By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek senior Landon Amidon hit the nail on the head when he referenced the rollercoaster ride the Cougars football program has seen in recent years.
Since Amidon and this year’s senior class entered junior high in 2018, the varsity program has laid claim to four different head coaches.
Shannon Brown in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Matt Middleton in 2021. Steven Ensminger in the summer of 2022. Middleton back for the fall of 2022.
And now, it’s William Parkerson’s turn in 2023.
“It’s been a coaching carousel, and so we have gotten used to it,” said Amidon, one of eight seniors on this Creek’s team.
The good news for Creek is that the early sentiments from Amidon and his Cougar teammates are positive. And the hope for Creek players and fans is that Parkerson will provide stability for the program and future Cougars.
Amidon for one is a fan.
“I really like the intelligence of the coaching staff and the scheme that we are running,” Amidon said. “I think it will be a really good fit for our personnel.”
Senior Conner Rolen is also excited about Parkerson and the new staff.
“I like the option offense and the fact we are running the football more,” said Rolen. “I also like that we have longer practices this year. I feel we are more conditioned.”
Amidon and Rolen are two members of a Creek senior class that Parkerson has been pleased with through summer workouts and into official team practices. He knows these seniors have been through their share of coaches during their Creek careers.
“They have been outstanding,” Parkerson said. “They have played for a number of different coaches over the years. They didn’t have to buy into what we are doing, but they were the first ones to buy in.
“They have been positive. Even when things go wrong, they are encouraging each other instead of jumping down somebody’s throat. They have been doing a great job of providing leadership every day.”
Amidon gives credit to the seniors that came before the Class of 2024.
“We had some great seniors before us help guide us and lead us along the way,” he said. “We’ve been doing what we can to try to be even better than they were.”
“We have been trying to guide the younger players and teach them how to do things the right way out here,” said Rolen.
This year’s Cougar senior class includes Amidon, Noah Durrett, Brett Johnson, Lawson Lillo, Rolen, Ladd Thompson, Blake Wade and Grey Worthey.
It’s a group that Parkerson said he will always remember.
“I will be indebted to them forever,” Parkerson said. “They bought into what we are doing; jumped into the deep end of the pool immediately. They have done everything that we have asked. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior class to get started with this year.”
Creek will travel to Lakeside Friday for a 6:30 p.m. scrimmage before facing Mangham in the Bayou Jamb Aug. 26 at 3 p.m.
