HSFT Stop #58: West Point
For West Point football, success is nothing new. The Green Wave went 13-1 last season, making a run all the way to the state championship game. Now, with new head coach Robert Burton taking over, the expectations haven’t changed.
Burton previously served as West Point’s associate head coach and defensive line coach. Now, he’s tasked with keeping one of Mississippi’s most successful programs moving forward.
“Success is going to be going out there doing the best we can every Friday night. Our schedule is extremely tough beginning in the year. It’s going to be hard, but on the other side of hard is good, and we’ve got to do the best we can to make sure we’re prepared going into division play,” Burton said.
That challenge starts immediately. West Point opens the 2026 campaign with a big-time matchup against Louisville, putting the team’s new-look leadership to the test from the start.
And although the man in charge has changed, the standard has not.
“Our standard would be to put the best in play as hard as we possibly can every Friday night, refuse to lose in any rep that we do, have tough people with a mindset and, you know, be a pro, make sure we’re moving around, doing the right thing, taking care of our business, working hard, cleaning it up, picking up our trash, moving from station to station, transition and just doing the best we can each and every day we come to work,” Burton said.
For West Point’s seniors, there’s a sense of urgency. They’ve already been to the top of the mountain, and they know what it takes to make another run.
“It’s our last chance, you know, the last chance to get it right. Can’t disappoint,” West Point left tackle James Coggins said.
Jermaine Taylor, a West Point offensive lineman, said every player has a role in making the team successful.
“Everybody has their own role, plays their own part, makes us a unit. Everybody’s working together. This is a brotherhood,” Taylor said.
That Green Wave brotherhood, combined with the experience of a team that already has played for a state title, has West Point believing it can make another run. And Burton said this group has already shown him the work ethic needed to get there.
“This group of players that we’ve got has done really good. They work really hard. You never have to beg them to practice or get after it. You know, they’re going to give great effort every day. They’re going to work. They’re going to refuse to lose, you know, take it tough people with a mindset, and just proud for the seniors. You know, we go with our seniors. Seniors know they got to lead the team, get us together and get us going,” Burton said.
With a new coach, a new season and the same high expectations, West Point isn’t looking to rebuild. It’s looking to get back to where it was just one year ago.
“We haven’t changed much. We’re going to work harder. Just keep going,” Taylor said.
West Point begins its 2026 season Aug. 28 against Louisville.
