The Alvord Bulldogs are learning a new football philosophy under coach Matt Fanning. But make no bones about it: This is not a rebuilding year.

While conventional wisdom says it takes a year or two for a coach to successfully install a new system, Fanning doesn’t buy it.

The state-title-winning coach, returning to Texas high school football after a year in the college ranks, said Alvord is ready to compete now. Besides, when the coach won a state title at Jim Ned in 2020, he said, it wasn’t the result of rocket science.

“Everybody runs [guard-tackle] counter,” Fanning said. “What I’m focusing on with our guys is playing with intent.”

Fanning wants to make Alvord football fun again by simplifying the game and honing in on the little things. Winning helps, and he believes he has the senior-led locker room, weight room and skill to do it.

“I really preach two things: have fun and get better,” Fanning said. “We’re going to have fun playing the game of football. If we reach for those goals by putting in the work, the rest will take care of itself.”

The Bulldogs will have a tough road ahead of them after last year’s third place finish in 6-2AI. Fanning said Tioga has a lot of speed coming back, and he said last year’s district champ, Wolfe City, hasn’t gone away. Whitewright will also be in the mix again.

Dalton George, a senior quarterback with ample arm talent who has seen three head coaches come through Alvord since his freshman year, said the team is already showing progress under Fanning’s deliberate approach.

“The confidence is night and day,” George said.

Fanning is equally impressed by the passer.

“Dalton George has as good an arm as I’ve seen, he’s up there with some of the best I’ve ever coached, and that’s saying a lot,” Fanning said. “He’s got some learning and growing to do, but he can deal it.”

The Bulldogs will operate primarily out of 11 and 12 personnel, pairing versatile tight ends and elite speed at skill positions. Their base defense will be a 4-2-5.

“We’re going to have fun playing the game of football.”-Alvord coach Matt Fanning

While the new coach inherited a quarterback with a “next-level” arm, Fanning said Alvord’s fast-break offense is a thing of the past.

“Pass first, up tempo — that’s not who we are,” Fanning said. “We’ll be as multiple as possible. Light box, we’re going to run it. Loaded box, we’ll throw it.”

Expect the ball to find its way to what Fanning calls “the Zanes.”

Running back Zane Fuentes and tight end/linebacker Zane Smith will be key on both sides of the ball.

Fuentes has elite speed and hands. After clocking a 10.86 in the 100 meters at the 2A area meet, he’ll pursue an opportunity to attend West Point to run track and potentially suit up for the Army Black Knights football team. Smith will create mismatches at tight end while serving as a sledge hammer to lead the linebacker corps.

On paper, a running back with Division I track speed, a polished passer and a big-bodied athlete who likes to hit would give most opponents fits. But Alvord has one more rare X-factor returning this season: junior kicker Callum Taylor.

Taylor routinely hits 65-yard field goals in practice, according to teammates. Fanning may not ask him to attempt from that distance in games, but he said Taylor gives Alvord an edge in the kicking game against likely every opponent.

“It’s so rare in high school to send out a kicker from 30 or 40 yards and feel confident you’re going to walk away with points,” Fanning said. “A kicker like Callum allows you to be a little more aggressive as a coach. And he’s just a good athlete, too. He’ll help us a lot at tight end and linebacker.”