25 Teams in 25 Days: Christian Collegiate Academy Bulldogs

If you were to genuinely ask someone ‘hey, what’s football,’ they would most likely give you a facial expression packed with a whole lot of judgement.

But if you were to ask that same person ‘hey, what’s 8 man football,’ you might have them stumped.

- if you were to genuinely ask- someone... hey, what's- football... they would most - likely give you a facial- expression... packed with a - whole lot of judgement.

- but... if you were to ask that- same person... hey, what's 8-ma- football... you might have them- stumped.- and that's not to take anything- away, from a team like- christian collegiate academy ou- of gulfport...- where the bulldogs say they're- playing the same game...- except maybe even faster... at- stop number 10... on news 25's- 25- teams in 25 days.

- - 25 teams in 25 days... brought- to you by gulf coast business - furniture and supply... your- source for covid-19 supplies an- all of your sanitation needs.

- nat ---> "dogs on three, family on six!

One, two, three, dogs!- four, five, six, family!"

"what is 8-man football?"

"8-man football is just football.

There's a big misnome- out there that people just- think,- 'well, it's just different.'- it's really not.

If anything, - it's faster."

Christian collegiate academy- might break down the- huddle with three fewer people,- on each side of the ball... - but that doesn't change the nam- of the game.- "it's just football with less people."

"basically, football is still football."

"football is football."

Definitely the same sport... bu- definitely some glaring - differences, as well... startin- on the offensive line.- "on 11-man, there's five linema down.

But on 8-man, there's onl- three.

So there's - two less people to account for - four less to account for."

Not to mention one fewer skill- position guy... and five player- on the line of scrimmage -- as- opposed to seven -- prior to- the snap.

- on defense, it's a lot of man - coerage... and kick-offs have a- 15-yard buffer -- as opposed to- 10.

- finally... gridiron dimensions- are supposed to be 80-by-40 - yards...- even though the bulldogs often- find themselves playing on the- traditional... 100-by-53-yard - field.- all that being said... c-c-a is- still putting in the same work.- "people just think it's easier than 11-man football.

You work- the same either way.

If - you play football, even 11-man- versus 8-man, you're still- working just as hard."

"my friend, he asked me - he wa like - how y'all play?

I was- just like 11-man.

Just like - three people are missing.

That'- it.

We run more here.

That's- what i told him.

That's - it."

As a part of the midsouth - association of independent- schools... c-c-a is coming off - 4-7 showing, in 20-19... with a- 2-2 - mark... in class 1-a district 2- games.- perhaps a rebuilding year for - the bulldogs, with- just two seniors on a 15-man- roster... or maybe that - turn-around... is already - underway.

- "we've got a good team.

We need to work harder.

We need to figh- harder in - practice and don't give up when- we do one or two things wrong.

- feel that was our - biggest loss last year is when- we would get upset with - ourselves and then we'd use tha- anger and then pretty much just- fall apart.

I think this year w- have a pretty strong- team and we're all like - brothers, so i feel like we're- going to go places this year."

"our goal is the state championship, but we're not - going to get there from looking- at- the state championship.

We've - just got to take care of- business one game at- a time."

The bulldogs are actually just - few years removed from a- state title game appearance, in- 20-15... under the watch of - former- head coach joe roberts.

- unfortunately... cocah roberts- passed away, in april... leavin- behind a legacy of passion... - both on and off the field.- "and he was a fierce guy, but deeply loved by these players - and they miss him."

"coach was definitely hard on u because he was always pushing u- to be - better men and better people an- he would always remind us of- that.

So i'm not just - playing football to play- football, i'm playing it for- coach, too."

During the last four or so- years, of the coach roberts - era... c-c-a sent at least one- player off to the next level...- to- play college football.- one last simple reminder... tha- as the bulldogs pride themselve- on getting one percent better - every day... they're doing so - while playing a game... that is- -- in fact -- 100 percent - football.

- "every day we come out here and work to get one percent better.- "like greg said, one percent better."

"one percent better.

We have 10 days that coach says.

100 days,- you come out of - here one percent better, you ge- 100 percent better in 100 days.- "i say come out and watch us.

Just come out and give us a sho- and come look at the- game and see it.

Come check it- out and you'll be surprised.- actually, i think you'll- - - - be impressed."

- the bulldogs have started an- award in coach roberts' honor..- going one player each year that- represents what it means... to- be- the consummate teammate.- c-c-a will kick off its 20-20 - season a week from tomorrow,- at prentiss christian... withou- having lost a single-