Rush Propst’s time at Pell City appeared it would only last one season but following a failed motion to vote by the Pell City Board of Education, the Propst Era will see a second season.

Pell City junior football player Karsen Scott and many of his teammates packed Wednesday’s Pell City Board of Education meeting in support of Propst.

“Coach Propst has trained me a lot,” he said. “He’s given me opportunities, especially on the collegiate level. He’s changed me a lot. He’s molded me into a young man.”

No reasons were given publicly for the attempt to fire Propst and the crowd that gathered at the meeting was overwhelmingly supportive of him – cheering loudly and hugging when the motion failed.

“It’s amazing,” Scott said. “Look at all these boys and all the smiles. It is amazing. I see us winning some football games. I see success, not just as a football team but as a community.”

The city and school are certainly hungry for success. The Panthers haven’t won a playoff game since 2012 and are a combined 14-46 since 2018.

Propst went 1-9 in his first season in Pell City, though the team forfeited one win due to an eligibility issue and was competitive in most losses.

“I think this is going to bring a championship to the city, and it brings hope,” said David Yarbrough, whose son is a football player at the school, after the meeting concluded. “You wouldn’t have football games like you did last year with the energy and attendance if you didn’t have someone like coach Propst creating that buzz.”

Annette Snow’s son, Michael, is a senior football and basketball player at Pell City. He has signed a football scholarship at Samford.

“Coach Propst has made a difference in the attitude and spirit of our athletes and many of our students,” she said. “He has given them a fighting spirit. Today at the meeting, I spoke to several parents of basketball players, cheerleaders, volleyball players, baseball and softball players. Many participants in these other sports were at the meeting, also.

“They were all there to support a coach who is making a difference. Sure, everything has not come to fruition, but he is interested in changing all of our programs for the better. It has to start somewhere, and it is beginning with our football program.”

Yarbrough said he doesn’t believe some members of the five-member Board of Education like change. He didn’t specify which members. Norman Wilder and Greg Crump both spoke passionately in defense of Propst at the meeting.

“They don’t want to be pushed, and I think they’ve had this on their mind for over a month,” Yarbrough said of the Board. “It’s obvious with the leaks we have been seeing on Facebook and on social media. I think they were getting pressured from the people who don’t like coach Propst or don’t support him.”

Yarbrough said the support and crowd at the meeting was “fantastic.” There also was a large crowd at a peaceful protest for Propst on Tuesday afternoon. He said he has seen firsthand how hard the team is working to improve.

“It really matters to me,” he said. “I watch how hard the kids are working in the offseason. They are working really hard, and it’s something they haven’t done in years here. They are doing what whey are supposed to do.”

Scott said mediocre people do not like high-achieving people, re-iterating something Crump said in his defense of Propst during the meeting.

“That’s a problem here, but we are working to solve that,” Scott said.

What does he want to see next?

“I want a championship,” he said. “That’s all we are worried about right now. We got this settled, so we are ready to go. … I see success, not just as a football team but as a community.”

Snow said it is obvious to see how much Propst cares about the team.

“He is making them believe they can win, but he pushes them to be the best they can be,” she said. “He insists that they keep up with their academics and stresses the importance of good grades. He cares about their health.

“Since Michael has been there, no coach has done this. Michael has a full football scholarship to Samford, which is due to coach Propst and his staff and that’s with him only playing under him for one season. The number of visits to colleges by current players is amazing already.

“We are so pleased with the outcome of this meeting.”

Propst told AL.com following the meeting that he feels the support from the community for his team and is resolute that he will get the job done.

“There is always going to be back biting,” he said. “You are going to have to fight through things, but the good thing is better days are ahead. I want to thank the Board for continuing to give me this opportunity. I’m excited to be the coach here. We have a lot of work to do. It won’t turn around quickly. It will take some time. This thing was dead on arrival when I got here, and I’m excited to move in a positive direction.”

Crump said the motion to non-renew Propst was not about the students at all. He said it was about “adults with bruised egos” who want control over everything.

“Our town deserves more from our leaders,” he said.