Tide 2003 Season Reviews

Barry Harper

I really hate that this is going to be my last article of the year on Picayune Maroon Tide football.   Man, what I would give to write one more week about this team.  Well it's over.   Win some, lose some, some get rained out, and sometimes it was just not meant to be.  I know that this comment doesn't make the fans, coaches, and players feel any better, but guys, you really had a fantastic year.

You guys who are seniors, thank you for the memories.  It seems like just yesterday, I was watching you play in the P.Y.A.A.  You have truly raised the bar in our football program.  Now it will be left up to the underclassmen to work hard and try to accomplish what you guys did.

I started watching Tide football in 1982.  There have been several good teams in the last 21 years including the state championship team of 1986.   I know people are going to disagree with me, however, this was the best Picayune football team that I have watched play. I'm sure this will be debated for years to come.

To the parents, coaches, and administrators, thank you. Thank you for putting a wonderful product on the field of competition.  The community takes a lot of pride in those kids, and I know it takes a lot of effort from everyone to have the success Picayune has had in their sports programs in the last few years. There is no reason we cannot continue these successes in the future.

Thanks again.  The way I see it, the 2003 football squad will go down as one of the best ever in school history.

Carey Meitzler

The Tide showed that when your program is on the right track, classification only dictates who you play, not how you play .  The return to Class 5A was more than successful; it was downright impressive.  The performance of Coach Lee and his experienced and loyal staff proved once again that believing in what you do is the first step and executing the plan that the belief is built upon is the second ingredient that has made Picayune a force in football in current years past.  To the players, particularly the Senior class, you have etched in my mind and thousands of others memories that will last a lifetime.  Like Dodd said in our last post game interview after the South State game, "when you see any of these coaches or players on the street, let 'em know how much you appreciate what they did."  I agree with Barry in claiming this to be the best Tide team I've seen.

After an impressive opening win against Moss Point , the Tide stumbled against Harrison Central and may have received the wake-up call needed to propel them on an eight (8) game winning streak that ended at Oak Grove in the last week of the regular season.

The Tide rebounded from the Oak Grove loss by outgunning both Ocean Springs and Northwest Rankin to setup Round II with Oak Grove for the South State Championship.   The Warriors prevailed but not without help from the zebras on two big plays. The first call shifted momentum faster than one can devour a Betty K's burger as the Tide went from a first down at the Warrior 43 with the Oak Grove defense on their heels, to an interception return by the Warriors and a 24-14 deficit.  The Tide did not quit.  Justin Magee will be long remembered for his running, but it was a great call from Coach Lee to allow Justin to close out his scoring contribution for Picayune with a 30 yard half-back pass to Ryan Detillier to close the gap to 24-20.

Later, the Tide put together an impressive drive from their own 2 yard line moving inside the Warrior 10 yard line with under a minute to play. On fourth down, Mit Cole was held as he tried to run his route and the split second delay in waiting for Cole to come open, gave Oak Grove's Garry Pack just enough time to get a hand on the Chris Stewart pass and deflect it away. Otherwise, we'd be putting octane 87 in the Conestoga Winnebago (Dodge Mini-Van in reality) headed to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson.  Coach Lee and his staff out-coached Oak Grove. We just didn't get one single break we needed and you need a break to get there no matter who you are.

This group of seniors was “special”.  Coach Lee stated that they had won over 30 games in three years and that is quite an accomplishment when you play the caliber of teams the Tide has faced in recent years.  Dodd has said on many occasion that good kids usually come from good parents.  Hats off and a salute to each and every one of them.  One other item on this group: I hope Chris Stewart's passing for over 1,000 yards will put the pundits at ease that it's not just “three yards and a cloud of dust" at Picayune.  Yes, Magee went over 2,000 yards, but he would have never done it if not for the passing from the Tide.      No disrespect to Justin, you are the best to tote it at Picayune that I've watched, but it keeps the opponents on their toes when we throw it like Chris did this year.  Hats off to the play calling and offensive scheme from the Tide staff. 

So what's next for the Tide?  I heard someone say “you have to play in a South State before you win one.”   Well, I am not sure if I agree, but I will contend that Coach Lee and his staff have put in place what it takes to get the Tide back to the South State and eventually on to Jackson in the years ahead.  One thing that is a credit to him and his staff of assistants is their involvement from the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade teams.  This allows the players to learn the “system” and the coaches benefit from an early talent evaluation.  It also sets expectations for the players as they progress through the program.    Overall, I firmly believe it is a major reason for the long term success Picayune has experienced under Coach Lee for the past eight seasons.  They put in a lot of hours in doing the lower grades, but what a difference it appears to make in the end.

Will Picayune be back in South State next year?  Only an idiot (I think I have migrated out of that classification over the years) would predict such with the factors surrounding players available due to injury, their scholastic eligibility, their off-season work ethic, etc.  There are simply too many unknowns from year to year.  However, I would be remiss if I didn't think the Tide will continue to be very competitive in Region 3-5A and beyond.  There's a good group of young men coming up and Coach Lee (and his staff) always get them ready and when their time comes, they become common household names to all of us year after year.  Again, this is a result of the overall stability of the program.

A special thanks to my family for letting me do all of the Tide related fun (it's not work when you have this much enjoyment).

It's been a great ride this year.  We added a few wrinkles and who knows what lies ahead next year. 

Special thanks to....

• The web site (Maroontide.com); thanks to Barry, Jason, and Bill Hillery for your help, guidance, writing, proofreading, and prayer.  I love you guys.
• The ihigh.com broadcasts via the Internet:  Thanks to John Pigott for making it happen and Marilyn Pigott (Jason's lovely wife) for her timely help.         I know how much John loves this community and those still connected here but living elsewhere.  McGwyver rules.
• Thanks to Delores Wood & the WRJW gang for getting us those Pizza Hut coupons for Players of the Week and all the other items for Trivia Question winners.  The Trivia Question is becoming as competitive as Region 3-5A.
• And to Stephen Stanley for the work on the board each and every Friday night.

And to the entire Tide Nation:.   God Bless You All and please remember to pray for our troops and their families.

See you at Kelly Wise,the Field of Dreams, or wherever the Tide is playing.  Roll Tide Roll !!!