Since head coach Bobby Poss took hold of the reins in January, he has received a flood of interest from prospective student-athletes and has been extremely busy with all the administrative duties that come along with starting a football program from scratch, including designing the team�s uniform and helmet; ordering needed equipment; and hiring his assistant coaching staff.

Poss compared the tasks ahead of him and his assistants to the Old Testament account of Moses sending Joshua and Caleb into the Promised Land. While others were discouraged by giants, Joshua and Caleb saw a land flowing with �milk and honey.�

�We are pushed to the max, trying to accomplish in eight months a task that normally takes 18,� said Poss. �Our schedule with established (South Atlantic Conference) schools is difficult. �We knew what the job was when we accepted it and are committed to getting it done. Certainly it is a challenge, it is a difficult job, but I am a �Caleb,� and I am looking forward to the Promised Land.�

Poss is very confident in the staff he�s assembled. T.C. Roberson High School�s head coach Mike Houston, who led the Rams to a 42-8 record in five seasons, accepted a position as associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Greensboro College�s linebacker and strength and conditioning coach Roy Tesh will be Poss� defensive assistant. Finally, East Forsyth High School�s offensive line coach Anthony Scott with assist with Brevard�s offensive line.

As Roberson�s football leader, and strength and conditioning coach, Houston led his team to its best season (13-1) and first Mountain Atlantic Conference Championship in school history in 2004. His team averaged 37.8 points-per-game and allowed opponent an average of only 9.43 points-per-game. Houston�s .700 winning percentage is the highest of any football coach in school history. He was the 2005 winner of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl Assistant Coach�s award and a two-time winner of the Hendersonville Times-News Area Coach of the Year award.

His experience also includes four years as defensive coordinator at Roberson and one year as assistant head football coach at Forbush High School in East Bend, N.C.

He earned a bachelor�s degree in biology from Mars Hill College where he played as a linebacker before switching to tight end. He lettered three years in football and was named to the College Football Preview National Scholar Athlete Football Team (1993); a First Union Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee (1993); a Mars Hill College Football Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 7, 1992); a recipient of the Mars Hill College Football President�s Award (1993); and the Mars Hill College Football Christian Athlete of the Year (1991).

Tesh began his climb up the football coaching ladder while a player at Greensboro College. By the time he graduated in 2004, he had already coached the team�s defensive ends and defensive line, and had taken over strengthening and conditioning responsibilities. After graduation, he continued as strengthening and conditioning coach and moved over to coach the team�s linebackers.

As a player for the Pride, Tesh played the tackle and center positions. He was a four-time Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference selection.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in sport and exercise studies from Greensboro, Tesh played professionally with the Carolina Ghostriders of the American Indoor Football League. During his time with the team he played the offensive guard, nose guard and running back positions.

Scott brings to Brevard three years experience as the offensive line coach of East Forsyth High School�s varsity squad in Winston-Salem. He also acted as the academic advisor for the football team and coached the track and field team.

Before he earned a bachelor�s degree in broadcasting from Georgia Southern University, he was a member of the Eagles� football squad that won four Southern Conference championships and two National Collegiate Association I-AA championships.

The Season

With coaches in place and a schedule set, Poss and his assistants are working nonstop to build a roster. Poss said he�s had several commitments and is waiting to get scholarships in before announcing signings.

The Tornados are just seven months shy of an August 26 season opener at home against University of Virginia-Wise. Eight games make up a season that will include three match ups against South Atlantic Conference teams representing Mars Hill, Newberry and Tusculum.

�It is always challenging for independent schools to secure a schedule, especially in October and November, when most programs are involved in conference play,� said Athletic Director Tom Collins. �I am pleased that we have been able to build a compact schedule against schools in our geographic region. The South Atlantic Conference schools pose a real test for a first-year program, but hopefully will be the beginning of good rivalries for Brevard College.�

Collins said although Brevard�s schedule is demanding and perhaps ambitious, the college will play against some programs that are very similar to it. Like Brevard, LaGrange College is starting its first season of football competition and Shorter College�s program is only in its second year.

�I am looking forward to August 26, when we take the field against UVA-Wise,� Collins said. �Already there is a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding Brevard College Football. We are hoping to build a great deal of community support and looking forward to large crowds this fall. We will be working to make home games special events that will involve a wide variety of people from our community.�

Brevard College 2006 Football Schedule

August

26 - UVA WISE - Brevard, NC - 7:00 p.m.

September 2 - at Shorter College - Rome, Ga. - 2:00 p.m.
9 - MARS HILL COLLEGE - Brevard, NC - 7:00 p.m.
16 - at Newberry College - Newberry, SC - 7:00 p.m.
23 - TUSCULUM COLLEGE - Brevard, NC - 2:00 p.m. (BC Family Day)
30 - Open Date

October

7 - NORTH GREENVILLE - Brevard, NC - 2:00 p.m. (Homecoming)
14 - at Chowan College - Murfreesboro, NC - 1:00 p.m.
21 - at LaGrange College - LaGrange, GA - 1:00 p.m.

Games in bold identify home games. For the first three seasons, the Tornados will call home field the football stadium of Brevard High School, just one mile away from the Brevard College campus.

(Image provided by Brevard College.)

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