Seymore, DHS football team gear up for the new season

Brian Seymore starts his sixth season at Demopolis High School with an impressive record of wins, but he wants very much to take the team all the way to the state championship.

Since his tenure at DHS began, Seymore’s teams have a record of 28-2 in the region and 48-16 overall, but a number of those losses came to 6A teams. DHS always plays a tough schedule to challenge the players, he said.

While he loves DHS, the administration, the kids and the city, Seymore said he is “truly blessed to have nine young men right now playing in college football.” He proudly listed the “fine young men” who are “representing Demopolis like it should be represented.”

The current college players are among 18 athletes from DHS who have been recruited to the college ranks since Seymore began his head coaching career in Demopolis in 2017.

Reflecting on the past season, Seymore said he was really disappointed the team got beat in the second round of the playoffs for the second year in a row. Despite the aborted post-seasons, the coach said he is “very happy with what we’ve done.”

With 74 players on the roster this year, it’s the “most kids I’ve ever had on a team.” He has four offensive and four defensive starters returning. Young quarterback Kevin McElroy had been playing at safety. “He can make the plays,” said Seymore.

The biggest question mark is the offensive line where there are a lot of young guys. Defense has young players at linebacker and safety.

“We’ve got the people. We just need to put them in the right spot,” he said.

The coach started his talk by thanking the corporate sponsors who support the football program. Fielding a team is not cheap, he said. “I’m not cutting expenses,” especially when it comes to protecting a player’s head. Pre-game meals can cost up to $800, too. Buses must be chartered for games more than two hours away.

Along with the corporate sponsors are the booster club and others who donate their time and talents to supporting DHS players, “a lot of people doing a lot of things on the side,” he said. “That’s why Demopolis is a good place to coach.”