsity game.
“I want the kids to feel good about what they’re doing,” O’Neil said. “Our first step is not to win, but to be competitive. When that comes, the wins will come with it.”
I’ve been here when we’ve gone almost as far as you can go under this program. I believe in these kids and that they can succeed. I want to see them enjoy the success that I’ve enjoyed.”