Countdown to Kickoff!!! Transfers??

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Start, all right, guys, and we are now live with

(01:22):
Phil Jones and this.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Is extra point.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
All right, guys, welcome in to another week of talking
high school football. We are live coming to you live
from la USh Room here in Valdosta.

Speaker 4 (01:36):
I want to thank everybody for joining into tonight's weekly podcast,
brought to you by doctor Kevin Collins Houston Clinic and
our friends at Pepsicole of Valdosta.

Speaker 5 (01:48):
I think for now the third or fourth week. Grateful
to have joining me is our our owner of it
and X. It's Mark digs Mark.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
How you doing.

Speaker 5 (02:03):
Let's see Mark, I'm having some difficulty well in my
health if I put my headphones on. Well, I do
have my headphones on.

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Mark, I'm not able to hear you, man. But let's
see if our man Flint can get that fixed back
at ground zero?

Speaker 5 (02:19):
So Mark, can you hear me?

Speaker 3 (02:28):
All right?

Speaker 5 (02:28):
So difficulty picking up Mark on the audio?

Speaker 6 (02:33):
Yeah, Phil, I want to butt in here a little bit.
I think that's on Mark's and I just want to
think it's all clear on our end. We're waiting on Mark.
I think chat he has a new mic today. I
think he's trying to get where he can sound a
little better for you guys. But I think he's still
trying to figure that out. But it sounds good on
our end. I think that's just on his end maybe.
So if you just want to start us off, Phil,
we can go and we'll get that worked out.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Okay, Yeah, and Marcus in so we get those issues
taken carriacters chime on in brother, we'll welcome you in.
So what we're gonna talk about tonight?

Speaker 5 (03:05):
There you go, we got you.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Can you hear me? Yeah? I was gonna say, I
don't know that it's perfect on the.

Speaker 5 (03:13):
Mic there, So that's perfect Mark.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Technical problem.

Speaker 7 (03:18):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
It always seems to happen no matter you know what
what level. Yet even the you know, the the pros
have technical difficulty that they say. But Mark, welcome to
the show. I was mentioning during the introduction. Now I
think this is your third or fourth straight week for
joining me. Man, we're having a blast talking high school football.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
A lot of fun, great time of the year. We're
football just around the corner, so a lot to talk
about today. Got some big season opening games as well
as this new transfer rule that everyone has been talking.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
About, Man, I tell you, speaking of which we're going
to get into that tonight, you guys, bear winding. I'm
want to bring up the show here but so I
can chat with you guys.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
And speaking of chatting with you guys, you guys know
the drill.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
For those of you that have been with us before,
we want your comments.

Speaker 5 (04:07):
We recommend you talk to us.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
We highly suggest that you talk to us because you
are as much a part of the show as Mark
and myself is. So if you're new to the show,
that's pretty much how we do things. We'd love to
have your input. We're not just going to sit here
and talk to you, but we want to talk with you.
So by all means, let us know where you're checking
in from, like David Woods checking in from Grayson, Rim Country. Men.

(04:31):
You know that those folks up there are excited about
some football, aren't they.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Mark great team. We just put out a video. I
encourage everybody to go check that video out we did
about Grayson's state championship last year. I know everyone's excited
that a lot of people backfield. They're going to be
very good again this.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
Year, no doubt, And of course that's one of the
things we've been talking about. You guys can go back
and check out my story that I wrote about, And
I think Mark and reeves with me twenty twenty by
being the year of the repeat. And I don't know
if it's going to be every defending state champion, Mark,
but I tell you, I think a number of the

(05:10):
state champions from twenty twenty four have got a really
good shot of repeating in twenty twenty five. And that's
certainly right there at the top of that list is crazy.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
Many of them do as you mentioned. I was up
at Grayson. I think I've mentioned this before a couple
of weeks ago, but they have one hundred and seventy
kids ten through twelve. That's not including freshmen. One hundred
and seventy kids. You can build depth with those kinds
of numbers. Look for them to make a big run
this coming year.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
Absolutely want to say hello before we get into it
to a couple of people. Of course, First and foremost,
Thomas County Central's number one fan, Obadive Farley is checking in.

Speaker 5 (05:51):
What's up, Obadi?

Speaker 2 (05:52):
My man.

Speaker 3 (05:53):
He is a loyal follower of the show, friend of
myne worse. We appreciate you, Obadi, Kelly Mitchell says, go
Brooks County Trojans. We'll tell you they have got a
big season opener, and Mark, season openers are one of
the things we're gonna talk about tonight.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Right we are, you know we get started off. How
about Brooks County.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, Brooks County gonna open up with Thomasville. Now, these
two teams opened up last year, and I think it
shocks some people that Thomasville, of course coaching DeLay's program,
took care of business against Brooks County. And I tell you, Mark,
these two teams, Brooks and Thomasville, they're both gonna be

(06:37):
favored to WINNA state championship. There's Brooks another one of
these teams, teams that didn't want to stay championship last year,
but I think they've got a good chance of going
back to the state title game.

Speaker 5 (06:46):
They got a new quarterback.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
They come in from Caro formerly by way of Thomas
County Central. But that's Bryce Puckett who's come in transferred in.
Of course, you've already got a pretty good quarterback there
at Brooks County and Junior Boroughs. So its gonna be
to see if there is a quarterback controversity there.

Speaker 5 (07:04):
The way I look at that is you can't go wrong.
You got two great quarterbacks.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
You went from one really good quarterback to two great quarterbacks.

Speaker 5 (07:10):
Mark, So that's the way I view that kind of situation.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
Well, I got to have a good quarterback to get
it to that talented receiving corpse they have. For sure.
Brooks County's got a lot of talent, a lot of
skilled players. They're looking for a big year, as is Thomasville.
Great rivalry game for South Georgia when those two get together.

Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah, without a doubt. So that is one of the
season openers that we're going to talk about tonight. So
Brooks County again talking taking on Thomasville. Now, we just
talked about Brooks County's quarterback situation, and let's talk about
Thomasville quarterback situation, Cam hill Mark, we were doing the game,

(07:57):
I guess this would have been three years ago. In
the game Brooks County and I believe it was thomas
County Central, may have been I'm sorry, Thomasville and Thomas
County Central, or it was Thomasville and kro We did
two Thomasville games that year. That was the first year
of our itg next Game of the Week, which of

(08:18):
course we will continue to do again this year. But Mark,
that game, you had Thomasville starting quarterback. He was the
Beckham kid and I can't remember his first name, but
he went down with an injury and incomes a true
freshman green as could be Mark, and it was Cam Hill,

(08:39):
true ninth grader. He didn't do a bad job at all,
but again he was green, ninth grader, true freshman, trying
to you know, being thrust in there to the wolf,
so to speak. Well, let's fast forward now, Mark to
this will be four years later. He has developed into
one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Georgia.
Of course, again talking about Cameron Hill, and again that's

(09:01):
what makes that season open. Between those two teams, contenders
for the state championship. Mark led by two could be
three great quarterbacks, Thomasville's Cam Hill going up against brus
County's either Pocket or Burns.

Speaker 2 (09:17):
One thing you can count on that game will be
a war. It'll be a physical game, pound for pound
both both both those teams. They'll get after it with
the physicality standpoint. But that's that's all South Georgia teams.
I may be a little bit biased, but I think
that the game is just a little more physical in
South Georgia. Now, uh, you know, all my Atlanta friends

(09:38):
don't get mad at me, but I think it's just
a little different, right, got this from a young age,
wanting to run out on there there. Their home teams
feel that that will be a war, great matchup. Love that.
It's hard for me to pick a winner in that one. Phil,
What do you.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Think, boy? I tell you, Mark, it really is.

Speaker 5 (10:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:03):
There's a lot going to happen this off season, continuing
to develop these players, you know Brooks County, Mark, you
mentioned it earlier. They've got the receiving corps. George Lamon's junior.
He is already being looked at by pretty much every
Division one UH program in the in the United States.

Speaker 5 (10:24):
And I think George still has got another year.

Speaker 3 (10:26):
If I'm not mistaken. I think he's just a junior.

Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, he does, he has another year. It's kind of scary.
I mean that, look, kids are just bigger today, faster.
I don't know what it is. I can't figure it out,
but a lot different from back in my day. But
he's the real deal. Everybody's looking at this kid. He
wants to win a state championship. They got so close
last year. They want to get the get the season
started off, like to get a win over the cross

(10:51):
town or I'm not going to say cross County rival.

Speaker 3 (10:54):
If you Yeah, well, Mark, here's the thing about it,
you know, speaking of a cross county deal.

Speaker 5 (11:00):
So we know that Thomasville and Coach.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
Delay, we know that they are pretty much sick and
tired of living in the shadow of Coach Rogers and
Thomas County Central. Now, hats off to what coach Rogers
Justin Rodgers has been able to do with that Thomas
County Central football program. Okay, not taking anything away from them,
and they're going to be really good again this year.

(11:22):
But Mark, you know that Thomasville and Coach Delay they
would like to step up and say, hey, this city's
big enough for two championship caliber schools. Mark, you agree,
I do agree.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah, I don't think they're gonna get overlooked. I think
they're upgrading their facilities at the facilities as well. We
all know Thomas County Central has a lot of great
things going on there with their facilities. So Thomasville for
sure wants to make a name for themselves and they
have a lot of tradition in that program going back many,
many years. They really do.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
Mark, you know, speaking of tradition, and I said this
a few years is back. This was before the rise
of Thomas County Central, and this was years before a
coach delay came in to take over Thomasville. But I remember,
I think it was when Leroy Rolls was the head
coach of Thomasville and Mark, I remember saying, of all
the schools in Georgia, especially South Georgia, you know, you've

(12:22):
got it's important that Thomasville just the city, Okay, it's
important that Thomasville has good football because that town Mark
those programs, both.

Speaker 8 (12:35):
Of those programs, such tradition in history. I mean, when
you think of South Georgia football, sure we think about
Dnston Mark, but Thomasville, William Andrews.

Speaker 3 (12:48):
Gosh, yes, yeah, no, you're right, But that's thomas What
I'm saying, that's the city of Thomasville at Mark.

Speaker 5 (12:57):
The two stadiums almost identical.

Speaker 3 (13:00):
What about a mile separated right there on Highway eighty four,
the stretch running through into the.

Speaker 2 (13:05):
City, maybe half a mile's right, that's how close they are.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yet, so it's important Mark that football rises up in
the city of Thomasville and it has, you know, since
I made that statement.

Speaker 5 (13:20):
So certainly that's gonna be a good one to take
a look at.

Speaker 2 (13:24):
Though.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
Talking about season openers as Brooks County and Thomasville, Brooks
County trying to avenge the season opening loss. But again,
coach Delay given credit for the job that he's done.
He's certainly brought back the pride and a winning tradition
there at Thomasville.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
Mark he has that in speaking of opening games, how
about Cockquit and been Edictine.

Speaker 3 (13:47):
Yeah, that's another one that's gonna be good. Hey, I
gotta mention this real quick. Jeffrey Rolling and their team
is going to be involved in another season opener.

Speaker 5 (13:55):
Mark that we're gonna talk about.

Speaker 3 (13:57):
Warner Robbins fan, Jeffrey Rolling, You're gonna get a kick
out of this, guys, Jeffrey Rolling up in one.

Speaker 5 (14:03):
Robins says, I'm.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
Driving my car with my port skins and listening to
Uncle Phil with his pig skins Go Demons.

Speaker 5 (14:12):
Jeffery Row is a big one Robins fan.

Speaker 3 (14:15):
I just got to kick out of that. But uh,
one of Robin's gonna be taken on Lee County. Uh,
they have been This will be now I think the
fifth straight fourth and fifth straight year those the two
teams have opened up. But getting back to the game, Mark,
you just mentioned Benedictine Cauwood. This will be the first
time Benedictine has ever visited the Calkwood County Packers. Now,

(14:35):
they made a trip way way back, many many moons ago.

Speaker 5 (14:39):
To take on the Moultrie Packers.

Speaker 3 (14:42):
Okay, but this will be the first medium between Colwood
County and Benedictine. And uh, this game has got everything
you could want. We talk about tradition and winning programs, Mark,
you're gonna be hard pressed to find that much tradition
on the field.

Speaker 5 (14:59):
At the same time when you talk about these two.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
Teams, one, thanks for sure, benedictem won't sneak up on anybody.
Not they really should have beat Buford last year. They
didn't quite get it done right. But I do believe
it'll be a tall task to to defeat the Packers
in the hog pen. Don't know that I see that
one happening, but I do know that they won't sneak
up on Cockwood. Coach Calhoun will have the Packers ready

(15:23):
to get.

Speaker 3 (15:24):
You know, and listen, I don't doubt that one bit.
I hear people, you know, saying this. Of course, h
you know from the series that I had started about
these season openers, and our guy Flint has followed that
up posting some.

Speaker 5 (15:41):
Some follow ups to that with some great graphics, and
you know.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
We uh we we we put that up a couple
of days ago with Flynn asking the question, Hey, who
do you think's got it? And you know a lot
of people said, of course Collwood County, which you know
is no surprise. But let me warn everybody you know, Benedictine,
by the way, in the ass decade, those two teams
have combined Mark for six state championships. I think it

(16:08):
was twenty fourteen that both won state championship different classifications.

Speaker 5 (16:13):
But again you're.

Speaker 3 (16:14):
Talking about a lot of trophies in just a short
amount of time between those two teams. But you've got
Stephen Cannon Mark, he's the quarterback for Benedictine. He went
down last year in the game against Ware County, and
Benedictine was never the same.

Speaker 5 (16:29):
In fact, they were leading where County.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
Stephen Cannon goes out with an injury, season any injury
and changed the scope of that game.

Speaker 5 (16:37):
Mark and changed the whole season.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
But he's back. And you've got Pladaanian Giton who came
over from Savannah Christian five star edge.

Speaker 5 (16:47):
He's now at Benedictine.

Speaker 3 (16:49):
You got Bubba Fraser, four star running back wide received
were true definition of an athlete. I tell you there's
a lot of talent on the cadet side. Now Callkwood County,
you've got the court of Lawson, who was a freshman
last year.

Speaker 5 (17:05):
State injured Mark most of the year.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
It couldn't really get going, but you've got him coming
up at quarterback.

Speaker 5 (17:10):
And watch out for this name. Michael Lawson is his name.
He is a true freshman, but he is getting a
lot of attention. Mark.

Speaker 3 (17:17):
He's one of the kids that we mentioned and our
ones to watch for the class of twenty twenty eight.
So again not surprised. And here we are talking about
the the quarterback situation. But a lot of talent with
both these teams. Mark, But I think you said it right.
Jeff Herron said that Callwood County was the toughest place
for a team to go in and play, and that

(17:40):
might be the difference maker here, Mark, what say you?

Speaker 2 (17:43):
That's saying a lot coming from him? Because he's certainly
been in a lot of different venues. Again, I think
it'll be hard to beat the Packers at home. Benedictine's
very good team. They're not going to sneak up on anybody.
Be a great game, though, Lee County want to rob boy.
They've had some great games over the past couple of years.

(18:03):
There'll be a lot of talent on the field during
that game. Of course, Lee County hard to replace some
of the talent they lost last year, but coach Fabrizio
does seem to reload.

Speaker 3 (18:15):
Well, he really does, you know. I think Mark, we
have covered that Lee County Warner Robbins game.

Speaker 5 (18:22):
We did it last year.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
I think we have made that our opening game on
our Game of the Week for I think three straight years.
I mentioned earlier, they have played I think four consecutive year,
four or five consecutive years. Great Rovree Mark, It's a
non region game. It's Middle Georgia versus Al Georgia, two
great programs. But I tell you that this is going

(18:48):
to be This is one that I think would satisfy
the football palotte of any football fan anywhere, regardless, even
if you're not a fan of you of those teams.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
Certainly we'll do that. Lee County. Those guys go at
it real hard in the weight room. Very physical team,
so does one of Robbins. I view everything south of Atlanta,
South Georgia. The teams in Houston County are no different
than the teams on eighty four. Very physical football team.

(19:21):
They'll be ready to play another big game. Hard to
pick that game, but you may have to tip your
head to the home team.

Speaker 3 (19:30):
Mark, I know you've dealt a good bit with Shane SAMs,
the head coach of one of Robbins. I've dealt you know, well,
we both have. But you know, of course no secret
that Nanfrabrizio. It's a friend of mine, He's a friend
of itg Next, we've done a lot with Lee County
as well.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Mark.

Speaker 5 (19:48):
You know you mentioned at the onset of the broadcast.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
They lose a lot.

Speaker 5 (19:52):
They lose Western Brian.

Speaker 3 (19:54):
Of course, they lose maybe the most explosive running back we've.

Speaker 5 (19:57):
Seen in some time and is Monic crow.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
Ma. You know what do you think about this game? Mark?

Speaker 2 (20:05):
Lee County still got a lot of talent. You have
a couple of guys on defense that are all World
four or five star kids. Again coach for Breezio reloads.
Coach Sam's does an outstanding job. He's an energetic guy.
I've had the opportunity to go up and interview him
multiple times cover multiple of their games up there. In fact,

(20:29):
I think it was a couple of years ago the
one of Robins North Side game, which is just a
classic rivalry. They got down what came from behind. The
game was back and forth, but they ended up winning
that game. A lot of energy on that sideline again,
you can rest assured they'll be ready to play absolutely.

Speaker 3 (20:49):
Mark. Let's check out who's watching the show and let's
give us some shout outs here. I wanted to mention
I mentioned Jeffrey Rowland was checking out the show. We
got Nancy Sullimon Burrell checking out for the game from
Worth County. Princess Coleman north Side one of Robins fan. Mark,

(21:12):
check this out. Michael Baxter says, good evening, Phil and crew.
I'm back in Seeattle, Washington, just coming off for cruise
to to Alaska.

Speaker 5 (21:21):
Michael is a big militant Eagles fan.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
Mark, Well, he's got to be happy and they're just
looking for a three P.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
Mark. I think they may get it. I know we
talked to good a bit about that last week.

Speaker 2 (21:31):
We go ahead, Plus he's coming off a cruise. I mean,
what we can you ask for?

Speaker 3 (21:36):
Christopher Sloan sert and maker fan checking in, are there
any Southern teams in your opinion? And Mark you and
I'll tackle this question. Christopher Slan wants to know are
there any Southern teams in your opinion that have a
chance of winning a championship?

Speaker 5 (21:52):
Mark a thing. It's kind of ironicy guess that question
because you really.

Speaker 3 (21:55):
Started off talking on your side, you know about tonight's
live stream, talking about the caliber of football that's played
here in Southern Georgia versus North Georgia. Now, look, I
think there's there's this perception that North Georgia is gonna
run away with it.

Speaker 5 (22:12):
I don't think that's the case. Mark, what do you think?

Speaker 3 (22:15):
I mean, we've talked a little bit so far about
some of these teams in Southern Georgia called with Counties
one of them.

Speaker 5 (22:21):
But what do you think to answer Chris's question, Well, you.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
Have Brooks County. We just spoke about them that there
would be very good, Thomas County Central will be good.
Lee County will be good, coffee will be good. All
those teams. Of course, I don't want to leave anyone
out here, but those come to Look, I don't think
you could ever count out of Valdosta Lownes either the
youngest they could get on a run. I've noticed where

(22:47):
just in the I think this week Lownes has an
offensive alignement that got offered by Georgia yep. And another
lineman that got offered by Louisville.

Speaker 3 (22:59):
Man another one by Boston College.

Speaker 2 (23:01):
Look, I've said it a million times in the trenches
where it's one in laws, So it looks like Lounds
they have a very talented quarterback. Don't underestimate what any
of these teams could do if they get on a run. Also,
Clinch County YEP. I know they'll be competing with Brooks,
but either of those teams could win that state championship.

(23:23):
So yes, one hundred percent. I feel like there's some
South Georgia teams that will be in the mix for sure.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
And that's strong, Dear Mark, that's the best five minutes
of the show right there, talking about those teams and
talking about all of the strength from all of those teams,
and Mark, you're spot on I mean, every one of
those teams you just mentioned has got a bona fine
reason for claiming a chance to win a state championship
this year.

Speaker 2 (23:50):
Well, they do, and I don't want to leave out
I know there's a lot of questions with Camden they
have a new coach, but they always have talent there.
And then wear County. Yeah, Strickler has done a great
job there, He's won a state championship. You know, again,
all these teams are very talented and we'll have an
opportunity to make a run. You just got to start

(24:11):
winning at the right time. You got to come together
at the right time at the end of the year,
and you throw your record out once a playoffs start.
Doesn't matter how many games you've won or lost. If
you can make the playoffs and are playing good, who
knows what can happen.

Speaker 3 (24:29):
Great point speaking a point, you're watching an extra point
with Phil Jones.

Speaker 5 (24:34):
Mark Dyke's joining me.

Speaker 3 (24:35):
We are live here at the Valdosta Melow Mushroom. A
big thanks to our friends hosting us here at Melo Mushroom. Listen.
If you're out and about here in Valdosta, come I
join me. We've got a big, large pizza sitting here
and got more than enough to share. In fact, Mark
Ross as Sutherland up in Marietta, who is a big

(24:57):
Marietta Blue Devil fan. Ross says, Bill, can you send
me some pizza up the exit sixty three on I
seven h five.

Speaker 2 (25:06):
Somebody still, somebody needs to help you eat some of
that the for sure, you don't want to eat the
whole thing yourself.

Speaker 3 (25:12):
No, man, gotta get a dollie bag, for sure. We're
gonna be taking that baby home. But Rossell Sutherland appreciate
you checking out the show. Kelly Mitchell, Mark, we go
back to him. He wanted to mention we were talking
about Brooks County lounge. Kelly, I'm sorry Brooks County Thomasville.
Kelly Mitchell said, we really needed our running game last
season versus Thomasville.

Speaker 5 (25:33):
Chris Cole was definitely missed that game. Mark.

Speaker 3 (25:36):
I had forgotten about that, that he was not in
that game against Thomasville. Of course, now Chris Cole has graduated, Mark,
so he's not gonna be available.

Speaker 5 (25:45):
Well that's a huge void for Brooks County.

Speaker 3 (25:50):
But you know, they obviously, as you mentioned earlier, still
got a lot of weapons. But that's pretty interesting comment
there from Kelly Mitchell.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
Well, kids in Brooks County love to be a trojan.
They keep all those kids in the county. Brooks County
is going to be fine. There'll be a great game. Look,
I also didn't want to leave out Worth County, my hometown.
Jeff Hammon's done a great job there. In fact, I'll
be talking to him tomorrow. Worth County could make a
run this year.

Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah, without a doubt, so Oberdill Farley, speaking of Work County,
Mark Obdell Farley says, do you honestly believe Worth County
should be ranked higher than Thomasville. Well, listen, Worth County
is going to bring back one of the state's top
one of the say's best quarterback in Lyndon Worthy. You

(26:42):
got all kinds of weapons for Work County. Yeah, I
think Work County is definitely going to be a team
to watch this year. Now, are they better than Thomasville?
I mean, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (26:53):
I think the Rams are back, are back.

Speaker 3 (27:00):
The mark just shine right in there.

Speaker 2 (27:01):
Yeah. Well, look, I'm gonna have a chance to go
there tomorrow. I know over the past couple of years,
they've they've got some their facilities has been upgraded, that
community seems to be energized about the team. Feels like
old times. And did you know, if I'm not mistaken,
I believe Worth County prevented Charlie Ward from every winning

(27:23):
a state championship. I think Worth.

Speaker 3 (27:26):
Counting I did not know that.

Speaker 2 (27:27):
I think I think. I'm sure people in the chat
can can fill us in on that, but I almost
believe that's true. And of course, while we're talking about
teams and the opportunity who can win and who can lose,
and you know, the big, the big thing everyone wants
to talk about, Phil, I'm sure the new transfer rules

(27:49):
in the States. Yes, let's face it, every year a
lot of teams will get kids, transfer, move ins, whatever
you want to call. The bottom line is you've got
new faces on the team. It happens every single year.
I applaud the GHS say for coming out with these

(28:14):
these new rules. I think they're very clear cut. You know,
I think there's any gray area there. I would I
don't envy the ghsay in trying to get a hold
of this, if you will, but I do think enforcing
it it's probably going to be a little difficult. There's

(28:35):
a lot you know there's a lot of a lot
of teams, a lot of players transferring. I'm sure that
you're going to get a lot of coaches and players
they hear something, they're going to contact the GHS say
they're probably gonna have to hire more people to see
if they can enforce this transfer a rule and find
out what, you know, all the information about these players.

(28:56):
But Phil, I know we you know, we should talk
about that. Give me your thoughts on the new transfer
rules the GHSA.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
Well, Mark, first of all, let's let's remind everybody you know, uh,
the JSJ, the GHSA had the meeting, and they came
out with some pretty well I would say, shocking some
bylaws that they passed. Now it's got a goun to
go a second round of voting, which is just kind

(29:28):
of a formality. But we were one of the first
to really exploit uh, these new set of rules, and
I tell you the type of feedback and engagement we
got was really overwhelming, and we appreciate everybody for checking in.
It's obviously and I say that to say, Mark, this
is obviously a hot button topic and a lot of

(29:49):
people have an opinion about transfer.

Speaker 5 (29:53):
I think this is probably the one thing that is nagged.

Speaker 3 (29:56):
On everybody as far as high school football, and I
think people to a man feel like that it was
it was high time that something was done. Mark, So
I didn't want to get that, uh and put that
out there. And for anybody that's missed it, which many
of you have not, you can go to the ig
next Facebook page or our Instagram page and you can

(30:18):
take a look at the story that the very brief
story I wrote about this that kind of outlines again
in a brief form, kind of what took place from
the GHSA. So to answer your question, Mark, I really
like the fact that the GGSA has put some teeth
into trying to enforce these transfer rules.

Speaker 5 (30:37):
Now, I know you've got some questions.

Speaker 3 (30:38):
You and I talked about this late last week, and
you feel like that there are some things in here
that I maybe kind of find a great area when
it comes to trying to prove a bona fide move
and trying to enforce it. In that trying to again
prove that utilities have been shut off at one location

(31:01):
at the old location.

Speaker 5 (31:04):
And then have been turned on at the new location.

Speaker 3 (31:07):
And you made a good point, you said, well, what
about people that have. You know, I guess what dual residences.
I know that's a little bit of a concern of yours.
Right well, I just.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
Think there's a lot of different different things that will
come up as we get into this now from my
understanding feeling my correct this year you're playing with who
you have. This goes into effect for next year, you know,
I do think there'll be things that will come up,

(31:38):
you know, speaking to what you said, let's just say
I do want to send my my my my athlete,
my child to a different school, and I can afford
to have another residence somewhere. From the way I read that,
they're saying, well, look, you're just gonna have to You're

(31:59):
gonna have to leave that residence you're not going to
be able to maintain to. And then when I read it,
I think it said the residents that you declare our
homestead exemption in would be the one that they would
look at. What if you're own a home, what if
you have an apartment, what if you decide to get
I just think there are things that that could that

(32:21):
you could run into. And we all know these situations
are going to pop up. I mean they do every year,
but I do. I do believe that could be one.
I also believe that what about private schools, How does
this impact a private school? I'm assuming they can still
bring players in from wherever they choose because they're not

(32:46):
pulling from a specific geographic area. Do you read it
that way?

Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah? I do. Yeah. And that's just one of the
several stipulations. Mark, you know that, I think a lot
of people are questioning about this, these new by laws.
Now let's look at the bigger picture, Mark, you know,
and look, we know doctor Robin Hines, we know the

(33:13):
job that he has done. We've got to remember that
before Robin Hines took over, the GSA was seriulously close
to being taken over by the Georgia legislature. I don't
know if you remember that or not, but there were
some Georgia lawmakers who were threatening to actually take over

(33:35):
the GJSA because it had gotten to such a story condition.
Now doctor Robin Hines comes in, he's named executive director,
and he's done a will of a job of getting
the association cleaned up and in my opinion, is one
of the best in the United States as far as
governing high school student athletes. Mark Now, having said that,
I think that transfer situation was still one of those

(33:58):
outliers that a lot of people just didn't care for.
They felt like that there were a lot of schools
right wrong or indifferent. I'm just talking about the perception
that a lot of schools were taking advantage of the
transfer situation.

Speaker 5 (34:09):
So there's one thing for sure, now, mark moving forward.

Speaker 3 (34:15):
If indeed these rules hold up, If indeed this passes
a second round of voting, which it will, I think
this is going to be a game changer, mark in
what schools are able to do and what they're not
able to do. Now, well, that's just going to be
at least that the line is going to be a
little tighter than it's ever been.

Speaker 2 (34:37):
It's going to change the landscape some I don't think
you're just easily going to be able to go from
one program to the next. I'm in the tenth grade.
I think I'm going to play here my eleventh grade year.
You know, I'm going to go play my last year somewhere.
I do think it will impact the way people approach SEPT.

(34:59):
But also I think I think this ball is rolling.
You see it in college and they're trying to get
that under control. Some I don't see. I think if
you want to send your kid to a different school,
you're gonna find a way to do that. It's going
to eliminate like the easy way. If you will to do.

Speaker 5 (35:22):
It, you know what I mean, Sure, you're going.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
To have to jump through some hoops for people that
are people that are determined. If you will to have
their kid play for a different program, then they're going
to find a way to do it. I feel. I
think I mentioned to you and you and we see
it happen. Now. I think you're gonna find these higher

(35:46):
profile programs in Georgia. They will want to make themselves
appealing to seventh and eighth graders. They're going to look.
We already see eighth graders getting the offers from D
one in colleges, big tim the colleges. So I think
what you'll begin to see is, let's make sure that

(36:09):
these athletes know about our program. Because the way I
understand it, you leave the eighth grade, you can go
play where you choose to play. I think you're going
to see a lot of that going on. I think
be very careful if you send your child leaving middle
school from the eighth grade to the ninth grade. Pick

(36:31):
a program that you feel good about, even if the
coach leaves. Easier said than done, But I do think
you're going to see coaches programs just make themselves appealing
to these younger kids. Also think if you have a
very talented athlete and maybe you aren't happy with the

(36:53):
school system there in well you're probably already thinking about
that when you're when your kids in the seventh or
eighth grade. In other words, should we go somewhere else?
And I think I mentioned several weeks ago about the
young man who's leaving the eighth grade supposedly like the

(37:14):
number one quarterback for his class already, if I'm not mistaken,
he was living. He may have been from Louisiana, but
he's going to California. He was offered money to play,
but he turned down the options that were paying him
and is elected to go to a program because of
a coach in the mentorship that he feels he can get.

(37:36):
While looking at the long range plan is hey, I
want to put myself in a good position in college.
I can make some money in college, but the big
prize is to go to the NFL and be able
to compete there. I do think again, it's good, it's
going to cut out. Hey, I think I'll move across

(37:57):
town with my uncle. It'll it'll stop that if it's
enforced to the letter of the law, and you've got
to have enough personnel to enforce it. I don't think
there'll be in any shortage of people getting turned in.
I mean, look, if I'm on a team and I'm
coaching a team and I know the other team has

(38:18):
somebody that I feel like is violated these rules, well
you turn them in, you know, turn them in, say hey,
this is it right, we all should play by the
you know, by the same rules here. So I think
there's a lot of a lot of different ways to
think could go. It's interesting in a lot of states.
Forew it different? In Florida you can pretty much go

(38:40):
play anywhere anytime, just about it. You know, there's there's
not a whole lot of consequences in Florida. I mean
a lot of leeway in Florida. Now, I think this
will put Georgia as a state to where, Okay, it's
going to be more difficult. And then what do you
do if you're a private school? Yeah, I guess you

(39:03):
can still get whoever you so choose. And a lot
of people will say, well, that's not fair. Why can
they have people move and play at their program when
now we can't do that?

Speaker 3 (39:16):
Well to my private schools?

Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yes, private schools, Yeah.

Speaker 5 (39:18):
Well, I mean they completely different government.

Speaker 3 (39:21):
I mean, you know, they govern themselves and they have
their own separate association.

Speaker 2 (39:25):
But they're a lot you know, they play they play
against public schools.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
Sure, sure, yeah, yeah, but only in the regular season. Yeah,
when it comes down to the playoffs. But uh so, Mark,
But I want to go back to what And this
struck me last week when we talked about this, because
I think you've hit it. You know that you've hit
the nail on the head here, Okay, And I want
to make sure everybody understands what Mark was saying. But

(39:52):
you know, we've been talking about a lot. But but Mark,
let's go back through it. What what you're saying, Mark,
and what you're bosing the really the the thing that
would would eliminate any kind of questioning about is this
player making a bona bye move whatever. What you're saying is, hey,

(40:15):
if you've got a player you want to there's a
player that you know that you like, and if the
player loves the school, then that's going to happen early
on seventh eighth grade. You know, get that player locked
and get the family locked in so that you don't
have to go through this mess later on down the.

Speaker 5 (40:36):
Road, he said.

Speaker 3 (40:37):
She said, trying to prove this, trying to make sure
the parents on the birth certificate, what have you. What
you're saying is, let's see if we can find a
mutual agreement at a younger age between the school and
the student athlete and the family.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
That's correct, and if I'm not mistaken, Georgia passed the
ni Al rule several years ago when when Juju was
maybe a freshman, the rumor was he was going to
leave Georgia. In fact, I know that for a fact
because he was gonna go to California, and I actually

(41:10):
had met to talk to the people at the school
in California where he was going to go. I think, Phil,
what are you going to do now? When you see,
for example, my child has really blossomed and as a
very talented player going into their junior year here, I
am I can't really move to put my kid in

(41:35):
what I think is a better position for him to
prepare himself for college. I think I'm just going to
leave and go to Florida and put him in a
school there or go to another state. Are we going
to see some people leave Georgia because of this first
one hundred percent? You're going to have a little of

(41:56):
that for sure.

Speaker 3 (41:58):
Man, that's something I really had a thought of. Mark, Certainly,
that's that's definitely gonna be a boss of Italy.

Speaker 5 (42:06):
I don't I think it'll be the exception versus the
norm there, Mark, but it is gonna be interesting. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (42:12):
And listen, we talked about Florida. Let's face it, Mark,
what's happening in Florida and the wild wild West mentality
is I like to call it. This is the whole reason,
in my opinion, that Georgia has decided to clamp down,
to put some teeth into these transfer rules because of

(42:35):
what has happened in Florida and what Florida was transpired
and what Florida has turned into. And I think you
had some people Mark in Georgia that said, hey, we
don't want to become Florida, because I think some people
saw it going in that direction.

Speaker 2 (42:50):
Well, I agree, in having been to quite a few
programs in Florida and being in South Florida, literally you
have one program that has enough talent to win a
state championship one year, and enough kids that if they
choose to stay, can can have a huge impact on
that program. Well, they all will leave and go to

(43:11):
a different program. It really is difficult to maintain. And
it's it's like in college. You've got to recruit your players. Really,
you have to recruit. You know, the transfer portal. They
can leave you, so you have to you have to
recruit them. It's like that all over Florida, and especially
down in South Florida. There's a wealth of talent there.

(43:35):
There's some kids that play it, you know, four different
high schools, four different years, which is really for them.
But yeah, I was gonna say, but it makes it
difficult to try to maintain any any sense of consistency
because the kids just follow where their friends go, or

(43:58):
you know, where my uncle Tim tells me to go,
so to speak, or or getting you know, or from
one of a better words, shop your kid around, to
be honest with you.

Speaker 3 (44:08):
Yeah, and you know you're right there was You can
go to some of the kids in Florida. You can
go to their personal sites on X or Instagram, and
especially on X and uh, you know you'll have a kid,
a young man, I should say, or a young lady.

Speaker 5 (44:25):
But mostually it's high school football players.

Speaker 3 (44:27):
You'll see where in Florida, the you know, ninth grade
they had one school, tenth grade they had another school,
eleventh grade they had another school, and then senior It's
almost like college, is what it reminded me of. It
almost was like college recruit. Hey, I'm proud to proclaim
that twenty twenty five, Yeah, whatever, Tattanel Green High School

(44:51):
will be my new home for my senior season. I
just thought that this is crazy, you know, so I
think exactly Georgia saw that going in that direction, and
there were some folks who stepped up and said, hey,
we don't want to come back. I applaud Georgia and
the Faults who really decided to to take some action
mark and move Georgia in this direction of trying to

(45:12):
enforce better enforce these transfer rules. Now some people are
saying they went overboard, okay, and what do you think
about that?

Speaker 2 (45:21):
Well, I mean, look, I agree they had to do something.
At the end of the day, High school should be
about education first and foremost. That's part of the problem
today is everyone's losing sight of that. As soon as
these high school kids start getting paid. And if I'm
not mistaken, they can already get paid. Yes, it is

(45:42):
that correct. Yeah, they can get paid. So it's not
a matter of if. It's just when you have ex
high schools booster club will pay a few players to
come there. That's going to have happen. How do you
deal with that? And that'll happen even if you target

(46:05):
someone in the eighth grade. Hey would love to have
your son come play in our program. We think he
has a bright future. We're gonna pay X amount of dollars,
you know. So it'll start happening at that level, and
then the question will be, well, you do you do
something there? But look, I'm an old school guy. I

(46:26):
wish everybody would play where they grow up, right, that's
I mean, where you live, you grow up with your friends,
you play and you stay there. Yes, or those days
are long gone. It just has changed. And I do
think I do think it's good. I think they're gonna

(46:46):
spend a lot of hours enforcing these enforcing these rules
for sure, all.

Speaker 3 (46:51):
Right, So Mark, for those that may have missed it,
here's a quick recap, and I'm going to the story
that that we had posted last week in case you're
wondering exactly what all's involved. So it's the crackdown on transfers.
The story our title. Our story is titled we knew
this would happen at some point and now it's coming.

(47:12):
So the GHSA will now require the schools of any
student athlete that wants to transfer, you've got to do
the following. You got to produce copies of your driver's license,
lease agreements and utility bills proving the family's move from
the previous address to the new address. This is to
ensure what we all hear and know is a bona
fide move. Right, So think about that driver's license lease agreement.

(47:37):
It's not really any different from where it has been.
I think any new student that comes into a school
system that has got to produce some or all of
that anyway, right, Mark, correct, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
I don't think that's any different. I think the big
deal is diverse certificate in are you making that bona
fide move? You can't go live with a relative or
a friend, and you know they're gonna really sounds like
they're gonna they're gonna verify all that information. They're not
just gonna, yeah, hey, I'm going to live with my

(48:10):
you know, with my father. My mother and father divorced.
I'm gonna go live with my father. I still think
you'll run into that son. How do you handle that
parents are divorced, both of them are on the birth certificate. Okay,
Well they get together and say, well, okay, my son's
been living with me, but now you know he's going

(48:33):
to live, you know, with the other parent, and that
parent just maybe has moved to a new location or
he's already living there. I still think you're gonna run
into some things.

Speaker 3 (48:44):
And that that you're talking about is the next clause
in this uh change in the bylaws. That is what
I call the Jake Garcia rule market. It describes what
you just mentioned. We all remember when Jake Garcia Wow
went from trying to remember what school Jake Garcia had
moved around a good bit, great man, great young man,

(49:06):
great family, or got to know Randy Garcia the father
and Jay they were good people, but we remember they
got caught up in the move from I guess it
was was an a callant? Now where was it? It was
the move to Valdosta, I think, But you remember it
got to a situation where the Garcia's divorced and so

(49:30):
Jake went to live with his father. He was previously
living with his mother. So now that's what I call
the Jake Garcia rule. So now if a student athlete
moves from one parents resident to another parents resident in
another school district, both parents must appear on the student's

(49:52):
birth catificate. This is probably the one plause mark that's
just getting more attention and creating more of an argument
that I think than anything.

Speaker 2 (50:00):
Well, this may you know what this may bring some
parents that didn't get along prior to this may this
may who knows, they may start talking again.

Speaker 3 (50:09):
That's a good boy. That's a boy.

Speaker 2 (50:12):
You know, I want to go play football over here.
Mom lives over here. I know I've been living with you,
but you know I'm gonna move over there. And hey,
let's you know what, our child has an opportunity to
do big things. Maybe they just go ahead and move
and they're both on the birth certificate. That's the kid.
And so I don't know if some people will take

(50:34):
that to an extreme and just go ahead and get
a quote divorce and one of them move, because that's
that's on the oven up. Then they just happen to
get remarried when the kid graduates.

Speaker 3 (50:47):
And finally, and again this is uh, this goes back
and to me, this targets the Florida rule. You con
said that every one of these has got sunking action
to past discretions Mark that we've seen and we've heard about.

Speaker 5 (51:04):
We've ran into it.

Speaker 3 (51:05):
Right. So here's what I call the Florida rule. Any
student athlete, this is Georgia. Of course, any student athlete
that transfer twice after the ninth grade will be ineligible
for one year. Thus we'll have to sit out for
a year. Now. Look, and I'm not gonna call it
in the end, but there's a number of my profile

(51:25):
student athletes Mark in Georgia right now who have under
the new rule, would have had to sit out a here.

Speaker 2 (51:34):
So when you say transfer twise, I'm in the ninth grade,
I go to a different school tenth grade, and that's
one transfer. Then I decided to go to a different school.
Now I got to sit out there because that's number two.
Is that correct?

Speaker 3 (51:48):
Well, it's number two, but it's the third school.

Speaker 2 (51:51):
Yeah, that's what I mean, Yes, the third school.

Speaker 3 (51:53):
So yeah, So I encourage everybody not to really concentrate
on the number of transfers, but the number of schools
that he or she has attended.

Speaker 5 (52:02):
So let's say again, you're at School A.

Speaker 3 (52:05):
To start the ninth grade, you'll you move to another
school for the tenth grade. That's two schools, okay, and
then you make another subsequent move from tenth through eleventh grade.

Speaker 5 (52:15):
That's your third school.

Speaker 3 (52:17):
That would necessitate sitting out a year.

Speaker 5 (52:21):
And again that's what.

Speaker 3 (52:22):
We go back to, and we're talking about the Florida
similarities where kids are going to three or even sometimes
four different schools mark in their four year high school career.

Speaker 2 (52:37):
Well, I don't think that's good. I don't think that's
good for anyone to move around like that. That's a
bit much. But here's the big question, Phil, who is
this rule going to impact the most? What schools are
going to have to huddle up and go, hey, all right,
we're not going to be the same program. What do

(52:59):
we do? Who will it impact the most? And look,
logic tells you, I said, like, if you're in South Georgia,
like even getting outside of one of Robbins, there's not
as many you're just not moving here or you're not
moving around just because population wise there's just not as
many people. There's not as many schools. It's obviously going

(53:23):
to impact a town. Certainly Atlanta's a given where you
have so many schools close together, even like a one
of Robbins, where there's you know, five six school five
schools there that they could that someone could go to.
Who will it impact the most? I think that's that's

(53:45):
now what you have to look at. And now what
will teams do? As I mentioned before, I think you
start you reach down into middle school and try to
you know, if that's the kind of program you're running
of Hey we're going to run this top notch program.
We want to attract the best talent. Then you start

(54:06):
looking down to middle school. But it is going to
change the landscape some for certain teams. Would you not
agree with that one?

Speaker 7 (54:20):
So all right, so guys ask you this one other
quick questions I mentioned Like a kid, Hey, what if
you just move move out of the state, you know,
you do whatever you want.

Speaker 2 (54:33):
What if you get a transfer from a different state,
does that same rule apply. Are they saying, well, we
got to go to that state, And I'm saying this
bordering states. For example, in Columbus, you have Phoenix City
right on the border. They're coming. If you leave Alabama
and come to a school in Columbus, are they going

(54:56):
to go then now to Alabama? You know, like I
guess if you look at the rules, they're going to go.
I don't guess it matters where you're coming from.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
Yeah, I don't think it matters instated or out of
state the way I internal.

Speaker 2 (55:11):
But would they go back and look now? I get
if they say, well, you're in Phoenix City and you
just drove across the bridge. I mean, what if you
come a long way? What if you come from for example,
South Florida to a school, are they going to go
look now down to Miami and see where you lived

(55:33):
or what you did there.

Speaker 3 (55:36):
I tell you those are good questions. I do want
to mention this mark. You know, I mentioned Robin Hines earlier,
the former executive director for the JJSA. I've noticed that
Robin Hein, doctor Hines has really been very active in
answering a lot of the questions that we're getting on

(55:56):
our social media, especially our Facebook pages. So some of
these questions, I'm going to reach out to doctor Hines
and see if he might be willing to address some
of these. Now, even though doctor Hines is not in
the position of executive director, he still is associated Mark
with THESA I think in an advisor's role.

Speaker 5 (56:18):
So I'm gonna I may reach out to him ahead.

Speaker 2 (56:21):
Mark, Well, I'm just gonna say he'd probably be doing
a lot of advising because I'm sure there you know,
as with anything else, this is new, there's gonna be
there's going to be some issues. There's gonna be there's
gonna be some ways you try to skirt around it.
But I do think, you know, people will adapt, Schools

(56:42):
will adapt, families will adapt. I do believe it's going
to eliminate if they in fact enforce it, it's going
to eliminate. Just quote the easy moving around that we've seen.

Speaker 3 (56:56):
Yes, yes, So, Mar, we got a few minutes left
to go in the show. I didn't know if you
want to maybe uh close the show with a couple
of questions from our viewers.

Speaker 2 (57:12):
Sounds good to me.

Speaker 3 (57:14):
So Mark, let's both let's cycle this. Obadiah Farley says
I got a question for Phil. We'll make us a
question for Phil and Mark. Name the top five and Mark,
this kind of goes back to what you were talking
about earlier. Uh, you know again, Mark uh raised in Sylvester,
the heart of Southern Georgia. So we're gonna both answer

(57:35):
this one. OBD, I got a question, says, I named
the top five South Georgia teams that you think are
gonna do good this year. And I would say that's
regardless of classification.

Speaker 5 (57:49):
Gosh, I'm gonna go with.

Speaker 2 (57:52):
Go ahead, Mark, do good to win a championship.

Speaker 3 (57:54):
Well, yes, I think I think you know that that
was kind of what I was inking. But let's say
teams that will have a chance to win a championship.

Speaker 5 (58:03):
Let's put it that way.

Speaker 2 (58:07):
You know, I think there's again I mentioned many you know, Lombs, Cockquit, Valdosta, Clinch,
brooks Worth, Thomas County Central, Thomasville where.

Speaker 3 (58:23):
Yes, yes, yes, here's here's mine. Coquit, brooks Clinch, Work, Valdosta,
Thomas County Central. So OVERD, I hope that an answer
where there's a bunch of them. By the way, we
can close with this if you want to. And we've
kind of come full circle market and it'll be kind

(58:43):
of where we started. So we talked about we started
off talking about season openers, right, that's right, all right.
So one of the season openers that are are got Flints, who,
by the way, doing a great job for us here
at the itgn X. Flint has been kind of an
extension from what I had started off doing about these
season openers.

Speaker 5 (59:02):
Plint is kind.

Speaker 3 (59:03):
Of taking some of these additional game season openers. I
know that he posted the Valdosta Tucker season open Now,
Valdosta I think won this one last year sixty two
to nineteen. But the really the bigger point here, Mark
is not so much the game, but I think it's

(59:25):
about Valdosta. You know, I think Valosa will defeat Tucker,
but I just think that Valdosta is going to be
a little tougher than everybody's giving them credit. And let
me tell you what. Valdosta loses Todd Robinson, right, Yes, yeah, Now,

(59:45):
I think a lot of people thought, well, there go
the Cats, you know you are as your quarterback goes.
Of course, that's one of my favorite sayings I think
in this case, and look I've been saying this for
a while. Mark Valdosta is has they possessed some of
the best talent in skilled position players from pump to bottom.

(01:00:11):
And you've got to remember last year Valdosta started mostly
sophomore's juniors, and this year you're gonna have a lot
more sophomorees.

Speaker 5 (01:00:21):
Jut out of all those guys will be seniors of course.

Speaker 3 (01:00:24):
But I'm telling you, and I wrote up the Valdosta
football preview last night, and Mark, it was one of
those things. I had this illumination as soon as I
finished riding and I thought, old boy, if you're a
Valdosta fan, you've got a lot.

Speaker 5 (01:00:42):
To look forward to this year.

Speaker 3 (01:00:43):
Mark, I'm telling you, they are gonna have Shelton Felton.
It's gonna have one of the most talented teams I
think in the state this year.

Speaker 2 (01:00:51):
As I mentioned, he's done a great job there given
what he had to come into, I think he's weathered
the storm, and Valdosta the sh ship is in the
right going in the right direction. I mean, look, it
typically takes a year or so pretty much for any
new coach to get their system in, to get acclimated,

(01:01:12):
to get everybody on their page. But given what he
came into, it took it, It's probably taken more for sure.
There's there's just no question about that. So I'm sure
valdost will be in great shape. I think the Winnersville
game this year will be of course, that game's always crazy,

(01:01:32):
what a special game. But I agree, I think Valdosta
will have an opportunity to make to make some noise.

Speaker 3 (01:01:41):
Mike Sorenson counting down last few comments we got here.
Mike Sorenson, big Tiff County fan. He's a friend of mine.

Speaker 5 (01:01:48):
Mike Sorenson's got to represent Let's go Tiff.

Speaker 3 (01:01:52):
County Blue Devils now, Mark, I'm not saying that Tiff
County is in the the same conversation for I State championships.

Speaker 5 (01:02:01):
I think they've got a ways to go.

Speaker 3 (01:02:02):
But what a job Jeff Littleton has done to lift
that program up. Well.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
I think everybody wants to see how they'll do this year.
There's talent in all these all these areas in South Georgia.
It'll be interesting to see how they do. I'd like
to see. He's been successful everywhere he's been. There's no
reason to think that he won't be at Tiff County.

Speaker 3 (01:02:26):
Robert Tallart says, go Beach County Trojans and coach Westbrook.
There's another one, Mark coach Maurice Westbrook. Boy, we saw
what he did during his time at one of Robbins,
and now of course he's over at Beach County taking
over for Chad Campbell there. So I think those are
a couple of teams to watch. Mark, we'll give you

(01:02:47):
the final word here. Just got in a nutshell your
thoughts on the high school football season.

Speaker 5 (01:02:53):
We're getting closer and closer.

Speaker 3 (01:02:55):
We got a lot of great things down the pipeline
coming here at itg next, don't we.

Speaker 2 (01:03:00):
Let's enjoy this year. It's obviously gonna change a little
bit next year with this new transfer rule. I'm sure
there's a lot of teams that I rallied and said, hey,
let's make it happen. Let's get a championship this year.
Next year things may be a little bit different. I
think the landscape will keep changing. Some nil will be

(01:03:22):
a factor at some point. Let's enjoy this year and
let's make it happen this year.

Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
I do want to say so I know the Fowlers
their son Michael. I think I had mentioned him as
a twenty twenty eight class player. He's actually twenty twenty nine.
That's a name to keep an eye on. A young man,
keep an eye on. He's an up and coming a
rising freshman quarterback. And Mark, we'll close with this and

(01:03:51):
then we'll move on our way. But this is the
thing that gets me, Mark, this is starting to be
a great time for a lot lot of eighth graders.
You know, he used to be where you had to
bide your time and you had to pay your dues.
And don't get me wrong, you still have to do that.
But Mark, we're starting to see like Michael Fowler at

(01:04:12):
Callwood County. You know he's going to compete for some
playing time this year as a true freshman. You know,
you got Cohen Lawson who was a freshman last year
and was the.

Speaker 5 (01:04:22):
Starting quarterback for Callwood.

Speaker 3 (01:04:24):
Now he got injured, but he still played a good
bit of the time last year for Sean Calhoun. I
just think that we're starting to see more and more
of that. Coach Boone, Mark at north Side, one of
Robbins is looking at starting a true freshman at quarterback
for him this year. He was an eighth grader playing

(01:04:44):
in the spring game. Started the game there against Mountain
sign of Johnsborough. So we'll kind of close with this,
and I want to get your thoughts on that. Mark
these players younger and younger not being dismissed by coaches
like they used to be. If they can play, if
they got the talent, then by golly, they're thrusting them
in to action right away. Again, I'll give you the

(01:05:07):
final word to get your thoughts on that. I think
it's pretty interesting.

Speaker 2 (01:05:10):
Well, it's a different world today. You got to think
about it. These kids now are being trained as young
as ten years old. They're getting quarterback coaches at age ten,
and they're playing competitively obviously during the quote pee wee
League of football season, and then you move on up
in the middle school. They're traveling. Some people have the

(01:05:34):
financial means to send their kid to camps all over
the country. They are competing with various seven on seven teams.
They're getting the best weight, training, the best coaching. So
when you think about it along those lines, yes they
are a true freshmen, but they are very well prepared.

(01:05:55):
A lot of these kids are. As one guy told me,
I said, we're talking the very same thing. I was
in another state. This kid was starting freshman for a
high profile team. He said he's a trained assassin. He's
been getting the training from quarterback coaches to wait trainers,

(01:06:16):
from that, you know, from physical therapy, from everything you
can think of, even a psychological coach. Been getting all
that from like age ten, eight or nine or ten,
all the way up through middle school. So you're seeing
these kids are very mature now, not surprising at all.

Speaker 3 (01:06:38):
Hey, I got you, Mike Sorensen. Enjoyed the show, Phil
and Mark, guys. I want to thank y'all for checking
out the show. I want to thank all the I
want to thank everybody for the engagement. Mark, thank you
for your.

Speaker 5 (01:06:48):
Input, your opinion.

Speaker 3 (01:06:49):
Always having a great time talking to high school football
with you and look forward to uh talking next week
even more high.

Speaker 2 (01:06:57):
School football sounds good.

Speaker 3 (01:07:00):
Enjoyed it, Phil, Yeah, same here, Mark, guys. Thank y'all
for for checking in with us. We'll be back next week,
same time, same bat channel right here at ITG next
five thirty two, around six thirty inch or whenever we
get ready to wrap things up. But we hope that
you will be with us. Remember now, this is just
a small part of what we do. This one hour guys,

(01:07:22):
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Until next week, you guys, have a great day, have
a great week, and we'll talk