Cullman brings experience into the 2024 football season:
GDW Analysis:
Everything is for sure different for the Cullman Bearcats in looking forward to the 2024 AHSAA football season.
"Knowing the players help. A lot was new to the team last year," coach Danny Stiff said Tuesday during the school's media day held inside the Tillman Room on the CHS campus.
Stiff was joined by six seniors to mingle with local media, including Gameday Weekly.
All six are starters from QB Preston Gay, T JC Patterson, TE Cooper Ogstad, LB Kamron Myers, MLB Ben Conway and T Miles Smith.
"I didn't know what it was like for these guys to be in a game," Stiff added. "They've now been through the region. They have been able to handle adversity."
Cullman's first season with Stiff had plenty of ups and downs.
By midseason, the Bearcats had earned three victories before momentum was slowed up with close losses in back to back games with Mortimer Jordan and Athens.
The 'Cats claimed wins against Columbia and Etowah to end the regular season with a 5 & 5 mark. That was good to get them 4th in AHSAA 6A, Region 7 and qualify for the state playoffs.
Cullman has five consecutive postseason berths and 17 of the last 19 years.
Stiff is pleased at the progress of Gay in his starting signal caller.
"He's at the point we can't fool him anymore. If we can run the ball, Preston will be much better."
Stiff pointed out a positive status for the Bearcats have been able to stay healthy from the time they worked out in the spring to currently with the team eager to get on the field and face someone that is wearing a different colored uniform.
Cullman plays at Northridge in Tuscaloosa County Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
Stiff said Northridge is very similar in its approach like the Bearcats.
He is very pleased to be involved in a fall jamboree. "We are ready to fine tune in what we need to do."
The seniors stated they are concentrating on the first official game for them, August 22 when they play at Bob Jones.
Cullman and Bob Jones have never met on the gridiron.
Stiff analyzed 2023 as having a good football team that worked hard to clinch a playoff berth. He said the team at times, lacked consistency. "We have got to be consistent on our technique."
The Bearcats are again in Region 7 of 6A football. Reclassification was held earlier this year and nothing changed, except the addition of Jasper coming up from being a 5A school the last two years.
Athens is the regional opener for Cullman on September 6 from Mark Britton Field/Oliver Woodard Stadium.
The 'Cats will visit Jasper the following week with this game to be on a Thursday evening (September 12) from Ki-Ro/Gambrill Field. Cullman edged the Vikings there last season 15 to 13.
Media experts have tabbed Muscle Shoals to be the team everyone will be chasing for the top spot in Region 7.
Cullman goes to Muscle Shoals on September 20.
As the schedule shifts into October, the Bearcats will see Hartselle at home October 4, Columbia at home the 11th and play at Decatur the 18th in the region.
New coaches come to Hartselle and Decatur for 2024. Hartselle will be led by Bert Newton, who was offensive coordinator with the Tigers last season.
Decatur got John Ritter from Russellville. Ritter is well known to GDW for seeing Russellville have some hotly contested games with the Fairview Aggies the last three years. The games in 2022 and 2023 decided the champion in 5A, Region 8.
Stiff spoke about the coaches from this region in knowing some very well and learning about others.
Muscle Shoals was ranked 8th in the state's preseason 6A poll with Hartselle just outside the Top 10.
Photo of Cullman Bearcats from left, Cooper Ogstad, Kamron Myers, Ben Conway, coach Danny Stiff, Preston Gay, JC Patterson and Miles Smith during media day Tuesday at Cullman HS.
Photo courtesy of Cullman High School.
