Boosting the Bobcats

By Staff
PC Booster Club kicks off new year, welcomes Parker as guest speaker
Kim West
PHIL CAMPBELL – The Phil Campbell Booster Club kicked off the 2008-09 year with its first monthly meeting at the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad Building Monday night.
The featured speaker was football coach Michael Parker, who was hired in March to help spearhead the turnaround of a Phil Campbell team that finished 0-10 last season.
In front of an audience of approximately 30 parents, community supporters and school officials, Parker introduced his assistant coaches, summarized spring season and discussed immediate needs for the program.
"We started in February with 70 kids, and we all knew (the conditioning work) was going to weed out some of them because I'm not going be light on these kids," said Parker, whose Bobcats defeated Tharptown 8-0 at the Wildcats' jamboree May 16. "I want you to know if we're going to lose, it's not going to be because we were outworked.
"We had players showing up at six in the morning, lifting weights, running gassers and flipping tractor tires – they would get a little water break, and then they would have football practice."
Parker said several improvements have already been made to the football facilities, with more being planned this summer, including a 30 x 30 addition to the weight room for film study.
"I thoroughly believe in film work," said Parker, who listed Nathan Berryman, Randy Cochran, Bart Moss, Ryan Swinney and John Johnson as his assistant coaches. "Watching film is invaluable, and we need an edge because we're not going to be able to run with some of the teams in our region.
"Right now I'm looking at (purchasing) a scouting system, which is needed these days because your opponents will scout you and know your tendencies on every play, and we need to be able to break down their plays, too."
Parker also said the jamboree games alleviated any concerns about the players' will to win.
"I think you saw their hard work this spring paid off in the jamboree game, and I was relieved to see the fight in these kids," said Parker, who has sophomore Jordan Benford listed No. 1 on the depth chart at quarterback and junior Jeff White, last year's No. 2 quarterback, at starting receiver.
"I have Jordan Benford starting at quarterback because I believe he's the best one we have, and I have Jeff White at wide receiver because he runs good routes and has good hands."
Parker said he encourages high expectations for this season from the Phil Campbell community.
"I want you to expect us to win because I'm not building for the future – I'm building for right now," he said.
Phil Campbell will participate in a 7-on-7 camp at Austin this Saturday and in a team camp at Deshler July 26. The Bobcats will play at Haleyville Aug. 22 and open their season at home Aug. 29.
After Parker took questions from the audience, club members discussed the kick-off supper and fundraisers, including the annual media guide and alumni golf tournament.
The golf tournament is set for Saturday, July 26 at Haleyville Country Club, while the kickoff supper will be held Thursday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. Plates will cost $5 for everyone except football players and cheerleaders.
Media guide ads will be sold for $50 (quarter-page), $75 (half-page) and $100 (full page), plus $5 extra for a photo. The deadline for ads to be turned in is Friday, Aug. 8, and the late deadline is Friday, Aug. 15.
The meeting concluded with a $50 gas giveaway, which was won by Cliff Taylor. All paid club members in attendance were eligible for the drawing, except for officers of the booster club. This year's officers include Sean Brown, Teresa Masterson and Alice Brown.
The next meeting will be held Monday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brown at (256) 810-3842.