Phil Padgett LEGEND!

[sameoldthing4]

So I heard everyone tell me that changing coaches can be a brutal process, but not my Stallions! I understand every year is not your year, but every other year my Stallions always had a chance.

Phil Padgett was a genius in his own little way. Sure he was a Jacksonville High School graduate, but that sure gave him insight on where the football talent in the county was at. Padgett in his early years was really just having fun. He knew he had tons of talent from 2-3 neighborhoods, and winning the old CPC was a given. Even old Bob Eason came aboard around early to mid 90s, and the wins continued and so did doubt about Padgett ever winning a state crown although being ranked #1 several times. In the late 90s several of his first players started having kids that were old enough to play for Padgett. Winning conference was nice, but this group wanted state crowns and every year since 1999 I knew my Stallions had a realistic chance of winning it all every other year.

Why is coach Padgett a legend? Because truth be told he played with the same families since 1988. He talked about kids being different today than years back. He is right they are different because now the player is a military kid from Texas.

Hats off to Coach Padgett. Thanks for the good times.

 

[TVILLEDAWG2370]

Going thru the bad times makes you really appreciate the good times,and everything that went into it

 

[Godevilsgo]

Amen.

 

[Steelers71]

He was a class act too.

 

[gotoblueg]

Come out retirement for South Columbus job?
Good fit I think.

 

[sameoldthing4]

Don't know if Padgett will come out of retirement, but he has watched Bob lewis at Clinton come back as head and he has seen Aldridge come on sideline for ED.

Can't see Padgett at his age just let his program fall apart, but can't see him step on Dempsey's toes either.

Always felt Padgett would find his way to Jacksonville high one day, but that is all an opinion.

 

[96panther]

in your own way when many of you SWO fans talked as if SWO would just keep the good times rolling after Padgett retired, you were really just not giving him the respect as a great coach he deserves. by the way more than one time "i told you so".

 

[Wizard of the East]

Coach is truly a Hall of Fame Coach! Though I didn't know him personally I liked him as a coach in particularly how he accommodated a DarkHorse fan.

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

I appreciate all that Coach Padgett has done for SWO, but he saw what was coming back and bailed. I'm happy with the coach we have that took the challenge that we all knew it was going to be this year. Weightlifting program is already better and a rec league is up and running(never had one before). Get us while you can, because Stallion football is gonna get better than ever!! Coach Dempsey will lead us back to glory in the next couple of years.

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

BTW, shout out to the folks from the school and the rec league folks who put it all together for a successful first season. 11-12 year old team is undefeated and 9-10 year old team has lost only one game(6-0 loss to undefeated Rose Hill team).

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

in your own way when many of you SWO fans talked as if SWO would just keep the good times rolling after Padgett retired, you were really just not giving him the respect as a great coach he deserves. by the way more than one time "i told you so".

Remind me to tell you "I told you so" in a couple of years

 

[96panther]

East Duplin's 4-5 year old team is undefeated. oh yeah, East Duplin's JV team is undefeated too. LOL

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

East Duplin's 4-5 year old team is undefeated. oh yeah, East Duplin's JV team is undefeated too. LOL

I haven't seen y'alls 4-5 year old team, but I'm sure they are a sight to behold. But, that JV team y'all have IS stout!!! East Duplin will be a force in the ECC for the next 2 or 3 years for sure. Time to go get a ring!!!

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

Good luck to ED in the playoffs this year. Rep the ECC well!!

 

[wildcat34]

Coach is truly a Hall of Fame Coach! Though I didn't know him personally I liked him as a coach in particularly how he accommodated a DarkHorse fan.

Wiz, I got to know Phil personally and hes truly an awesome person on and off the field. I think some people feel he was cocky or snobby but thats far from the truth by far. He's just a very passionate coach on the field like a coach should be..I recall hearing some RHS people once talking about him working with a Cats punter n FG kicker as they were neighbors at Rock Creek..That shows he has class helping a kid that doesn't even play for him..

 

[guttancSWO36]

Coach Padgett was the man I had to privilege of being coached by him and watching him adapt to the talent and kids he had coming in.....hall of fame coach no doubt, but I also had the privilege to play along side Dempsey and watch him develop....I believe once the kids buy into dempseys program we will fight the ship..... GO SWO!!!!!

 

[SCHS 96]

Come out retirement for South Columbus job?
Good fit I think.

I like the sound of this!

 

[SWO-4LIFE]

Honest assessment: Padgett knew what was coming back and decided not to come back. Senior class this year has some great kids and some knot heads. Coach Dempsey has instilled some much lacking discipline this year and has had to break things down to make them better for the future. Kids don't show up for practice, they sit out a quarter for the game. Kids get in trouble or show disrespect to teachers, they are gone. He has the weight program better than ever, kids will be working harder and I am so looking forward to the next couple of years in Stallion Country!!!!

 

[sameoldthing4]

Dempsey is building a fine program and anyone can respect that. I just do not think we will be winning conference or sniffing an eastern final for awhile. My thinking is a lot of elite football teams are finding ways to get through to these kids. I am not saying Dempsey is not getting through, but if he plans on getting SWO back on the map, he might want to talk to coach Padgett all off season on how he did it.

I respect having a respectable program, but so often we toss aside troubled or misguided youth and in this case some naturally gifted young men.

Dempsey seems to be a good man. Is he a winning football coach is yet to be determined. GO STALLIONS...