Parade Celebrates Booker T. Washington High School Win
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- There is one thing Booker T. Washington High School's football team is not: slow. The team hustled Friday, boarding buses for a parade to celebrate their national championship.
Senior defensive end Demetrius Jackson smiled as he took it all in.
"We've been state champs two times but we are national champs now. It feels great to be a national champ. We wouldn't have it any other way," said Jackson.
Booker T. Washington High School is sandwiched between the interstate, the Metro-rail, and the poverty of Overtown as far as you can see.
"It's a great feeling to do something big. We are coming from nothing. We are just trying to get to the top where everybody else is," said Senior Jordan Ingram. The offensive/defensive lineman explained how they rose up when many said they couldn't.
On Friday, the street marched to a beat of the marching band while children cheered from behind the bars of their neighborhood schools. The community stepped out of their homes and shops, smiling with pride.
Coach Tim "ice" Harris has a lot to celebrate since 85% of his seniors have plans to go to college.
Defensive lineman Oswald Joseph is headed to Mississippi next year.
"When I started off playing I had a real low GPA. I've raised my GPA to the standard and I'm looking forward to going to college," said Joseph.
"What's the secret to becoming national champs," asked CBS4's David Sutta.
"Hard work dedication," Ingram repeated.
Coach Harris chimed in, "That's the formula. Work hard. Not just in sports, but in life. From this point forward they will know how to work and continue to work."
Harris said he has no plans to slow down. They'll start practice in just two weeks to be back on the national stage.
