By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Seven head football coaches of public high schools in Caddo Parish were predictably upbeat Wednesday at the school system’s Sixth Annual Football Media Day event.
It all followed a PR script until second-year Southwood coach Mike Green, stepped to the podium and changed the narrative.
“Make room,” he began. “Make room.
“We’ve been working with the kids, trying to get them to understand, respect is earned,” said Green. “They’re ready.
“We’re not the same program. The kids I have understand how to gain respect, and it’s through hard work.”
Southwood is mired on the struggle bus. Officially the Cowboys haven’t won a game since late in the 2019 season, an 18-16 victory over Parkway. They are on a 37-game tumble – aggravated by a 2-0 start in 2022 that was erased when the school had to forfeit those victories and didn’t win again.
Green took over before last season and although it ended winless, there were obvious signs of progress. Now, the landscape has changed and so has the outlook, he told the audience.
“We’ve dropped down to (Class) 4A. I think we’ll fit better. Not saying we’re going to win the state championship,” said Green, “but make room. We’re ready to win.”
Southwood has 28 seniors, the core of what gives the veteran coach confidence.
“Don’t sleep on the Cowboys,” Green concluded. “Make room.”
Their first test comes tonight in jamboree action against Booker T. Washington and Woodlawn at BTW’s Leonard Barnes Stadium.
Each school brought two senior standouts to Wednesday’s event. Perhaps not accidentally, Southwood’s duo of Cornelious Martin and Laquinton Tinkney were sitting across from the Woodlawn tandem of Brandon Henderson and Marcus Palmer.
“I think they just need to be quiet and be ready for the game Friday. That’s all I got to say,” said Palmer, smiling broadly at his rivals.
“He said ‘make room,’ so we’re going to make room. These past few years, Southwood hasn’t been known as a winning team,” said Tinkney, “but I feel like when (Green) got there it changed. All summer we’ve been working hard and we’re ready to show the world what we can do. It starts Friday night.”
“We’ve built up a lot of confidence between our team and our coaches,” said Martin. “It’s been good today eying down the competition.”
Whatever tonight’s outcomes at BTW’s Leonard C. Barnes Stadium, Southwood is taking aim at ending the losing skid in Week 1 next Friday night when Arcadia comes to town.
“Coach is straightforward,” said Martin. “Make room.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com