Saturday morning practice in pads? Oh yes!

By Rex Kirts

On Friday night quarterback Michael Bower proved he was a hockey player. On Saturday morning, he learned he was still a football player.
The Panthers had practice in pads.
Following the 22-12 loss to Perry Meridian Friday, in which the Panthers accomplished very little offensively, on the ground or in the air, after taking a quick 12-0 lead, coach Kirk Kennedy suited 'em up.
"I think we got here before the sun came up," said Bower of the a.m. party.
"We got intimate with the blocking sled, and the ground," Kennedy grinned.
It wasn't a knockdown brawl like Monday's practice, but it had a message. It said there is no give up in Kennedy's approach to becoming better players and a team. He is not giving up on the players, and he won't compromise his coaching methods.
THERE WAS NO WHINING by the players when they learned the pads were going on instead of the usual film watching. "I told them if they whined it would only get worse," Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he had to change the football culture at South, and he's definitely doing that.
This wasn't the first time he's put the pads on Saturday morning.
"I've done it three or four times (at Lowell)," he said. "I did it in 2005, and it was the turnaround to our season."
Lowell started 1-3 in 2005 when the Saturday drills were used. Lowell lost the next game but won the rest to win the state championship.
Right now the state championship isn't even a speck on the distant visual horizon for the Panthers, who have started 0-3 for the first time since 1975. After the quick start against Franklin Central, who gave up two easy scores on fumbles, they simply could not move the ball. The defense played well at times, but the offense managed only 98 total yards and six first downs.
Tailback Keith Bunton ran 16 yards for the first touchdown, and Jon Campbell plucked a fumble out of the air and returned it 43 yards for the second. With 7:13 left in the first quarter South led 12-0.
THE TURNING POINT came late in the second quarter when Franklin Central, which had done little offensively, got its passing game going and went 80 yards in 2 1/2 minutes to score and make it 12-7 at halftime.
After that all the momentum belonged to the visitors. And South continued its slide at home, where it is winless for the second straight year.
Injuries, especially on the offensive line, are hurting a team already short on numbers. Center Jarred Mason missed the game, and his backup, Tony Albanese, sprained an ankle during the game. David Tiwari moved to center with Kyle Franklin taking over at guard.
Bower, a junior and captain, missed part of the game when he suffered a cut on his left, non-throwing, hand and got eight stitches at halftime. He played the second half with a glove on.
"I asked a trainer if we couldn't just wrap it up," Bower smiled. "Nooo."
Speaking of the Satrday pads practice, Bower said, "It's something different. I hope we can regroup and be resilient, get ready for North."
South resumes Conference Indiana action Friday at North, which lost 27-24 to Columbus North on the last play of the game. North is 2-1.
KENNEDY QUOTES ON THE FRANKLIN CENTRAL GAME:
"They gift-wrapped us 12 points, but our offense didn't do much all night. Our offense was kind of dormant; credit Franklin Central."
"I don't know if we tightened up (on FC's 80-yard drive before the half). We lack confidence. We're so fragile mentally right now. We're not good at maintaining momentum or taking momentum from our opponents."
"Franklin Central didn't panic. That shows you don't need trickery and fancy stuff to win football games."