Opp coach Jack Whigham said Thursday his team’s “effort” could have been better since fall practice started nine days ago.

“Well, it’s been warm, and I’ve been really disappointed in our effort,” Whigham said. “We’ve got about eight kids on a team of 71 that’s giving outstanding effort every second of every day. And, we’ve got a bunch of kids that are sort of going through the motion.

“Right now, with the way we’re practicing, we won’t win a game on our schedule, with the way we’re practicing right now,” he said. “I feel like it’s my fault as a head coach for allowing it to happen, and we’re going to try to do some things to get some life back into our kids.”

Whigham said steps will be taken to ensure each player on the team knows what they are doing at practice, and what it’s all for.

“I know it’s hot,” he said. “We’re beat up a little bit from being in pads the first four or five days — so is everybody else. Right now, we’ve got to question our character a little bit and our commitment.

“I think we’ll be fine, and I think we’ll get it straightened out,” he said.

In order to question players’ commitment and character, the Bobcats defense and offense will be put in situations where these qualities will be tested, Whigham said.

“For example, putting the defense maybe in a situation where they’ve got to stop somebody from the five-yard line, or putting the offense in a first-and-20 situation instead of a first-and-10 (to score),” he said. “And do we come back from mistakes, or are we going to give up on that series or are we going to punt the ball.”

Whigham said it’s not all “doom and gloom” out on the practice field. There are some bright spots.

He said the running backs (Quadir Kincaid and Richard Davis), two quarterbacks (T.J. Register and Tyler Harrison) and the freshman class have all had a good fall practice.

“I don’t want this to be all doom and gloom,” Whigham said. “If you ask me if the glass is half full or half empty, I’d say it’s half empty right now. We’ve got to get some guys to buy into what we’re doing to have a chance (at being successful this season).”

Opp will play host to Elba Aug. 27 in its first game of the season.