Public high schools around the state kicked off football practice on Monday.

Some football coaches use the mandated three days of practice in helmets and shorts as a refresher course from spring drills.

At Greenville High, these three days will be the college equivalent to orientation.

Interim head football coach Mike Williams introduced the 49 players to his brand of football Monday afternoon.

"It was a pleasant day of practice," Williams said about his first day as the Tigers' new coach. "These kids are out here to learn and win. And there certainly was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm after practice, which was good to see after a three-hour practice session."

Williams introduced the players to the bare-bone basics of his style of football from how to stretch to how his team would huddle. The Tigers went through 20 periods

on Monday focusing on offense and the new terminology during the first half and then defense in the second half.

Tuesday, Williams altered the plan by focusing on defense for the first half of practice and then working on offense.

"All of the kids and my assistant coaches responded positively," Williams said. "They all did a good job under the circumstances that were put in."

Williams was announced as Greenville's interim football coach on Thursday by Butler County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney. Williams' hire became official Tuesday night when the board gave its final approval of Williams' hire at a special called

meeting.

Williams had 49 players report on the first day and he said that he expects to see about five more join the team in the coming days.

"We've got some that are getting eligible and a few others who need to get their physicals," he said. "Then I expect about 15 to 25 freshmen to join us later, which will bulk up our roster to the 60-75 range."

When practice ends on Wednesday, the Tigers will be able to put on pads for the first time on Thursday. Williams said that he will continue with drills with a majority of the practice dealing with contact drills.

"We'll continue to work on fundamentals and terminology on Thursday, but we'll get some contact drills in, too," he said.