First-year Meadowview Christian football coach Kenny Strong and his players are communicating. Maybe not in the same language, but that will come with time.

Strong has compiled a 72-37 football coaching record, leading Deer Creek School in Arcola, Miss., to three straight winning seasons. He also has directed two other Mississippi schools — Strider Academy in Charleston and Yazoo City’s Manchester Academy — to productive years.

“The biggest thing right now is the different language,” Strong said. “They say practice, and you couldn’t use that word in Mississippi. We say workouts.”

Strong, however, said the players are in tune with what he is trying to do.

“At many schools, it might take months before the players realize what the coach is trying to do,” he said. “They bought into my way and my philosophy early on.”

The Trojans began work June 1 in preparation for their Aug. 21 home opener against Tuscaloosa. Wednesday’s workout was rugged because the players had taken a week off for the Fourth of July holiday.

Strong said he was excited about the team’s possibilities.

“It’s true they lost a whole lot of talent last year,” Strong said about the 5-5 team. “But there’s a lot of talent here, and lot of talent in that dressing room.”

Strong said the Trojans will dress about 35 players, “and that’s not seventh-graders.”

“We’ll do better than a lot of people think we will,” Strong said. “If we can get our communication level going good, the line can be aggressive and we keep this enthusiasm, I feel really good about the opportunity to be competitive.”

The Trojans’ greatest asset is their willingness to play hard.

“Their heart, their spirit, that’s the biggest thing they’ve got,” Strong said.