Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter had half the story from a recent telephone call.
Shorter was informed by this writer he was needed for an interview previewing his sixth Tigers’ squad. Noxubee County High will play host to Starkville High in its season opener Aug. 21.
Upon arrival in Macon, Shorter found out the interview was going to be more extensive. After all, this writer wanted to get a feel for Shorter’s program and find out how the town of Macon continues to pump out dozens of junior and senior college football players.
Shorter quickly broke down the expectations for 2015. He said the team’s primary goal is to win the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state championship. With almost everybody back on offense and several key playmakers returning on defense, it’s apparent why the team will start the year as a favorite.
However, Shorter said the motivation is much deeper than a state championship. The school never has had a repeat state champion in football. Thus, the motivation in the offseason and the goal this season is to write that part of history into the record books.
After Shorter praised his squad, he was asked about other aspects of his program. He took his time to think about the answers to the questions that followed. You also could tell he was he very happy someone wanted to turn the spotlight on another aspect of his program.
It’s really simple
“There is nothing to do here,” Shorter said. “Most of our kids work on the farm all day, so there are no strangers to hard work. Football is their release. You work on the farm and you play football. We don’t have any trouble getting our players to report to practice.
“The entire community comes out on Friday nights to watch the team play. There is no reason not to want to be a part of that. Our fans have high expectations. They wait around all year for the 16 weeks we play.”
Well, maybe it’s not as simple as that.
You see Shorter is a driven man. In my 20 years of covering high school football, I have seen few coaches who are as driven. He knows every aspect of his program from the grade-point average (GPA) of his reserve left guard to how many players are on the middle school roster.
The model for how the program has been built should be carefully observed. Schools with far more resources don’t achieve the athletic and academic success Shorter and his staff realize.
Each year, a National Signing Day party is held in the school library. Refreshments are served and several speakers attend the ceremonies. Each player is dressed in his Sunday best, and the Tigers usually pack a table and celebrate their decisions to sign to play at the next level.
“Signing day is a big day,” Shorter said. “This isn’t a staged photo with mom and dad and back to class in 10 minutes. We have a program. We have been blessed to have seven, eight, or nine sign on a yearly basis. We should have that again this year. There are a lot of football players (at other schools) not getting scholarships.
“For the parents, this is just one less burden. Someone is paying their child’s way through school. You don’t know what a big deal that is. We are molding guys to be successful in their community and in the world. That is a reason to celebrate.”
Through covering Noxubee County on a semi-regular basis the past four years, the results speak for themselves. Noxubee County always plays hard for four quarters. The Tigers are well coached and well prepared. They play the game hard. They compete on a high level. They do things the right way.
Coaches carry a calm demeanor. Respect is shown to the officials and to the opponent. The results are usually good, too. Under Shorter, Noxubee County is 62-11.
But it goes way past that. Signing day has helped put the program in a new perspective for this writer. It is a celebration. Shorter said he feels like a scholarship offer is equivalent to “one less black man being on the streets.”
That probably is an overstatement, but it is a testament to what he is building. Shorter and his assistant coaches take it as their mission to make sure each player is equipped for Friday night and far more than equipped for life after high school, even if it doesn’t include football.
“We have several players every year who graduate and go on to trade school,” Shorter said. “They are probably making more money than I am. I am just as proud of every one of them. We teach football here. We also teach life. The past players have set the example.
“It’s not easier now to win a championship. It is easier to have a buy-in. No one backs away from the expectations. For most, it’s here or the farm. This may be hard work, but it is more fun.”
Others should take note if they want to see how it is done the right way.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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