How this Muscogee County football team revived its program after last season’s implosion
The last winning season for the Jordan Vocational High School football program was 29 years ago. The Red Jackets have lost or forfeited their past 14 games. Last year’s team was outscored 109-6 in the first four games. After a COVID outbreak, injuries, transfers and just plain quitting, the rest of its season was canceled because not enough players were available.
So as the Red Jackets prepared to open their season against the Columbus Blue Devils in Kinnett Stadium, why did Malik Graham and Nigual Williams — the only two seniors on Jordan’s roster — tell the Ledger-Enquirer they’ve never had more fun at football practice?
They credit new head coach Kadale Jenkins and the new attitude he has infused throughout the program.
Williams, a defensive end, offensive guard and middle linebacker, described Jenkins as “a good guy. He really is. … He’s caring. He’s wonderful. Can’t beat that.”
Graham, a free safety and outside linebacker, realized Jenkins’ leadership has produced a different atmosphere around the team when he noticed at practice “everybody was having a great time, everybody was flying to the ball. It looked like real football out there.”
The Red Jackets have a name for that mentality: Swarm County.
‘Swarm County’
Calvin Hodge, owner of Impress Me Customs, created the team’s new gear emblazoned with a “Swarm County” logo to generate buzz about the Jordan football program, referencing the Red Jackets nickname and motivating the players to swarm to the football.
“I’m trying to get everybody as upbeat as possible,” Jenkins said.
The Red Jackets are showing the Swarm County mindset off the field as well. Monday, when Jenkins heard one of his players was causing trouble in a classroom, a teammate defused the situation before the coach arrived.
“They’re holding each other accountable,” Jenkins said.
Graham provided another example: Each morning before classes start, instead of hanging out in different groups, the team chats together.
“Nobody is excluded,” he said.
‘Love our kids first’
Jordan principal Ryan Hutson announced the hiring of Jenkins in February.
Jenkins was the head football coach the past two seasons at Richards Middle School, where he led the team to records of 2-2 in 2020 and 6-1 in 2021. He previously was an assistant coach for two seasons each at Double Churches Middle School, Aaron Cohn Middle School, Kendrick High School and Shaw High School.
Jenkins played baseball, not football, at Carver High School, where he graduated in 2002, so he knows what it’s like to participate in a program without a winning tradition. But winning games can’t happen without succeeding before kickoff, Jenkins insists, so his priorities can’t be displayed on a scoreboard.
“We love our kids first,” he said. “We teach student-athletes. I couldn’t care less about winning games when guys aren’t doing what they have to do in the classroom.”
Jenkins asks about his players beyond their roles on the team.
“How’s your home life? How can we help you to be the better young man that you can be? That’s what I want to focus on,” he said. “Getting the kids to trust you is more valuable to me than winning the state championship.”
‘Family environment’
As the program imploded last year, Williams said, “we all separated, and we had fights and all that. This year, Coach Jenkins, he said, ‘We’re not having none of that. We’re going to be a family.’”
Only five players attended the first workout Jenkins conducted at Jordan in March. Sophomore middle linebacker Rasean Guilford was among them. Having so many of his teammates quit last season, Guilford said, “really devastated me.”
Since that March day, the roster has grown to 40 players — doubling last year’s highest number.
“Just seeing how we completely fell apart… and now seeing new players come out, it’s a great feeling,” Guilford said.
All of which presents Jenkins with a welcomed problem.
“We’re running out of equipment,” he said. “… Basically starting a program from scratch. I was given a nail, I was given a hammer, and I was told to build a house. So it’s going to be a process, but I believe in the kids, and the kids believe in me.”
His recruiting strategy?
“Just love them up,” he said. “I want to show you that I care about you as a person before I care about you as a player. … They’re learning how to play football, but they’re more so learning about life and how to build self-esteem.”
Jenkins hosted weekend barbecues for the team during the summer. He started a weekly Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, a daily study hall for the first hour of practice, and he periodically brings in guest speakers. Outings for bowling and an Atlanta Falcons game also are on his team’s activity list.
“I’m trying to make it a family environment as much as I can,” he said. “I’m coaching fathers of the future, basically, so we have to get them ready for life outside of sports and outside of school. … We’re trying to build young men into being great men in the community and the lives of others they touch.”
That message is getting through to his players.
“Coach Jenkins, he doesn’t just want to win,” Guilford said. “He wants to make better men and better football players as a whole. He wants us to be a family.”
‘Change the culture’
While the Red Jackets work on assignments from their teachers and coaches during study hall, they also hear Jenkins instruct them on life lessons.
“We talk about guy stuff, problems going on,” he said. “I want you to be your best from the time you walk in these doors to the time you leave. … Just trying to change the culture around here, to get these kids to believe in themselves and know that they’re successful on and off the football field.”
Understanding the realistic limitations of the program’s status, Jenkins said he would deem this season a success if the Red Jackets simply play every scheduled game.
“I love to win, just like every other coach, but I’m going to take my wins where I can take them,” he said. “If we believe in this, nobody else matters. … Hard work. Never quit. The easiest thing to do in life is to quit. And that’s why, last season, we really don’t talk about it.”
Jenkins, however, acknowledged he spends time helping his players stop “worrying about what other kids and other coaches are saying. Yes, the program hasn’t had a winning season in 29 years. Yes, the program got shut down last year. I understand all that, and I’m fine with that. But, sooner or later, change has to come. And why not now? Why not us?”
No wonder the team’s motto this year is “No excuses.”
“I’m fired up,” Jenkins said. “I can’t wait for Friday night.”
At 7:30 p.m. Friday in Kinnett Stadium, the Red Jackets open their season against the Columbus Blue Devils.
Final score from Friday night: Columbus 55, Jordan 0.
This story was originally published August 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
