By Jordan Taylor, Sports731 Reporter
The North Side Indians kick off our “JMCSS Countdown To Kickoff Series,” as Coach Woodrow Lowe enters his first season as head coach. Recognizing the rich history and tradition at North Side, Coach Lowe saw this opportunity as a great one, based on the type of program North Side represents.
Coach Lowe began working with his team in January of this year, aiming to establish the team’s culture right away. Despite the challenges posed by the lack of success the previous year, Coach Lowe remained determined to instill a winning mindset. With only 10 total practices in the spring, the team focused on maximizing their efforts and making the most of their limited time.
During the spring, Coach Lowe organized a scrimmage against a tough Riverside team to assess his team’s progress. While there were several positive takeaways from the scrimmage, Coach Lowe emphasized the need for continued growth and improvement. Encouraging the players to surpass their previous limitations was the most challenging aspect of taking over the program, according to Coach Lowe.
In addition to establishing a winning culture, Coach Lowe aimed to identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses during the spring. Determining the players’ capabilities and the type of offense and defense that would suit them best was a priority. As the spring progressed, the team grew and left the spring season feeling confident about their progress and the foundation they had built.
The summer brought new challenges as Coach Lowe and his staff pushed the players to their limits. With a rigorous four-day practice schedule in the scorching June and July heat, the team was tested to identify the players they could rely on in critical moments. Coach Lowe highlighted the advantage of having a full offense and defense team, with minimal players going both ways, which would give the Indians an edge over their opponents this season.
The team’s hard work during the summer paid off, as they participated in two scrimmages against Scotts Hill and Bolivar, followed by a jamboree matchup with Haywood this past Friday. Coach Lowe expressed his pride in the team’s performance and believes they are in a good position heading into Week 1. The current focus is on continuous improvement, with Coach Lowe urging everyone in the program to strive to be 1 percent better every day.
The Indians will kick off their 2023 campaign against Crockett County this Friday, August 18th at 7:00 PM. Coach Lowe acknowledged his relationship with Coach Ward and mentioned that he had previously coached against him in his first game as a head coach at Bolivar. He expressed confidence in the Cavaliers’ preparedness and commended Coach Ward for his exceptional work with the program.
Under Coach Lowe’s leadership, the North Side Indians are set to begin an exciting 2023 campaign.
