The Andalusia Bulldog faithful who are focused on tonight’s game against Munford in Round 3 of the AHSAA state playoffs should wish for one thing. That is that tonight, the Bulldogs sing.

It’s just one of the new traditions instituted by head coach Trent Taylor and the coaching staff designed to instill pride in players. And it’s one that’s caught on.

“We’d really not told the kids about it,” said Taylor, who’s quick to credit his brother, offensive coordinator Ray Wilson, for having a lot to do with the new traditions. Both Taylor and Wilson are former Bulldogs who returned to their alma mater this year.

“I guess we weren’t sure we’d win so early in the season, but after the T.R. Miller game, we were muddy and wet, and we told the kids, ‘We’re going to make this a tradition.’ ”

And that tradition is, that after a win, the Bulldogs sing, “We’ve got that Bulldog spirit down in our hearts” to the tune of the Sunday School favorite, “I’ve Got a Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart.”

At first, the coach said, the kids looked at the coaches as if they might be a little crazy. Now they jump and sing and have fun with it.

“I think it’s caught on,” Taylor said. “I’ve even heard one or two of them say on the sidelines when we’re ahead, ‘We’re gonna sing tonight.’ ”

The Bulldogs also have a new creed.

“We talked about it back in May and June,” Taylor said. “Every major college has got one. Kudos really go to Ray for creating this one that’s uniquely ours. I would find things and he would find things. We talked about it, and then put it all together.”

A refrain in the creed  is “That’s why we’re Bulldogs.” It’s become the team slogan.

“We gave everybody a copy back in August, and went over it with them,” Taylor said. “We have it posted in the athletic facility as a constant reminder.”

The team also has a new “A” logo.

“We wanted to brand ourselves. Coaches are constantly stealing ideas, and our logo is just like Arizona,” he said of the “A.” “Andalusia starts with an A and ends with an A, so it works.”

Early on, the logo, and each player’s name and number was put on his locker.

“Let’s face it,” Taylor said. “Ninety-eight percent of our players will never play football again after high school. We want to make the experience as unique as it can possibly be.”

Crowd support has increased as the season progressed, he said.

“At the beginning, it was kind of like they were watching a tennis match – polite clapping,” he said. “It’s been fun to see the fans get excited and make some noise.”

Tonight’s appearance in the third round is the Bulldogs’ first trip this deep into playoffs since 2007. But the coach was a Bulldog during a storied time for the team, playing for coach Don Sharpe. Asked if the things he’s tried to instill date back to that time, Taylor said coaches are always shaped by their mentors.

“We certainly had a sense of pride then,” he said. “It was something we constantly talked about. Class, character, and pride.”

Sharpe visited once in the spring, and came to the UMS Wright game, the only blot on this year’s season.

“He’s not invited back,” Taylor quipped. If the Bulldogs win tonight, they’ll host the winner of the UMS-Wright vs. Leeds game. In other words, it could be a rematch.

“Well, if we make it that far, he can come back after next week,” Taylor joked.

Taylor said there are many more things he hopes to implement in coming years, but he’s pleased with the start. The team, he said, has done a great job adjusting.

“They’ve put in anything we asked them to do, and it all fell into place at the right time,” Taylor said. “And we have to believe the good Lord is watching over the whole deal.”