Big 'Dog debuts

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New Thomasville head coach Leroy Ryals Jr. greets Bulldogs fan Sarah Annie Floyd in the school cafeteria on Friday. Natalie Fultz/Times-Enterprise

February 15, 2013

Big 'Dog debuts

Natalie Fultz CNHI The Times Enterprise Fri Feb 15, 2013, 07:30 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — There’s a new man on campus at Thomasville High School. He is the 21st head football coach in the school’s history.

On Friday, Leroy Ryals Jr. spoke in front of players, faculty and members of the Thomasville community Friday about what he plans to do with the football program. He said he intends to take the Bulldogs to the “next level.”

“I think I have the recipe to get it done,” Ryals said. “My recipe is to simply be the best you can be every single day. Everyday you either get better or you get worse. That’s what Nick Saban told me. When you get out of bed, when your feet hit the ground, you have to have the confidence and mindset that you need to get better today.

Ryals, who assisted Saban at Louisiana State University, plans on focusing on each day and not worrying about a championship.

After seven years at Clarke Central, Ryals decided it was time to move on to “another opportunity,” but he isn’t feeling any added pressure.

“There will never be more pressure than I put on myself,” Ryals said. “You just have to keep in mind that it’s just a game. When you keep it that simple, it’s really a simple game with a simple concept. That’s how you become successful.”

See Saturday's edition for more details. See video under "sports" at times-emterprise.com.

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