Phelps takes over the reins at Classical

Classical High football coach Tim Phelps has a few hurdles to clear as he starts his first year at the helm, but the former assistant coach isn’t daunted by the challenge.Phelps took over the head coaching job from Matt Durgin this summer, and although he’s looking at a young team, he’s hopeful things will come together.The Rams graduated 20-plus players from last year’s team. With only seven returning seniors and only four or five returning starters, Phelps will have his work cut out for him this season.”We’re pretty young,” Phelps said. “We only have seven returning seniors, so leadership is going to be key.”Phelps is encouraged by the fact the junior varsity program has enjoyed considerable success the last few years, but he knows those players will have to kick it up several notches at the varsity level.”I think they certainly have the talent,” Phelps said about some of the younger players. “But we have to get them going mentally to play at the varsity level. It’s a bigger mental game than on JV.”Phelps has a couple of returning seniors he’ll be counting on, including all-conference cornerback Cameron Smith and center/linebacker Brian Kolodziej.Phelps has a coaching staff that includes several returnees from last year, such as his brother, Mike, who will be his defensive coordinator, and Ryan Hathaway, who will be working on special teams. Also back from last year are Robert Johnson, who, like both Phelps and Hathaway, is a former Classical High player. Johnson will work with the running backs.The coaching staff also includes former player and returnee Jimmy Bransfield, who will work with the linemen, and former Classical player Joe Ford, who will work with freshmen linemen. Jason Jimenez will work with the freshmen running backs and Henry Brenkenridge will work with the freshmen linebackers. Phelps’ younger brother, Will, will work with the freshmen defensive and offensive lines. The younger Phelps also played at Classical.Phelps said it’s tough to predict how things will shape up this year until he sees how hard players worked in the off-season and how much they matured. The Rams were at a disadvantage this summer by not having access to the weight room because the school was closed due to the ongoing construction.The good news for Phelps is that the team will be able to use the school for its camp, which begins Thursday night. The team traditionally stays over a couple of nights.The Rams will open their season Thursday, Sept. 11, against St. Mary’s and former coach Matt Durgin, who is now at the Spartan helm.