Athletic Director Rodney Southern Highlights School’s Progress and Upcoming Community Event
Huntsville, TX — Huntsville ISD’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Rodney Southern, is gearing up for a memorable community event: the Hornet Alumni Tailgate. Scheduled for Saturday, May 11, this gathering aims to reconnect former students with the school’s thriving athletic community.
“We are in a really good place right now, athletically,” said Southern, reflecting on the recent upgrades and successes across the district’s sports programs. “It’s exciting to see, and it’s been almost 22 months of planning, construction, and sometimes, it gets tiresome, but the end result is exciting for everyone involved.”
The event is designed to foster a sense of pride and nostalgia among alumni, many of whom have not seen the substantial improvements to the school’s facilities. These include new football, baseball and softball complexes that are already drawing interest for rentals, highlighting the community’s enhanced reputation as a hub for sports.
Southern expressed his anticipation for the tailgate, explaining its purpose: “We’re trying something kind of unique. Normally in communities like ours, kids who have graduated in the past 10 to 20 years come back here to work and raise their families. Any opportunity we can have to bring them back to see what has transpired since they left is important. While the event focuses on reconnecting with alumni, the entire community is welcome to join the celebration, not just our former students.”
The tailgate event will start with a scrimmage from 8:00 AM to around 10:00 AM, followed by the alumni gathering in the parking lot next to the new field house. Attendees are encouraged to bring their grills and set up smokers to share in food, stories, and camaraderie. The day is not only about reminiscing but also about showcasing the school’s state-of-the-art facilities to the wider community.
“This is a chance for our current kids to see the people who come back and hopefully, it excites them a bit more,” Southern added. “It’s about fellowship with alumni and letting all of this community see the facilities that they helped bring to fruition by passing the bond.”
The Hornet Alumni Tailgate promises to be a day of fun, memories, and community spirit, reinforcing the bond between past and present members of the Huntsville Hornet family, and welcoming all community members to join in the festivities.
