They’re young with ‘mental toughness’. Why it’s the Southeast High football identity.
When Brett Timmons was in the eighth grade, he was part of a group of football players that shared a desire to become the first team in Southeast High football history to win a state title.
They did more than that, winning back-to-back state championships in 1993-94 and at one time were the No. 1-ranked team in America.
The success was built on a “blue collar” work ethic, Timmons said.
Fast forward to 2022 and Timmons is the head coach of his alma mater with a young team with that same mentality and background that his players come from.
Kevin Cruz, Shawn Allen and Reggie Massey are a few examples of this year’s Seminoles team juggling responsibilities to play football this season.
Allen works, plays in the band and plays football. Massey also works and plays football, while Cruz has another obligation that forces him to join practice late.
“I have so much admiration for this young man that this kid comes to practice late, because he has to go pick his sister up from the bus (stop),” Timmons said of Cruz. “... She’s in elementary school. He walks back, brings her to practice, gets dressed and comes to practice. Then leaves practice and goes to work. That’s commitment.”
Timmons added: “That’s a mental discipline and mental toughness that I appreciate that this kid, he’s not letting his circumstances define him.”
The Seminoles have one win this season, though none of that matters if they can win their final two games against district foe Braden River on Friday and the finale next week against arch rival Manatee County.
The Hurricanes, who play for a district title against Palmetto this week, were where the Noles are this year.
“We’re taking lumps as being a young team, Manatee went through that last year, so this is our turn and kind of go through it this year,” Timmons said.
Next year’s team only loses an offensive lineman and receiver on offense, while the defense returns plenty as well.
Timmons said the team has shown improvement every week throughout the season.
“The scores don’t necessarily do this team justice,” Timmons said. “So if you’re a casual fan and you look at the score, you’re like, ‘Oh, Southeast is whatever.’ That’s not necessarily the story.
“It’s youthful experience. And not making excuses for what we are. We are what we are. But if you look at it in its totality, this season we brought back two guys that started: a wide receiver and an offensive lineman. Everybody else, (it) was their first time being a major contributor on offense.”
The Noles look continue their improvement in the last two games, with the chance to use it as a springboard into next year.
