The opening of spring practices on Tuesday marked the beginning of a new era for the Ellwood Christian Academy football program as it prepares to enter the Alabama High School Athletic Association this season.

Mike Stokes, head football coach of Ellwood Christian Academy, said it felt good to hit the field for the first time this year on Tuesday.

“It feels good. I’ve been wanting to get out here, especially when we started getting these kids in like we have,” Stokes said. “I’ve been wanting to get out here to see what they can do, and it’s exciting. So far, I’ve been pleased.”

The Eagles had more than 20 players attend practice on the first day, and Stokes said there are more on the way.

Stokes said the Eagles are hoping to have as many players as they can as they transition into AHSAA Class 1A after playing in the Alabama Independent School Association last season.

“That’s what we need. We had a meeting the other day and there were 37 in there,” Stokes said. “If we can go out there with 40, that will be great. 40, compared to last year where we might have had 16 or 17 players sometimes, that’s a big difference.”

Stokes said the goal of the first day was simply to teach, as they prepare to implement portions of a new offense with offensive coordinator and former Meadowview Christian head coach John Glasscock joining the staff.

“We’re just teaching. We’ve got the athletes, so we’ve just got to teach and put our offense in, put our defense in,” Stokes said. “We’re already a lot better than we were last year. We’re going to run his (Glasscock) Veer and then we’re still going to run the spread, too. We’re going to have to run the spread because we have so many athletes that we want to get on the field and get the ball in their hands.”

Stokes said the Eagles will spend the first three days of spring in shorts, then will practice in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets on Monday.

The Eagles will practice in full pads on Tuesday.

Aside from the X’s and O’s, Stokes said one of the most important things he and his staff have been teaching this spring is discipline.

“We’re going to definitely teach discipline,” Stokes said. “I’m going to be honest, some of the stuff I took last year, I didn’t have any choice because I didn’t have a lot of players, but this year it’s totally different. I think some of the guys that were out here last year can see that. It’s kind of made them understand that ‘I need to come to practice on time, I better get in the weight room because there’s someone beside me who can take my place.’”