Jim Nichols is an Auburn guy. Faulkner's football coach, who spent three years as a graduate assistant on the Plains, used the Tigers as a template while building the Eagles from scratch in 2006. He used the same terms, held players to the same code of conduct, mimicked Tommy Tuberville's practice schedules and based the school's new fieldhouse on designs he saw at Auburn.
Now Nichols is hoping the Tigers' new offense can help his team.
Faulkner is in the midst of installing the same aggressive passing scheme Tony Franklin brought to the Plains in December.
"We needed something that would make us less predictable and, you know, that's exactly what they're doing at Auburn," Nichols said. "When times got tough, we didn't know how to win. We couldn't score points at the end. We have a lot of skill guys and I wanted a way to get the ball in their hands more often."
Faulkner finished 1-9 during its first season in 2007. The team's offense averaged eight points though the first four games, though increased familiarity helped the team double that rate during its final six games.
That wasn't enough.
Nichols, who learned the scheme during a January consultation with Franklin in Nashville, Tenn., thought his backs and wideouts represented untapped potential last season. He also believes his new quarterbacks, Philip Moore and T.J. Jacobs, provide broad skill sets that will frustrate defenses.
"This is going to make us much more productive because we have speed on the outside that is above most other teams," said Moore, a former standout at Edgewood Academy. "Speed is our biggest strength. I've been surprised by how quickly it's come along for us. We're only a few weeks in and it works. I thought it would take a while."
Franklin's offense emphasizes quick passes to receivers and, ideally, uses the quarterback as a featured running-game element. Nichols isn't prepared to phase out his tailbacks just yet.
The Eagles took the ideas gleaned from Franklin and matched them with running-game plans borrowed from West Virginia. The Mountaineers use a spread scheme, yet found ways to make their tailback an every-down threat.
"The thing about this offense is that you can get away from running the ball if you're not careful," Nichols said. "We want to run at least 40 percent of the time. We like running the ball. That's something I feel strongly about. We're going to attack teams on the ground no matter what."
Everyone at Faulkner talks about the speed.
Power seems almost taboo.
That's because the Eagles didn't have much in 2007. Players arrived on campus just before spring drills and many weren't following workout routines. A summer of sparsely attended voluntary workouts did little to help players gain strength.
That's changing.
The coaching staff managed offseason weight training for the first time this winter. Nichols said a significant number of players will stick around this summer to forward progress made in the weight room.
"We were big like everybody else, but they were stronger. It was easy to see," Nichols said. "Having an offseason to get these kids in shape and help them build their bodies for what they do in the fall is key. It makes a big difference."
Faulkner players say they're starting to feel like college players now. The program spent approximately $350,000 to build the Lee Family Fieldhouse, which includes coaches' offices, a training room, an equipment area and a spacious locker room modeled after -- you guessed it -- Auburn's digs at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Nichols' top priority is to build a synthetic-turf field adjacent to the field house. Preliminary grade work has begun, though the dirt will remain bare until the Eagles raise $500,000.
Nichols hopes construction can begin in earnest this summer.
The team currently practices at Alabama Christian Academy and plays games in Cramton Bowl. The team will hold its first Blue-White spring game there Saturday at 10 a.m.
"You can look around and see that football is coming along," said Jacobs, one of the team's top two quarterbacks. "Once we start winning, it'll all come together. We just have to keep getting better."
Now Nichols is hoping the Tigers' new offense can help his team.
Faulkner is in the midst of installing the same aggressive passing scheme Tony Franklin brought to the Plains in December.
"We needed something that would make us less predictable and, you know, that's exactly what they're doing at Auburn," Nichols said. "When times got tough, we didn't know how to win. We couldn't score points at the end. We have a lot of skill guys and I wanted a way to get the ball in their hands more often."
Faulkner finished 1-9 during its first season in 2007. The team's offense averaged eight points though the first four games, though increased familiarity helped the team double that rate during its final six games.
That wasn't enough.
Nichols, who learned the scheme during a January consultation with Franklin in Nashville, Tenn., thought his backs and wideouts represented untapped potential last season. He also believes his new quarterbacks, Philip Moore and T.J. Jacobs, provide broad skill sets that will frustrate defenses.
"This is going to make us much more productive because we have speed on the outside that is above most other teams," said Moore, a former standout at Edgewood Academy. "Speed is our biggest strength. I've been surprised by how quickly it's come along for us. We're only a few weeks in and it works. I thought it would take a while."
Franklin's offense emphasizes quick passes to receivers and, ideally, uses the quarterback as a featured running-game element. Nichols isn't prepared to phase out his tailbacks just yet.
The Eagles took the ideas gleaned from Franklin and matched them with running-game plans borrowed from West Virginia. The Mountaineers use a spread scheme, yet found ways to make their tailback an every-down threat.
"The thing about this offense is that you can get away from running the ball if you're not careful," Nichols said. "We want to run at least 40 percent of the time. We like running the ball. That's something I feel strongly about. We're going to attack teams on the ground no matter what."
Everyone at Faulkner talks about the speed.
Power seems almost taboo.
That's because the Eagles didn't have much in 2007. Players arrived on campus just before spring drills and many weren't following workout routines. A summer of sparsely attended voluntary workouts did little to help players gain strength.
That's changing.
The coaching staff managed offseason weight training for the first time this winter. Nichols said a significant number of players will stick around this summer to forward progress made in the weight room.
"We were big like everybody else, but they were stronger. It was easy to see," Nichols said. "Having an offseason to get these kids in shape and help them build their bodies for what they do in the fall is key. It makes a big difference."
Faulkner players say they're starting to feel like college players now. The program spent approximately $350,000 to build the Lee Family Fieldhouse, which includes coaches' offices, a training room, an equipment area and a spacious locker room modeled after -- you guessed it -- Auburn's digs at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Nichols' top priority is to build a synthetic-turf field adjacent to the field house. Preliminary grade work has begun, though the dirt will remain bare until the Eagles raise $500,000.
Nichols hopes construction can begin in earnest this summer.
The team currently practices at Alabama Christian Academy and plays games in Cramton Bowl. The team will hold its first Blue-White spring game there Saturday at 10 a.m.
"You can look around and see that football is coming along," said Jacobs, one of the team's top two quarterbacks. "Once we start winning, it'll all come together. We just have to keep getting better."
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