New-look Harlingen South Hawks ready for new season

HARLINGEN - It just didn't look too much like Harlingen South.
Half the practice field behind the high school was dug up. Apparently the city was installing sewer lines.
The tennis courts are also gone. At least for the time being. New ones are being built, so for the moment the area near the field house is bare.
Kind of like the cupboard for second-year Hawks head coach Alan Cherry.
The South Hawks that went 12-0 last year are long gone by now.
Only a few players remain from that amazing squad.
So the rebuilding process began Monday with the first full practice of the 2008 season.
"Our numbers are going to be very important to us," said Cherry, who saw about 100 kids show up for practice on the first day. "We'll be good this season. Maybe not as good as last year but we're still going to have the opportunity to be good. There's still some work to do."
Running backs Phillip Fruge and Steve Mata are the nucleus of the Hawks offense this season.
Frank Mancillas has the biggest shoes to fill as he looks to take over for All-Valley quarterback Sean Messick.
Nearly the entire offensive line graduated too with only Juan Cortez returning.
But Cortez still wasn't cleared to practice after having knee surgery during the offseason.
Receiver Joseph Bedford elected to not play football this season.
"All our guys did a good job out here today," Cherry said. "We don't have the great talent we had last year but we have a lot of numbers. We have more backups than last year."
And the new look isn't just on the field but on the sidelines as well.
Aside form Cherry and offensive coordinator Joe Martinez, the entire varsity coaching staff is new.
Pat Inskeep is the new defensive coordinator. Former Raymondville assistant Tony Neimeir is also at South along with Jack Roddy.
Some longtime South coaches left to other schools or retired while others opted to stay and not coach football.
Others were demoted to coach the freshmen of junior varsity squads.
"These guys are good teachers in the classroom and on the field," Cherry said. "We have experienced coaches and hopefully that will lead to success."
TOP RETURNERS: South's strength should be its offensive backfield with ball carriers Fruge and Mata.
Fruge was a 1,300-yard rusher and Mata added 800 yards in 10 games.
KEY LOSSES: Messick, Peter Maldonado (receiver), Rolando Salinas (linebacker), Israel Neeley (linebacker), C.J. Arellano (offensive line).
KEY GAMES: Weslaco (Sept. 5), PSJA Memorial (Oct. 17), and Harlingen (Nov. 7).