coach richard bishop
Panthers roll positives from 2020 into new season
BY JUWAN LEE
The Westwood Panthers enter 2021 seeking their first playoff berth under head coach Richard Bishop . Last year , the team was loaded with one of their more talented rosters , former college coaches on staff and two prior years of experience running Bishop ’ s system .
It appeared through the early part of their schedule those playoff dreams would turn into reality . They garnered a 2-2 record through non-district and began their district schedule with a decisive 28-8 victory against crosstown rival Elkhart .
However , the Panthers finished 3-7 overall and 1-5 in district play . Now , they prepare for their fourth year under Bishop with the same goal in mind : reach the playoffs .
“ We didn ’ t get the results we wanted ,” Bishop said . “ We can whine about the disappointment or work to make sure it never happens again . Those seniors laid the foundation for what the standard at Westwood will be in the future .”
The playoff hurdle might not have been conquered by the 2020 Westwood football team , but they did build a reputation of a tough , determined and hard working team .
The Panthers return 15 varsity lettermen from 2020 ’ s team – including a running back duo in Kylance Parish and Tremelle Rhodes that could pose a problem for opposing teams .
Parish rushed for nearly 830 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2020 while taking over the primary ball carrier duties . Rhodes , who was injured during their season opener , is chomping at the opportunity to get through a fully healthy season .
Junior offensive lineman Matthew Gomez returns after receiving second-team all-district honors , along with first-team all-district defensive end Kamron Savage .
“ A lot of things are in place for us to be successful ,” Bishop said . “ The kids understand our expectations . We had a really good opportunity last year and let some slip away . We didn ’ t get it done and that ’ s my fault .”
Coach Bishop was confident in the notion his team could have very well been 8-2 at the end of the season if they played to their capabilities .
“ WE CAN WHINE ABOUT THE DISAPPOINTMENT OR WORK TO MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN ” - Coach Richard Bishop
Four of last season ’ s losses came within one possession – not including a 10-point loss to Crockett where Westwood gave up a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns , a punt return touchdown and a kick return that landed the Bulldogs on the one-yard line .
That ’ s the type of perspective outsiders won ’ t get just observing the box score . Many polls have Westwood finishing near the bottom of the district . They see five losses – Westwood sees missed opportunities .
Though Coach Bishop understands at the end of each season they ’ ll be judged on wins and losses he hasn ’ t succumbed to what he calls “ the microwave generation .”
“ We ’ re doing a lot of things right ,” Bishop said . “ It takes a long time to build a program . But we live in a world of instant gratification – the ‘ microwave generation .’ They don ’ t want to put that brisket on the pit and let it cook . Most rather pop a TV dinner in the microwave instead of letting that brisket smoke for eight hours .”
Bishop has begun to see the respect his program has garnered from some of the surrounding schools . His first year most coaches were eager to grab an easy pre-district win over the Panthers as a tune up for the real competition .
Recently , that is no longer the case .
The majority of the credit can be tied to their emphasis on building a cohesive unit , a family-like atmosphere where the relationship runs deeper than just a coach and athlete .
“ Some of these kids have seen coaches come and go ,” Bishop said . “ My first year here there was a rumor every six months that I was leaving . I don ’ t hear kids asking our coaching staff that question anymore . They understand how much we care . It ’ s been reciprocated this offseason more so than any other time I ’ ve been here .”
“ We ’ re finally building a unit , a team that ’ s not playing for individual glory . This is my program but this is their team . Every decision they make affects this program . We want to transition from a coach-led program to a player-led program . That ’ s the next step for us .”
WESTWOOD PANTHERS
16 - END ZONE - 2021