Sessions
Brings Big
Time Resume
to Gadsden City
By Chris McCarthy
F
irst-year coach Bart Sessions
has one aim and one aim only
for the 2017 Gadsden City
High football team - win a state
championship.
“That’s our only goal. This is
Gadsden City, and we don’t coach
or play in a game that we think
we’re going to lose. I don’t say that
arrogantly; that’s our mentality.
I think that our kids share that
mentality, which gives us an
opportunity to be successful.”
The Titans are coming off a season in
which they won six straight games and
made it to the state semifinal round
20 | 2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine
following a 1-5 start. It was the second
time in three seasons that GCHS
advanced to the state semifinals. Sessions
is well aware that expectations will be
high when the Titans open the season at
Spain Park on Aug. 25.
“It was very impressive what Coach
[Matt] Scott and his staff and the team
accomplished last year. To be honest, at
halftime against Hoover (the game was
tied 10-10) it looked like they were going
to the finals. So, we’re very capable of
playing for a state championship.”
Toward that end, Sessions believes that
mental toughness and physical toughness
go hand in hand.
“Our philosophy is a tough-love
mentality. We’re very demanding coaches,
but once these kids know that you love
them, they’ll run through a wall for you.
When you’re on that second (practice)
hour in the July and August heat and a
coach is on your rear end, you better be
mentally tough. You push them and push
them and push them, and the games are
easier than the practices.”
Sessions pointed out that strength and
conditioning are key components of his
football programs.
“[Former Prattville High and Jacksonville
State head coach and current UAB head
coach] Bill Clark wouldn’t hire anyone