The game of six-man football is “ flat out exciting ” — Coach Shipley
Athens Christian Preparatory Academy is bringing back six-man football in the fall of 2023 with practices starting next spring and the school has signed on Coach Hanner Shipley to build the program .
When meeting Coach Shipley , you know that physically he is a force to be reckoned with at 6 foot 5 inches , but he coaches with a kind accountability to his players . He has already met with some of his future players to condition and practice over the summer and the students are excited about the return of football to the school .
“ I think anything new is naturally exciting ,” Shipley said . “ For me personally , I am excited to share my experiences with football , life , and how my personal relationship with Jesus Christ has made both of these things richer .”
There will also be challenges with starting up a new program and Shipley says that the most challenging part might just be the “ buy in ” from the players , as he ’ s going to have to earn the trust of his players , but he says he ’ s looking forward to that .
Shipley has been playing football since he was a kid in the backyard with his famous Longhorn football wideout cousins , Jordan and Jaxon Shipley . In high school in Marble Falls , he was ranked as high as the No . 42 tight end in the nation and after graduating early in 2014 , he spent the spring semester
I look forward to contributing my time and effort into these kids in this community and being a part of something special over at ACPA . taking drills as a tight end for the LSU Tigers .
He transferred to Abilene Christian University , Blinn College , and then rounded out his college career at LA Tech where he started at right tackle . His last football game was starting at the 2018 Hawaii Bowl where he won a bowl ring .
Shipley has always known that he wanted to be involved with high school football to some degree and over the past few years he has trained individual athletes and held bible studies with some kids on his cousin ’ s high school team . When he moved to Athens a little over a year ago and he found out about ACPA , he knew he wanted to get involved .
The ACPA team has already been blessed by donations of football gear and attire from Brazos Christian School and Second Baptist School University-Model .
The game of six-man football is “ flat out exciting ,” as Shipley describes .
“ It is a fast paced game where there is a lot of scoring and a lot of speed .”
— Hanner Shipley
Although Shipley , his wife , and two sons haven ’ t been in Athens for long , he has lived in many different places and he says there is not a community that cares for each other quite like Athens .
“ I look forward to contributing my time and effort into these kids in this community and being a part of something special over at ACPA .”
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