October 2, 2026 — Harrison High School’s football players traded helmets and shoulder pads for moving boxes and furniture. It wasn’t part of a locker room remodel, nor was it a trendy new training method. This, instead, was a labor of love and a chance to honor a member of the Hoya community who gives so much without expectation of anything in return. 

Dwight Randall, a nighttime custodian at Harrison, had been living in his Dallas rental home for several years when the owners decided to sell. He and his wife found another home about seven minutes away, but at 72 years old, the reality of moving heavy furniture, boxes, and belongings was daunting.

“I told my wife, ‘We have to move, and I'm too old to move this stuff, but I don't have any other choice,’” Randall said.

Randall mentioned his upcoming move to Harrison Athletic Director Wes Ellis and football coach Luqman Salam. Ellis and Salam have known Randall for nearly two decades, dating back to their days together at Hillgrove High School.

"'I told Dwight, 'You can't do this on your own,'" Ellis recalled, "'When it comes time to move, you will need some help, so let us know.'"

Coach Salam put those words into action.

"Coach Salam said to me, ‘Don't move a thing. I will have a couple of boys here, and we'll bring a truck,'" Randall remembered. "Coach called me on Sunday, and he said, ‘We'll be there between 7:30 and 8:00 tomorrow.' They got there at 7:15 in the morning on Labor Day with, like, 20 or so boys, and they went to work."

The players were not there because they were required to be. Salam made the opportunity voluntary, and the players embraced it immediately.

“Because of the deep respect and care our program has for Mr. Randall as an elder and mentor, we wanted to help,” the Coach explained. “Because it was Labor Day and we had a morning practice scheduled, we were able to organize the effort without disrupting our season preparation. We encouraged the players to help, and they embraced the idea right away. Their willingness to serve was instant and wholehearted.”

Mr. Randall and his wife were amazed as a crew of defensive players carried boxes, hauled furniture, and moved belongings onto a truck. Four or five coaches helped with logistics, instructed on how to take things apart, and managed the truck loading.   

“They had the truck loaded by 9:00,” Randall said in disbelief. 

After a seven-minute, three-mile drive to the new rental property, the Randalls were even more amazed. 

“When we got to the new house, I was even more impressed because there were 20 or more different boys at the new house, and another four or five different coaches were there with them,” Randall chuckled.

Members of the offensive team had shown up as the unloading crew. 

“It was phenomenal,” Randall said humbly. “They had the truck unloaded and everything in place where my wife wanted it between 11:00 and 12:00. It was so great. They came in and worked that day. Nobody complained about anything. They would ask, ‘Where do you want this, Mr. Dwight?’ and they just did it.”

Athletic Director Ellis had shown up to help that day, too, but realized quickly that the team had taken the task to heart. 

“They could see an immediate impact,” he said. “They could see the joy in the faces of those they were helping. They had that truck unloaded and furniture put where it was supposed to go in about an hour and a half. Something that would have taken a week or more, our players had it done within hours. It was great to see.” 

Harrison junior wide receiver Parker Perkins, a member of the team’s leadership group, reported that there were no issues finding volunteers to help Mr. Randall.

“Custodians often get taken for granted,” Parker acknowledged, “so this was something that we knew we needed to go do. We needed to make sure we take care of our community and the people who pour into us. We need to pour right back into them. So, we were all very excited to go help him.”

Harrison junior quarterback Aiden Watson, also a member of the leadership team, agreed.

“When someone gets put in a bad position like that, having to move houses, you kind of feel it personally,” he said. “The only thing I wanted to do was go help. We're all here for each other, you know? Every day.”

This is the kind of character that AD Ellis and Coach Salam hope for.

"Our mantra is 'Values Over Victories,'" Ellis emphasized. "Our belief is that if you get values right, victories will take care of themselves. We want to operate with class. We want to operate with excellence. And the underlying message there to our kids and our coaches is always ‘Values Over Victories.'" 

Coach Salam added his thoughts.

"Service is a core value in our football program,” he said. “We teach our players to look for ways to help others and to act with integrity, respect, and humility. Helping Mr. Randall was a real-life opportunity to practice those values. It was a labor of service and love."

As for Mr. Randall and his family, they felt the love.

"Oh man, it brings tears to my eyes," he said while truly wiping away tears. “It's hard to describe what it means to me. It showed that they care about me as much as I care about them. I'm a custodian. I do what I have to do or what I'm told to do. I tell myself that they can't learn in a dirty place, so I try to make it more like a home environment. I try to make it feel fresh and nice for them. If the floor needs mopping, I mop the floor. I sweep the floor. If the trash needs emptying, I empty it. Whatever it takes to make their day better. It meant the world to me, seeing them come together for me. They showed up, and they showed out, and I am really, really grateful."

The timing of the story is especially fitting as Cobb County School District recognizes National School Custodian Appreciation Day on October 2. Across Cobb Schools, custodians like Mr. Randall are essential members of school teams, contributing daily to welcoming environments where students can learn and staff can work.

For Harrison’s football players, the Labor Day move was not about recognition. It was about showing up for someone who consistently shows up for them.

On that day, the most important victory did not come beneath the Friday night lights. It came through teamwork, gratitude, and service to a valued member of the Harrison community.

h/t non-branded photos provided by Harrison High School