“If Coach Samples is the Godfather, then I have to be Michael Corleone,” said Coach Jason Todd, head football coach for the South Oak Cliff Golden Bears, as he remembers his time becoming the prodigy he is today. At 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, at Southern Methodist University’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium, the godfather and the prodigy will face off following historic seasons for both teams.
This isn’t the first time these two teams have met each other, but it is the first time that both are coming off state championship wins – and the anticipation has been rising since the schedule was announced.
The ties between Coach Reginald Samples of Duncanville High School and South Oak Cliff’s Coach Todd run much deeper than just football. Todd’s recollection of Samples goes back to his childhood. Todd’s grandfather was Samples’ principal, and their relationship has grown since then. Later, when Todd attended Lincoln High School, he came across a familiar face when he joined the football team under Samples’ leadership.
During Todd’s time as a student-athlete, Samples became more of a mentor. After college, Todd returned to Lincoln as coach and soaked up as much knowledge of the game as possible from Samples.
“He’s taught me a lot about this game and I’m grateful for it, but you start to realize that experience is the best teacher,” Todd said. “You don’t bump your head as much when you learn from someone with wisdom like that.”
There is much respect and adoration between the two. In 2015, Todd took his first head coach assignment at South Oak Cliff High School, where he built on the wisdom and knowledge gained over their decades-long football bond.
“Samp is definitely still my mentor, he’s been doing this longer than I have with a little more wisdom, and I know I can always use him as a resource,” said Todd. “This game feels kind of like a family reunion when you are waiting to get to the spades table to either redeem yourself or get put back in your place.”
It’s not often that two high school state champion football teams play their season opener at a college football stadium. Only 10 miles separate the schools, which can stir up a lot of friendly chatter, as bragging rights on the line.
“If we win this game, it’ll be a lot of excitement from the standpoint that no one in Texas besides maybe two programs have beaten Duncanville in the last six years,” said Todd. “If you can beat this team, then it will be a monumental win for your program. This would be a huge victory, but that doesn’t mean we’re taking our eyes off the next opponent.”
This will be the Golden Bears’ and Panthers’ fourth consecutive meeting. South Oak Cliff hopes to bring back a season opener victory, as the Bears have previously fallen short.
The Golden Bears have a strenuous lineup this season before heading into district play where a possibility of a three-peat is on the horizon. They will face the Desoto Eagles and Parish Episcopal Panthers, both reigning state champions in their respective divisions, and the number two-ranked Lancaster Tigers.
As for now, Todd says, “I want to focus on one game at a time and I think I can speak for both Samp and myself when I say we want a crowd out there to come out and enjoy a good football game. You’ll get to see which of these two top programs makes the least mistakes and is most prepared to win.”
Tickets for the South Oak Cliff vs. Duncanville game can be purchased online or on-site.
