Trevor Lovelady, who will be a junior wide receiver next season, tries to pull down a Drew Allen pass during a recent spring training workout. Photos by Marvin Pfeiffer

The footballs are flying and the players are battling the skyrocketing temperatures once again at Alamo Heights High School. Though the heat is oppressive at times, no one seems to mind.

Alamo Heights has brought back spring training to its football program for the first time since the mid-80’s and it has been a rousing success.

“It’s been great,” said Mules Head Coach Don Byrd. “You know, we haven’t participated in spring training in a long time here at Alamo Heights and it’s been an outstanding atmosphere.”

Coming off a state championship two years ago and a loss to New Braunfels in the regional finals last season, interest in the Alamo Heights football program couldn’t be higher.

“We’re excited about the ones that showed up this spring,” Byrd said. “We had 136 upperclassmen working out and we’re anticipating about 65 freshmen, so we’re excited about the numbers for next year. We’ve got a lot of players excited about football here at Alamo Heights.”

The Mules return three starters on offense and six on defense for the coming season and most of those are in what’s considered the “skill positions” so the outlook is promising for next year.

“On offense, of course we have Drew Allen at quarterback,” Byrd said. ”He started all the games last year and has done a phenomenal job. We have Sergio Acosta at running back. He’s steady and has been playing hard. Victor Givens returns at tight end and of course we have several others with some playing time, but those are the main starters.”

The defense, which many argue is always the backbone of the team, should be strong once again.

“On defense, we’re excited,” Byrd said. “We have six back. We have three in the secondary, we have two linebackers and one outside backer so you know we’ve just got to find five more starters and hope these guys come back ready to play and hungry.”

“The exciting thing is we’ve got a lot of kids that have been running number two during the spring but they’re showing me they need to be on the field and get some playing time,” Byrd added. “There’s been and lot of competition and it’s been good.”

Byrd sees a lot of progress being made so far during the spring session.

‘We’ve been able to slow things down and get back to fundamentals,” Byrd said. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the underclassmen and getting to know them and showing them what the programs all about.”

It’s also given the coaching staff a heads-up on what they need to do to improve for next year.

“We see where some weaknesses are and what we have to do in the summer to make sure that we come back during two-a-days and have everything hitting on all cylinders for a great season,” Byrd said.

“We’re going to run five teams next year,” Byrd said. “One varsity, two junior varsity and two freshmen teams. We’re just trying to get as many guys on the playing field and watch them grow up and develop and just see where next year’s seniors are going to take us with their leadership.”

Last year’s starting running back, Sergio Acosta, returns for his senior year this coming season for Alamo Heights. Here he tries to elude the defense during a recent spring training practice.

A high percentage of the school’s football players participate in the summer strength and conditioning program from June 9 to July 24, which is open to incoming ninth- and twelfth-graders, according to Byrd.

The school is also holding two football camps from June 23 to 27 - the 2008 Football Training Camp for incoming fourth- through ninth-graders and the Blue and Gold Flag Football Camp for incoming first- through third-graders.

Information on all of these camps can be found on the school’s website at www.ahisd.net/campuses/ ahhs/athletics/camp.htm or by calling the school’s athletic office at 820-8855.

Byrd is enthusiastic about these programs and encourages participation from anyone who is interested. “It’s really a great environment for these young kids getting to be a part of Alamo Heights football.”