Spring Football With The Springdale Bulldogs | Varsity Vibe

Springdale Head Coach Brett Hobbs joins Alyssa Orange to preview spring football with the Bulldogs, what's new with the 2026 team, and the addition of new Offensive Coordinator Eric Munoz. 

Transcript

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I'm your host, Alyssa Orange. Thank you so much for joining us. And we're going to continue it on, talking spring of practice around the state and around our area. And we're going to head over to Springdale because what Brett Hobbs is building right now is something special. And he was really encouraged by the way that his guys played last season. They might not have won a ton of games, but they were always physical and they were always out there giving it their best. And he feels really good about what he's got to build in 2026. He also has a brand new face and offensive coordinator Eric Munoz, who moved over as the head coach from Heritage over to join the Springdale Bulldogs. And that is a fun addition that they're excited to see what he can do with this Bulldogs offense this upcoming year. So I sat down, picked his brain a little bit, and so I hope you enjoy this conversation with Springdale head coach Brett Hobbs. Well, Coach Springball, starting right around the corner. And as you concluded 2025 and headed into 2026, what were some things with the football team at Springdale that you really wanted uh to focus on?

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Yeah, I think um, you know, our our confidence uh amongst our team and everything, and I think that we did build some confidence, especially um, you know, towards the end of the year, uh we're able to um win our our first playoff game in 20 years, uh, which is hard to believe at Springdale High School. Um, but you know, we're we're um you know really happy about that and everything. And I think that gave us some momentum going into offseason and uh you know playing Bentonville in the quarterfinals, which uh a few weeks before that, I mean they absolutely mercy ruled us. And then it was a 10 to 7 game at halftime. Um so our kids really, you know, showed their resiliency and and um you know as we got into the postseason and I think that just kind of carried over to the offseason and um you know gave them some confidence going into uh this upcoming season.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

When you look at what you have coming back and what you can build on, uh what kind of leadership do you have in that locker room that went through that 2025 season?

SPEAKER_00 3:43

Yeah, I think it's always important um, you know, with those guys stepping up this year. Um, we've got some guys that have played a lot of football here at Springdale High School. We've got some three-year starters, so we'll be kind of leaning heavily on them as far as um, you know, their leadership goes. Um, you know, we've got some guys that are returning. We got our entire offensive line coming back. Um, we've got a thousand-yard rusher coming back, so we've got a lot of guys with experience, and um, you know, hopefully uh that experience and that leadership uh will carry over to this upcoming season season and help out the younger guys as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

When we talked back in the fall, I know that there was still kind of a a question mark at quarterback, just in terms of you talk about consistency and like what that was gonna look like uh from each week. Where do you feel like that position is at right now?

SPEAKER_00 4:37

You know, it it's gonna be a great competition uh for sure. We have um you know two seniors, Chandler Moore, uh, who started a game last year. Um he'll be a senior this year, and then Braden Carroll uh transferred in from Rogers Heritage at uh semester. Um so he's been competing as well. He'll also be a senior, and then we have a couple other guys, so Ryan Leiatu, who's who will be a junior. Um, he's 6'5, he's got a lot of uh great upside, and he was an all-conference basketball player for us here. Um but he can also play some different positions as far as tight end wide receiver. He played wide receiver for us last year, and then we also have a freshman who will be a sophomore that just transferred in uh Logan Hart from Bentonville West. So um, you know, this is the deepest our quarterback room has ever been. And um, so we're excited about that because I think it's gonna, you know, really good competition going throughout the spring and into the summer. And I think that's only just gonna help the these uh these quarterbacks and um you know help them by competing.

SPEAKER_01 5:46

Yeah, speaking of the offense, the biggest story of the offseason was bringing over Eric Munoz, who was head coach over at Heritage. You bring him over, he's your offensive coordinator. Uh, why'd you pick up the phone and call Eric? And and what does he do? What does he bring to Springdale?

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Oh, that was an easy one for me. Um Eric and I have been, you know, we've been pretty close since he uh took the Rogers Heritage job. Um he's a Springdale guy, he's from Springdale, he played here. So obviously it means a little bit more to him as well. Um, you know, we had talked, you know, throughout the years because uh we deal with some of the same um, you know, demographics and and similar um, you know, things like that with uh Springdale on Heritage. So we were always kind of close and and talked and everything. And um, you know, when this when Coach Han got the uh head coach head coaching job at Silo, um, you know, Coach Munoz was the first one that I uh reached out to. And, you know, he came over to my house and um we met for, you know, three or four hours and uh kind of talked about things and you know really got the ball rolling after that. Um but as far as what he brings, just bringing another head coach, especially you know, that is coaching the 7A West, um, you know, that's huge for for me and the program. Um but also what he does offensively, you know, um he was pretty innovative over at Heritage because um, you know, he kind of matched what their skill set, what what they could do. So they did some different things, but um, you know, we have kind of the same philosophy as far offensive philosophy. Um we're still gonna run the football, um, you know, without a doubt. But I think with his offense, it allows us to have a little bit more tools in our tool bag as far as um, you know, being able to open it up just a little bit more if we need to. Um, but also it gives us a chance if we want to play fast, we can do that, or if we want to slow down, uh, we can do that as well. So um with his experience and just him being able to focus on the offense, um, I think it's gonna be a tremendous benefit for us.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

So, with that being said, how much focus goes into just implementing, I say, his offense or or putting together what you guys already do and adding what he wants to do and focusing that this spring so that guys can kind of get an idea and a knowledge going of what this offense is gonna look like.

SPEAKER_00 8:17

Yeah, um, you know, and a lot of it is um, you know, similar in ways, but the biggest thing was just kind of the terminology, um, our kids picking that up. But we're lucky to get Coach Munoz over here in a timely fashion. So he's been here almost all semester. Um, so we've been working two days a week uh with the varsity as far as um, you know, meeting with them, um, but then also um getting a little bit of practice time, walkthroughs, uh, things like that. So um, you know, we wanted to get as much as we could or make them feel comfortable going into spring football. Um, so there's not just, you know, we're not just teaching the entire time and trying to learn the offense. I feel like that we have, you know, a pretty good base offense in right now that he wants to install and everything. And of course, we'll add to that um as we go throughout spring and summer. But uh, I've been really pleased as far as um how the players have been uh very receptive to it. Uh they're excited, but also um picking it up really well.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Focused a lot on the offense. What about the defensive side of the ball for you? What does that look like heading into the spring?

SPEAKER_00 9:31

Yeah, I think um, you know, with our defense coordinator, Coach Chick, who has tremendous, you know, he has a lot of experience and success. Um, and then being also in this league um, you know, for a lot of years, uh, he's familiar with the offenses and everything, and he does a great job as far as game planning and putting our kids in in key positions. Um, you know, I'm really excited about our defense because um I think that we're gonna have a really good defensive line this year. Um, we're returning two starters. One of them was a first-team all-conference player, Junior Rodriguez. Um, and so I think up front that's where it kind of starts with us. Um we've got some linebackers that are returning. Um, so with their experience, and then in the back end, um, you know, DJ Manuel, who was a sophomore last year for us at corner, um, you know, I really think that he's gonna end up being one of the best um corners uh in the state.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

When you look at this time of the year, what gets you excited the most about getting back out there on the football field?

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Oh, uh well, just seeing the guys, you know, all the hard work they put in in the offseason as far as in the weight room. You know, they work hard. They're I mean, they're they're getting gains and everything. And what I love seeing is, you know, the improvement of each kid um getting bigger, faster, stronger, and then being able to see that translate onto the field. Um, so we're gonna be able to witness that uh with spring football. And then just really um, you know, that's where I feel best as when we're out on the football field. And uh our kids are uh they've been really excited about it. Um they've been itching to get back out there. And so uh plus in spring ball, we're very physical. I mean, we go live to the ground every single day, full pads. Um and this is the time that you can you can kind of do those things and also um try to get kids out at different positions, you know. Um see where you can find some more depth or uh maybe try them at a different position, um, you know, and see if they can, you know, help out or uh if it's a better fit for them.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

Yeah, yeah. I think the biggest thing with you guys last year was just, you know, bullying people and trying to be as physical as possible a season ago. Do you feel like that can just continue to get better and just continue to be more physical as a football team and make that the identity of Springdale football?

SPEAKER_00 11:57

Yeah, I think it uh it has to be for us. Um you know, the teams that we play, uh we've got to find an advantage somewhere. And we've really kind of taken on the persona of, you know, wanting to be tough. And you know, our our motto is RDT, red dog tough, and our kids have bought into that, and they know it's uh, you know, it's a lifestyle. Um, you can't just turn it on and turn it off and and those type things. So, you know, we want to be physical. Um, and that's what I tell the kids. I just tell them that, you know, Springdale was built on toughness, and you know, we might not have been always uh we might not have always won or been the most successful team, but I promise you every opponent that we played um knew that they played uh the Springdale Bulldogs, and that's what we want to get back to. And I think that we're taking the right, right steps in doing that.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Sure, sure. And a very talented 7A West. Hey, and speaking of, and you mentioned teams that you play in conference, there's a team a couple blocks from you that has now joined the conference and adding Shiloh to the 7A West. Uh how do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_00 13:03

Well, it uh you know, it makes it tougher for the Red Dogs. I know that. Um, obviously, I and then having three Springdale teams in the same in the same conference, I think it's only gonna help the community and the city. Um, you know, really getting people out and um, you know, watching these games. Obviously, bringing Shiloh in, who just won the 6A state championship, uh, it makes your conference that much tougher automatically. And um, so we're not gonna, you know, back down from uh, you know, any any competition or anybody, but um, you know, they are a very good football team. Um, we have a lot of respect for them. And with them just being right down the road, we're very, very familiar with them. Uh, so that just adds another team uh that we'll be excited to play.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Yeah, yeah, it's a fun time with in the 7A West. And lastly, coach, before I let you go, uh if you had to check like three boxes off by the end of spring practice that you want to have accomplished, what would those be?

SPEAKER_00 14:05

Oh, no injuries.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

Yeah, that's a big one.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

That's a big one right there. Um, I think a better understanding of our offense and defensive scheme. And then um, you know, I think just uh, you know, at some position, especially quarterback, um, you know, continue to compete throughout the spring and the summer, but also kind of have uh, you know, maybe being able to see who's who has maybe the upper edge a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Once again, thank you so much for joining us on our episodes of Varsity Vibe. I love that you join in on these conversations because I love having conversations with these coaches and these players and getting to know them and picking their brains and you know, figuring out what spring football is gonna look like because at the end of the day, I know we're all still talking about football, even though it's not necessarily football season. If you've missed any of our other conversations, I encourage you to go watch those or listen to those on our YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts. I also always encourage you to follow us on our social media platforms that is Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook. And of course, you can go and find some of our great content from baseball and softball, soccer, all the sports right now in the spring that are getting closer and closer to that postseason. And while you're at it, sign up for our newsletter at varsityvibearkansal.com. That comes to your inbox twice a week. You get those on Tuesdays and Fridays. Keeps you know in what's going on with high school athletics around the state. Once again, I'm Melissa Orange. Thank you so much for joining us, and I'll see you next time.

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