25 Teams in 25 Days: Gulfport Admirals

Stop number 12 on News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days has earned the right to get some love on the first day of official practice.

- stop number 12 on news 25's 25- teams in 25 days... has earned- the - right to get some love... on th- first day of official practice.- albeit two weeks later than - normal, due to covid-19...- august- 17th is a date the gulfport - admirals have had circled, for- quite a while... as a previousl- un- certain 20-20 season, now - becomes that much more of a - reality... as does the chance t- defend their run... of 23 in a- row.- - 25 teams in 25 days... brought- to you by gulf coast business - furniture and supply... your- source for covid-19 supplies an- all of your sanitation needs.

- - - - nat --->- "i was anxious.

I was up all- night waiting for it."- "it's like a present they can - finally open.

They've been- waiting and didn't know what- they were going to be getting - and if it was going to be pushe- back but it's finally - - - - here and these kids are excited- we're excited.

We're just ready- to get the- season underway."

- christmas in august, for the- gulfport football - - - - program... more than two months- after its long-awaited return,- to on-campus workouts... and- less than three weeks away... - from normalcy.- "we've actually been looking- forward to it a lot.

We're just- ready to get back on the field.- covid really messed everything- up, but we're just ready to get- back here and play- ball."- adapt and overcome is the new - motto for an admirals team- that lost its first two home- games, due to the corona-virus- pandemic... and won't play a- home game... until october 2nd.- "we're going to go through a lo- of obstacles this season.

No- matter what, we've- got to stick together as a team- and we've got to be one and - overcome all the- obstacles that we have so we ca- be a championship team."- gulfport already took a big ste- in that direction, last - year... finally breaking a- playoff curse... that truly mad- no sense whatsoever.- the admirals were previously- 0-7, in their last seven first- round games... dating back to - 2011... until their 20-19 win,- over- george county... changed... - everything.

- "the most that stands out was - that playoff win."- "i remember nerves were high.

W- were scared but we were ready.- just finally- changed history and we came out- more ready than ever and we did- - - - it."

"it was a happy moment,- just the energy after the game- to see everybody- rejoicing like that to know tha- we finally made history and pas- the hump, it was just - great."

- when the admirals start the - - - - 20-20 season, on september- 4th... they'll be doing so, at- oak grove... against the same - warriors team that knocked- gulfport out of the playoffs, - last season.- a friendly reminder that the ne- hump... is getting out of - the second round, in class- 6-a... and then some.

- "our goal is that we're trying- to go to state this year.

We go- past the first round last - - - - year.

We feel like we've got a- really good group, defensively- and - offensively that's coming back.- it's kind of a different vibe.- these guys have - worked their butts off."- "right after that game we had a- talk.

We said next year we're - going to make - something special.

We want to - get that ring.

We want to get - past the first, second, - third round and do something- special at gulfport."

- that's not to say gulfport- hasn't already been special, in- recent years... at least during- the regular season.

- dating back to 20-16... the - admirals have absolutely- dropped anchor, in region 4...- riding a 23-game district - winning - streak... heading into 20-20.

- now it's up to this year's clas- of 17 seniors, to maintain that- standard of being both the- hunted... and the hunter.

- "we definitely have a target on- our back every year.

But we lov- - - - it.

We play up to it."- "i would say it's motivation- because not many people have- this.

Out of all the- teams on the coast, we're the - only people to have this record- - - - and everyone wants it, so we're- doing everything we can to keep- it."- "we're expected to win the- district around here every year- that's what we want.- it might be some bulliten board- material for some other teams,- but that's what we- - - - want.

And we feel like if you - want to be the best, you've got- to beat gulfport on the - coast.

But our kids, they want- to be the best on the coast but- they also want to be- the best in the state and that'- what we're aiming towards."

- - gulfport lost its port city bow- game against east - central, on august 21st... and- another home game against - northwest rankin, on august - 28th... without picking - up any other games.

- the admirals posted an overall- record, of