Travis County, located in south central Texas, is a part of the Greater Austin (otherwise knowns as the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan) Area. With a population of roughly 1.2 million, Travis county is the 5th most populous county in Texas. The county is named after William Barrett Travis, who died at the battle of the Alamo while commanding the Republic of Texas’ soldiers. He fought alongside James Bowie and Davy Crockett. Travis authored the famous “Victory or Death” letter:
“Fellow citizens and compatriots;
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. VICTORY or DEATH (29).”
-William Barret Travis
Carrying on the tradition of that never surrender mindset of its namesake is the Lake Travis high school football team. The “Cavaliers” were the first Texas high school football team to win five consecutive state titles. Remarkably, the 2004-2005 season, at 8-3, was their first winning team in quite a while. After an 0-10 season in 2002, Lake Travis began to build a tremendous football culture, winning its first ever football state championship just five years later. From 2007 to present day 2018, the Cavaliers have now won 6 Texas high school football State Championships. Since 2007, they have appeared in the State Championship game eight times, have been ranked in the top 20 nationally five times, and have been ranked number 1 or 2 in the state of Texas five times.
In 2008, current coach Hank Carter came to Lake Travis as the defensive coordinator with then head coach Chad Morris, who has now moved on to helm SMU, and now Arkansas. Since 2006, Lake Travis has had a streak of 8 consecutive starting quarterbacks going on to play Division I. In 2010, when Carter took over, he looked to continue both the teams state championship streak and the quarterback streak, with former Heisman Trophy winner and current Cleveland Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
For as much as their teams have been offensive powerhouses, with future Division I quarterbacks, and record setting seasons, it has been their defenses that have played a significant role in the programs continued success. During their state championship seasons, they have held their opponents to just under 234 points against PER SEASON/14.6 points per game over 16 games.
Lake Travis Football Overview
| Season | Record | Points For | Points Against | Result |
| 2018 | 13-2 | 646 | 320 | |
| 2017 | 13-3 | 693 | 357 | 6A State Finalist |
| 2016 | 15-1 | 830 | 201 | 6A State Champions (Ranked #5 Nationally; #1 in Texas) |
| 2015 | 15-1 | 770 | 215 | 6A State Finalist (#15 Nationally; #2 in Texas) |
| 2014 | 10-2 | 596 | 175 | District Champions |
| 2013 | 12-2 | 560 | 200 | Regional Champions |
| 2012 | 9-2 | 354 | 159 | District Champions |
| 2011 | 16-0 | 725 | 232 | 4A State Champions (#6 Nationally; #1 in Texas) |
| 2010 | 14-2 | 590 | 268 | 4A State Champions (#47 Nationally) |
| 2009 | 16-0 | 761 | 227 | 4A State Champions (# 20 Nationally; #2 in Texas) |
| 2008 | 16-0 | 784 | 256 | 4A State Champions (#16 Nationally; #2 in Texas) |
| 2007 | 15-1 | 608 | 349 | 4A State Champions |
| 2006 | 8-3 | 339 | 230 | District Champions |
| 2005 | 11-1 | 474 | 212 | District Champions |
| 2004 | 8-3 | 420 | 233 | District Champions |
| 2003 | 3-7 | NA | NA | |
| 2002 | 0-10 | NA | NA |
Hungry
The one word that Coach Carter would use to describe the Lake Travis football team. Carter shares “We want to accomplish our goals. We haven’t won state championship in largest conference. We have had such high level of success. Most of the athletic programs here are very successful. The kids trust the school, the coaches, the administration.
The community has gone over a complete makeover over past 10-15 years. Just in area alone. We now have the small towns of Lakeway, Bee Cave, and Briar Cliff that feed one high school. There has been a tremendous growth of people that has moved into this part of the country. We have over 2700 students at school compared to just 1700 in 2008. We are growing very fast and have become a much more affluent area. The average home price is around $475k.
The school system has attracted younger families to this area. People are hungry to see their kids go on and accomplish great things. There is a mix of everything; former professional and collegiate athletes in this area. The area is filled with high performers. If you are going to live in Austin, Lake Travis and Westlake are the two areas of choice. Garrett Gilbert’s dad played in the NFL. His son was best player I have ever seen in my life.
I have coached in just about every area of Texas. I have been in diverse economic areas. When we came here, I feared kids didn’t have the toughness because they were from such successful family backgrounds. These kids are very focused on accomplishing goals. Football here is competing for the State Championship. The expectations are set at home. The kids and families come here expecting to compete for a state championship each year.
When we struggle is with the kids at home. The parents lay the foundation for these kids. The expectations need to be the same as ours. Many of these parents get the kids to buy in and set the standards for themselves. These are the high achievers, the high performers” shares Carter.
Goal Setting
According to coach Carter “Goal setting is done with the team. We never want to lie to the kids. Fake enthusiasm does not work. One of these years we may have a group of young men that may have enough talent to win a state championship, and we will be honest with them. But, fortunately, we have not seen that yet.
Each year we are legitimate contenders for the State Championship. We went 10-2 last year and feel terrible about it. Not because we lost in the 2nd round, but because we did not reach our full potential. Whatever you do in life, it is about making the most of what you are given.
We also have our leadership council. This is not about me, this about you guys. I have already had my junior and senior year in high school. This is about you, your team, your goals. This gives them ownership and pride in doing what it takes to achieve their goals.”
Developing Culture
“We partner with the LTYA (Lake Travis Youth Association). Kids start playing tackle in 2nd or 3rd grade. They encourage our coaches to do clinics and come and meet with dads and youth coaches. Together, we try to develop a vertically aligned curriculum. We make sure the terminology and themes are the same. We want kids to learn fundamentals, systems, teamwork, and to get to know the coaches. We want coaches to develop relationship with the younger kids and we want coaches to be involved in the programs. Parents nowadays are scared about the things they are hearing about concussions. Overall participation in football grew exponentially for about 4-5 years” shares Carter.
Overcoming Laziness and Entitlement
“If they are with us, they are working their tails off year round. There are 3 weeks in summer that we cannot work with them. We work with them throughout the school year. Our strength and conditioning program is year round. We work a ton on nutrition. Our guys are ripped. Rarely do we have really big kids, but we have a lot of kids with a great level of fitness. We want the kids to enjoy going to work, working out, training, and improving every day.
How do we keep our kids hungry? We want them to take everything personal. Don’t let the guy next to you down. He has your back and you have to have his. After season was over in 08, after injuries, we were not a state championship team. You never know the 2-3 plays that are going to make a difference. Make sure they all matter. We want our guys to take every play, every practice, every game, and every season personal. This develops a certain grittiness in these kids. A lot of our guys want to go to the IVY league and need football to get there. They realize the work it takes to get there and take it personal and go out and do it” expresses Carter.
Reinforcing Expectations
“I would say this, let’s say we had spring practice this morning. I have a standard for how we are supposed to run this play. We start talking about and addressing things that are not up to that standard. We as coaches, and me in particular, always need to find ways we can praise kids more. Sometimes a coach cannot get the kids attention until you jump all over them.
We want to be demanding but not demeaning. There is no bad language. You want to push, but not demean. You want the kids to learn how to fail so they can learn to pick themselves back up and overcome the failure. Failing should not define you, but it is something that develops you. We believe in letting kids fail as long as they learn from that.
I remember after I watched Top Gun in 1986, I wanted to become a fighter pilot. After learning how long it took, I went back to be coach. I absolutely love and appreciate the opportunity of being a leader of young people.
I am very fortunate to have been coached by Chad Morris. My dad was also a coach. They both were so different. It was a godsend to have both men in my life. Coach Morris could be president today and think he was not accomplishing enough. My dad is the transportation director of town. He is the pied piper of school bus drivers. Kids absolutely love him” shares the coach.
Motivational Tools
According to Carter “Whenever you fall short of your goal, that is easy motivation. We self-reflect and recognize that we didn’t do good enough job coaching or teaching coaches when we don’t reach our goals. We let our kids down. Win try to win a state championship every game. As a defensive guy, if we give up 10 points or more per game, he gets mad.
The players get it. We can always be hungrier. We put a star on the L, right now we have five stars down the L for our state titles, and want to put a star on the T.
When we came here, my wife and I did not have children yet. I am a much different coach now that we have kids. I am completely distracted by family. I am constantly being pulled in that direction as I want to spend as much time with my wife and kids as I can. I came a blue collar town called Stephenville. It is your country town cowboy capital of world. We were a little nervous moving out here as how are you going to deal with a completely different economic and cultural area?
Now that we have our own kids, I have a much different perspective of other people’s kids. My approach now is to coach this boy like you want your boy to be coached.”
Game Day
Carter shares “Friday afternoon at Lake Travis. Game day is a spectacle. We do not have anywhere near enough parking. When we are playing a rival, this place is a mad house. Tailgating starts at 3:00pm, as soon as school gets out.
The kids dress about 150 yards from the stadium. That 150 yards is known as the Cavalier walk. Youth football kids and cheerleaders there cheering on. The stadium seats about 7500 people. We take pride in the fact that we never lose a kid from football once they have been able to go through this atmosphere as a player. Football is important here.
As a high school player, I never made the playoffs in any sport. But I do realize there is a lot of work, a lot of pressure on these guys. I think putting pressure on people is realistic. It creates obstacles, challenges, and adversities for them to overcome and grow.
The older athletes always come back. This makes any coach feel great. The kids come home on Christmas or spring break. Often times 20 of them in office spending time with us, talking, catching up on life. This means everything to me. This is also great for the other kids to see. When your kids continue to text you and want to see you when in town, that is an incredible thing. Hopefully, I jokingly tell these kids that over spring break, they would go to the beach for 5 days instead.”
Team First Mentality
“We have two positions we struggle with. Defensive back and offensive line. For one thing, in an affluent area, I have noticed the kids are healthy. We don’t have a lot of 280 pounders. We have a lot of flat bellied athletes. 7 on 7 is huge here. Will have 35 teams from Lake Travis. When have to take a kid from that atmosphere, and tell him he is moving to O line, this can be challenging.
O lineman are often our strongest character kids. But, playing O line is a tough sell. We run a high tempo offense. It is a tough sell to play O line in a high tempo offense. It gives them an opportunity to be a piece of the puzzle. They are giving themselves over to coaching staff and team, to serve a specific role on team. These kids have the ultimate team first mentality.
We deal with the same things with our skill guys. 95% of the guys want to play wide receiver whereas the other 5% want to play d- back. Playing D-back is a selfless, team first thing here. If you work hard and are willing to sacrifice for the team, you can earn a spot on the field” shares Carter.
Leadership
“Our Leadership committee is voted on by peers” shares Carter, “Current juniors will have largest representation and then down through freshman. The committee has direct communication with coaching staff. We meet every Wednesday.
We talk about leadership all the time. We tell and show them what we need to see. We are very specific. Through this our goal is for the coaches to know the pulse of the kids all the time.
Allowing the kids to get to know you, and vice versa, is also very important. As a coach we have to find ways to stay connected to the kids. The team is like a family. The head coach is like the Dad and the assistant coaches are like uncles. The coaching staff is constantly trying to help and guide the kids in school, sport, and life.
The first step in the position coach. This the smaller family unit. Safeties are with safety coach more than anyone else. Running backs are with the running backs coach, etc. The Head coach does not get on kid if he is 1 minute late to a drill. That is assistant coach’s job. Anything off the field, the Head coach gets involved. There are consequences to poor decisions.
Student body, the stadium, is packed by the community. The passing of the torch for the kids now. The kids were pretty good before them. These kids have seen kids holding up the trophy in Cowboy Stadium. You get a banner if you win the state championship. You get to put a star on the L or on T. The Parents have bought into and taught the kids about this.”
Values Learned
Carter Expresses “We want the coaches to love the players and guys they are working with. We want the guys to have strong communication and relationships with the assistant coaches. They guys are like bother to the guys.
We want coaches who love what they are doing. This comes back to the fact that we are very blessed and have a lot to be thankful for. We want to make sure we are earning what we are given. In the classroom and on the field.
Hard work is critical. In the weight room, you are counting every single rep for your teammate, encouraging your teammate. Everything we do is fast paced, high tempo. We want guys competing on every play, every practice, and every game.”
As always, thx for reading!
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