By Rex Kirts
Alex Sarpa led South on defense last year, so it was natural that new coach Kirk Kennedy build the defense around him this year.
It was a plan that'w worked . Sarpa, 6-2, 218-pound senior linebacker and captain, is tied with sophomore safety Nolan Rogers in team defensive points after the first two games.
The plan has worked for Sarpa because he was one of the leaders in off-season workouts, and he bought into Kennedy's way of doing things when Kennedy took over the program in April.
Alex Sarpa led South on defense last year, so it was natural that new coach Kirk Kennedy build the defense around him this year.
It was a plan that'w worked . Sarpa, 6-2, 218-pound senior linebacker and captain, is tied with sophomore safety Nolan Rogers in team defensive points after the first two games.
The plan has worked for Sarpa because he was one of the leaders in off-season workouts, and he bought into Kennedy's way of doing things when Kennedy took over the program in April.
Alex Sarpa
"Alex accepted the change and handled the transition very well," Kennedy said. "He has a pretty good work ethic and is a high character guy. And he's a pleasure to coach."
"I LOVE HIS STYLE," Sarpa said of the new coach. "It's been a lot of change, but in the long run I have no doubt he'll be successful."
There has been no scoreboard success thus far as the Panthers have lost their first two games, to Bedford North Lawrence and Martinsville. Conference Indiana play begins Friday against Franklin Central (1-1) at Fred Huff Field.
Trying to get instant improvement this week, Kennedy is tweaking the defense a little. Sarpa may see time at "will" (weak side outside) linebacker for Derek Murphy instead of in the middle at "mike," with sophomore Clayton Fiddler taking over in the middle. And Sarpa play left guard on offense because center Jarred Mason is out. Tony Albanese will move over to center.
This has been a tough physical weak at practice. It began Monday with on-field blocking and tackling drills instead of classroom teaching. The Panthers went at it hard, and not just on Monday.
"I liked it," Sarpa said of the Monday changeup. "The nutcracker drills. We worked on blitzing. I think the guys liked this better than the meeting."
THE SQUAD is thinned down in numbers considerably from previous years. With a couple on the sidelines, there were 37 actually pounding pads Tuesday. A nickname has been acquired, "The Dirty Thirty."
Most of the missing players weeded themselves out. Those are the ones who didn't participate in off-season workouts. Those were the ones, Sarpa said, who had excuses.
"Building a program doesn't happen over night," Sarpa said. "Most of those who didn't work out in the winter didn't come out or quit after a couple of practices."
Kennedy requires dedicated workers. That's how he built the powerhouse at Lowell, coaching with people like Sarpa who put out the effort.
"We're 0-2 because we're not executing," Sarpa said. "We're not consistent. A couple of spots we've done real well, but we're not consistent.
"I THOUGHT I played real well the first game, the second game not as well. I played better in the second half (against Martinsville).
"I think I've been too worried about where everyone was lined up. I shouldn't think - I should just go."
Sarpa likes the contact part of football. "I like getting the bruises," he smiled. "I love making the big plays, love that feeling. It's great."
Asked if the Panthers can bounce back from the whipping at Martinsville, he said, "Yes. I think this is going to be the week. Monday's practice was good - it woke everybody up."
Sarpa isn't sure where he'll attend college next year, but he does know he's going into medicine and wants to be an orthopedic surgeon. His father, J.R., is a surgeon. A 3.9 student, Sarpa enjoys wake boarding on Lake Lemon and the family time his mom, Mary, organizes.
