The state of high school football at Purnell Swett High School really needs to be addressed. For far too long, that program has been overlooked, neglected and downright abandoned.

As a former student and player at the school, it appalls me to see the depths to which the program has fallen. It has been many seasons since Mark Heil or Russell Stone patrolled those sidelines and forced opponents to respect and fear the Ram football team. There have been several attempts at one-year “quick fixes” at the head coaching position, none whom were heavily invested in the program and thus took early exits.

I get it, everyone loves a winner. You can just take at look at the Ram baseball program, and now even the Ram softball program. But there is a ton of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to be laid in between being a doormat and a constant winner.

The powers that be within Purnell Swett need to become as committed to the football program, as they expect those young kids that continue to show up for practice to be. Whatever it takes. Whether that’s through fundraising to send those kids to football team camp during the summer or just by hiring dedicated individuals that have some skin in the game. When you hire from outside, it’s a hit-or-miss situation. Hit and the guy is a hero like coaches Heil and Stone were. Or miss and they are looking for the first available job opening elsewhere.

Find someone who is not afraid to go down to the feeder schools and help cultivate a foundation for the future. When you have one of your feeder schools go without any type of football program whatsoever, that is unacceptable. The kids at Townsend Middle School in Maxton deserve an opportunity to learn and play the game of football just like their peers at Prospect and Pembroke Middle. When you have a third of your feeder school kids not even participating in a revenue-generating sport like football, it certainly does not bode well for the future of your high school program.

Do better Purnell Swett! Treat each and every kid and sport equally, and give them a fighting chance to succeed.

Shawn E. Bridges,

Norlina, N.C.