KEEP RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Head Coach Mike Norris watches his players start up the hill to end their summer workouts.

HUNTER CLOUD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

VIDALIA VIKINGS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP CULTURE OF EFFORT

BY HUNTER CLOUD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

VIDALIA — Vikings ran up the Mississippi River Levee along the Vidalia Riverfront and slid down a slip n’ slide to celebrate the end of summer workouts in July. They had finally made it through the grueling summer and looked to a new season.

Head Coach Mike Norris has challenged his team to be tough, give everything they have as he tries to rebuild Vidalia Viking football. The team’s culture starts with hard work from individuals and as a team they have to come together.

Vidalia missed two weeks last season due to COVID and the majority of their 2020 season. It was hard for Norris to see his players lose those experiences. Levee Run is both a workout to see who will stay tough and is a way to celebrate.

“It’s just something to celebrate the hard work they have done this summer. It’s a fun way for us to return to school,” Norris said.

Before they run up the levee he reminded them the importance of the structure to Vidalia.

“If it was not for this levee Vidalia would not be here. Think about that as you run up it,” he said.

Chris Brooks, who represented Vidalia in the track state championship, led the team up and down the steep hill. It was about 40 yards up and 40 yards down.

Norris took his team through the schedule of the season, telling them what he expected of them each week. It starts with the first week of practice in August and hopefully ends with a trip to the Superdome in New Orleans.

He blew his whistle for eight regular

36 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022

season games and five playoff games.

“This hill is about not quitting,” Norris said. He paced up and down.

They had done a better job of showing up to practices this year and were in a much better shape physically than previous years. Norris said there were still a few guys missing but the ones who were hungry to compete were there.

Chris and Courtlyn Brooks both had the drive to push up the hill over and over. They both play with a lot of intensity in football and basketball.

“All want to have talent but not all that have talent work hard,” Chris said.

“If you want it you are going to go get it,” Courtlyn said. “If you want it you will get it done. Our whole school looks down on us. No one respects the Vidalia Vikings anymore. We want to show we are better.”

Some of the lineman for Vidalia had some trouble getting up and down the hill in a sprint but they pushed on. Skill guys led the pack as everyone finished the workout.

Norris told the team the guys who were there and finished were the ones he could count on in the fourth quarter of a close game. Vidalia has room to grow. He said some of the kids he has to kick out of the locker room or they are already there waiting on him to open up the weight room. Those are qualities he wants to spread to the team.

Vidalia senior James Brixey said he has seen the team improve in their conditioning from last year. He had improved physically in the past year.

“The hills are a challenge for a lot of us but it showed which guys had heart,” he said. “Last year, I couldn’t finish it.”

Ayden Thompson powered his way up the levee but as the workout drew closer to the end he was winded. Taking a knee he paused to catch his breath. Brixey was right there to help encourage him.

He told him how to keep his airways open and gave him water. Brixey placed his hand on Thompson’s back in the final runs supporting him up the hill.

“It felt like I wasn’t doing it for myself. I was doing it for everyone,” Thompson said.

Brixey’s support had helped him get up the hill with the rest of the team. Another player on the team named Matt pushed through the pain.

He had taken a break at one point and laid on his back but with encouragement from teammates and some prodding from Norris he got up. Senior quarterback Sema’J Hayes came to his aid and ran with him to get him through the workout.

“He needed someone to push him. If no one had his back he wouldn’t have made it,” Hayes said. “I picked him up and told him he was doing well. It’s important we push each other. We have to rebuild our reputation because no one respects our name.”

After running up the levee, players were treated to a slip and slide. They could dive head first after a shower of water from a water house. Brenden McMillian recognized the day was more than a celebration of their hard work but a milestone in the team’s growth.

“The things we do here will carry over to the field,” McMillian said. “Those guys we helped will know it on the field. No Viking left behind.”

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