Ron Dupree calls himself a student of the game of football. A statistician. A historian.
Those assets, in combination with bringing a new philosophy to Clarke football and this year’s returning talent, will turn the program around, he hopes.
Dupree has coached all over the map, along with traveling to numerous colleges to observe and time athletes, as well as a trip to Russia to observe athletes there.
Along the way he’s put together an athletic rating system that tells him what kind of athletes he’s dealing with when he comes into a new program. Dupree determines an athletic rating by measuring leg power, adding bench press to determine body power, and then incorporating a dummy jump, reach jump, 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash into the equation.
“I think it takes a 50 ability rating to play high school athletics,” Dupree said. “I’ve never had a 70 not get a scholarship. Most 60s are all-conference and 50s are what we base the whole program around. We’ve got 17 kids at 50 or better. Not only will that help football, it will help every other sport.”
Having met the previous coaching staff and seeing the level of talent returning this year, based on his athletic rating system, Dupree said he’s not sure why Clarke has been struggling.
Former coach Michael Kline won his first three games as Clarke head football coach in 2012. The Indians then lost the final seven games of that season, before opening 2013 with a win. Since that opening win of 2013, Clarke has lost 18 straight games.
Kline resigned after last season and coaching veteran Dupree, with coaching experience at the high school and college level, stepping in with hopes of turning the program around.
“We haven’t had a shutout in 11 years and we haven’t had a winner in 19,” Dupree said. “This is what’s got me concerned. I met the coaches, they’re good coaches. Now all we have to do is put it all together. If we can do that, we’ll rock and roll.”
Option attack
The key for Clarke this year is one thing.
“We’re going to get there the firstest with the mostest, which gives us an opportunity to beat people better than we are,” Dupree said.
Dupree, who wrote the first book on the wishbone offense, brings an option-oriented attack to Clarke this year.
But it’s not a wishbone offense. Along the way, Dupree has found more efficient ways of running the option.
One way to do that, is to line everyone up in an I-formation. By doing so, Dupree’s team can get seven players to one side of the line of scrimmage quicker than opposing teams, and the tailback can hit the line of scrimmage in 2.1 seconds or better.
By doing so, Clarke will get there “the firstest with the mostest.”
“I think we’re the most option extreme plan in the country,” Dupree said.
Running that option attack will be one of three quarterbacks. Senior Rich Wilkins, a starter since his freshman season, junior Brandyne Olin, who also has starting experience, and sophomore Andy Hurtado are all vying for playing time.
“They’ve all got a plus point,” Dupree said. “Rich has been a starter since he was a freshman. Brandyne is an outstanding athlete, weighs something like 190 pounds. That sophomore, Andy, he makes quick decisions. I think we’ll be pretty good with all three, but we’ll play the best.”
Senior Lane Carson, at 6-0, 230 pounds, will fill the fullback role this year. He’s a player Dupree is especially excited about.
Carson started out at a 48 on Dupree’s athletic rating system. By dedicating himself in the weight room, Carson enters the season with Clarke’s highest rating at 76. Junior Gabe Crawford, at 6-5, 205 pounds, moves from tackle to end for the Indians this year. He has an athletic rating of 75.
Gone are Clarke’s top two rushers from last season — Junior Morales and Gordon Witt — as well as the top two receivers in Reed Kale and Dustan Van Loon.
Seniors Gable Reece and Gunner Sergeant-Elben have been working at tailback.
“I’ve timed 5,000 athletes from Russia to across the United States. I’ve been to countless high schools. I’ve visited 406 colleges — a lot of places I got to time. Gunner runs the 20 in the second fastest time I’ve ever had in 40 years (2.22 seconds),” Dupree said.
Dupree’s fastest player was Flander Malone, who he coached at Dallas Skyline. Malone went on to play defensive back at TCU.
“Gable is not too far behind him,” Dupree added. “We’ve got a good battle there. Then we’ve got Jon Echeveste. He’s little, but he is quick.”
Defensively, leading tackler Witt is gone, but the next four leading tacklers from last year all return. Jake Leeps recorded 34.5 tackles, including one solo tackle for loss. Josh Carroll added 33 tackles, with two solo stops for loss.
Nathan Bair had 26 total tackles, including six solo tackles for loss and four solo sacks. Reece added 23.5 total tackles, with one solo stop for loss.
Dupree has quality pieces. Now, he just needs to put them in the right places and hope his philosophy can turn the program around.
“I’m really impressed with the type of players we have,” he said. “I always thought Texas played the greatest high school football in America and I’m comparing it to kids I coached. I coached at Dallas Skyline, for example. They were 13th in the nation last year in the final poll. Some of our kids rate right up there with them. I’m overly impressed. So the coaches have done a good job. I’m hoping maybe the plan was different. Ours is different, so hopefully that will pan out.”
Clarke scrimmages at Interstate 35 7 p.m. Friday, before opening the season at home against Saydel on Aug. 28.