'We control our own destiny'

By Rex Kirts

Kirk Kennedy does not waver in his belief. Regardless of the opponent, South's destiny is up to South.
Friday's opponent is city rival North, whose destiny has been to win two of three games this season, its only loss coming last week on the last play of the game in the Conference Indiana opener against unbeaten Columbus North.
South hasn't fared so well. It heads into Friday's game at North with an 0-3 record, its first 0-3 start since 1975.
Kennedy's answer to the dilemma was to send the Panthers through a rugged week of practice. It included a practice in pads at 7 a.m. on Saturday, after they lost a 12-0 lead the previous night in a 22-12 loss to Franklin Central. The week also included a lengthy hitting session on Monday and a long, very long, practice on Tuesday.
JUST WORKING ON blocking and tackling, Kennedy said, the things that are getting them beat.
"Right now it's not fun to be a Bloomington South football player," Kennedy said. "We've just got to keep plugging away. We control our own destiny.
"The big change we need to make is in our thinking. I refuse to believe we're not good football players."
Kennedy wasn't too thrilled about a lot of things the past week, but he was pleased to see practice improve considerably on Wednesday.
It is always the goal of coaches to improve each game, and South has struggled thus far. Basic things were lacking against Franklin Central.
"We didn't do ouir bread and butter stuff at all," Kennedy said. The defense did some good things, but the offense managed only six first downs. And rare is the defense that doesn't falter when it's on the field all the time.
"WE'VE GOT TO LINE UP and do what our opponent expects, and you do it anyway. You've got to out-execute and out-hit 'em," Kennedy said. "You can always hustle, always give a great effort and always believe in what you're doing."
He sees the day when all the hard work produces more positive results. "It's not defined by ifs, it's when," he said. "We're trying things. We're going to keep trying things."
Injuries have hit the offensive line, but some of the stress there will be relieved this week with the return of senior center Jarred Mason. That will enable David Tiwari to return to guard.
This year the city teams are similar.
"Yes, scheme-wise and philosophy-wise we are," Kennedy said. "Right now they have more weapons than we do and are executing better. They're playing with a lot more confidence and faster than us.
"We are our own worst enemy, and that affects you on all levels. We have good football players on this team, and the main people stopping us is us."
SOUTH'S DEFENSE will focus on stopping tailback D'Angelo Roberts, and Dylan Anderson is a big threat at wide receiver.
South needs more production from its run-dominated offense. Keith Bunton and Trae Washington will share time at tailback, and Michael Bower runs the show at quarterback.
North snapped a long losing streak to South last year by going 98 yards for the winning touchdown in the final minutes.
KENNEDYISMS
The first-year Panther coach is good with unique phrases and is especially good at talking to his players about how the game should be practiced and played. Here's a couple of examples from practice this week:
X-"You can lead a horse to drink, but you can't make him tackle."
X-"I've checked with Mr. Fletcher (principal) and Mr. Coopman (superintendent) and the Chief of Police. And they all say it's OK to get excited." (Kennedy likes to see spirited displays when something good happens.)