The familiar "Diamond J" logo is still on their helmets and their uniforms haven't changed.
While the Judson Rockets have struggled at times under first-year coach Mark Smith, at least one other thing has remained the same for one of the state's top high school football programs.
"It's real different, but it's really all the same thing," senior safety Tre Flowers said this week after a workout. "It all comes back to winning football games on Friday nights. It's the same principles and everything, just a different teacher."
Smith, who went 93-33 in 10 seasons at Kerrville Tivy and led the Antlers to the Class 4A state semifinals twice, was hired as head coach at Judson in January after Jim Rackley announced his retirement.
Judson, 3-2 after rebounding from an 0-2 start, plays rival Wagner (3-2) in their District 25-5A opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Rutledge Stadium.
"We're still the same Judson," senior running back Jarveon Williams said. "We still have Rocket pride. It's just a new offense and defense, but when it comes down to it, it's just about coming out here every day and working hard."
Smith praised Flowers, who committed to Arizona State this week, and Williams for the leadership they've demonstrated since he took over the program.
"They've been instrumental," Smith said. "Both of those guys are not only great on the athletic end, but in helping with the transition."
Smith: 'The kids want to be successful'
The Rockets opened the season with a 47-13 loss to five-time defending state champion Lake Travis and fell to 2011 state finalist Steele 42-35 the next week.
"We couldn't point the finger at anybody but ourselves," Flowers said. "It was more of a reality check. We had to snap back into reality and get back to work."
Judson has reeled off three consecutive wins since then, beating Churchill (45-24), East Central (28-18) and Corpus Christi Carroll (59-0).
"The kids have been awesome," Smith said. "It's not like this place was broken. The kids want to be successful. Judson has been successful with what they've been doing for a lot of years. I told the kids that the core beliefs and the values of the program aren't changing.
"The only things that have changed are the structure of what we do in workouts, and the schematics and the terminology of what we're doing offensively and defensively. As far as the enthusiasm of the kids and the passion they have for the game, that part hasn't changed."
One of the biggest challenges the Rockets have faced under Smith is adapting to the spread offense he ran with great success at Tivy, where a fellow named Johnny Manziel played quarterback for him and put up staggering numbers.
Long a run-oriented power team offensively, the Rockets have taken to the air this season and used every inch of the field to try to gain an advantage with mismatches.
"It's the new Judson," Flowers said.
But while Judson is throwing the ball with more frequency, it hasn't abandoned its traditionally potent running game by any stretch. Not by a long shot.
Williams started at safety last season
Williams has been so prolific that he already has 1,000 yards -- 1,006, to be exact -- and 13 touchdowns midway through the regular season. What's even more impressive is that Williams has carried the ball only 89 carries, giving him an average of 11.3 yards per attempt.
"He has great vision for what's happening around him," Smith said. "He's a strong kid with great feet. He's able to make cuts and keep his feet in constant motion. He's also strong enough to run through a tackler and has the patience to let things develop."
A unanimous all-district safety last year, Williams got some reps at running back in spring training and moved to the position full time when the Rockets began preseason workouts.
"It was pretty difficult at first because at Judson, we're used to running a power game," said Williams, who is 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds. "We're just scratching the surface right now. We're still working hard to learn the offense."
The latest in a long line of outstanding Judson running backs, Williams said he Rockets' rich tradition drives him on and off the field. Judson has won six state titles, including one by forfeit.
"Before a game, we walk down a hallway where there are pictures of all the state-championship teams on the wall," Williams said. "I look up there and it motivates me to run hard and play with Rocket pride, which all those running backs played with."
Defensively, the Rockets have changed from a 5-2 alignment to a 3-4. Flowers (6-3, 185) is the leader of a unit that improved steadily in the first half of the season.
"He can play a multitude of positions," Smith said. "He can play down in the box as a box safety, he can cover the middle of the field, the deep half of the field, and he can play good man-to-man. For a guy his size, he has great feet."
