Going forward starts with the new attitude

By Rex Kirts

Kirk Kennedy inherited a mess. Then it got worse.
When will the mess be cleansed, and when will South's football program go forward?
Well, in subtle ways not always recognized, it already has.
It starts with the new attitude Kennedy brought. It's an attitude of mental and physical toughness, combined with accountability and discipline and "doing things right."
Kennedy succeeded in establishing his beliefs in the way a program, both on and off the field, should be run. Everyone knows the expectations.
After the season ended the head coach and his staff didn't waste a minute sending the program in a forward direction. The team met as usual on Saturday and handed in the equipment, which was stored away properly. The house cleaning taken care of, the coaches were free to concentrate on the future.
Everyone knows the expectations for the immediate future. Within a couple of weeks, the weight room will get serious useage. Kennedy will have a command presence.
THE PANTHERS spiraled down from 3-7 last year to 2-8 this year. Watching them during the sprng and summer and pre-season practices, it looked as if they might not win a game. So maybe two wins is a bonus.
The squad was small in numbers and physical size, and there was very little speed. Defections didn't help matters, with several sure starters (as many as eight) either not coming out, quitting or getting kicked off.
The team picked up a nickname, The Dirty Thirty, although there were about 40 on the roster at the end.
Remember, this was at a school that had not so long ago been a powerhouse in the state.
But this team, which needed rebuilt except for the offensive line, had a lot of problems. Many, Kennedy said, were the result of having to learn a new system. Many of the problems, though, were just basic football. Basically, every single mental and physical phase of the game needs inproved.
Kennedy said he intends to remain at South and get the program back on top. His first ball club at Lowell won only two games, too, before heading upward.
This is not saying the Panthers will make a quick turnaround next year. Next year's team will be young in the lines and linebacking corps. It will be another rebuilding situation.
Kennedy "isn't discouraged" with what he faces at South. There are some players, and the freshman team showed promise.
"IT WAS A ROUGH SEASON for everybody, for the entire South family," Kennedy said. "But the tough times are going to produce results.
"As I've said, the only variable is time. It could produce some results next year, two years.
"The challenges presented this year gives me more resolve . . . to start solving the things that have plagued this product. I feel the challenge to get this program back on the right track."
Offensive returnees next year include three of the top four rushers - quarterback Michael Bower and tailbacks Nolan Rogers, along with Clayton Fiddler and Johnathan Winters. Back in the line is Jacob Brineger, backup center Tony Albanese and tight ends Jacob Canada and Jake Kelzer.
Returning on the defense next year are Rogers at safety, Matt Henderson at cornerback, Kelzer at end, Fiddler at linebacker, Trae Washington at corner and Bower at backup safety. Rogers, Henderson, Kelzer and Fiddler ranked second, third, fourth and fifth in defensive points, behind senior linebacker Alex Sarpa. Other returnees who saw some varsity action include Winters, Tyrae Murphy and Ethan Farmer at linebacker.
Also back is place kicker Drew Barlow, who was second in scoring to Bower.
"This season was a start," Kennedy said. "There's a great understanding now of what's to be expected. We'd like to have been more competitive, won more games. We made some progress.
"WE WANT TO get into the weight room now. They understand we've got to block, tackle, execute, out-work our opponents, be more physical than our opponents."
This is how South will win in Conference Indiana. It won't be able to match the bigger schools in the league in talent and speed.
"We can out-execute and out-hit our opponents. We can be tougher. That will be our niche," Kennedy said.
Twelve seniors finished their high school careers.
"I'm proud of the challenges the seniors accepted. I'm proud of the ones who stuck it out, who built the foundation."
The offense, Kennedy said, was inconsistent. At times it got the job done, at times it didn't. "We've got to improve the offensive line play. We've got to get more physical and attack the line of scrimmage. Our backs have to run lower. We've got to execute at a higher level of efficiency and cut down on the mistakes."
He felt the defense was the area of most improvement this season. "We got better at tackling, reading our keys and staying disciplined," he said.
The kicking game needs considerable work. Punts were blocked, field goals were blocked and coverage sprung a few leaks. "It's more than just kicking a football," Kennedy said.
THE AREAS THAT HURT South the most, he said, was the lack physical strength and lack of mental and physical toughness. "Those are all things we're going to get better at. And that takes time - you can't turn it around over night."
What Kennedy liked best about this team was the way the kids and coaches meshed.
"The kids banded together," he said. "They took great pride in the nickname Dirty Thirty. Their work ethic in practice became pretty good. We didn't tank the situation.
"And I liked the way the coaching staff banded together. I think we got a lot done."
Sticking together and getting a lot done are good foundations for the off-season that approaches.
"We'll have the weight class for football players, and for those not in the class we'll have weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school," Kennedy said. "We'll work on strength and speed and athletic development. We should be a lot more physically prepared for next season than we were for this season."
He looks forward for things to get better every year.