August 18, 2026 • 25 mins
Worth County football head coach Jeff Hammond previews the Rams’ 2026 season opener against Brooks County and explains how extreme South Georgia heat has affected practice and preparation during game week.
Coach Hammond also breaks down Brooks County’s physical style, the importance of getting Worth County’s offensive line game ready, and what the defending state champions must overcome to start the season with a win.
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Coach Hammond also breaks down Brooks County’s physical style, the importance of getting Worth County’s offensive line game ready, and what the defending state champions must overcome to start the season with a win.
Presented by Phoebe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine #sponsored
For more great coverage of high school sports in Georgia, Florida, and across the country, visit www.itgnext.com.
Follow us on socials!
Instagram: @itgnext.georgia
Facebook: @itgnext.georgia
TikTok: @itgnext
X (Twitter): @itgnext_georgia
YouTube: @itgnext
Are you a business that wants to work with ITG Next? Email us at info@itgnext.com or visit our website to learn more about advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right, got in to another edition of the Worth County
Coaching Show with the head coach. Do youma Hammond coach,
how's it going?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's going pretty good, pretty good to wellsbispector right now.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So coach the overriding and we'll get into the game
talk here in a little bit. But the weather and
trying to get ready for a football game. But this
South Georgia heat seems to be getting worse and worse
every year.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I don't know. I'm not a weatherman, but it certainly
has affected you guys.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
We yes, and with our policies we have, we're limited
on when we can go out. It's there's ways around it.
Practice in the morning, which that's not conducive for us.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
I've got.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Our county is so big geographically is I've got kids
that takes thirty to thirty five minutes to get to school,
and I don't feel comfortable putting those kids on a
vehicle before sun's up and getting here when they're when
they're not fully fresh and all like that. I couldn't
live myself if something bad happened. And also, I mean,
(01:10):
I've got kids that parents have to work early in
the morning, are working actually that is getting up and
getting brothers and sisters ready to go to school. I mean,
it's so it's really limiting us that we have to
go in the afternoons. And how the policy states is
when we can go out, what we can do when
(01:30):
we go out, how long we can be out?
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Uh there there. It's rough right now.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And the good news of it is is to guys
i'm playing, they're pretty much on the same the same avenue.
I mean, they don't have the advantage on us that
some of these places went indoors out. I mean that's
I've always said. Even when I was at coquit in
twenty eighteen and we got an indoor for the first time,
(01:57):
the greatest thing about that bill was not having to
put the kids out there and heat and and them
expended expending energy by just staying out in it. I
mean I yesterday I was outside. We get started for
five minutes and I'm not even running around and I'm
soaking wet. Imagine what these kids are losing that are
running around in practice.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
So it is very difficult time for us.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And obviously, like I said before we
went on the air, you know, it's it's every coach.
You know, we do several of these coaches shows, and uh,
every coach is battling this situation.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
And listen, Yeah, they say that you can't do anything
about mother nature. I get that, we all get that.
But the fact is, you know, these repetitions, these this practice. Yeah,
there's a reason teams practice as much as they do.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Yeah, I mean, and first and foremost is safety.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
And when they don't get the reputation, repetitions and practice
of doing their job correctly and expect them to go
out there on the game there, there's there's a chance
of entry. And yeah, it's just it's frustrating. It is
very frustrating. That is that really the only sport that
(03:20):
gets limited in all this is football. It's the only
sport that has different rules than everybody else. If you're
in any other sport like baseball or softball, you don't have.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Gear to take off. I mean, So, I mean that's
I mean.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But on the flip side of it, is is I mean,
I've got two things that haven't happened to me knock
on wood yet, is I haven't had a kid go
down with a heat illness or somebody gets struck by
a light and I much rather err on on being
smart about it and not not putting our kids in
a bad situation health wise. But I just wish it
(04:02):
was some more leeway for for us to make good
decisions as coaches. I mean it's because I don't know.
I mean, when ninety degrees we can be in helmets only.
What's the difference between eighty nine point nine and ninety degrees.
It's it really isn't much difference so at all that
(04:24):
you're gonna feel it. So those are the frustration things
that you get.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
That it's hot.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
We know it's hot. We're gonna we're gonna practice and burst.
We're gonna give plenty of water breaks. We're gonna make
sure there's water available wherever they go and to take.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Care of them. But when you when, but when you have.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Rules set in place, and and and if you break
the rules and something bad happens, then I'm gonna be liable.
The school system is gonna be liable. And it's more
than than your job. I mean, if I break the
rules and something out of tropic happens, there's a good
chance I'm going to jail. So if Gay puts rules
(05:06):
in I don't care what rule they have, We're going
to follow them to the.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Seat right.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Well, here's the thing about it, coach, And for those
of you watching this, I promise you we're going to
get into some football talk as far as the game stuff.
But this is important because it actually affects the game stuff.
So these same rules, like if it's whatever the cutoff
is degree wise, And I know when games start at
(05:35):
seven thirty eight o'clock, it's gonna be a little cooler,
but not much. I mean, ask anybody that goes out
seven o'clock seven thirty at night. It's still very hot.
But no matter what, there is no web book reading,
there's no rules. Well when the game starts except for
more water breaks.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Except for more water breaks. I mean they'll take two
water breaks per a quarter instead of one, so.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
That you got that. But I be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
When we played Valdosta the night, it was low mid
eighties temperature at game time, but it was more miserable
because humidity was so high than it is when it's
ninety degrees outside. I mean, so it's there's there is
no there is no easy way to do it. I mean,
it's just the time we're playing I mean, I mean,
(06:27):
to be honest, I would be all for us back
in football up and and not having an open week
and things like that rather than I mean we we
were in pads in the last week of July, so
I mean, I mean we we we have been going
for a while now, and that it's just different. It's
(06:49):
just different for us where we've getten this one week
and it seems like the weather, this heat, this heat
on that's on us and all this it's like every
couple of years, it's not. I mean, like right year,
I didn't miss one single practice with worbo.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
We were able to get out every day at a
reasonable time. I'm able to get them home at a
reasonable time. But I remember a couple of years ago,
it was staring at the at the instrument and what's
it saying?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
All right? When can I go out? Versus when can
I not go out? All right?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Do I do an indoor practice at the gym? Which
are for me in football. It's god awful of going
to the gym in practicing, but it's something that we're
gonna have to do. I mean, we just if we
got to get the we got to get the repsick.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah, so this is obviously an issue.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
I think it's something that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
We're going to try to address, maybe through some kind
of a written story and get coaches opinions, because something,
you know has got to change.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
But you're right.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I think what's keeping any kind of change taken place
is the fact that, like you said, it doesn't seem
to be an every year thing, but you know, when
it does hit, it affects everybody. And and you and
I were talking before we went on the air. You
know this is only applicable to the varsity level, not
(08:17):
the middle school level.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Correct, And the middle school level is each school systems
makes the decision on that. So at the high school level,
we all fall under the GHSA and we agreeed to
do whatever their rules are.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
And and but the.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Middle school they don't have an association, they don't middle
schools do not fall under under the gs So the
wet bulb is not a factor with them, so sore
they're able to get out. And I mean, and it's
really weird. It's that you've got the older ones who
(08:53):
play faster and a lot more can go wrong just
because of body size. So they're getting more mature having
to sit inside not been on practice. But you got
thirteen fourteen year olds out there running around and getting
their work in.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
So I mean then.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
There's that, and people don't understand that. Why is the
middle school practice in the high school? And we have
different rules. I mean, it's not that we were soft
or don't want to go out there and work. We
just have different guidelines that we have to follow the
they do.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, and obviously it's hot for everybody, you know, to
the middle schoolers, I think just goes there a couple
of years younger.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I don't think it makes that much of it anyway.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
These are things that somewhere, somehow is going to have
to take a look at.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And I'll say this.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
And we'll start talking to football the coach. I sound
like to some of the younger p watching this, this
is gonna sound like get out of my card that
kind of talk from the older guys.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
It wasn't that long one, remember that.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Oh yeah, I trust me. I remember. I mean, there, there,
there's there's And we.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Started with let's let's let's bring the corky kell in,
let's go play zero week, right, and people started liking
and opening Oh, it's not fair that the Corky Kill
people were able to play on zero.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Week and they get an open week before a big
region game.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So we had region games, then we had another our
open weeks, then we had another open week.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But they're still getting to play.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
So it's it's it's went backwards and and a lot
of it has to do with is all right we're
gonna play on the neutral site?
Speaker 4 (10:49):
When is that neutral side available?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Uh? And and things like that. So, I mean, I mean,
I'm old enough now. I mean the school I played for,
I played both ways on every special team. I remember
us having one water break in the middle of practice
that you got even got a sip of water, and
you wouldn't fit at you now, I mean, but they.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Have to put these policies in place. I mean, there
have been some.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Unfortunate incidents and some adults that made real bad decisions.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
They don't that don't acclimate all.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Summer and they get out there the first day of
practice and want to go four hours and the back
then the whity cramp deal was all their soft they cramped.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
No, they're not.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
They're not drinking enough fluids, they're not eating enough food.
We're a lot better about focusing on those type of
stuff now than they were in the old days, but
we still have to err on the safety of the kids.
You just wish that all the adults that are in
charge of these kids would always think of think of
their kids like their own child and and not put
(12:00):
them in a situation, and we wouldn't have to have
these rules. But that's not the case. I mean, the
rules in place because there's been too many people not
using common sense and so and and I'm very grateful
that Justay is thinking about our kids, but it's I
wish we could come to a common ground some way
(12:22):
or either moved to season back where this is not
as big an issue, or or I don't.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I don't have an answer right now.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
It's just frustrating that we're ready to go to work,
and we're ready to go get ready to play a
ball game, and we're limited on what we can do
for this opponent because of when when can we practice?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, So again, this is something I think that we
you know, we being it TG next, you know, we
need to address what do you talk to coaches? Because
and I'll say this and we can move on. I
mentioned the Labor Day For those of you that aren't aware,
maybe too young to remember, high school football season forever
started on Labor Day weekend Georgia. The collegists started on
(13:07):
Labor Day weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday. High school college professional
that was the starting weekend. And coach, as far as
the high school goes, I don't remember one complaint or
one mispractice I think in the point I'm making, I
think just those two three weeks difference moving the season back,
(13:32):
because again we used to do it, don't anymore.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I think those two or three weeks makes a.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Tremendous difference in this in the heat related stuff we're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Well man, there's benefits of both. I mean, let's let's
let's be let's be honest, having those open weeks in
a season that you might get somebody well.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Back that that was banged.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Up, that wouldn't have played in a big game. That
there's there's I mean, I like having an open week
in the middle of season. I don't think I need
too one would be sufficient. And then but my whole
thing about that is, though put us on on the
(14:17):
same playing field.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
If we're gonna have one open week, we have one
open week. I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It's tough going to somebody that has two open weeks
and I have one.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Uh. It's just we all got to be on the
same on the same field.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Got you.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Well, speaking of getting on the field, let's talk about
you guys will finally get on the field Friday night, Uh,
and finally get ready to start the season in twenty
twenty sixth season. Uh, and it's gonna be a big one.
Brooks County the opponent. Talk a little bit about the game.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well, I mean, I mean we've played Brooks the last
couple of years. I've been at fortunate enough to play
Brooks a bunch of my career.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
A different style.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
They're always ass and they're always fysical and and and
that's they have that.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Ingrained in their town and their culture.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
They know how to win. They they they've done a
good job. So and the last time they came over
here to they beat us. So we're trying to make
sure that don't happen again. And and it's gonna be
a great challenge. They have some really good skilled kids
that are that are you have to know where there
are on the field every time, urge you and they're
(15:28):
very aggressive on defense.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I mean, it's it's gonna be it's gonna be a
hard first game for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Let me ask you, as far as you know opponents
like like this. I mean, you know we've talked about
the new power ranking system. I mean, these are the
games you want to play, These are the type programs
you want to play, because I think it's advantageous as
far as this particular system is concerned. Uh, did that
affect the way that you put together your schedule? Oh?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Not really, I'll be honest with you. I pile ranking
is what it is.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Is.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
It's gonna be one of those things where if I'm
good enough at the end, I'm gonna be good enough
at the end to win in or not so. And
our schedule was it's it's either we We had to play.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
A lot of quality opponents because.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Other opponents are sized they were. They feel like we're
at a different level than they are some years. We
might be in some years with my mind, but we
have a reputation now being a good football team.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And Brooks has had to deal with that for years.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean they struggle to find people who would play
them because it was playing Brooks was, yeah, I might
beat you, but I'm gonna beat up be beat up
after end of the game because how physical they were,
and and that and.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
That's it is.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
It's scheduling is getting difficult, and that yards for some
of us that did have success in the two years
of the last reclassification. And then you then you fall
into a deal where you play you end up having
to play somebody that's triple You're enrollment and playing kids
(17:19):
one one way. That ain't fair to our kids either
from going out there and throwing them to the wolves.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
I mean there's a big difference between between three.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
A and seven eight so and it's a lot more
from the numbers they've been able to pull from. If
you have me, are rollments eight hundred and fifty people
going to get since somebody that has has a rollment
of twenty four hundred, I mean that's almost three times
as big. I mean they should have three times as
many males to pick from. And and and football is
(17:51):
a sport where you can get hurt. I mean, we
can jump on some of the big worms and some
of the other sports and but I mean it's.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Not safe, all right.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And I'm more worried about the safety than I am
anything else.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So I suspect kick off Friday night, it's probably gonna
be uh, I don't know, somewhere around ninety degrees.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
And you know the other thing is the fans have
to sit through it too.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Only nine degrees or we're gonna get a thunderstorm that's
gonna put us in the lightning delay. And it's but
that's why it's been this last week. It's when the
wet bulb has gotten us where we can't go outside,
and when the wet bulb is down where we can't
go outside, we've got lightning hitting all around us for
an hour or so. I mean this, this has been
(18:39):
a fun week or so, just dealing with what's coming
next with the weather.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, I don't think he actually literally means fun foulk.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
So so take into that what you will. But let
me ask you this and we'll wrap things up.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
What what percentage of over of your overall prep ration
time practice time do you think has been affected?
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Well, I think weather related Well, to me, the the
the number one thing.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And I don't care where where you're at, if it
could be the smallest of school to the biggest of school.
And I've been I've been all the top and Bottle
is early on. Is the position group that's usually behind is.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Your offensive line.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
I mean it takes three or four games for them
to jail, to get different looks and to get confident
and what they're really doing.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
And and they they're those are the guys who.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Really need the reps. I mean, skill kids are skilled kids.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Let's be honest, we could we can teach them and
they and they they've used athletic ability that their God
given and we find too that to make them a
little bit better. But playing on lineski, it is, it
is different, and it's it is the hardest position to play.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
On the field.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You have the most you have to know, you have
to decipher moving targets within the within that system, and
you have to play where your body is not naturally
in a position that it's got to play to be
successful with wide days, all right, got to have you
exploding through your hips, loa load, flat back and all that.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
And those things take a while.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And and it was the same way when when we
had those really good office and cough we were okay
the first three or four games, but the last seven
or eight games we were pretty dang good because that
group finally gailed together and able to protect a quarterback
or give them give our back running lanes and and
so I think, to me, that's the biggest frustration I
(20:48):
have is there, so they've got to go do it,
and they got to go do a little pads on
and and and when they get caught up. And I think, uh,
coachman father would say the exact same thing with he
is is that when when our line jails and all that,
I think we'll have a pretty good football team.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
But until then, it's it's going to be hit or missed.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Well coach obviously till fans kickoff time.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Where is it at that kind of stuff?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
When we home this week seven point thirty, we're streaming
differently this year. We're doing all our streaming through Huddle.
We're gone away from the NHS. So really, yes, it's
it's it's it's more beneficial for your system, and it
(21:40):
kind of bridges the gap of people staying at home
and not come into games. And where we get a
better cut from the streaming.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
We we didn't get hardly.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Anything when we streamed through in NFHS. They did a
good job, but financially it was more more where we
can set prices of individual games to stream versus a
monthly subscription or a season subscription. So I mean, so
(22:13):
it was just trying to try and to do what's
best for us. And we're already using that system for
filming practices and games and it's a very high quality shot.
So we just went ahead and made that decision to
go with them.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Interesting, of course Number one objected those to get people
in the.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Sense, Oh I agree, I agree, but I mean sometimes
it's tough for a family that has five or six
of them to come spend sixty bucks to come to
game when they might be able to pay ten dollars
and watch it from home. Yeah, so I get both.
I get both sides of it. But for us to
(22:56):
get a little bit more profit for us, because let's
say that, I mean, football is no more important than
any other sport we have in our system, but football
because the when it is and the number of people
that can attend, generates income that funds a lot of
(23:16):
our other sports. That gives them opportunity to have what
we have. And that's the way we look at it,
and it's and we're right now fortunate enough to have
a couple of good years that we've done okay financially.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
All right, so just making sure we stay on top
of that.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Well, coach man, best of luck to you guys Friday night.
I'm sure there's gonna be a big crowd. That's gonna
be one of the bigger games that people are going
to be interested in and kick off seven thirty and
kind of the theme of this discussion, we'll end with this,
be sure to hydrate as coach him and makes that
(23:59):
clear to his players, We're gonna make that that same
message clear to you guys if you're going out to
watch the game, Hidra, I promise you'll make you feel
a lot better. Uh, and then get to buy more
water at the concession stand. That usually helps them benefits
off of that, don't they.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Oh yeah, they get they get our concessions.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I do a good job, coach, Best of love Friday night.
It's gonna be a great game, and yeah, can't wait
to talk to you about it.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Well, I hope we have. Hope we'll have a good conversation,
not the bad ones.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
They're all good with you, my man.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
My man, I'll talk to you so.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Okay, Coach Havan, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
There he is Jeff Hammond, head coach of the Worth
County Rams, talking a little weather, talking a little football,
and it all effects the same thing. By the way,
I want to give a big shout out to our
friends at Phoebe Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. They're the reason
we're able to have this weekly conversation with coach Jeff Hammond.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Uh talking.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
We're County football and I want to give you guys
a message about Phoebe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Whether you
need complex orthopedic trauma, surgery or treatment for a minor
pickleball injury, that's right the team with Phoebe Orthopedics and
Sports Medicine. As you covered, they've got the largest orthopedics
team in Southwest Georgia and their experienced physicians, advanced practice providers,
(25:21):
certified athletic trainers and physical and occupational therapists focus on
restoring mobility, relieving pain and getting you back to the
activities you enjoy. Learn more at Phoebe Phoebe a better
way to orthopedic care and big thanks to them for
sponsoring our Worth County coaches show back next week and
(25:43):
talk about this game coming up with Brooks County right
here on the Worth County Coaches Show.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
On ITG next to see it
Right, got in to another edition of the Worth County
Coaching Show with the head coach. Do youma Hammond coach,
how's it going?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's going pretty good, pretty good to wellsbispector right now.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So coach the overriding and we'll get into the game
talk here in a little bit. But the weather and
trying to get ready for a football game. But this
South Georgia heat seems to be getting worse and worse
every year.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I don't know. I'm not a weatherman, but it certainly
has affected you guys.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
We yes, and with our policies we have, we're limited
on when we can go out. It's there's ways around it.
Practice in the morning, which that's not conducive for us.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
I've got.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Our county is so big geographically is I've got kids
that takes thirty to thirty five minutes to get to school,
and I don't feel comfortable putting those kids on a
vehicle before sun's up and getting here when they're when
they're not fully fresh and all like that. I couldn't
live myself if something bad happened. And also, I mean,
(01:10):
I've got kids that parents have to work early in
the morning, are working actually that is getting up and
getting brothers and sisters ready to go to school. I mean,
it's so it's really limiting us that we have to
go in the afternoons. And how the policy states is
when we can go out, what we can do when
(01:30):
we go out, how long we can be out?
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Uh there there. It's rough right now.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And the good news of it is is to guys
i'm playing, they're pretty much on the same the same avenue.
I mean, they don't have the advantage on us that
some of these places went indoors out. I mean that's
I've always said. Even when I was at coquit in
twenty eighteen and we got an indoor for the first time,
(01:57):
the greatest thing about that bill was not having to
put the kids out there and heat and and them
expended expending energy by just staying out in it. I
mean I yesterday I was outside. We get started for
five minutes and I'm not even running around and I'm
soaking wet. Imagine what these kids are losing that are
running around in practice.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
So it is very difficult time for us.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And obviously, like I said before we
went on the air, you know, it's it's every coach.
You know, we do several of these coaches shows, and uh,
every coach is battling this situation.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
And listen, Yeah, they say that you can't do anything
about mother nature. I get that, we all get that.
But the fact is, you know, these repetitions, these this practice. Yeah,
there's a reason teams practice as much as they do.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Yeah, I mean, and first and foremost is safety.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
And when they don't get the reputation, repetitions and practice
of doing their job correctly and expect them to go
out there on the game there, there's there's a chance
of entry. And yeah, it's just it's frustrating. It is
very frustrating. That is that really the only sport that
(03:20):
gets limited in all this is football. It's the only
sport that has different rules than everybody else. If you're
in any other sport like baseball or softball, you don't have.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Gear to take off. I mean, So, I mean that's
I mean.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But on the flip side of it, is is I mean,
I've got two things that haven't happened to me knock
on wood yet, is I haven't had a kid go
down with a heat illness or somebody gets struck by
a light and I much rather err on on being
smart about it and not not putting our kids in
a bad situation health wise. But I just wish it
(04:02):
was some more leeway for for us to make good
decisions as coaches. I mean it's because I don't know.
I mean, when ninety degrees we can be in helmets only.
What's the difference between eighty nine point nine and ninety degrees.
It's it really isn't much difference so at all that
(04:24):
you're gonna feel it. So those are the frustration things
that you get.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
That it's hot.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
We know it's hot. We're gonna we're gonna practice and burst.
We're gonna give plenty of water breaks. We're gonna make
sure there's water available wherever they go and to take.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Care of them. But when you when, but when you have.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Rules set in place, and and and if you break
the rules and something bad happens, then I'm gonna be liable.
The school system is gonna be liable. And it's more
than than your job. I mean, if I break the
rules and something out of tropic happens, there's a good
chance I'm going to jail. So if Gay puts rules
(05:06):
in I don't care what rule they have, We're going
to follow them to the.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Seat right.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Well, here's the thing about it, coach, And for those
of you watching this, I promise you we're going to
get into some football talk as far as the game stuff.
But this is important because it actually affects the game stuff.
So these same rules, like if it's whatever the cutoff
is degree wise, And I know when games start at
(05:35):
seven thirty eight o'clock, it's gonna be a little cooler,
but not much. I mean, ask anybody that goes out
seven o'clock seven thirty at night. It's still very hot.
But no matter what, there is no web book reading,
there's no rules. Well when the game starts except for
more water breaks.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Except for more water breaks. I mean they'll take two
water breaks per a quarter instead of one, so.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
That you got that. But I be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
When we played Valdosta the night, it was low mid
eighties temperature at game time, but it was more miserable
because humidity was so high than it is when it's
ninety degrees outside. I mean, so it's there's there is
no there is no easy way to do it. I mean,
it's just the time we're playing I mean, I mean,
(06:27):
to be honest, I would be all for us back
in football up and and not having an open week
and things like that rather than I mean we we
were in pads in the last week of July, so
I mean, I mean we we we have been going
for a while now, and that it's just different. It's
(06:49):
just different for us where we've getten this one week
and it seems like the weather, this heat, this heat
on that's on us and all this it's like every
couple of years, it's not. I mean, like right year,
I didn't miss one single practice with worbo.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
We were able to get out every day at a
reasonable time. I'm able to get them home at a
reasonable time. But I remember a couple of years ago,
it was staring at the at the instrument and what's
it saying?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
All right? When can I go out? Versus when can
I not go out? All right?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Do I do an indoor practice at the gym? Which
are for me in football. It's god awful of going
to the gym in practicing, but it's something that we're
gonna have to do. I mean, we just if we
got to get the we got to get the repsick.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah, so this is obviously an issue.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
I think it's something that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
We're going to try to address, maybe through some kind
of a written story and get coaches opinions, because something,
you know has got to change.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
But you're right.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I think what's keeping any kind of change taken place
is the fact that, like you said, it doesn't seem
to be an every year thing, but you know, when
it does hit, it affects everybody. And and you and
I were talking before we went on the air. You
know this is only applicable to the varsity level, not
(08:17):
the middle school level.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Correct, And the middle school level is each school systems
makes the decision on that. So at the high school level,
we all fall under the GHSA and we agreeed to
do whatever their rules are.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
And and but the.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Middle school they don't have an association, they don't middle
schools do not fall under under the gs So the
wet bulb is not a factor with them, so sore
they're able to get out. And I mean, and it's
really weird. It's that you've got the older ones who
(08:53):
play faster and a lot more can go wrong just
because of body size. So they're getting more mature having
to sit inside not been on practice. But you got
thirteen fourteen year olds out there running around and getting
their work in.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
So I mean then.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
There's that, and people don't understand that. Why is the
middle school practice in the high school? And we have
different rules. I mean, it's not that we were soft
or don't want to go out there and work. We
just have different guidelines that we have to follow the
they do.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, and obviously it's hot for everybody, you know, to
the middle schoolers, I think just goes there a couple
of years younger.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I don't think it makes that much of it anyway.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
These are things that somewhere, somehow is going to have
to take a look at.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And I'll say this.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
And we'll start talking to football the coach. I sound
like to some of the younger p watching this, this
is gonna sound like get out of my card that
kind of talk from the older guys.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
It wasn't that long one, remember that.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Oh yeah, I trust me. I remember. I mean, there, there,
there's there's And we.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Started with let's let's let's bring the corky kell in,
let's go play zero week, right, and people started liking
and opening Oh, it's not fair that the Corky Kill
people were able to play on zero.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Week and they get an open week before a big
region game.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So we had region games, then we had another our
open weeks, then we had another open week.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But they're still getting to play.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
So it's it's it's went backwards and and a lot
of it has to do with is all right we're
gonna play on the neutral site?
Speaker 4 (10:49):
When is that neutral side available?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Uh? And and things like that. So, I mean, I mean,
I'm old enough now. I mean the school I played for,
I played both ways on every special team. I remember
us having one water break in the middle of practice
that you got even got a sip of water, and
you wouldn't fit at you now, I mean, but they.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Have to put these policies in place. I mean, there
have been some.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Unfortunate incidents and some adults that made real bad decisions.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
They don't that don't acclimate all.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Summer and they get out there the first day of
practice and want to go four hours and the back
then the whity cramp deal was all their soft they cramped.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
No, they're not.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
They're not drinking enough fluids, they're not eating enough food.
We're a lot better about focusing on those type of
stuff now than they were in the old days, but
we still have to err on the safety of the kids.
You just wish that all the adults that are in
charge of these kids would always think of think of
their kids like their own child and and not put
(12:00):
them in a situation, and we wouldn't have to have
these rules. But that's not the case. I mean, the
rules in place because there's been too many people not
using common sense and so and and I'm very grateful
that Justay is thinking about our kids, but it's I
wish we could come to a common ground some way
(12:22):
or either moved to season back where this is not
as big an issue, or or I don't.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I don't have an answer right now.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
It's just frustrating that we're ready to go to work,
and we're ready to go get ready to play a
ball game, and we're limited on what we can do
for this opponent because of when when can we practice?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, So again, this is something I think that we
you know, we being it TG next, you know, we
need to address what do you talk to coaches? Because
and I'll say this and we can move on. I
mentioned the Labor Day For those of you that aren't aware,
maybe too young to remember, high school football season forever
started on Labor Day weekend Georgia. The collegists started on
(13:07):
Labor Day weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday. High school college professional
that was the starting weekend. And coach, as far as
the high school goes, I don't remember one complaint or
one mispractice I think in the point I'm making, I
think just those two three weeks difference moving the season back,
(13:32):
because again we used to do it, don't anymore.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I think those two or three weeks makes a.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Tremendous difference in this in the heat related stuff we're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Well man, there's benefits of both. I mean, let's let's
let's be let's be honest, having those open weeks in
a season that you might get somebody well.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Back that that was banged.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Up, that wouldn't have played in a big game. That
there's there's I mean, I like having an open week
in the middle of season. I don't think I need
too one would be sufficient. And then but my whole
thing about that is, though put us on on the
(14:17):
same playing field.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
If we're gonna have one open week, we have one
open week. I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It's tough going to somebody that has two open weeks
and I have one.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Uh. It's just we all got to be on the
same on the same field.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Got you.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Well, speaking of getting on the field, let's talk about
you guys will finally get on the field Friday night, Uh,
and finally get ready to start the season in twenty
twenty sixth season. Uh, and it's gonna be a big one.
Brooks County the opponent. Talk a little bit about the game.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well, I mean, I mean we've played Brooks the last
couple of years. I've been at fortunate enough to play
Brooks a bunch of my career.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
A different style.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
They're always ass and they're always fysical and and and
that's they have that.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Ingrained in their town and their culture.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
They know how to win. They they they've done a
good job. So and the last time they came over
here to they beat us. So we're trying to make
sure that don't happen again. And and it's gonna be
a great challenge. They have some really good skilled kids
that are that are you have to know where there
are on the field every time, urge you and they're
(15:28):
very aggressive on defense.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I mean, it's it's gonna be it's gonna be a
hard first game for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Let me ask you, as far as you know opponents
like like this. I mean, you know we've talked about
the new power ranking system. I mean, these are the
games you want to play, These are the type programs
you want to play, because I think it's advantageous as
far as this particular system is concerned. Uh, did that
affect the way that you put together your schedule? Oh?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Not really, I'll be honest with you. I pile ranking
is what it is.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Is.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
It's gonna be one of those things where if I'm
good enough at the end, I'm gonna be good enough
at the end to win in or not so. And
our schedule was it's it's either we We had to play.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
A lot of quality opponents because.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Other opponents are sized they were. They feel like we're
at a different level than they are some years. We
might be in some years with my mind, but we
have a reputation now being a good football team.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And Brooks has had to deal with that for years.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean they struggle to find people who would play
them because it was playing Brooks was, yeah, I might
beat you, but I'm gonna beat up be beat up
after end of the game because how physical they were,
and and that and.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
That's it is.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
It's scheduling is getting difficult, and that yards for some
of us that did have success in the two years
of the last reclassification. And then you then you fall
into a deal where you play you end up having
to play somebody that's triple You're enrollment and playing kids
(17:19):
one one way. That ain't fair to our kids either
from going out there and throwing them to the wolves.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
I mean there's a big difference between between three.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
A and seven eight so and it's a lot more
from the numbers they've been able to pull from. If
you have me, are rollments eight hundred and fifty people
going to get since somebody that has has a rollment
of twenty four hundred, I mean that's almost three times
as big. I mean they should have three times as
many males to pick from. And and and football is
(17:51):
a sport where you can get hurt. I mean, we
can jump on some of the big worms and some
of the other sports and but I mean it's.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Not safe, all right.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And I'm more worried about the safety than I am
anything else.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So I suspect kick off Friday night, it's probably gonna
be uh, I don't know, somewhere around ninety degrees.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
And you know the other thing is the fans have
to sit through it too.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Only nine degrees or we're gonna get a thunderstorm that's
gonna put us in the lightning delay. And it's but
that's why it's been this last week. It's when the
wet bulb has gotten us where we can't go outside,
and when the wet bulb is down where we can't
go outside, we've got lightning hitting all around us for
an hour or so. I mean this, this has been
(18:39):
a fun week or so, just dealing with what's coming
next with the weather.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, I don't think he actually literally means fun foulk.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
So so take into that what you will. But let
me ask you this and we'll wrap things up.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
What what percentage of over of your overall prep ration
time practice time do you think has been affected?
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Well, I think weather related Well, to me, the the
the number one thing.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And I don't care where where you're at, if it
could be the smallest of school to the biggest of school.
And I've been I've been all the top and Bottle
is early on. Is the position group that's usually behind is.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Your offensive line.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
I mean it takes three or four games for them
to jail, to get different looks and to get confident
and what they're really doing.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
And and they they're those are the guys who.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Really need the reps. I mean, skill kids are skilled kids.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Let's be honest, we could we can teach them and
they and they they've used athletic ability that their God
given and we find too that to make them a
little bit better. But playing on lineski, it is, it
is different, and it's it is the hardest position to play.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
On the field.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You have the most you have to know, you have
to decipher moving targets within the within that system, and
you have to play where your body is not naturally
in a position that it's got to play to be
successful with wide days, all right, got to have you
exploding through your hips, loa load, flat back and all that.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
And those things take a while.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And and it was the same way when when we
had those really good office and cough we were okay
the first three or four games, but the last seven
or eight games we were pretty dang good because that
group finally gailed together and able to protect a quarterback
or give them give our back running lanes and and
so I think, to me, that's the biggest frustration I
(20:48):
have is there, so they've got to go do it,
and they got to go do a little pads on
and and and when they get caught up. And I think, uh,
coachman father would say the exact same thing with he
is is that when when our line jails and all that,
I think we'll have a pretty good football team.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
But until then, it's it's going to be hit or missed.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Well coach obviously till fans kickoff time.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Where is it at that kind of stuff?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
When we home this week seven point thirty, we're streaming
differently this year. We're doing all our streaming through Huddle.
We're gone away from the NHS. So really, yes, it's
it's it's it's more beneficial for your system, and it
(21:40):
kind of bridges the gap of people staying at home
and not come into games. And where we get a
better cut from the streaming.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
We we didn't get hardly.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Anything when we streamed through in NFHS. They did a
good job, but financially it was more more where we
can set prices of individual games to stream versus a
monthly subscription or a season subscription. So I mean, so
(22:13):
it was just trying to try and to do what's
best for us. And we're already using that system for
filming practices and games and it's a very high quality shot.
So we just went ahead and made that decision to
go with them.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Interesting, of course Number one objected those to get people
in the.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Sense, Oh I agree, I agree, but I mean sometimes
it's tough for a family that has five or six
of them to come spend sixty bucks to come to
game when they might be able to pay ten dollars
and watch it from home. Yeah, so I get both.
I get both sides of it. But for us to
(22:56):
get a little bit more profit for us, because let's
say that, I mean, football is no more important than
any other sport we have in our system, but football
because the when it is and the number of people
that can attend, generates income that funds a lot of
(23:16):
our other sports. That gives them opportunity to have what
we have. And that's the way we look at it,
and it's and we're right now fortunate enough to have
a couple of good years that we've done okay financially.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
All right, so just making sure we stay on top
of that.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Well, coach man, best of luck to you guys Friday night.
I'm sure there's gonna be a big crowd. That's gonna
be one of the bigger games that people are going
to be interested in and kick off seven thirty and
kind of the theme of this discussion, we'll end with this,
be sure to hydrate as coach him and makes that
(23:59):
clear to his players, We're gonna make that that same
message clear to you guys if you're going out to
watch the game, Hidra, I promise you'll make you feel
a lot better. Uh, and then get to buy more
water at the concession stand. That usually helps them benefits
off of that, don't they.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Oh yeah, they get they get our concessions.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I do a good job, coach, Best of love Friday night.
It's gonna be a great game, and yeah, can't wait
to talk to you about it.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Well, I hope we have. Hope we'll have a good conversation,
not the bad ones.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
They're all good with you, my man.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
My man, I'll talk to you so.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Okay, Coach Havan, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
There he is Jeff Hammond, head coach of the Worth
County Rams, talking a little weather, talking a little football,
and it all effects the same thing. By the way,
I want to give a big shout out to our
friends at Phoebe Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. They're the reason
we're able to have this weekly conversation with coach Jeff Hammond.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Uh talking.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
We're County football and I want to give you guys
a message about Phoebe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Whether you
need complex orthopedic trauma, surgery or treatment for a minor
pickleball injury, that's right the team with Phoebe Orthopedics and
Sports Medicine. As you covered, they've got the largest orthopedics
team in Southwest Georgia and their experienced physicians, advanced practice providers,
(25:21):
certified athletic trainers and physical and occupational therapists focus on
restoring mobility, relieving pain and getting you back to the
activities you enjoy. Learn more at Phoebe Phoebe a better
way to orthopedic care and big thanks to them for
sponsoring our Worth County coaches show back next week and
(25:43):
talk about this game coming up with Brooks County right
here on the Worth County Coaches Show.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
On ITG next to see it
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