Derrick Davis | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta High linebackers coach Ryan Branch speaks during Wednesday’s character education lesson in the football locker room.

VALDOSTA — When thinking of Valdosta High, football is usually the first thing that comes to mind.

With six national championships, 23 state titles and 41 region crowns and 899 all-time wins to their record, it’s not difficult to understand why the Wildcats are synonymous with the gridiron.

And though head coach Alan Rodemaker and his staff eat, sleep and breathe their craft, that’s not the only thing that fuels their passion for Valdosta football. That’s why the character education program has become a priority for the ‘Cats.

“So many people think we at Valdosta, with the winningest high school program in the nation, they think that’s what drives us,” Rodemaker said Wednesday. “Really what drives us, that’s on down the list. What drives us is just improving the Valdosta community by improving these student-athletes one guy at a time.”

The Wildcats began the character education program in 2012, Rodemaker’s third season at Valdosta as the defensive coordinator underneath then-head coach Rance Gillespie.

Once a week throughout the offseason (and occasionally bi-weekly nearing the conclusion of the offseason) the Wildcats meet in the locker room and listen to a member of the coaching staff give a 20-25 minute powerpoint presentation breaking down a chapter from the designated book of the year.

John C. Maxwell has been a recent favorite of the program: Valdosta has used his work each of the last three seasons. Rodemaker said Maxwell’s books are good selections for the program because they are simple to read and simple to understand.

“Talent is Never Enough” was the selection two seasons ago and “Today Matters” was the chosen message last year. The Wildcats meet for character education every Wednesday this offseason, a day where the players don’t have to run or lift, and Rodemaker insists he’s seen progress under the program.

“It’s been excellent for us,” Rodemaker said. “Our kids pay attention. If you go in there, they’re quiet, they pay attention, they’re interested in it…

“I think they’re getting something out of it, because I’ve seen our kids change over six years. We don’t have perfect kids, they make mistakes every single day. But we’ve got a better average kid in our program than we’ve ever had.”

This year’s character education reading has been “Attitude 101” (another Maxwell book).

It’s a perfect moment of synchronicity. The shirts provided to the Wildcats through their partnership with the protein supplement line produced by CytoSport, Muscle Milk Collegiate, have the word ‘ATTITUDE’ plastered across the chest.

“Attitude’s a big deal,” Rodemaker said. “Our Muscle Milk shirt’s have ‘Attitude’ across the front. That’s kind of the thing we talk about all the time, ‘What kind of attitude do you show up every day with?’”

Rodemaker wants his players to think: ‘Am I coachable? Am I humble enough to take coaching and teaching? Am I excited to learn? Am I excited to workout and improve?’ The fiery coach wants his guys to examine exactly what kind of attitude they’re bringing to all parts of their lives socially, academically and athletically. Rodemaker’s philosophy isn’t just limited to the players on his team either, it also applies to the coaches on his staff.

Though Valdosta’s new offensive and defensive coordinators Tucker Pruitt and Adam Carter are undoubtedly great football minds, Rodemaker made sure they were also great people.

“George Bobo, back when I worked for him in the early ’90s, and Rodney Walker, they always hired good people first,” Rodemaker said. “Knowledge of the game, experience and all that, that’s secondary.

“I think you hire good people first who are willing to work. Do that, they’ll always improve… I want coaches that are good people and they care. That’s really, really important.”

Pruitt has already led a chapter breakdown in a character education session and Carter’s turn will come in due time. On Wednesday, it was linebackers coach Ryan Branch leading the discussion.

Along with the “Wildcat Games,” the character education program is yet another device Rodemaker and his staff are using to develop leadership in the Valdosta locker room.

Quarterback Seth Shuman and linebacker Todd Bradley acted as the heart and soul of the ’Cats during their senior year last season. But with the duo moving on to join Gillespie at Georgia Southern, new leaders have had to rise to the top.

Rodemaker believes he’s starting to see the next generation of leaders for the Valdosta football team in a group that includes: Jaelyn Temples, Jared Allen, Aaron Graham, Devonnsha Maxwell, Zach Lloyd, Andrecus Roundtree, Wesley Veal, Jontae Baker and Antwon Kincade.

Veal,and Kincade both earned All-Region 1-6A first-team nods at their respective positions this past season. Baker and Maxwell were named to the All-Region second team.

Rodemaker believes peers have more influence over other players than coaches do, so it’s important for his best players to also be some of his hardest working.

“Our seniors need to be our best leaders, but certainly it goes a long ways when the best players are the best leaders as well,” Rodemaker said. “Because they have the most opportunity to lead. If we have a senior or a starter that’s not doing the right things, they’re still leading, they just don’t know it. They’re leading guys in the wrong direction.”

Derrick Davis is a sports reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times.