New Beginnings BRHS Head Coach Aubrey Blackwell introduces new routines and defines what leadership looks like for athletes STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH & PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR & ANDY ANDERS
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assion and dedication dictate who you are. foundation of toughness in me. “In everything we do, we must have passion, When I moved on to high school, my head football energy and accountability,” said Aubrey coach at Robert E. Lee was Jimmy Perry, who was, and Blackwell, the head football coach at Benjamin still is, my mentor. During my sophomore year, Coach Russell High School. “Every day when we work, we must Perry almost passed away from total kidney failure the outwork our opponents and our minds.” week of our playoffs; yet, he did not miss a practice or a Blackwell came to BRHS to coach football in the game. spring of 2021 and is a I remember how sick he proponent for empowerment was when he got back on the and growth, both on and off bus, and the very next day, his the field. He works daily to brother gave him a new kidney. instill leadership capabilities in That showed me right away the the team and will not settle for depth of love a coach can have anything less. for his players. Blackwell’s love for coaching I went on to play college began when he suffered a baseball for four different head season-ending injury his senior baseball coaches in four years. year in high school, moving All four men were completely him from quarterback to wingdifferent. I signed here at back and tight-end. Then, Central Alabama Community during the playoffs, Blackwell College to play for the legend, reinjured his shoulder. But as Ronnie Baynes and my his love for the game was so teammates still call him. He strong, his coaches moved him was persistent and demanding to the box to help with spotting but a lot of fun. and charting offensively. He allowed us to grow Standing in that box, reading within ourselves, giving us the plays and assisting to call shots, best stories and life lessons is where Blackwell fell in love along the way. Then, after with the game. a third-place World Series Q:1 – Why did you decide to finish that year, he moved to become a coach? New York City to the NFL A: I was very fortunate as a headquarters to run all league Preparation is Key young man to have some very Blackwell has introduced new, intense problem officials. influential people in my life My second-year head coach solving exercises at practices and in life; Facing who were coaches. was Don Ingram. An ex-drill Page: Blackwell said his career goals have always been to coach at a high level The first real, impactful sergeant in the military, Coach in a town that shuts down on Friday nights person in my life was Marc Ingram had me in the best to support their team. He found that support MacDonald, my seventh and shape of my life. But the most at BRHS. eighth-grade coach at George important thing that he taught Washington Junior High in me was never to be satisfied. Montgomery. He was the first person in athletics that We were around 12-0 or 13-0 and ranked No. 1 in the demanded that I give my best. He never let me make country in the NJCAA, and we went to play Gadsden excuses and never allowed me to show my opponent any Community College in a mid-week game. Unfortunately, weakness. He gave me so much confidence and laid a we lost 4-3, our first loss of the season. 20 Lake Martin Living
