Making Gerald McCoy proud
Southeast High School is 3-0 for the first time since 2010 and is looking for its first district victory since 2013.
Kenny Blair only wants his players to believe.
So far, so good. Through three games, they’re believing and they’re winning for the first time in seven years.
Southeast is 3-0 for the first time since 2010, a product of a change in head coach and philosophy. Entering Friday’s game at Duncan, Southeast is looking for its first district win since 2013 when it beat Capitol Hill.
“Everybody on the team is really confident right now,” Southeast senior lineman Hau Troung said. “Everybody is in a good mood and when they play they give it their best and they’re ready for every opponent right now.
“We just believe in what we do.”
For Blair, district play is the second stage of his three-part plan that he brought when he left Northeast Academy following the school year.
“The season’s just now starting,” Blair said. “Right after the win against U.S. Grant, I told them the season is starting right now. Those (wins) were my expectations.”
Southeast has wins over Capitol Hill, Star Spencer and U.S. Grant to open the season. In each win, it’s allowed six points.
That’s led to an influx of players.
Southeast generally finishes the year with around 30 players. Right now, 65 players — including an estimated 25 from Santa Fe South as part of an ongoing co-op — are playing.
They believe in Blair and his coaching staff.
Blair, who played at Missouri and with the Philadelphia Eagles, has become the coach they’ve hoped would rescue the downtrodden program that produced athletes such as Gerald McCoy.
“He’s changing our program around and how we do things every day,” Troung said.
Winning the first three games is one way to make a team finally believe.
“We’ve already exceeded expectations with the three wins right now, but we’re not satisfied,” Blair said. “All in or all out. These kids are buying into what I’m doing.”
Tatum gets All-American jersey
As the names of those that played in past U.S. Army All-American Game were listed off, Ron Tatum sat in the gym at Putnam City listening intently and nodding his head.
Odell Beckham Jr., Andrew Luck, Gerald McCoy.
Tatum now joins that list, having been selected to play in the annual U.S. Army All-American Game on Jan. 6 in San Antonio.
“It was a real honor to be in front of my family and everybody,” Tatum said after, wearing the bright yellow jersey he was presented in front of students, teachers, teammates and coaches. “I can’t wait to step on the field and show everyone how I play.”
Tatum, a four-star defensive end for PCO, originally gave his verbal commitment to Texas in the spring. But just days after Lincoln Riley took over as the head coach at Oklahoma, Tatum flipped to the Sooners.
Del City reunion heading to game
Del City is having a combined reunion this week and it’ll be hard to miss during Friday’s game with Altus.
Seven former cheerleaders from the 197075 classes will be leading cheers throughout the game. They will also lead a big pep club with other alumni from that era.
Here are the alumni expected to participate: Kaye Miser Wilkerson (1972); Terri Buckley Ogden (1973); Kathy Malchar Laster (1973); Krista Jones (1974); Sherry Selle Magnus (1974); Kelly Russell (1974); Brenda Williams Mechling (1975).