By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Let’s just get this out of the way: The upcoming season will be different for Eastern Alamance.
The Eagles will be playing under a new coach for the first time in more than three decades.
But many parts of the tradition of winning that were established under retired coach John Kirby are worth maintaining.
That’s what the Eagles will be striving to achieve.
“Keep that legacy,” senior running back Tyrek Samuel said.
Mitch Mitchener is the new coach, arriving after holding a staff position at Western Alamance, his alma mater and an in-county rival. He’s set to embark on his first season as a head coach, and he’s aware of the reputation that blossomed in Mebane under Kirby.
“A legend in Alamance County,” Mitchener said.
See separate story on Mitchener’s connections to local football programs and coaches: https://alamancenews.com/eastern-coach-mitcheners-ties-spread-around-county/
This can all be a good thing as Eastern steps into a new era.
“There’s a big sense of pride in the Mebane community about Eagle football,” Mitchener said.
There have been 19 consecutive winning seasons for the Eagles. Fourteen of those included double-digit win totals.
The coaching staff has been overhauled to a degree, though J.T. Kirby, son of the former coach, remains on the staff and is a bridge to the past. The Eagles also had a senior class last year rich with talent.
“It’s almost like a whole new group,” Samuel said.
That comes on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The Eagles had a stream of offensive linemen who helped make the offense flow. Plus, then-senior Payton Wright was the Central 3-A Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
This means senior linebackers Zephaniah Gattis and Coty Chambliss will be counted on for significant contributions.
The offense has Samuel as a headliner, but many of the experienced players that had been around him used up their eligibility last season.
Samuel, who has been contacted by several Division I college teams from power conferences, said he could expand his role and even play snaps at receiver.
In the past two seasons combined, Samuel has scored 43 touchdowns and rushed for almost 2,700 yards.
“Having had to coach against him and game plan against him, I’m very glad to have him on our side,” Mitchener said.
Senior Gavin Matthews and junior Zack Merchel have been vying for the quarterback position, which is vacant after Jason Ball spent the past two seasons as the starter.
The transition under a new coach is bound to receive attention.
But Samuel said there doesn’t need to be a drop-off. Sure, it has been different under Mitchener, but there might be familiar elements.
“He knows what he wants in a football team and holds a high standard,” Samuel said.
For Eastern players, it’s a chance to prove themselves and create more special times on Friday nights even as the personnel on the sideline might look different.
“We’ve been waiting all summer and (we’re) ready to get to it,” senior safety Deshan Hairston said.
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