b'Independence Begins New EraI ndependence High School football in Tangipahoa Parish, Lou-isiana has a proud tradition with three state championship run-ner-ups and over 16 district championships in Louisiana. Leg-endary head coach Charles Baglio was one of the most successful high school head coaches during that time as he posted a 205-69 overall record including 9 district titles and two state champion-ship game appearances. He also helped send many players to the next level including former LSU and Jacksonville Jaguars/Carolina Panthers running back LeBrandon Toefield.Now, fast forward to 2023, the Tigers are hoping to rekindle that success the program achieved in the 1990s under new head coach Travis Mikel.When you think of Independence football, you dont think about the last eight years. You think about the 25 years in a row they made the playoffs. The kids that are here are amazing kids and number two, they are amazingly athletic. At Indepen-dence, there is an expectation and tradition there. The support from not only the community, but the administration is where it needs to be. I also think that this is where I am supposed to be and where I am meant to be at. Independence Head Coach Travis MikelBeing at a proud school with a winning tradition is not even the biggest reason why Mikel believes he is meant to be at Indepen-dence, but to him, it is much more than that.Contents There is not a better way to instill what it takes to be a man and to groom kids to be husbands, fathers, and sons than the 7Independence LA Begins New Era 29TyDrick StewartHouma, LA game of football. Football is the ultimate teacher, and on top 31JaMire BoldenSlidell, LA of that, you can take those parables, those proverbs, those les-Athletes 32Brysen SteeleMarlin, TX sons out of the Bible, and you can use them and show the 34Kamran WilliamsJefferson, TX kids how you are supposed to be. There is nothing better than 13Ellis DavisProsper, Tx 35Ian BurlesonMandeville, LA a former player coming up to you and saying that I am a 13Dakyus BrinkleyKaty, TX dad because of you or I got married because of you or I got 14Raeg DaileyHouston, TX 35Xavier HavisAlbertville, AL through this situation based on your teachings. To me, theprogram history. Serving under Roberts as a coach and as a player best part about it is not the game of football or the Xs and thehas helped him establish the core principles in running a successful 14Keagan AbleHawley, TX Os, its the fact that we can use football as an avenue to teachprogram.15Ashton MurphyOmaha, Ne School Spotlights real life lessons. The first thing I learned is that you got to have fun. If you are 15Derek WeisskopfWilliamsburg, IA 10School Spotlight: Duncanville(Duncanville, TX) not having fun being around these kids and your staff, then 16Colin CoatesBaton Rouge, LA 11School Spotlight: Gretna High (Gretna, NE) I bring my kids everywhere to practice and even to your me- youre doing the wrong thing. If you are not going to position 17Chase CressonBaton Rouge, LA 14School Spotlight: Mankato West (Mankato, MN) dia day because I want my players to see what it takes to bemeetings and staff meetings and talking football and talking a father and how you are supposed to love your children. Thelife and trying to develop these men, then you are in the wrong 18Jalen SmithMankato, MN 19School Spotlight: Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, IA) best part about my morning is that my players are interactingprofession. The next thing that I learned from Coach Roberts 18Eathan Triplettbelt, Mt 25School Spotlight: Barrow High(Utqiagvik, AK) with my sons and they are interacting with me. They see whatis adversity is a thing. You cant run from it. Its going to come 20Mason WarrenBaton Rouge, LA 27School Spotlight: Hawley High (Hawley, Texas) love really looks like and what discipline really looks like. Aand you dont know when, where, or how it is going to come. 21Braeden GeorgeBaton Rouge, LA 27School Spotlight: Gordo Greenwave (Gordo, AL) lot of them dont get the chance to see that. I have three fosterYou dont have an option as a human being to run away from 22Kaden TaylorLake Charles, LA 29School Spotlight: Sylvania Rams (Sylvania, AL) kids on my team and the majority of my kids come from singleadverse situations. What you have is the option to how you re-parent women homes. God bless those women that are tryingspond. The method that was simply taught to me was to open 23Laramie GuidryBaton Rouge, La 30School Spotlight: Keller High(Keller, TX) to hold everything together for their family, but there is a partthe door, answer the call, and punch it in the mouth. The two 24Jack TewsBrandon, SD 30School Spotlight: Midway High(Waco, TX) of being a man that a woman simply cannot teach you. Thatsbiggest attributes that my program is based off of are to have 24James OwensFranklinton, LA 31School Spotlight: South Oak Cliff (Dallas, TX) my job and thats why I think God put me here: to show howfun and how to handle adversity.25Uatahouse TuifuaUtqiagvik, AK 32School Spotlight: Pebble Hills High(El Paso, Texas) to love. Independence Head Coach Travis Mikel If you can have fun and learn how to handle adversity, foot-26Beau PerezNew Orleans, LA 33School Spotlight: Gulfport High (Gulfport, Ms) One of Coach Mikels biggest mentors is one of the biggest currentball is easy. The majority of the kids come from a low-income 26Granville AndersonBaton Rouge, La 33School Spotlight: Long Beach High(Long Beach, Ms) coordinator names in college football, and that is Ron Roberts,status, and they were actually born into adverse situations. Its 28Damon FelderGulfport, MS 34School Spotlight: Vancleave High (Vancleave, MS) who is the defensive coordinator at Auburn. Mikel played collegethrough my program that the maturity of these kids gets to see 28Braxton PetersTrinity, AL football under Roberts at Delta State and followed him to Ham- the light of day. We are trying to teach them that they dont mond where he was part of a Ron Roberts coaching staff that guid- have to live that way. If they want to go to college, they can. If ed the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions to their best run inthey want to get a full time job after high school, they can. If6 7'