HAMILTON — Hamilton High School football coach Arvie Crouch isn’t having none of it.
The Big Blue is making a culture change heading into the 2022 stint. It’s a change Crouch feels will mirror past successes.
“A lot of people have asked me what I’m going to bring that is different than everybody else, and I’m just going to be me,” Crouch said. “I’m pretty intense. And I don’t take no BS from the kids. They’ve got to do what they’re supposed to do or they’re not going to be on this football team.
“It’s not personal,” Crouch added. “It’s just the right thing to do. I’m always going to put the team in front of everybody. I’m going to do whatever we have to do to make this team the best.”
Hamilton, which faces West Clermont in the season opener, went 2-7 last season. Nate Mahon left Hamilton to become the head coach at West Clermont this past offseason.
“We’re fired up every day ready to practice,” senior Alijah Thompson said. “We’re ready to play games. We’re ready to come to work.”
Thompson will do some work in the secondary, according to Crouch. Others seeing action in the defensive backfield are senior Jaylan Garrett, sophomore Jailen Morris and junior Javon McClain.
Others to keep an eye on defensively, according to The Report, are senior tackle Gabe Verdon, senior Ebony Curry, sophomore Trey Verdon, senior Lanny Ash, senior Hassan Robertson, senior Wes Fox and senior Donovan Smiley.
Doing a lot of the grunt work on the offensive line will be senior Tylor Camden and Kaden Bennett, and juniors Kaleb Taylor, Jerimiah Hutcherson and Devon Mick.
Under center will be junior quarterback Na’Sir Harper.
At the skill positions will be running backs and Semaj Aldridge and Smiley, both seniors.
Other players to keep an eye out for on the offensive side of things include senior Sire Riggins, sophomores R.J. Shepherd and Cairon Navey and freshman kicker Conner Stephens. Fox will be doing the punting.
QUOTABLES
“That’s it. This is big-time ball,” Crouch said. “If kids want to get looked at on a big time level and they perform on a big level, this is the place to be — the GMC.”
“We’re going to be ready every week, and we’re not going to let down,” Crouch said. “We’re going to make our fans and our student-body and our employees of this district very proud of us.”
“We work hard and we are disciplined,” Ash said. “What I think is different from this year and previous years is that we listen. Our groups, our sophomore groups listen all the way up to seniors. That’s going to be the biggest thing this year.
“Big Blue football means a lot to me,” Harper said. “I came here looking for a new environment.”
2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 at West Clermont
Aug. 26 Mason
Sept. 2 at Middletown
Sept. 9 Princeton
Sept. 16 Lakota East
Sept. 23 at Lakota West
Sept. 30 Fairfield
Oct. 7 at Oak Hills
Oct. 14 at Colerain
Oct. 21 Sycamore
