Published: June 20, 2009 10:13 pm      

AOA adding six-man football program in fall

Lions are going to field junior varsity team this year, add varsity in 2010

Along with the Hornets, Bulldogs and Bearkats, the Alpha Omega Academy Lions will strap on their pads and helmets and hit the football field in a couple of months.

With head coach Craig Hooper, who was hired recently, the Lions will begin their inaugural six-man football season this fall. Alpha Omega will field a junior high team this year, then play its first varsity season in 2010. AOA’s first practice will be on Aug. 19.

“We’ll have some growing pains, but any first-year program has those,” Hooper said Saturday. “We’ve had some 7-on-7 games just to try and let the kids have a feel on what it’ll be like. It’s basically the same game with one less person.

“I’m hoping to see the kids grow this year as we begin. They’ll have a lot of conditioning, both mentally and physically.”

With only six players, the playing style is much different than in 11-man football.

“We’ll have three players on the line of scrimmage. The QB can’t run, but the running back can receive the snap and toss it to the quarterback, who can either run or pass,” Hooper said. “It kind of forces you to run a spread offense like Missouri does. There’s a lot of passing in the game.

“It’s a very exciting and it’s a real high-scoring game.”

Hooper hopes to have 14-15 players in the first year and have that number grow to about 20 in the future.

“I think having football will help us retain students at Alpha Omega. It also gives us an opportunity to grow,” Hooper said.

Before coming to Alpha Omega, Hooper was associated with the Montgomery County Bulls, a semi-professional team based out of The Woodlands. Hooper coached the Bulls to the championship game in the North American Football League in 2004. Hooper also coached in 2005, but has served as president and general manager of the team since then.

“Competing in 7-on-7 will give us a big jump on what we need to accomplish this season,” Hooper said. “We’re excited. It’s like basketball, but on a football field. We think it can do a lot for the school. It can also give Huntsville residents something to watch on Friday nights when the Hornets are out of town or have a week off.”