Pike County High School will field a “sophomore oriented” football team this fall.

Fred Holland, head football coach, didn’t say that his team will be in contention for the 2013 Class 3-A championship. But he did say that there’s talent on the team and that his guys are primed to get the Bulldogs back to prior prominence.

Holland was the program guest at the noon meeting of the Brundidge Rotary Club Wednesday and he painted a promising picture for the future of the Bulldogs football program.

And, it all begins with leadership.

Holland is a product of Brundidge schools and the city’s recreation program. He said he benefited greatly from the leadership of his coaches.

“And it’s a debt that I can never repay,” Holland said. He added that he and his coaching staff are committed to providing the leadership that will give their players opportunities to be winners on the field and in life.

Holland said he is coaching the defense, which was at the bottom of the region board last season.

“We won’t be last this season,” he said with a smile.

Mike Waters is coaching the offense and Doug Holland has the reins of the special teams.

Holland said that Willie Wright, PCHS principal, and the Pike County Board of Education have made it possible for the team to attend summer football camps that are important in the maturing process of young players.

“It’s costly to attend these camps but our team did well,” he said. “It was good exposure, especially, for a young team.”

Holland said the team has been involved in a conditioning program that is essential to a maturing team.

“We’ve added a good bit of speed and we’ve got a smart group of kids,” he said. “Some of them are stepping up as leaders. They are working hard and have made a commitment to this season. They’re excited about the season. All of this will help us get back to where we used to be.”

State championships are not new to PCHS. The Bulldogs have won five state championships since 1988 and 15 regional championships.

For now, the Bulldogs are ready to get the season underway and hope to have a strong fan support base.

“We getting better every day and we’ll be ready to play,” Holland said.