By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — New Hewitt-Trussville head football coach Josh Floyd appeared on WJOX 94.5 FM’s “The Opening Drive” last Thursday morning.
Floyd mainly discussed Auburn University head football coach Gus Malzahn — his coach at Shiloh (Ark.) Christian in the late 1990s — and the evolving of the no-huddle offense that both coaches run.
The hosts of the show are former Hewitt-Trussville and University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker, Samford University men’s golf coach Al Del Greco and Tony Kurre.
Hewitt-Trussville head football coach Josh Floyd
file photo by Ron Burkett
Barker said he knows Trussville City Schools Athletics Director Karen Johns has been “all hyped up” about Floyd taking the Hewitt-Trussville job and getting started.
“I’m fired up to be in Trussville,” Floyd said.
Floyd was Malzahn’s first quarterback in the system he still runs at Auburn, a fast-paced, no-huddle offense. Floyd said he’s seen the offense “evolve” over the years, though Malzahn still calls some of the “exact” same plays as when he was the Shiloh Christian head coach. He said it’s a great system and players really enjoy it.
“Our system at Hewitt-Trussville will be very, very similar because that’s what I know,” Floyd said.
For those who have called Malzahn’s offense gimmicky?
“You don’t win the SEC without being an extremely physical offense,” Floyd said.
Floyd said Malzahn has been a mentor for him. He noted Malzahn pays a lot of attention to detail.
“He’s awesome at that,” he said.
The offense is adaptable, Floyd said. The same plays can be run out of different formations, which makes it tough on the defense. At Shiloh Christian, there were 4,000-yard passing seasons. Last season, the team broke the school rushing record, averaging nearly 300 yards on the ground per game.
“It’s all about pace, all about fast pace,” Floyd said. “Everything we’re going to do is fast. I think that’s what takes it to the next level.”
Kurre asked Floyd if he’d keep running the same plays over and over if they’re successful.
“We’ll definitely keep running the same play over and over,” he said. “That’s just what we believe in.”
Floyd said he’s seen some video of last year’s team and described the new Class 7A, Region 3 — Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills — as one of the “best, toughest regions in the country.” He said high school football in northwest Arkansas, where Shiloh Christian is located, is solid. Alabama may be a different animal.
“It’s pretty stinkin’ serious in Alabama,” Floyd said. “I’m excited about it, and that’s obviously why I came down here.”
He said it “wasn’t an easy choice” to leave Shiloh Christian, but that he’s excited about the new challenges the Hewitt-Trussville job will bring.
“They’re doing it the right way at Hewitt-Trussville,” Floyd said. “I just think there’s so much excitement there right now. We’re just fired up to be there.”
The podcast of Floyd’s segment available under the “Podcast” tab at www.joxfm.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
