MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Glorilla may be one star putting Melrose High School on the map, but the Wildcats football team is shining on the field.
The team was recently recognized by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
“This team is led by a fleet of dynamic coaches, most volunteering their time,” said Commissioner Britney Thornton.
Gerald Morrow and his twin brother Jarrett are in their first season as head coaches of their alma mater.
“I don’t think people realize how hard it is to take an inner city school that hadn’t been to the state championship in 19 years and to be able to do it that quick over time is nobody but God,” said Gerald Morrow, Co-head coach.
Ryan Brown, a senior running back, said faith helped but it was really the coaches and volunteers.
“They gave us confidence, a confidence boost,” Brown said. “Once you have a coach who talks to you, keeps pushing you, and is not only worried about football, he wants to know your life. He wants to know what’s going on. He wants to know did you eat today? Did you do this today? Did you do that? He’s asking you questions.
JJ Jones, senior wide receiver, agrees. He said it was the connections off the field that fueled them.
“Knowing that I have multiple father figures just sitting around and not just telling us about football, but telling us about the circle of life, it just is very touching,” Jones said. “Other coaches aren’t really doing that. They just football, football, football.
But for Coach Gerald, it is bigger than football.
“Orange Mound is a one-of-one. It is the first, black community built by blacks for blacks. Everybody rallies around the football team and it actually spreads through the community,” Gerald said.
The Morrow twins were freshmen on the last team in 1998 to win a State championship at Melrose High School.
“Hopefully this year we gone get on there with a gold ball,” Gerald said.
Though the Wildcats didn’t bring a trophy home this year, they brought back so much more to the Orange Mound community.
“I feel like that’s what we needed,” Jones said.
Both seniors are members of the National Honor Society and plan to pursue professional football.