Things went well for Coach Mark Freeman in his first year at the helm of the Gulf Shores Dolphins. After being hired as head coach and athletic director in January of 2009, Freeman hit the ground running.

He inherited a senior-heavy team with good hands, good feet, size and quickness. Enjoying wins like the 33-14 victory over St. Paul’s on the road to spoil their homecoming, racking up 42 points against Escambia County, 49 points against Wilcox Central, and 56 points against Citronelle, the Dolphins battled their way to the best season in the school’s history.

It all came to an end during the second round of the playoffs when LeFlore, a team the Dolphins beat during the regular season 41-14, took down Freeman and his Dolphins 27-14 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Still, finishing 9-3 in Class 5A football, averaging 31.8 points per game, giving up only half of that each game, in only your 10th season is not that bad.

Probably the biggest loss for the Dolphins, however, came, not last fall when they lost to the Rattlers, but in May on graduation day, when – just like that- the Dolphins graduated 25 of their 53 players.

“Bring it to work every day. Play hard. Learning issues.  That is what we are having to deal with this season,” Freeman said. “Right now we are having to teach them to play through that wall. I told them this morning, either you are going to make it or you’re not, but you are going to make that decision. Not me, not our coaches. You have to commit to being a good football player.”

For the full story, see GCN's Gridiron Preview on Wednesday, August 11.