Vidalia High School football coach Dee Faircloth is back in his element, and at Wednesday’s afternoon practice, the excitement could be seen on his face.

Faircloth looked on with a smile as Vidalia went through its third practice of the spring.
The Vikings had more than 60 players at the session as Vidalia eyes to make the transition from LHSAA Class 3A down to the 2A level.

Faircloth said the new classification plays right into his squad’s hands as they aim to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2004 campaign.

“I told (former VHS head coach) Jeff Hancock when that happened that he’s got the best schedule Vidalia has had in 10 years,” Faircloth said of the new alignment. “We’ve been 3A, and it’s a numbers game. We were at the bottom of 3A (numbers wise), and were playing schools with 200 more kids.”

Hancock, who coached Vidalia from the 2014-16 seasons, left for an assistant coaching position at McMurry University this past winter.

Faircloth was named his successor in March. He had previously coached the Vikings for more than four decades before resigning in 2009 to deal with a bout of cancer.

“When Jeff left, there was a lot of people that told me, ‘Coach, you need to get back up there,’” Faircloth said.

The grizzled coach said several changes are coming in his second stint, including uniform alterations and a more enhanced junior varsity football schedule.

“We’re going back to our blue jerseys and blue pants for home games,” Faircloth said. “And we’re going to back our horns (on the side of the helmets). We’re going back to the old ways, and hopefully we’ll win some ball games.”
Faircloth said the current goal is implementing an offensive and defensive system as the Vikings prepare for a May 20 home exhibition against False River Academy.
“(Offensive coordinator) Mike Norris has installed a lot of new stuff on offense,” Faircloth said. “(Defensive coordinator) Rob Faircloth has installed some new things. We have an excellent overall staff.”

Vidalia’s spring game against FRA will kickoff at 6 p.m.

“They are ready to go,” Faircloth said of his squad. “We’ve got good kids, and they work hard.”