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NICEVILLE — Following a tumultuous 6-5 season defined by Niceville's lack of rivalry and playoff wins under Richard Morgan, first-year Eagles head coach Adron Robinson and his Eagles team face one of the area's toughest schedules in 2026.
Yet, as a powerhouse in Prattville (Alabama) awaits week one and non-district, rivalry clashes with Choctaw, Crestview and Mosley loom, the Eagles aren't worried right now about how this offseason shift in culture will translate to the win-loss column.
Instead, they're worried more about doing the little things right to set the table for a bounce-back year.
HS Football Rivalries: Choctaw-FWB, Crestview-Niceville among area's best
Return of HS football: Kickoff Classic schedule for Emerald Coast teams
"I walk into the locker room and there's a chair that's not put up, they see me walk in and are like, 'grab that chair,' Robinson said. "I don't have to say anything. Or like a kid cussing, I don't have to say anything because his teammate will hold him accountable. Or kids staying behind the white line in practice. When they stary policing each other, that's what you want to see as a coach. Because you know there's accountability and pride in the program.
"Fans this year are going to see kids that are disciplined, kids that play hard, kids that finish every down, kids that play for each other."
At Niceville's recent media day, where the Eagles players donned the classic maroon unis, took photos and made videos, I chatted with a Robinson and mix of senior leaders and breakout candidates to get a sense of what makes this team different than the 6-5 crew a year ago.
Niceville senior lineman Memphis Mays: "Keep believing in us. We had a setback last year, but we're working on it. We're doing everything we can to come back better. Everyone is waiting on Niceville to go down. That just motivates us to return to the Niceville standard."
Niceville junior quarterback Deagan McCoy: "It's going to be a lot different this year. Coach Adron being in charge, it's going to correct a lot of woes from the past and we'll have that winning mindset on game days. I love our rivalries. Those are the games that I have marked down: Mosley, Crestview, Choctaw for sure. Those are big rivalry games and I'm excited for them, excited for what this season holds."
Niceville senior linebacker Clay Nelson: "Last year was bad. We weren't ready. We thought we were all that and valued ourselves over the team, so this year that mentality has flipped. This year we're going to play as a team, not be selfish, have each other's backs and give our all."
Niceville senior linebacker Noah Renes: "I think in some of the some of the rivalries that we lost, a lot of them were pretty close. We just made, like, those one or 2 mistakes that you can't make. You know what I mean? So this year, we're going to play like how we know how to play and things will pan out better."
Niceville sophomore running back Jakobe Gilyard: "Keep coming out and supporting us. We'll give y'all the best we got, win some big games and make it to the playoffs."
Niceville freshman receiver/defensive back Jaxon Dark: "We're not defined by last year. We're ready to get after it."
Robinson: "Even back when I played, you're sitting in this bowl, and that's unique. But it's not even the stadium, but the town that shows up. It's the fans that show up. That's what makes this place different."
McCoy: "The environment is 1 of 1. Not a lot of people get to play here or have this environment, so we're very grateful to have the support of the whole town behind us."
Mays: "I love it. Just when you make a big play and look up, everyone's just yelling and the noise is deafening. I just can't explain that feeling ... it's crazy."
Nelson: "I love it. I came from Rocky, which is a smaller crowd. Coming to this, this is crazy. The crowds and the turnout gets me hyped."
Dark (who won an Okaloosa County title at Eagle Stadium last year for Ruckel): "Just the atmosphere and the student section, it's crazy. I haven't seen any other high school like that, and I'm just really excited to play in it."
Gilyard: "I heard the band a couple of weeks and it just felt good, felt like home. I can't wait for Friday night lights. The student section and the home crowd, you can feel their support. It's the best."
Renes: "Great camaraderie, guys hang out after practice all the time, whether it's hanging out by my pool or going to get some food."
McCoy: "It's a great team, a great staff, a staff I want to play for. And my brothers around me, I want to play for them too. We're in this together."
Dark: "When we need to serious, we will be. But off the field, we're always hanging out together after practice and just having fun."
Gilyard: "We hang out outside of school, play games, are always around each other on and off the field."
Mays: "It's a lot of fun in there. We practice hard, have each other's backs."
Nelson: "We have a good bond, laugh a lot. And coach Adron and I, we're tight. You can feel the love."
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville football focused on 'little things' after down year
Continue reading...
Yet, as a powerhouse in Prattville (Alabama) awaits week one and non-district, rivalry clashes with Choctaw, Crestview and Mosley loom, the Eagles aren't worried right now about how this offseason shift in culture will translate to the win-loss column.
Instead, they're worried more about doing the little things right to set the table for a bounce-back year.
HS Football Rivalries: Choctaw-FWB, Crestview-Niceville among area's best
Return of HS football: Kickoff Classic schedule for Emerald Coast teams
"I walk into the locker room and there's a chair that's not put up, they see me walk in and are like, 'grab that chair,' Robinson said. "I don't have to say anything. Or like a kid cussing, I don't have to say anything because his teammate will hold him accountable. Or kids staying behind the white line in practice. When they stary policing each other, that's what you want to see as a coach. Because you know there's accountability and pride in the program.
"Fans this year are going to see kids that are disciplined, kids that play hard, kids that finish every down, kids that play for each other."
At Niceville's recent media day, where the Eagles players donned the classic maroon unis, took photos and made videos, I chatted with a Robinson and mix of senior leaders and breakout candidates to get a sense of what makes this team different than the 6-5 crew a year ago.
What message do you have for Eagles fans and what they'll see in 2026?
Niceville senior lineman Memphis Mays: "Keep believing in us. We had a setback last year, but we're working on it. We're doing everything we can to come back better. Everyone is waiting on Niceville to go down. That just motivates us to return to the Niceville standard."
Niceville junior quarterback Deagan McCoy: "It's going to be a lot different this year. Coach Adron being in charge, it's going to correct a lot of woes from the past and we'll have that winning mindset on game days. I love our rivalries. Those are the games that I have marked down: Mosley, Crestview, Choctaw for sure. Those are big rivalry games and I'm excited for them, excited for what this season holds."
Niceville senior linebacker Clay Nelson: "Last year was bad. We weren't ready. We thought we were all that and valued ourselves over the team, so this year that mentality has flipped. This year we're going to play as a team, not be selfish, have each other's backs and give our all."
Niceville senior linebacker Noah Renes: "I think in some of the some of the rivalries that we lost, a lot of them were pretty close. We just made, like, those one or 2 mistakes that you can't make. You know what I mean? So this year, we're going to play like how we know how to play and things will pan out better."
Niceville sophomore running back Jakobe Gilyard: "Keep coming out and supporting us. We'll give y'all the best we got, win some big games and make it to the playoffs."
Niceville freshman receiver/defensive back Jaxon Dark: "We're not defined by last year. We're ready to get after it."
It's no secret that y'all enjoy one of the best atmospheres in high school football (last year there was around 7,000 people in attendance for the Choctaw game). What's it like call Eagle Stadium home?
Robinson: "Even back when I played, you're sitting in this bowl, and that's unique. But it's not even the stadium, but the town that shows up. It's the fans that show up. That's what makes this place different."
McCoy: "The environment is 1 of 1. Not a lot of people get to play here or have this environment, so we're very grateful to have the support of the whole town behind us."
Mays: "I love it. Just when you make a big play and look up, everyone's just yelling and the noise is deafening. I just can't explain that feeling ... it's crazy."
Nelson: "I love it. I came from Rocky, which is a smaller crowd. Coming to this, this is crazy. The crowds and the turnout gets me hyped."
Dark (who won an Okaloosa County title at Eagle Stadium last year for Ruckel): "Just the atmosphere and the student section, it's crazy. I haven't seen any other high school like that, and I'm just really excited to play in it."
Gilyard: "I heard the band a couple of weeks and it just felt good, felt like home. I can't wait for Friday night lights. The student section and the home crowd, you can feel their support. It's the best."
What's this clubhouse/locker room like?
Renes: "Great camaraderie, guys hang out after practice all the time, whether it's hanging out by my pool or going to get some food."
McCoy: "It's a great team, a great staff, a staff I want to play for. And my brothers around me, I want to play for them too. We're in this together."
Dark: "When we need to serious, we will be. But off the field, we're always hanging out together after practice and just having fun."
Gilyard: "We hang out outside of school, play games, are always around each other on and off the field."
Mays: "It's a lot of fun in there. We practice hard, have each other's backs."
Nelson: "We have a good bond, laugh a lot. And coach Adron and I, we're tight. You can feel the love."
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville football focused on 'little things' after down year
Continue reading...
