2015 High School Football Tour – Stop #42: Winston Academy

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LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Junior Graham missed the shade of red he know wears at Winston Academy.

For years, the legendary coach spent time at Weir and won a State Championship with the Lions wearing the certain color of red he know has with the Patriots.

He hopes he can bring a State Title back to Winston, but first they have to add the “WIN” back in Winston.

“I think at Winston we forgot how to win,” Graham said. “Winning is a process, regardless of where you go. Protect the football, play really good defense and be solid in special teams. Over time, you will win a lot of ball games doing that.”

It was a bold move for Graham to leave Eupora after many successful seasons and take over a program that has fallen on hard times recently, but he embraces the challenge.

“It didn’t take long for me to adjust here,” coach Graham said. “The football family and the school embraced us as a staff. The kid shave worked extremely hard and when we take the field our first Friday night, they’ll be grilling hamburgers and we’ll play on grass and there will be a football out there. Football is football regardless of classification.”

With the arrival of Junior Graham to Winston, there’s a new energy to the Patriots.

For a school that at one point had one four consecutive State Championships, there is a tradition of winning. Building that back will take time, but the coach already likes what he sees thus far.

“I love the way they work,” Graham said. “Obviously, we’re coming off a 2-8 season last year. The kids have been working liket hey were extremely hungry and we’re trying to get them to be starving. They’ll work as long as you want so that’s a good place to start.”

The Patriots will begin the new era at home versus Lamar before visiting Benton Academy the following week.