The Many Tigers are looking for a lot of new after an 0-10 season in 2024.
Ten is the number of consecutive district titles for a program that also captured three state title before the winless season.
But the Tigers are bringing back a familiar face to patrol the sidelines in new head coach Tyler Hassell.
Hassell served on Jess Curtis’ staff through much of the program’s golden era, including the last few seasons as the defensive coordinator before both coaches left for Natchitoches Central in 2023.
But that lasted just one season, and Hassell found his way back to District 3-2A as a member of district champion Red River’s coaching staff in 2024.
Now Hassell returns to Many with the mission of restoring this proud program back to its traditional place after the sharp decline in 2024.
Many will lean on second-year starting quarterback Kellen Cox and veteran running back Daniel Thomas to produce many more points than the eight games in which the Tigers scored in single digits.
The Hassell era starts Friday when they head north to Logansport, a Class 1A version of what Many has been for the past decade plus.
Logansport has made its home deep in the playoffs, advancing to the Division IV Non-Select semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion South Plaquemines.
The six-point loss is the closest South Plaquemines had all playoffs, which included a 20-7 win over Class 1A power Haynesville in the championship game.
Hassell is bringing renewed energy to the Many sidelines along with a new offense and defense.
The visiting Tigers will be met with a charged Logansport atmosphere, not much different than what awaits opponents headed to Sabine Parish on Friday nights.
More important than the final score in the season opener, Hassell wants to show the Many community that the toughness and hard-nosed play that built the Many dynasty is back.
“We’re going back to hard-nosed football. We have a rich tradition of winning at Many,” said Hassell. “But first and foremost, we want that respect back. That’s what we’re battling for right now.
“We’re not going to compare ourselves to last season, but you never waste a failure, either. We’re going to have a chip on our shoulders. I think we have a dangerous football team. If you expect an 0-10 Many team, you’re going to be disappointed. We’re coming week in, and week out,” he said.