FORT MEADE – The Miners may be digging a path straight to Orlando after being reclassified from Class 3A to Class 1A–one they’ve come to learn and thrive in over the years as a program. They’re currently the AP’s #1-ranked team in the class and have started the season 2-0. The Miners have a rich history of being one of the “small” schools that bring BIG problems to schools of all shapes and sizes, and this season might not be any different. Head Coach Jemalle Cornelius was kind of enough to spend some time with us to catch us up on all the details with Fort Meade, and here’s that conversation.
BCP: What’s going to be the biggest adjustment to being in 1A as opposed to 3A?
JC: “The biggest adjustment might just be the travel. The kids are going to play against teams they’re not really familiar with, so that’s going to be different for us–we’ve got to take a trip to Crescent City, we’ve got to take a trip down to Pahokee, so that’s going to be different for us–the kids playing teams they don’t really know, new schools, new territory and all that comes with it.”
BCP: What has been the biggest aspect that’s led to the 2-0 start, what would it be?
JC: Defense. Right now we’re playing really hard on defense. Early on in the year, you try to form the identity and what you’re going to be about as a team, and right now I think the things that pops out to me on film is that guys are running to the ball. We still have a little stuff we need to get cleaned up such lining up right in certain situations, making sure we’re getting the right coverages in place–but at the end of the day (right now) they (defense) are running to the ball, man.
BCP: One player outside of the “big” names on the roster that’s making an impact?
JC: We’ve got a guy right now, his name is Chad Fulse. He’s playing some fullback and some outside linebacker, he’s been a pleasant surprise for us this season–and then? I think we’ve got two good corners in Caden Music and Anthony Clark who are both sophomores. Caden had a pick last week and in the preseason classic as well. He’s not the biggest, or the most-athletic–but he’s always in the right place to make plays. Anthony Clark–who is the younger brother of Tyler King os another smaller guy–but the thing I’ve been impressed about Anthony is a tackler and you can do some things in the run support when you’ve got a guy that can be physical. Those two guys plus Chad are really making plays.
BCP: What’s the mantra?
JC: Right now, I think the thing that’s staying with them is the most important game on the schedule is the next game on the schedule–they’ve been saying a lot and we’ve (the coaching staff) have been saying that a lot as well. If you can get better from week-to-week, then that next game is going to be an important game.
BCP: Although the Miners are one of the smaller schools in the county in terms of school population, they’ve just been ranked in the top five within Polk and are the current number-one in 1A at the moment. How do you think FM would be able to compete against the Lake Wales’ the Winter Haven’s, the Lakeland’s and so on?
JC: I mean–I think it would be interesting. I think the biggest factor when it comes to those schools is–depth. I think our first-22 are pretty good–we could lineup and match well with a lot of bigger teams with our starters. When you go to the third or fourth quarter though–and you’re calling out your defense to guys that were just wide receivers and a little gassed, or you’ve got interior defensive lineman that just blocked for a 15-20 play drive on offense–playing back-to-back or both ways eventually wears on you–especially against those schools like the ones mentioned. Hats off to all those programs, though. I (and we) have a lot of respect for what they do at the bigger schools. A lot of the stuff we do–we try to pattern around those bigger schools so I have the upmost respect for them.
BCP: Forget the travel. Fort Meade is a city that can hold its own against small-town Friday Nights like Pahokee and Belle Glade–and even Crescent City. At the end of the day, all you’re doing is playing another football team–you’re not playing the entire city–none of that. These kids have played in big atmospheres’ before–because they play in on at home and might not even realize it or appreciate at it? At the end of the day–it’s just another football game. Is that the message to the kids before the get on the buses to start the travel?
JC: To be completely honest with you–I’m a fan of away game. The reason I like away games? You always have more distractions at a home game then you do at away games. When you get on that bus–it’s just us. It’s almost like a training camp atmosphere–it’s just you and your team and your focus is on that. You don’t have to deal with girlfriends, you don’t have to deal with Mama-and-them coming to the locker room to make sure their baby has got this–or that–so, I kinda like sitting on the bus and ricin’ and clearing your mind. You said it best, we’re not playing against the entire city–you’re just playing against the team that’s out there on the field.
FORT MEADE SINCE 2000:
Fort Meade – Head Coach Jemalle Cornelius (7th season, 57-16 record)
-2000 1A runners-up to North Florida Christian (L,20-16)
-2001 1A runners-up to North Florida Christian (L,28-16)
-2003 1A runners-up to Jacksonville-Trinity Christian (L,17-7)
-2004 1A State Champions defeating Blountstown 42-38)
-2005 1A runners-up to Port St. Joe (L,38-31) –PSJ is reigning 1A champions
-2008 1A runners-up to North Florida Christian (L,17-7)
-Fort Meade is tied with Pahokee for 8th in all-time playoff games played in the state (72 games, 49-23 record)
-Fort Meade’s 49 wins puts them ninth all-time in the playoffs just behind Pahokee’s 52 wins