South Pointe coach says his team has “no leadership” heading into 2017

South Pointe’s 2017 football team will be a fascinating project to watch.

The Stallions are one of just 29 teams in the nation that have active streaks of at least three straight state championships and they enter 2017 as the unanimous No. 1 team in the state’s 4A classification and nationally ranked by multiple publications. The team’s roster is littered with future Division I football players, probably more college recruits than South Pointe has ever had at one time. That’s saying something.

It looks like an incredible situation for coach Strait Herron.

“That’s what you work for and really it’s what you dream about,” Herron said about the three consecutive championships. “We really feel blessed with what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

Then the Tuesday evening conversation in the midst of a Stallions practice took a turn.

“I just hope we’re not taking what we’ve done in the past for granted and think that it just happens because,” Herron continued.

Herron said he feels more pressure closing in on the 2017 team than any that he’s been involved with, and the reaction of many of his players has him concerned. He said the team seems more laid back, not edgier.

“Instead of working harder, our guys are like, ‘it’s cool and everything’s good,’” said Herron. “And, really, it’s not.

“It’s gonna be interesting. When I went into this season, sitting in my chair in my office, I looked at it as an experiment. Not every coach gets to coach a three-time state champion and see what happens next. We’re just gonna give it all to God and see what happens.”

Herron’s senior class has known little else but success. The group has won three state titles in three years, with seven seniors involved in all three, and also has mountains of college scholarship offers in which to wallow. They worked hard for all of those accomplishments and their talent is undeniable.

But ability alone doesn’t win state championships. Asked if he had any players emerging as leaders to help steer the team, Herron offered a blunt response.

“No, no, there is absolutely no leadership. None,” he said as storm clouds rumbled above. “We’ve never really had that, but our guys have always gotten excited in the past. But if you saw the Byrnes scrimmage, there just wasn’t any excitement. That worries me, but there is only so much you can do.”

It’s not just the coach. Some of the players seem aware of the leadership vacuum too, including Eli Adams, the senior defensive end committed to Virginia Tech.

“Us leaders, we need to step up a little bit more and show these guys the way,” he said. “I’m still trying to catch that senior feel. I haven’t caught it yet. I still feel like a normal guy on the team. But I know I’ve got to take that leader role.”

It’s difficult to mold leaders. It’s much easier when they emerge organically, but as senior Steven Gilmore Jr. pointed out, many of the Stallions’ 12th graders would rather lead by example, if at all.

Maybe the Stallions’ hot shots are just tired from all the football and offseason exposure?

Herron is suspicious that some of his players, including some of the top recruits, might be suffering from burn-out. The Stallions won the 4A state title in Columbia on Dec. 17 and were back in the weight room two weeks later. There have been few breaks in the months since with college camps, 7-on-7s and then preseason practice. Herron isn’t the only coach that’s bemoaned the increasing volume of 7-on-7 tournament in the summer.

In total, South Pointe’s 2017 season is a volatile cocktail that will either go totally right, or totally wrong. State title or failure seem to be the only acknowledged results. Friday night’s rivalry tilt against Northwestern will be the first indicator of which direction the Stallions’ fascinating journey will veer.

“We’ve got good players, but we’re not a good team,” said Herron. “My biggest thing, I hope all the other schools are in the same boat we’re in.”

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 1:32 PM with the headline "South Pointe coach says his team has “no leadership” heading into 2017."