Pads crack. The sound of the whistle pierces through the uncomfortably hot air. Head football coach, Jeff Hulme, stands on the sideline, watching the Broncos start their season.
By this point in their high school careers, most seniors have played together for three years creating a tight-knit unit. This sense of camaraderie and unity has strengthened the team, as individuality dissipates and is replaced by a sort of football utilitarianism.
“So when you go out there and compete it’s harder to get beat because, hey, I’m playing for my brother now,” Coach Hulme said. “I’m not just playing for myself.”
Under Coach Hulme, the program has not reached the playoffs accumulating a 6-24 record during his time at the helm. A program that, not even a decade ago, went to the state quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons has become a bottom dweller. But optimism spreads like a virus around Legacy. Multiple standout Division 1 commits and a new district realignment have given hope to the Broncos and their fans.
“This is the most optimistic I’ve been. I feel really good about these kids,” Coach Hulme said. “I feel really good about this team.”
Hulme, in his fourth year at Legacy, is not the only one feeling confident. His attitude extends into the locker room with players such as senior leader Brian Barton also sensing the program’s tone switch.
“I feel this year will be the year that we actually make something happen,” Barton said.
Brian is a standout at safety, anchoring the defense alongside fellow West Point commit Xander Walker who also feels the positive energy.
“Everyone being there for each other during practice and executing, making each other better with competition is what has caused this excitement,” Walker said. “I love the team my class has built and the leaders and teammates that I play with.”
As two of the team’s top players, Coach Hulme has entrusted Walker and Barton, alongside six others who are members of the “Senior Leadership Team,” to spearhead the program’s philosophical shift for the upcoming season.
“This group of guys really wanted to make a change,” Coach Hulme said. “They were tired of the status quo.”
Hulme and the senior leaders make discipline and mutual support their priority this season to turn the program’s fortunes around.
“When you’re playing disciplined, you’re playing at a certain level where you know you’re not making mistakes,” Coach Hulme said.
Hulme wants to make it known to his players that this philosophy does not come at the expense of passion though.
“Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm,” Coach Hulme said. “And a lot of people get that confused. You can be disciplined and have great enthusiasm.”
Although there has been a lot of improvement within the program, the optimism around this season is not just because of internal factors, as according to Hulme and players such as Xander Walker, the new alignment for this season greatly favor the Broncos.
“We are going to be given a real shot at the playoffs now with the new district,” Walker said. “It’s just up to us to get it done now.”
For the past two seasons, Legacy has played in a district with powerhouses and state champions, such as Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and DeSoto. In regards to the new district, outside of a formidable North Crowley team, there are no real powerhouses within the district, allowing Hulme and his squad to go into every game feeling like they can win and giving them a realistic shot at finishing in the top four, securing a playoff spot for the first time in four seasons.
Legacy opens their season on Aug. 30 against Northwest at R.L. Anderson Stadium. Kickoff at 7 p.m.
“We still got to go out and play the games. We got to play well,” Coach Hulme said. “We have to keep getting better. And you know, I think if we do that, we have a great chance.”
