Fort Mill football coach Ed Susi ratchets up intensity from Day 1
It was barely 10 minutes into the first practice on the first day and Fort Mill head varsity football coach Ed Susi already was showing his intensity.
After a two-and-a-half hour practice to officially kick off the 2015 season, intensity was one of the first things Susi talked about.
“The intensity level has to pick up,” he said. “This isn’t camp. We have to hold them to a higher level.”
Susi and Fort Mill are coming off a 9-3 season, one of the best in his tenure at Fort Mill, and they don’t want to head back down from that mark.
Fort Mill’s first day of practice was mixed between the ninth grade, JV and varsity running between the two practice fields, as construction work on Bob Jones Stadium continued in the background.
The Yellow Jackets have senior quarterback Rogan Wells returning this season, and despite losing several receiving targets last year, Wells intends to team with fellow senior running back Brett Ferguson and junior running backs Noah Wetzel and Ron’tavious “Ronnie” Hughes to lead the offense this season.
Both Wetzel and Ferguson check in at more than 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.
“They are two big kids and they are hard runners,” Susi said, “and Ron’tavious will be taking Chandler (Krys’) spot on offense.”
However, Susi said, no matter how experienced Wells is or how big their running backs are, if the offensive line isn’t up to par, none of it will matter.
So far, Susi said, he has liked what he has seen from the line.
“They have been doing a good job,” Susi said. “I am expecting big things from that line.”
Fort Mill doesn’t have long to be ready, only about three weeks to get prepared for its first game, as the Yellow Jackets start their season a day earlier than most teams.
The Jackets will again open the season on the road this year, heading back to River Bluff High School to play White Knoll at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20.
The Jackets’ first home game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 against Greenville.
This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Fort Mill football coach Ed Susi ratchets up intensity from Day 1."