Confidence will grow, Flynn believes

By Rex Kirts

Confidence is not strictly a measurable quality, but it can show up on the scoreboard. It can be seen and even felt.
For the first three quarters of South's season-opening football game against Bedford North Lawrence the Panthers had no explosivenes. It was their first game under a new coach, with a new offense and new defense.
"I think it was the confidence," senior two-way tackle and captain Reilly Flynn said. The absence of confidence, he meant.

Reilly Flynn

"We weren't totally sure what to expect. We knew we'd fight - we've just got to do it sooner in the game."
The Panthers fell behind 21-7 early in the fourth quarter. A furious rally tied the game at 21 and sent it into overtime, where South lost 29-27 at Fred Huff Field.
THE DRIVE THAT MADE it 21-14 was a thing of beauty because South, playing with fire and passion and a sense of urgency, needed to snap out of its lethargy. If the Panthers are to have success this season, that drive will be remembered as the start of it.
"We're disappointed in the result," Flynn said, "but we came back and fought hard. The coaches said that showed a lot of character.
"We never said anything (down 21-7). We just knew we had to get some momentum."
Ol' Momentum is a fickle master. It's best seized, as Flynn said, early, not when your back is to the wall.
Flynn played offense only last year. In coach Kirk Kennedy's new regime, players are asked to contribute more, especially those with more ability.
Flynn counts as one with more ability. The 6-5, 265-pounder is not the fastest person in the 40-yard dash at 5.4, but offensive linemen don't need to be fast in the 40. They need to have quick feet, and Flynn has quick feet. He's real agile and light-footed when running rope and cone drills.
"I think Reilly bought into the changes from the beginning," said Kennedy, who established a run-oriented offense in place of the spread. "He's a good ambassador for what we're trying to do.
"He's a captain, and that shows his leadership. He's very polite and respectful, a pleasure to coach."
FLYNN'S LEADERSHIP emerged during the summer as a couple of players-only meetings because the coaches got to practice. "We said we had to step it up a little bit," he said.
Actually, they had to step it up a lot. Playing for Kennedy requires extra effort, both on and off the field.
"Being (voted) a captain surprised me," Flynn said, "but I'm glad my teammates think of me that way. I try to do the best I can."
He feels he did OK in the opener. "I thought I played pretty well. I had a few errors that cost me. But I'm better than last year."
Kennedy's style fits him.
"When I learned he would be the coach I got excited because I knew he formed that program (at Lowell) in something good," Flynn said. "He knows how to motivate you. He tells you to find your internal motivation.
"His style (of offense and defense) is more hard-nosed. It fits his personality.
"I've become a fan of the power I formation. It's taking it to them (the defense). It's pretty simple, straight forward, with not a lot of schemes."
Flynn also likes the change to playing both ways. "I got kind of excited when I learned that I was getting a chance to play defense," he said. "I played about 10 plays against Bedford."
THE PANTHERS shouldn't have trouble getting excited for their second ball game. It's Friday at old rival Martinsville, which opened with a big win over Terre Haute South. Last year Martinsville beat South at Lucas Oil Stadium.
After high school, Flynn hopes to study forestry or conservation science in college. He's looking at three schools which havae that in in their curriculum, Bowling Green (Ohio), Southern Illinois and Ohio University.
He's also looking forward to competing in the shot put and discus in track in the spring. He went 52-4 in the shot last year and made it to the regional.
And when he isn't playing football or competing in track he might be found at Lake Monroe doing a little fly fishing or hunting and shooting.