For most people, Gulf Shores has always been a place to get excited about when school is over. It is a vacation spot with sun, sand and surf. Lately, folks in these parts have been excited about the end of summer vacation and the start of a new school year.

More specifically, football season.

And for good reason.

Last year, the relatively young school did something they have never done before. They sent their football team to the AHSAA playoffs. It was short and sweet, as the Dolphins got knocked out in the first round, but it gave the team something to build on.

Now, with the hiring of one of the hottest names in high school football, some returning starters in key positions, and a couple of good transfers, the Dolphins are primed to field a quality team with the potential to surprise some opponents.

Coach Mark Freeman came to Gulf Shores from Minor High School in Birmingham where he spent last season coaching quarterbacks. Most folks recognize him, however, as the guy who took over at Bessemer Academy following two straight winless seasons, and transformed the AISA team, winning four state titles in seven years.

Coach Freeman is well aware, however, that with a schedule that includes trips to Robertsdale, to Spanish Fort where the Dolphins with be the first opponent in the Toros’ brand new stadium, and to Vigor, home of the 2008 Class 5A State Champions, this season will not be for the faint of heart.

For Gulf Shores, depth could be an issue, and Freeman just hopes players will stay healthy and key players will step up.

“Depth is critical to us this year, and that we get through the season without any major injuries,” said Freeman. “I think part of that is because we haven’t had a junior varsity team down here. Hopefully next year we can get enough kids in the program to get our JV team up and running.”

Freeman says that many of the young players have not had a chance to get much playing time, and at times it makes practices more difficult.

“Right now, some of our practices look really bad because we have a lot of young kids with very little playing experience getting lots of snaps. It brings practice to a different pace than we want and it brings some issues to practice that we would not have to deal with if we had more experienced players.”

Still, Freeman says that his team and his coaches all realize where they want to move this program and that it is not something that will happen in one season.

“We are not trying to have a one-shot season here. We are wanting to build a program and three or four years down the road have that school that people can look at and know that we have a solid football program.”

When opposing teams have the ball, expect the slightly undersized Dolphins to play high-pressure defense. Freeman says that little has changed from last season because the kids know the system and it has been effective in the past.

“We like to have an advantage, and our advantage on defense is that, because we are small, we can get in some gaps and use our speed and not have to rely on brute force to make things happen,” Freeman said.

“We can’t let our defense let the other team keep the ball. A lot of what we do on offense is dictated by what our defense can do.”

The Dolphins have two headhunters at linebacker in seniors J.D. Swiger and Tavon Arrington, a transfer from Hueytown High School. Both players are getting attention from schools at the next level and should provide the Dolphins good leadership on that side of the ball. Hunter Harris, who played linebacker last season, has been moved to secondary and will be key to the Dolphins defense, as will cornerbacks Dylan Zorn and Marcus Tino.

With starting quarterback Logan Paul returning, as well as the entire offensive line anchored by tackles Michael and Matthew Nehls, expect the Dolphins to be quick off the snap and not wait on the defense. Freeman is known for a fast paced offense, being quick out of the huddle (if there is one) and quick off the line, not waiting to react to the defense, but having the defense react to them.

“If we are successful like we want to be, don’t be surprised if by the middle of the year, teams will want to keep the ball away from us.”

Keep an eye on receivers Jonathan Adams as well as Brandon Gottfried, a 6’-5” senior who transferred from American Christian in Tuscaloosa.

Gulf Shores will dress out around 50 players, but Freeman says that finding some hard-nosed football players is what this summer practice has been about, and with the up-tempo, high energy practices that the Dolphins have, leadership is quickly noticed.

Coach Freeman is hoping to see some of his senior players step up and help lead the younger players. He said he has already seen some evidence of leadership during their first day in pads.

“It was hot. The practice did not go well and we had a few players that we needed to keep after practice to work on some things until we got it right. I looked up and some of our senior guys were still hanging around supporting the guys we were keeping after practice.”

Freeman says that he wants teams that they play to realize that this is not a team of individuals, and that when they come to play Gulf Shores, they are playing a family.

Swiger, who is being recruited by Jacksonville State, Northwestern State and South Alabama, says the team is responding well to Freeman, and he likes the direction they are headed.

“Coach Freeman knows what it takes to be in shape and knows what it takes for us to be a team. He is all about family,” Swiger said. “He is not so concerned with one player on either side of the ball, but is concerned about all of us playing together.”