This is the second in a series of stories on area football practices.
Today: South Rowan
By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
LANDIS — OK, the big question in Rowan County football this season is this:
How is Bobby Myers going to look wearing red?
“No problem,” said South Rowan head coach Jason Rollins. “I got him shirts. He’s going to bleed red and he’s good with that.”
The long-time North Rowan quarterback coach has surfaced on the other end of the county and that’s good news for Rollins. Myers has an impressive reputation as a quarterback coach. All-star after all-star has learned from the former college QB.
“It’s nice to watch a guy take quarterbacks and mold them,” Rollins smiled.
Myers’ targets this season include Nathan Lambert and Eric Tyler.
“Working on fundamentals, recognizing defenses, that’s the biggest things,” Myers said of his tutelage.
As far as being at a different school, Myers said it’s all still football. “But I like what we’re doing down here.”
Rollins laughed about bringing Myers in for a meeting but his new guy got a little sidetracked when he saw the other assistants.
“Bobby walks in the door that first day and it took 20-30 minutes. He knew John Davis. He knew (Jim) Brooks. He knew all those guys. I had to tell them, ‘Hey, we need to have a conversation!”
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OTHER NEW COACHES: Also joining Myers on the staff is Thad Chrismon, who has coached before with Rollins. Anthony Bare is a volunteer.
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ALL IN THE FAMILY: The sports world has come to know Chrismon. He is also the head baseball coach.
Now, the sports world will get to know his wife, Angie, a little better. She was recently named South Rowan athletics director, replacing the retired Danny Crosby.
She comes from good stock. Her dad, Larry, was the long-time AD at South.
•SNAPPY DRESSERS: South has new uniforms this season. The jerseys are black with red numbers. They’re impressive.
“Every year, we have card sales,” Rollins said. “I told the players if they sold the cards, we’d get new uniforms. They’ve been wanting black jerseys.”
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SMALL CLASS: South has the smallest senior class in the county. There’s only 10 on the roster: Jordan Kennerly, Logan Beck, Brandon Williams, Nathan Haskins, Rell Howie, Zane Harmon, Anthony Broadway, Sony Pope, Cameron Moore and Scotty Magnusson.
Rollins says the larger junior class is joining the seniors as leaders.
“They’ve embraced the junior class,” he said.
Rollins likes how the seniors have stuck with it.
“They realize how small of a group they are,” he said. “It wasn’t a big class when they came in as freshmen. But they’ve seen the good years and the bad years. They’ve seen it all.”
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B-WILL: Williams proved last season he could contribute.
The 14-6 loss to East Rowan in the season finale was a coming-out party.
“He was catching everything and making moves,” Rollins said. “A lot of people were like, ‘Who is that kid?’ ”
Opponents shouldn’t be asking that this year.
“He has transformed himself,” Rollins said of the 6-foot, 175-pound receiver. “As far as size, he has really worked hard.”
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MEDLIN REPORT: Josh Medlin has made his name as a ferocious defensive end. Now Rollins is letting the 6-2, 180-pounder try tight end on offense. Medlin said he liked it.
Medlin broke a bone in his ankle last spring playing pickup basketball but added, “It’s good now.”
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REA OF SUNSHINE: South lost the most famous manager in the county last year when Tyler Rea graduated. Where is he?
Rollins said Rea is helping Chip Hester at Catawba.
“We’re upset with him,” Rollins chuckled, “because I wanted to find a way to pay him and keep him on staff.”
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO: Last year’s Raider star Mark McDaniel is also at Catawba.
Asked what he could do for Hester, Rollins replied, “Anything he wants, I guess. He did anything he wanted here. I’d put him at wide receiver. He can be a great returner. As he gets older, he can be a great defensive back.”
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10-GAME SEASON: The NCHSAA shortened the season, taking out the bye week if a team didn’t want it.
Rollins wanted it and is playing a 10-game season, not 11.
“I’ve really enjoyed the bye for our kids to get a recovery week,” he said. “We want to go into the playoffs fresh.”
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SCHEDULE: South will play two state champs this season and has a tough nonconference schedule with A.L. Brown and Salisbury. It doesn’t get easier in the North Piedmont.
“It’s one of the toughest conferences around in 3A, especially when you’ve got the three-time defending champ in West Rowan,” Rollins said. “A.L. Brown (Aug. 26), Salisbury (Sept. 9) and West (Sept. 23) have awesome teams. But I love it. You won’t know how good you are until you play the best.”