Changing the culture

By Rex Kirts

Changing the culture can cause culture shock.
South's small football team, small in numbers and in size, is learning what new coach Kirk Kennedy meant when he said a few months ago that he would have to change the culture of the football program. He wasn't just talking football, he was talking everything off the field, too.
On the field is where the Panthers began to feel it the most when two-a-day practices began Monday. With the season rapidly approachng, it was ratchet-up time.
It was demanding, and the response was less than desired. But the Panthers are starting to learn what it takes to play the kind of winning football Kennedy produced at Lowell.
THERE WAS EVIDENCE the Panthers left some of themselves on the practice field - they walked slowly and silently back to the locker room after the second of the two-a-days. They were spent.
But Kennedy wants more effort. The situation he inherited wasn't the greatest in terms of numbers - there were 47 on the field, so it's a good bet there will be numerous two-way starters. And this is the smallest team size-wise at South since about 1973 or 74.
Thus, to win will require the utmost in effort from the talent available.
There has been concern by the coaches about too much of a passive attitude. A few "junk yard dogs" have to be found somewhere.
"It does not take talent to hustle," Kennedy has said more than once. "We are changing the culture. We are changing the Xs and Os and going from a pass-blocking team to a run-blocking team. Right now we are struggling, but we expected that."
One thing Kennedy is big on is accountability - he doesn't tolerate mistakes. When mistakes occur there are up-downs for the offending unit.
"Fifty up-downs," senior fullback-outside linebacker Jon Campbell said of the night's tally as he walked off the field Monday.
KENNEDY IS HOPING the current group can toughen up and re-establish the program. "I told them before practice today that for a 5A school with a rostser of 50 . . . these kids in the locker room can change that and get us out of this mess. We've got a whole lot of work to do and not much time to do it."
Kennedy added that the players he's got are the ones with the courage to be there and be the kind of players who can make the program the kind the community wants.
The program took a few hits during the summer. Starting quarterback Joey Forney decided not to play his senior season, as did senior starting outside linebacker Drew Volz, who was going to have a shot at the running back job. Volz fought through a stress fracture in his back to win the state pole vault championship in the spring.
Senior starting defensive tackle Colton Dixon had knee surgery in the spring and has not been out. Sophomore Landon Mason, who might have had a chance to start at fullback or in the line, is out with a stress fracture in his back.
There are others who might have played a lot but didn't make it through Kennedy's summer conditioning program.
JUNIOR MICHAEL BOWER will probably start in Forney's place at quarterback and maybe start at safety, too. Bower is taller and stronger this year and fits the mold of a running quarterback in the new run-oriented offense.
One asset for the Panthers is some quality at running back. Seniors Keith Bunton and Derek Murphy, junior Trae Washington and sophomore Nolan Rogers have good quickness, and senior Jon Campbell has fullback potential. Washington can also play wide receiver.
Possible two-way starters include Bower, senior Jarred Mason at center and defensive tackle, senior Alex Sarpa at guard and inside linebacker, seniors David Tiwari and Reilly Flynn at at offensive and defensive tackle, Murphy at outside linebackr as well as running back and Campbell at fullback and outside linebacker. Senior Gabe Hull has worked at tight end and defensive end and senior Zach Bonnell at guard and defensive tackle.
Junior Drew Barlow will place kick and may punt, also.
The Purple and White scrimmage will be Saturday at 7 p.m. That is also the second annual Alumni Day. The Panthers scrimmage Center Grove at home Aug. 13 and host Bedford North Lawrence in the season opener Aug. 20.