By Angie Ledbetter

As the South Panola Tigers continue preparation for the 2008 season, head coach Lance Pogue took a few minutes to talk about some issues surrounding the Tigers. The interview is published in two parts with part two appearing in Tuesday’s Gridiron Guide 2008 preseason football edition.

Pogue talked candidly about schoolwork and grades in relation to the football team, a subject which has gathered a lot of attention along with the Tiger’s successes.

The Tigers will participate in a jamboree at Louisville High School tonight playing a half against Louisville, beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a half with Meridian.

There has been a lot of talk about the players from South Panola not making the grades to pass the NCAA clearinghouse and being eligible to have the chance to play Division 1 football.

“We’re trying to make some major strives in that direction,” said Pogue. “I tie that back to attitude and character. We try our best as coaches to stress that. Dr. Loden is helpful in that area. We’re trying to stress to our kids the importance of not just going to school but when you do go, make it count and learn something.”

The football team finished last year with a 2.77 grade point average, but Pogue wants it to be improved.

“I know it’s been a black eye about our getting a reputation of being a football school,” Pogue said. “But really, truly, if people were here every day and saw the ins and outs, they’d see that this is a great school. We’ve made some remarkable improvements in that area and everybody is eligible. No one had to go to summer school to get eligible. It’s a deal where it’s not going to happen over night but we’re stressing that from the junior high all the way up. I really believe that you can have a championship program but at the same time you can be a good student and a good person.”

Pogue said it takes everyone involved to help the situation with grades.

“It’s a total team effort,” Pogue said. “It takes the administration, teachers, students, parents and the home back ground. You can’t lay blame on one without saying the other part is involved. It’s all in a basket deal and we got to all pull together. We’re making positive strives in that.”

Many times the player’s environment contributes to their lack of success in the classroom, according to Pogue.

“If a lot of people knew where some of our kids came from and some of their home situations, they’d see things in a different light,” he said. “It’s easy to criticize and point fingers because some kids haven’t had an opportunity from a home situation. We try to take that into account at all times. It’s easy to throw one away and get rid of one. I try to do a lot of homework with these kids and see where they come from and see their situation before I act too quickly to get rid of one. I feel like my coaches and I are the last impact that we have on a kid. We try our best to go the last mile to help a kid stay on the right track.”

What if it was your kid, Pogue turned the question.

“It’s easy to be judgmental,” he said. “But when you have kids of Your own, the second you judge that kid, the next day your kid can step out of bound and then what do you say?”

A former South Panola player and student, Darius “Tig” Barksdale came under scrutiny last season when he verbally committed to play at Ole Miss but did not sign a national letter of intent to play anywhere. He said he had to get his grades up to become eligible. Pogue gave an update on Barksdale.

“I talk to him a lot and he’s doing good and heading to Hargrave School (Military Academy),” he said. “I think he understands that he’s got a bright future but has to meet a few demands. He has matured a lot. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t make it big some day. There are people out there that will help you if you have good attitude and are trying hard. Somebody somewhere will reach down and help you. I think there is always hope and always a chance. You just got to keep believing.”

As for the team getting ready to take the field tonight in the scrimmage, Pogue reported a good summer workout program with near perfect attendance. The new turf was completed just in time for the start of practice.        

“They’re in great shape conditioning wise,” he said. “I’ve been pleased with their work ethics and right now we’ve got great attitudes. They’re working hard and we’re getting some great senior leadership from a lot of the guys. The younger guys are joining in and I attribute that with a lot of it going back to our work ethics. It’s hard to have a great attitude in football if you aren’t in shape because the heat tests your character.”

Pogue said the team is on par with fall practices and scrimmages, but finds it hard when they are playing against themselves every day.

The Tigers have been known for their run game and has mixed it up with some successful passing the past few years, especially in 2007. Pogue answers the question of whether passing will hold a major part in the Tiger play scheme.

 “Having our quarterback back, we feel good about our receivers,” he said. “We’re going to throw the ball a little bit more this time to help us with our running game. I’m not saying that we’re going to go out there and go crazy with it. We’re going to throw it if that’s what the defense is giving us. Then we’re going to try and take advantage of it.”

Three quality receivers to accept quarterback David Renfroe passes include Xavier Lee, Nicholas Brasell and Anthony Ladd.

“Renfroe is a great athlete and he can throw it,” Pogue said. “Our goal is to be very balanced. If the cards are on the table and it looks like we need to be running the ball, that’s what we’re going to do.  If they have too many people up on the line that they can’t cover us, then we need to be throwing. We’re going to try and play our strengths.”

Pogue is starting his second year as head coach of the Tiger program. He gives all the credit to his wife, Dixie, for him being able to juggle family life and football.

“I have the best wife in the world,” Pogue said. “People take this lightly but the coaching business is hard on a wife or a family. We had a major discussion about that before we ever got to the point we were going to get married. She is understanding but loves football too. My kids are sports oriented and come to practice a lot but understand that this time of the year we work a lot. I try my best to keep it as manageable as I possibly can and make sure that I spend time with them. I take advantage of the offseason and spend all the time I can with them. It’s tough but our family understands. We all try to do a good job of working that out and our coaches do, too.”

When Pogue first took the job, he said he did not know quite what to expect.

 “Anybody that takes a new job isn’t quite ready for everything,” he said. “Every head coach that changes to another one (team) has some growing pains and learning on the job. I felt that I was able to catch up with it quick. I go back to our coaching staff and having that great attitude with accepting me and helping me with everything I needed. It wasn’t easy but it’s been a lot of fun.”

South Panola opens the season next Friday at the Red Carpet Bowl Classic to face host team, Vicksburg High School in the second game of a doubleheader at 8:30 p.m. Clarksdale and Warren Central play at 6 p.m.

Directions: Take I-55 south to Winona exit; take a left to French Camp exit. Go to Ackerman and get on Highway 15. Louisville is 15 miles from Ackerman. Go east on West Main Ave., turn left onto North Court Ave., turn right onto Ball Drive, then immediately turn left onto Ivy Ave.