When the 2018 football season ended, the university football team ultimately missed the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

Along with recruiting a whole new coaching staff and getting Cole Kelley, the transfer quarterback from the University of Arkansas, Frank Scelfo, head coach of football, still found time to donate his time and efforts to the Tangipahoa community.

Scelfo shared why he feels that community service and volunteering is important.

“We love to support Hammond and the community because they support and show our team so much love,” stated Scelfo. “These people come out on game day. They get loud and show their support. We feel that giving back to the community is so important.”

The native of Abbeville feels that the relationship between the community and the football team is important for both sides.

“It’s a win-win situation for both sides when both the community and the team support one another,” commented Scelfo. “It’s important that the community knows our players, and the player knows our community. One day we will be a part of the community. One day, there is going to be a lot of these players who live in the community, send the kids to school here and have their families here. You want to be embedded here.”

Dustin Jolliff, a sophomore industrial technology major, shared how he sees Scelfo as a leader in the community.

“I always see on Twitter coach Scelfo and a few of the players helping out in the community,” shared Jolliff. “It is pretty cool to see a team and coaching staff care so much about the community they play in and for. Ever since attending Southeastern, I have kept up with the football team and I always notice how much the team is involved with Hammond and the Tangipahoa community.”

Jolliff explained why he feels a relationship between the team and the community is so important.

“I think it shows that both sides really care for one another,” said Jolliff. “When you go to restaurants you hear the locals talking about how great of a guy Coach Scelfo is, and you always hear about the work he is putting in off the field. I think when the coaches and players get involved with the community, it develops a relationship outside the lines.”

With the regular season ending on Nov. 21, Scelfo explained what the team will be doing during the off-season.

“We are still going to go out there and provide for the community,” claimed Scelfo. “We are going to read to the lab school students. We are going to help fill sandbags whenever they’re needed. The players and coaches help tutor the kids in school who might be struggling. We help everyone who puts in a request for our help.”

With Saturday night’s 47-30 victory against Stephen F. Austin University the Lions regular season record now sits at 5-3.