The Pike Liberal Arts Termites begin their 2015 season today on the road against Lee Scott Academy in Auburn. It will be the first game of the year for the Patriots and for many kids on the roster it will be their first experience of playing football.

“We have been teaching fundamentals. We have 15 players on the team that are learning to play football for the first time,” said head coach Kevin Adams. “They have been coming on really strong. I have a few good skill position players and a pretty good offensive line.

The Termites roster is comprised of 20 third- and fourth=graders. Only four of the fourth-graders on the roster have experience playing football.

“They are pumped up and everybody is really excited,” Adams said. “I am sure many of them have butterflies in their stomach for tomorrow night when we take the field for the first time.”

The Termites will travel all year along with the Pee Wee and junior varsity teams.

“It’s awesome, I always tell these guys to take a lot of pride in representing their school,” Adams said. “It’s amazing how excited they are. They are pumped up to wear the Pike jerseys and to represent their school. They take a lot of pride in it.”

With many of the players learning the game of football for the first time, Adams wants to instill in his players the importance of having a good time participating in the sport while at the same time learning key fundamentals.

“The biggest thing for me is making it a fun experience,” Adams said. “You have to have fun and its not fun when you get beat but at the same time at the end of every practice I make sure to ask them if they enjoyed their time. They are all having a blast and I want to make sure that next year they are excited to come back out.”

Safety is another key issue in today’s sport of youth football, and Adams makes sure to express the importance of safety to each one of his players.

“You hear a lot about that on TV. We just have to teach them the correct fundamentals,” Adams said. “I don’t try to scare them. I make sure they don’t tuck their head when they hit. They’re ways that you can tell them to play and protect themselves.

The Termites will hit the field for game one of a triple-header Tuesday night in Auburn. The Termites will kick off at 5 p.m., followed by the Pee Wee team at 6 p.m.; the JV team will conclude the evening with their kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.

“I think we are going to be pretty good. I have my quarterback back but all of my skill players are brand new,” Adams said. “I have good speed a new full back that will come out and hit you. I really think we are going to have a good football team.”

The remaining schedule for the Termites following their matchup with Auburn will be, at Greenville, at Fort Dale Academy, at home against Autauga, at home against Hooper Academy and at Edgewood to close out the season.