JT Keith
There are 84 days until Friday night lights come on again in Artesia, when the Class 5A Bulldogs open their season against Carlsbad in Eddy County’s oldest rivalry.
Before that happens, Artesia has work to do. The Bulldogs must come together, replace key all-state talent on both sides of the ball, and develop an identity of their own.
The three biggest keys to this season are not about talent — at least not yet. They are about attitude, hunger, and how a group with plenty of unproven varsity players chooses to respond.
Here are three keys for the Bulldogs if they want to end up where they expect to be.
The Bulldogs are attacking, not defending
When Artesia coach Jeremy Maupin closes the No.1 sign at the Bulldog Bowl. That is the finishing touch on last season; the book on last season needs to stay closed.
There should be no talk from players about defending a state title because that was last year’s team, and that group earned it.
This year’s team has earned nothing yet. It is not defending anything. It is chasing the same championship dream as every other Class 5A team, and it has to approach the season with that mindset.
Own the team
It is fine to honor the teammates who helped win the title last year, but this group cannot spend the fall comparing itself to the last one. Go be you. Be the best version of yourself and let that be enough. If the coaches say you are the guy, then be the guy and play your tail off. As Deion Sanders says, “Be him.”
Remember, you are Artesia
There are rumors around town that this team might not be very good and could go 3-8. Some people have even predicted it.
If you are inside that locker room, that should be insulting — to the players, the coaches, and the town. Sure, it is possible. But this is Artesia. Artesia does not rebuild; it reloads. The “A” means something, and you play in the best stadium in New Mexico: the Bulldog Bowl.
This is not the first Artesia team to come off a state title and get counted out before the season starts, and it will not be the last. That is why there are 33 helmets on the wall at the Bulldog Bowl.
If Artesia handles those three things, the Bulldogs will give themselves a real chance to be the team everyone expects them to be by the time November gets here.
JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061 or on X @JTKEITH1.