Rhoten

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"Kind of like myself, anywhere she can contribute is what she wants to do." said Rhoten. "She's not coming in here and expecting to start or anything like that She just wants to contribute and be a part of this thing and help out where she can. The way I see it, it's going to be a really deep bench "

So how does a spread offensive coach who's had 4,000 yard passing quarterbacks on multiple occassions feel about the slot-T and a team that threw the ball a total of 23 times last year?

"Scouting Howe this time last year, I was impressed with how efficient they were and I admired how the coaches were able to install something so quickly and look so sharp so early" said Rhoten. "Coach Hudson putting his trust in somebody in turn it all over to them is special These kids here have latched on to this stuff As far as philosophies, you do what you have to do for the kids to understand to make it work and win Howe is living proof that if the kids buy in and do it right, within a year's time it can turn around Do I think we need to be throwing the ball? Absolutely not That's not my job anymore anyway"

Rhoten says that playing against Howe's slot-T offense was tough but transitioning and meshing with the coaching staff has been easy He was quick to point out that it all starts out at the top

Hudson is at coaching football, he's equally knowledgeable of the maintenance side to the athletic facilities and has to have saved the district a lot of money

"I learn something new everyday from him; from killing ants to whatever. He's got a plan " said Rhoten

As unhappy as Rhoten and his family were at the end of the Canton stay, he says all is well now.

"Me and my three are happy. I've got one chance to be a daddy. It needs to be God first, but as it filters down, my family has got to be what I'm doing everything for" said Rhoten

Oldest daughter Landry will be a junior and a major contributor to an already highly touted Lady Bulldogs basketball team Emory is the youngest daughter and will be in sixth grade and out from under mom's elementary nest for the first time. Although, her daddy will be the assistant principal

But getting back to Landry and the Lady Bulldogs. She received all-district honorable mention last year as a sophomore basketball player as well as academic first team. She's a 5'9 point and has already started working with the team in the off-season

This summer, Coach Lands took them to a basketball camp where they went undefeated They also went undefeated in a Pottsboro camp Rhoten feels like this year's Lady Bulldogs have a great chance to claim their first state championship

"These girls have just been phenomenal in embracing my girls and making them feel comfortable here." said Rhoten. "A lot of times the proximity and being opponents can play a factor, but they are athletes and their already a family."

Landry has always played volleyball also, but decided that she would run cross country instead and help the football team as a water girl

Just as Landry is being taught to be unselfish to better the team, her father is practicing what he preaches As a former athletic director and head coach, he could still be holding those positions, but he's being a team player for his family, for his new coaching colleagues and for his players.

Next year, the Howe Bulldogs will be re-aligned and move up to play the likes of Pottsboro, Van Alstyne and larger schools regularly. But for Bulldogs fans, right now, this very fall is the time to enjoy the best overall coaching staff this town has ever seen