Todd Jones, Pulaski County's new head football coach, hasn't lost a regular season game in four years. He accomplished that ultra impressive record at Essex, a Division II, Group A school in Tappahannock. He won the state championship last season. His Trojans were a perfect 14-0.

     It would certainly appear, on paper at least, that he will have a difficult time matching that type record, at least for the 2010 season, at PCHS.

    Pulaski County is presently under heavy Virginia High School League sanctions. Jones is replacing departed Jack Turner in the driver's seat. The destination promises to be at the end of a winding road. We'll find out later if there's a checkered flag or not. The sanctions consist of the Cougars having five less practice days during pre-season preparation, the elimination of a scrimmage game, Saturday activity of any kind is prohibited, and there will be no playoffs at the end of the regular season regardless if the team qualifies, or not.

    And all these sanctions come at a time when Jones is trying to put in new offensive and defensive schemes in "Cougarland.'' Needless to say, time is of crucial importance and Pulaski County must maximize every minute it has.

     It all gets underway tomorrow. Practices are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday from 4 pm until approximately 9 pm. Due to the sanctions, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday must be off days. Friday's practice will be worked around "Photo Day'' which is slated to begin at approximately 11 am. after only two workouts in shorts. As mentioned above, it is a different kind of season.

    But Jones has to look forward, not back, and he cannot afford to dwell upon the drawbacks, but the assets and he feels he has some.

     "The situation we're having to deal with is what it is. We're wasting our time if we sit around talking about it. There's nothing we can do about it so there is no reason to dwell on it. We've got a lot of work to do, and we must do everything we can to get it done. Sure, we're in a tough spot, but all of us have been in tough spots before. I'm a Cougar. Pulaski County is my home. I know we've been in tough spots before, but this program has always worked its way out of those and we will again.''

     As the first practice session approaches, what is Jones' primary concern? "We need to get to know each other. We need to understand what our approach is going to be. We need to have an understanding with the team as quickly as possible about how we're going to do things. The tempo is going to change. Our practices will be fast paced. There are going to be a lot of changes. I understand how things have been done at Pulaski County in the past, and certainly the program has been very successful. Heck, this is where I learned to play, where I decided I wanted to coach, and a job I always wanted, but I must first be who I am. I must be Todd Jones, and do what I believe in. Some of that is much the same as it's been at Pulaski County for 30-plus years, but some of that is different. There are going to be changes, and we must learn about each other and become one big family,'' said Jones.

     After considerable turmoil, and some indecision, Jones is happy that the remaining assistant coaches will stay with the program and become his first staff. Those men would be Scott Vest, Buddy Ratcliffe, Randy Dunnigan, Greg Allen, Vaughn Phipps, Eric Berry, J.W. Smith, and R. Ratcliffe.

    "That's a big asset, and I'm very happy with that. The coaches on this staff have a made an investment in the program. They have a great work ethic, and are committed to Cougar football. They have worked countless hours with the kids, and there is a great relationship there. Everybody here is dedicated to the same cause, me, the staff, the players, everybody. There is a tradition of success and great pride. It will remain that way,'' said Jones from his office Thursday.

     Jones is going to put in a new offense and defense. He is going to expose his players to new systems they have never known before. It would be a tough assignment even under normal circumstances, but with five less practice days and one less scrimmage, does Pulaski County have enough time?

     "I'm concerned about that,'' says Jones. "Time is short, and we've got to go, I mean really go. We must move forward and we must move fast. I'm going to be demanding. It's going to tough, but from what I have seen, I think Pulaski County's players can handle tough, and benefit from it. I think we can challenge the Cougar football player. We will prepare, and do everything we can the very best we can. We obviously have no time to waste. We must work hard, we must be focused, and we must make maximum use of our time.''

     Jones also thinks his first Cougar team is ready to be pushed. "It's been almost a full year now since last season. We've got a bunch of kids that have worked extremely hard, and they have matured too. Our kids are going to be in excellent physical condition and have great strength. Because of that maturity, we're going to try and put in the entire new systems on both sides of the football. After we do that, we will assess our personnel, and focus on the things we do the best and build around those things, but at this point, I do not want to assume we can't do anything because I have been very impressed with our players, but in as short a time as possible, we need to find out how everything fits together, and go from there.''

      And it all starts in just a few short hours. "I'm certainly excited. Our family has had so many things to take care of in the past few days, and we've spent so many hours on the road. It's been very hectic.  I'm really looking forward to hitting that practice field Monday,'' smiled Jones.

     (COUGAR PAWS--)  It appears the first two weeks of practice for Pulaski County will be of the Monday, Wednesday, Friday sequence with workouts beginning at 4 pm each afternoon. After that, the Cougars will then have four practice days before scrimmaging Bluefield, W.Va. at 11 am Friday, August 20, that's just 10 days of practice before the first and only scrimmage....The public is invited to attend "Photo Day'' this coming Friday. Families are welcome to take pictures....The Southwest Times' annual "Spirit of Autumn'' special football section, will appear for the 33rd consecutive year on Sunday morning, August 22....The season's first game will be Friday, August 27th at home in Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium/Joel Hicks Field, kickoff is 7:30.

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