“Everybody get MAD!”

Those are the words heard on the field from the head coach as the Akins Football team prepares for another game that week. However, instead of demanding that The Eagles football team players get angry, MAD is an acronym for this seasons team’s slogan “Make A Difference.”

Making a difference is something that Head Football Coach Joey Saxe has always emphasized since he took over as the head coach in 2021. Besides practicing and playing hard on the field, Saxe also wants Akins players to learn to become difference-makers in their school community.

With the new acronym representing the words “Make A Difference,” the Varsity team has begun their season after multiple practices throughout the summer, and the continuous weeks.

With a new season, the football program has experienced multiple changes, including new players, a lack of players to staff a full team, and adjusting to new assistant coaches. While they continue to improve, the athletes and coaches have to adjust to the changes to the program compared to their last season. Working through these changes, the team continues to stay motivated and adjust to the differences.

The most noticed change throughout this season has been the differences in the coaching staff compared this year from last year. These changes have led to differences in numbers with the defense taking several smaller numbers, as well as more successes.

“When you look at the number of missed tackles last year compared to this year, we cut the deficit a lot. Same thing with pre-snap penalties,” Head Coach Joey Saxe said. “They’ve definitely gotten better, bigger, faster, stronger in the weight room. We improved almost 15,000 pounds, within our three lifts.”

Despite having to compete in a district that includes wealthy perennial powerhouse teams like Westlake and Lake Travis — which often compete for state championships — the team works toward success while facing unfair judgment at times.

“We’re in one of the toughest districts in the whole state of Texas, you know, and then being the only you know title one school in that district, we know there are challenges involved with that right,” Saxe said. “With the low income not necessarily having the access to programming but we’ve seen so much growth in the short time that we have (our players). That, man, is life-changing.”

As these numbers continue to improve, Saxe has also changed the goals of the team. The search for wins and numbers has now shifted to measuring success in different ways for the team, both on and off the field.

“You know, once I shifted my mindset from transactional, which is getting them wins, putting up points, you know, getting the most yards out there to more transformational and just trying to change lives through the game of football. I think that’s success right there,” Saxe said.

Student-athletes have also been able to see and participate in these changes, helping their team by changing the ways they communicate and cheer for each other.

“We are communicating more, cheering, and helping the team from the sideline. We are working towards keeping a positive attitude towards each other and the opposing team,” senior Julio Menchaca said.

While shifting the focus and wanting to gain success for their team, Saxe has constantly strived to make his student-athletes better students, and goals that don’t just include football.

“I think success really comes from, at the end of the day, are (our players) ready to go out into the world and become, you know, better students, better employees, better husbands, better fathers,” Saxe said. “Once I can see that I can say “yes” to each one (the players) as (they) leave here. We know we’re being successful.”

The football team have learned to celebrate successes in different ways, rather than just cheering for scores. They have learned to celebrate each other and their achievements.

“Everybody doing their assignments and holding their own are definitely some achievements worth celebrating for us considering we have a pretty young team,” senior Matthew Ybarra said.

While discussing the success he has experienced watching his students succeed, the program has allowed students to improve as scholars, and are not just judged by the scoreboard. Akins coaches continue to push and support players so they never consider giving up.

“It’s been four years of just work, work, work, and it’s just like man, People don’t see that in the stands, right? You know how resilient (the players are),” Saxe said. “Throughout the entire week no matter what happens like on Fridays we all just come together and we just represent our school we play to the best of our abilities. You put a blanket over that scoreboard sometimes and you just play for all four quarters.”

Another challenge players face is sometimes being forced to play different positions because of the team’s low number of players. However, new leaders are still emerging, and embracing the focus on personal development and successes. Saxe said he strives for less judgment and more pride.

“We wish people respected (the team) more because (the players) do so much great stuff. And, you know, sometimes when you look at the win-loss column, you’re judged by that, but that’s the furthest from the truth,” Saxe said. “You know, we have so much good going on here.”

JP Lopez and Andrew Copeland contributed to this story