BlancoAC Ortiz

As a benefit to Panther fans, and in honor of assistant coaches, pngfootball.com will interview an assistant coach off the Blanco staff. The assistant coach works very hard week in and week out to prepare the Indians to play on Friday nights. Their hard work and intense preparation are important to Blanco's success. Many times they are the ones who develop close relationships with their football pupils, and their coaching duties put them on the front lines in game preparation.

Many times the assistant coach goes unrecognized in his contribution to Indian football. At pngfootball.com, we appreciate and recognize the work done by the assistant coaches. This is their page.

On the Offensive Backfield

I can all myself a runningback coach, but you see the ability and talent of the players we have. My goal is to teach them technique and be a hardnosed runner. Gotta be a good blocker too. Not selfish. I feel Muhammed Weusi, Dan Myane, and Joe Mann have been super leaders. I'd like to mention all of them, but the underclassmen know when they graduate, then it will be their turn.

Some of them get the glory, and some of them don't get the glory. Chris Fowler, our wingback, doesn't get the mention, but blocks great. Our backs always credit the offensive line. These guys grew up together.

On the Secondary

Our secondary is about as good as I've had. These guys are overachievers. Dan Myane is a two-year starter. Muhammed Weusi has 3 years; Chris Bibb it's his first year; Josh Mann played 4-5 games last year before he got hurt. He has done a super job replacing Garrett Granberg at strong safety--his were big shoes to fill. They've done a super job.

On the Hemphill Game

They always say you play 48 minutes. Defensively our kids played with heart. They never doubted themselves, even when we were down 21-7. We felt it as a staff, and we had to keep that positive atmosphere. Our seniors knew they had to step up another notch, and they did. It was one heck of a ballgame. I know how Hemphill feels. We were in that position last year against Sonora, when they came back and beat us.

On Van Alstyne

They're a very well coached team, defensively and offensively. They make very few mistakes. They play with a lot of confidence. We'll have our hands full. We'll have to play well. They deserve to be here.

On Coaching at Blanco

It's been a pleasure to be here the last three years. I came here at the right time--the classes that have come through here. All that got started before I got here. Coach Emerson, Coach Mouser, Coach Rogers did a lot of work before I got here. I got to come in and contribute what I could. It's a great experience.

We're a close staff. Every coach has his own personality. We've been together since the last week of July, and here it is the second week of December. We have a lot of loyalty on the staff. Coach Jackson has been here a while, and Coach Dowell. Coach Wyatt has been here forever. I saw what they started out with--the facilities and all. The community has supported the athletic program, and here is the result. I can see the girls program having success in the future too. Coach Emerson did a good job getting some good coaches coming in here--Coach Campbell, Coach Seales, Coach Schultz, Coach Hinnant, and Coach Branch.