Want to know why Orangeburg Prep hired Adam Holmes?

He was hired because, Wednesday night, he said he would sleep well and Thomas Plumb said he would barely sleep at all. On the eve of the Indians’ football season opener -- Holmes’ first game as a head coach -- the former South Carolina Gamecocks’ longsnapper was satisfied that he had done everything he could to get his team ready for perennial SCISA 3-A power Augusta Christian. Plumb, the Indians’ quarterback, couldn’t sleep because he was excited about what Thursday night’s 8 p.m. game against last year’s state champion runner-up at SCSU’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium would bring.

It was the direct result of the teacher-pupil relationship the pair developed over the summer. Gone are the days of the Wing-T at OPS. In are the days of the spread formation.

“Hours ...,” Plumb said. “We spent hours together going over (the offense), watching films and breaking stuff down. It was probably one of the toughest summers I have had.”

Making the change from a deliberate offense like the Indians used in the past to a high octane, aggressive attack of Holmes has been a challenge. But, the coach took a look at Plumb, saw the solid arm and surprisingly good footwork and knew, at least this season, that job wouldn’t be as touchy as it usually is.

“We spent a lot of time together over the spring, just me and him getting on the board and drawing up stuff,” Holmes said. “We had a lot of good times, and we had good times when we went to passing leagues.

“He’s coming along great,” he added. “He is doing a great job. This offense fits him very well. He has good size. He is 6-2, 190 and he is quick, strong and tough. The only question I had was is he mentally prepared? And, he has had his nose in the playbook so I am excited to get to see him play. He is probably one of the best quarterbacks in SCISA.”

So, on the eve of the unveiling of the new Orangeburg Prep Indians, the duo were in two very different places for the exact same reason.

“I love it,” Plumb said of the new offensive approach. “It’s great. We have a chance to get the ball to our wide receivers, and we have a couple good wide receivers with Michael Williamson and A.J. Andrews out there.

“There is definitely going to be more throwing the ball around,” he added. “You are going to see deep passes ... it is going to be great. In the jamboree, you could see there was a huge change. We scored 14 in the first six minutes, and last year we had a touchdown in one half. It’s an offense that is designed to put points on the board.”

As for Augusta Christian, both teacher and pupil admit it’s not the ideal first-game candidate. The Lions have played their fair share of games in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium -- all for SCISA state championships -- and Holmes said they are bringing another good team to Orangeburg.

The teacher has watched the film. The pupil has heard the talk.

“I am ready,” Plumb said. “I am ready for them. They have been trash talking and saying they blew us out, but they are going to see a new OP. We are going to come out and show everybody we can contend for the state title.

“Definitely, definitely, definitely ... they do have the room to talk,” he continued. “But, just the way they look at us. They look at us like we are a 1-A school. They think they are going to come run over us like a 1-A school, but we have improved over last year, and I am looking forward to showing them that.” 

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com.

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