Georgia's Top Athletic Programs & 2025 Football Schedules

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
And now it's time for extra pint your host Phil Jones.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
All guys, welcome in Tom once again for Extra Point
with Phil Jones. Got missed producer back in the house
with us today. Say hello to miss producer Mazzonnie Matthews.
There's a lot of ms there.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hey, guys, it's nice to be back. I know my
background looks a little different. We're doing some I guess
remodeling here in the office today, but nonetheless I'm excited
for the show today.

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Yeah, we are too. It's good to have you back.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Obviously going to be glad to have our guy coach
Slide joining us at five forty five today, so we're
we're looking forward to that as well. You guys know
the drill, your regulars, let us know where you're checking
out the show from, and if you are new to
the show, we always seem to have a couple of
newbies that come in every week, so if you guys

(01:09):
are new to the show, very simple, We asked that
you tell us where you're checking in from and who
your favorite team is. And remember those things are not
always one and the same, so we talk high school
football year round here. Anything else though that you want
to talk about. We're game, just let us know. And
that's the thing about the show. And again, mostly for

(01:30):
you guys that are new or maybe those of you
that just need a reminder, we don't just want to
talk to you. We want to talk with you. In
other words, we want to hear what you guys are
talking about, what you want to talk about.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
Of course we'll throw out a couple of topics.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
As suggestions, but by all means, if you got something
you want to talk about, let us hear from you.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
Yeah. I think we have a great community and a
lot of our viewers have some of the best insights,
you know, a lot of great tips to give us.
I learn from them so much so I enjoy the
conversation that we have with them absolutely.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
So speaking of that, we got Michael Baxter is in
the house today. Greetings to everyone at itg Next, Georgia,
what's up.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
Else?

Speaker 2 (02:14):
We got Roster Sutherland. Hello from Marietta. Got ahead to
a meeting at city Hall on the event. No, no, no,
you can't do that now. You can't come in and
check in. You can take us with you on your phone.
So so let us hear from you, by all, By all,
means brother. Now again, that's a great thing about the show.
You can take it with you to take your cell phone.

(02:35):
By the way, how many of you guys watch the
show on your phone? I'm just curious because I do
everything on my phone.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
I'm more of a laptop person.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
Really. Yeah, yeah, I don't know what it is. I
just I like I watch movies on my phone. I
think it's just called I like to like.

Speaker 4 (02:49):
You know, it goes with me. It's portable.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah. Yeah, Well, if I'm watching movies and videos and
stuff like that, I like to watch it on my
laptop or TV because it's just bigger. I feel like
my phone screen is too small.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Sometimes I got you with you and that is something
you need to get used to for sure. But anyway,
so what are we talking about today? Uh? More? It
seems like every day we got more and more new
coaches that are being hired. Congratulations to Burying County picking
up their new head coach. And I got to remember

(03:20):
his name here Barron County went and this is where
he kind of becomes interesting. You know. Rivals like Burying
and Cook you know some of the some of more
heated rivalries. I think they the two teams. They call
it the the Battle of the Bridge or or something
like that, I guess because it's because Cook and Barrion

(03:42):
are separated by a river. But anyway, Barrion goes out
and hires Cook's offensive coordinator. And just as I started
talking about that, his name escapes me. Jackson, Dean Jackson, Dene,
thank you for bailing me out on that. And uh
And once again, as I talked about this last week,

(04:03):
yours truly.

Speaker 4 (04:05):
Was the first to report it as far as.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
The media outlets. So let's just say so last week
I talked about this, Mazzoni, So listen, we are you know,
I guess when you start talking about the AJAC. And
I love Todd Holcombe Agency is a friend of mine. Good,
good guy. He's helped me out a lot. And also

(04:28):
the folks at the GPB Georgia Public Broadcasting, you know,
love those guys, and and several of the media outlets
across the state, and really you know, even some of
them like the National Sports Illustrated. You know, they do
a lot of.

Speaker 4 (04:41):
High school coverage.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Anyway, But I get it, I get a feeling that
maybe I'm stepping on some toes. Uh, being the first
to announce these new coaching hires. Yeah, because it used
to be where you know, guys would say, hey, Phil
Jones was the first one to announce this coaching hire. Yeah,
don't no, And it's all good.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
You know.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Maybe that that lets you know that hey, you're you're
you know, you're kind of getting some folks attention.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, and then you you really have great connections. Yeah,
and I think it helps down here, especially in South Georgia,
with the like kind of almost like personal connections that
you have with a lot of these athletic programs around here,
you know, sure, and so you're able to get that
firsthand experience and all the information that we need. Absolutely,
we got some other people checking here. We got Yeah,

(05:29):
we have Obadia Farley. Of course we know him. Yeah,
he says, what's going on? I T G T C
C checking in.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
There's a lot of uh, three letter acronyms there. I
see that I T G, T C C FBI.

Speaker 3 (05:48):
We also have Rodrikus Upshaw, he says, Hey, Philis producer.

Speaker 2 (05:51):
Go big rib love it, Yeah, love it.

Speaker 3 (05:53):
You got Carlton Jones, he says, checking in from Rockdale County.
Of course, we have Luke Bush from Lowes High School.
He says, go Vikings, Luke. And then we have Jose Bido.
He says, hello, mister PHILLIMZIONI go Jacket.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
So Hose, it's great to see you back.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Man, he has been listen, by the way, putting out
an all points bulletin for my brother Mario Santiago, the
number one Grayson fan. Okay, speaking of Grayson, by the way,
I want to I want to start off the show
talking about this, so I think most of yeah, this

(06:28):
is going to kind of segue into another topic, so
so let me just kind of keep it every everything
in cohesive here so I don't get too far out.
So I am writing a story on the top overall
top athletic program in the state of Georgia.

Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah wow, So I imagine a lot of big main programs,
maybe some smaller ones too though.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, I was gonna say it may be surprised. Okay, Okay,
I know who the top one.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
Is.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
Not gonna say it because I don't want to spoil
the story. I want you guys to go and read it. It
should be out a couple of days. But but I
don't mind you guys taking some guesses today who do
you think is the number one overall athletic program? And
I tell you most of you would probably say Buford.

Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah. My pick was one of my picks or ideas
that I had was Grayson.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (07:17):
Actually, you know, they have a great athletics program. And
then that Peace just put out about their basketball teams. Yeah,
girls and boys, they're doing a great job this season. Yes,
So I'm just saying like they're a will round it.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
They are, they really are. And that kind of brings
me to my point about Grayson. And look, comparing Grayson
and Beuford, I don't think you can go wrong there.
That's quite a compliment for each program. But but Beuford
has always kind of been, you know, on the heels
of the shoulders, are standing on the shoulders of giants.

(07:47):
You know, all of Buford's athletic programs standing on the
shoulder of course, all the great football teams there. But
you know, they've had a great baseball program at Buford.
In fact, Ryan Page, the head coach of the Lownside
baseball team, said, you know, no doubt out Beauford as
the best baseball facilities in the state. And it's not
even close. Wow, And so you know. That's that's kind
of another thing that someday I'll talk about, you know,

(08:08):
maybe the top facilities. Remember I just talked about the
top or the top high school football stadiums. Yeah. In fact,
that story should be coming out. I don't think it's
been released yet, but it should be and I think
you guys are gonna like it. I hope you do.

Speaker 4 (08:21):
Some folks may be a little perturbed.

Speaker 2 (08:24):
By some stadiums that I did not name, but again, Beauford,
it's got some of the best facilities. But my point
being that Grayson, I think is starting to kind of
become the one of the signature benchmark high schools in

(08:45):
the state for kind of being the king of the
mountain when it comes to high school sports.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Yeah, you mean, like as far as being Will Browned
and all of their athletics.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yes, because you look Mazon and not interrupt you, but
you just talked about the bandsketball. By the way, if
you guys haven't read the basketball story that Mazanie was
talking about, check it out. It came out. I leave
last of the last week talking about you know, is Grayson.
Grayson's on tap to try to take the girls in
boys state championship again in basketball, and I know mister

(09:17):
Luke Bush probably has something to say about that because
they're about to take on the girls, Grayson girls about
to take on the Lounge girls. I think that's tomorrow night,
third round of the GSA Class six A state baseball
basketball playoffs.

Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah yeah, and you know they can catch those games
on NFLS if you guys want to watch those or
going person.

Speaker 4 (09:37):
Yeah, go in person.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
Absolutely.

Speaker 3 (09:38):
So.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
Anyway, you got Grayson, the boys and the girls. And
again it goes back to the story that I wrote,
they're well on their way to repeating. And so you
take into account they're the defending basketball state champions right
the boys.

Speaker 4 (09:58):
The football team one.

Speaker 2 (10:02):
The Class six eight state championship this past year. Right,
m hm. So you've got defending state champion Grayson football,
Grayson boys basketball, Grays and girls basketball. I don't know
exactly how some of the other sports you like the
baseball If I'm not mistaken, I think the baseball team

(10:25):
has been right up there at the top. So it
may be one of these things where we say move
over Buford. Yeah. Yeah. Now, having said that, I don't
want anybody to be confused, because I can tell you
that in my me naming the overall athletic program, Remember

(10:45):
this is overall and it's boys and girls combined. Yeah,
I will tell you that it may not be Buford
or Grace.

Speaker 3 (10:55):
Yeah or who A lot of people think maybe you know,
but I was wondering, what are your what are some
factors that you think go into it? You know, I
know you talk a lot about these high school facilities
and how Beufort has an amazing baseball facility. You know,
we've seen we've seen a lot of great football facilities
as well. But what do you guys think as well?
What factors play into making athletic program well rounded and

(11:18):
such a great program for all sports and not just
have one monopoly of a sport.

Speaker 4 (11:23):
Yeah, you know, that's a good question.

Speaker 2 (11:25):
And what I did, Mazani, and what I used was
a model that is very similar to what the Georgia
Athletic Directors Association or ga DA. They have what's called
the Director's Cup. Okay, and some of you may be
familiar with this. Each year the Georgia Athletic Directors Association,
they get well, they actually do this all year long.

(11:47):
They keep up with sports and they award points there's
a scaled points system where you get so many points
for winning a region title and a state title. Yeah,
obviously it goes without saying you're gonna get more points
for the state title. You're gonna get a lot of

(12:08):
points for winning a region title. Okay, You're gonna get
x amount of points for making a state playoff appearance
or winning a state playoff game. You win, you know,
state championship or a reagtionpship. You win a state championship,
you make it to the semifinals, quarterfinals, second round, first round.

(12:29):
You see what I'm saying. Yeah, So it's a scaled
points system, so it rewards for overall postseason success, starting
with region title and going up from there. Okay, So
that really takes the guesswork out of it. So that's
where we're awarding the top teams based on points based

(12:51):
on performance. Okay. So now as far as looking at
what also constitutes a well rounded sports athletic program, now
you've got to also look at consistency. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
Consistency is a big part.

Speaker 4 (13:07):
Yeah, yes, you know, that's another part of it.

Speaker 2 (13:11):
As far as facilities, now, it's not necessarily going into
and factoring into what I'm looking for again. Mine is
pretty much performed, but I would like to also have
a system that rewards for you know, somehow get a
point system for facilities.

Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, that plays a huge role in it. But we
know there's a lot of great teams out there that
have like I could, I guess you could say older
facilities or more traditional ones. And they're doing such a
great job. And I mean you can even count TCC
in that because they haven't gotten their new facilities yet,
you know, but they're still having a killer season. They're
doing such a great job.

Speaker 4 (13:47):
That's right, you know.

Speaker 3 (13:48):
So, But we have a lot of people checking in.

Speaker 2 (13:51):
Let's acknowledge everybody here who we.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
Got Nancy Sullivan Burrell, she's from Worth County. You have
Arnold Wallace, excuse me, not Arnold, Ronald Wallace from he's
supporting the stop British Tigers.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
All right.

Speaker 3 (14:05):
Of course Evarice is checking in, love it Hello, go
Roswell Hornets.

Speaker 2 (14:10):
But C. J.

Speaker 3 (14:11):
Lamb is checking in talking about the Cook Hornets. He says,
we lost our OC to our rivals.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
I remember I just opened up the show with that,
as Jackson Dean, I had opened up with that talking
about Jackson Dean going from the Cookyle Hornets to the
Burying Rebels. Got to tell you, Azannie love Jackson Dean.
Good guy, good coach. He has a tall order ahead
of him. And look, this is no knock on Burrion.

(14:39):
So I don't want anybody to take it that way.
But and I don't know why this is, but being
successful at Burrion High School in football has been a tough,
tough asque and I like to get y'all's opinion, especially
if you're a Burrion fan. Why do you think that is?

Speaker 3 (15:01):
That's a good question. But I have I have a
question for you. You know, you know, do you think
he's the right coach should potentially turn this around? And
if so, how soon do you think he can make
that happen.

Speaker 2 (15:12):
Answer your first question is yes, he's a great guy.
He's a great coach. He's a great offensive mind. Man.
I tell you, I know you don't want to turn
down the chance to become a head football coach. Try
to get it. But boy, he you and Jackson and
I know he thought about this. Cook has got some

(15:32):
fantastic younger talent that's coming up. They do.

Speaker 3 (15:36):
We mentioned that a lot earlier in the season. How
there's such a young team.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
Oh my gosh. You know I put out that thing
about ones to watch. Yeah, and so many people, you know,
were saying, hey, Phil, you missed this when you missed
that one, and you know a couple of them were
the young men coming up in the Cook system. Yeah,
and I did miss him, but we'll come back with
a follow up story.

Speaker 4 (15:54):
We won't miss him then. But the point being, whoever.

Speaker 2 (15:58):
Takes over the offensive coaching duties, play calling duties at
the Cook is they're going to be in for a
fun time. I think Cook fans is gonna have something
to really to root for for the next year, Yes,
next five years, We'll say, yeah, absolutely, who else we have?

Speaker 3 (16:15):
So of course we have some people answering a question about,
you know, who they think would be the best athletic
program Obadai, he says, Benedictine.

Speaker 4 (16:24):
Which good great guests.

Speaker 3 (16:26):
Yeah yeah, And then rodrikaez up Straw says Gainesville, Yep, yep.
Evan Re says it's Westminster. And then let me see,
oh Jose, he says, Phil, you need to go to
Central spring game at Central Park. He says, how about
the matchups?

Speaker 2 (16:44):
Uh oh talking about it Center Park Stadium. Oh my gosh, guys,
And I wrote, I posted something on Facebook. I think
it was last week or the week before about this,
and I'm glad who's that? Jose posted that?

Speaker 4 (16:59):
Guys, have y'all heard about this? We're gonna get in
a little bit of spring football.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
So Central of Thomasville, North Woinette, and Gamesville are gonna
get together at Center Park Stadium. That's the home of
the Georgia State Panthers. That's the former Turner Field. I
love being there at Georgia State Stadium and reminding people

(17:23):
when we're on the sidelines that hey, I'm standing in
left field. It's just very odd when you've watched the
Braves play there and all of a sudden you look
up and you think, wow, I'm standing right here where
Shepherd Jones played third base. Now it's a football field.
It's just crazy anyway. But there's not gonna be any baseball.

(17:44):
There's gonna be football. Those three teams that I just
mentioned are going to be there to take part in
a spring jamboree.

Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 2 (17:52):
And let me tell you something, guys, do not be
fooled if you think the teams are going up there,
and I had a chance talk to all three head coaches.
Justin Rodgers and Thomaskinny Central talked to me at Godfrey
at North Gwinette talked to me, and of course Josh
Niblet at Gainesville. They all three talked to me and

(18:13):
they mentioned, Hey, this is what we're looking for out
of this scrimmage. And with those three caliber opponents all
playing each other, they play each other for a half,
you don't think they're going to be going all out, yeah,
trying to win. I can tell you they will be.

Speaker 3 (18:31):
Especially with their talent. They have a lot of returning starters.

Speaker 4 (18:34):
They due Yeah, and don't look now.

Speaker 2 (18:36):
But Gains listen, Josh Niblet came very close his first
year winning the state title. Just got beat. I think
what by Lynxton Hughes and then next I think what
I think. Last year was his third year at Gains.
If I'm not mistaken, the bottom line is, and Josh
Nibble would be the first one to tell you he

(18:57):
was brought in to win a state title. M hm.

Speaker 4 (19:00):
He makes a lot of money. And I'm not saying anything.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
That coach Nibbley wouldn't say, but make no mistake that
man is not there at Gainesville to take on the
second place trophy.

Speaker 3 (19:14):
No, not at all.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
They want the big, the big bazooka, the big trophy,
whatever it is. They want the state title. And let
me tell you what they've done this off season. They've
had a lot of new transfers coming in, legitimate, So
don't anybody get all fired up. They've had new players
come in, move in, and they are gonna be rocking

(19:41):
and rolling at Gainel this year.

Speaker 3 (19:44):
Coach Nibbley definitely has the mindset for it.

Speaker 2 (19:46):
He does.

Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, so I could see it happening. Yeah, for sure.
Let's see who else we have. We also have Carton
Jones Sound Westminster as well as all around you know,
great athletic program. As his pick, Steven Tate says, even guys, tell.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
I think stage just went on a cross country trip.
I'm not mistaken, really, I think so in Colorado and
stuff nice.

Speaker 3 (20:10):
Let me tell you, Colorado must have some Well is
it cold out there right now? I imagine it might be,
But nonetheless, think.

Speaker 4 (20:16):
Of the places year round. It's pretty nice.

Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
In the mountains, yeah it's beautiful, But it's like you know,
in some places you can have snow, but it's not
too cold still, that's right. Yeah, so I imagine it's
beautiful there. Obadiah says he will be there at the
jamboree of course. Uh, shame Morgan. I thought this was
a nice interesting comment. They said, long time listener, they
normally listened to the podcast, so first time checking into

(20:40):
a live show from Tennessee.

Speaker 2 (20:42):
All right, who is that?

Speaker 3 (20:44):
Shame Morgan? They said, they started listening to you back
in Rush Pail City days. They said, any news on
Rush and Possibilities. Love what you guys at I do
week in and week out with the show. So that's
shame Morgan. And they wanted to know if you have
any any news on Rush and possibilities.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Wow, Shane Man, that just does my heart so well Man,
thank you so much for your loyalty and that is
so nice of you to have discovered the show and
now watching it live. Hey man, we're trying to do
the best we can here, and you know, Azani does
a great job with me. Sl It's like going to
be joining me here in a little while. And you
know the thing is, nobody really does what we do.

(21:23):
You know, talking in high school football year round and
so we're very glad to be doing this.

Speaker 4 (21:27):
And nobody really is a company does what.

Speaker 2 (21:30):
We do, which is high school sports, you know, all
the time. So having said that, I have not heard anything.
Rushi has been very very quiet. I actually saw a
post a tweet from him on x not long ago,
and it was just I think to share some coaching news.
But Rush has been very quiet. You know, he got
in some legal issues not nobody a year ago with

(21:51):
the you know is his first wife, Tammy, And so
I don't know, guys, I just don't know. I'd like
to see Rush come back. I like Rush. I know
Russia has got his faults, but don't we all, Okay.

Speaker 4 (22:07):
So I'd like to see him come back.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
The one thing you never can take away from that guy,
he knows how to coach football.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yeah, I'm saying, like, if anything, that man is like
a legend and high school football here.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
He really is. He really Look at what he did
to Calquick County. Cockwick County was a just another program
that would win a region championship every now and then,
that would win seven eight ball games. Rush probed. His
presence at Canquitt is still being felt.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
Mazani yeah, it is, and they still mention him to
this day.

Speaker 2 (22:40):
Yes, yeah, he's been long gone. But that indoor practice
facility started a trend. Okay, he raised that with all
private money. By the way, the nutrition deal that they've
got at Cauquit, that started a a a statewide trend

(23:01):
in Georgia. Now almost every high school football program has
a nutrition program that was built off the back of
what Rush did it called.

Speaker 3 (23:11):
I think a lot of people underestimate that the nutrition
for these players, you know, their actual health, you know.

Speaker 2 (23:17):
So well, Rush would say, Mazzani. They would come in
on Monday morning to lift weights with the players, and
the players would be like, you know, coach, I'm out
of gas, man, I can't go anymore. And coach would say, well,
we didn't eat breakfast, and you know, the players would
say stuff like no, coach, I haven't eaten all weekend. Yeah.

(23:37):
And I know that's not everybody, but there were some
of these young men that were coming from play, you know,
situations where they did not eat properly. Potato chips, Debbie
little Debbie steak. So Rush right then and there went
to I guess the touchdown coll the Boost Club and said,
we've got to have a nutrition program in place here,

(24:00):
and that's what they did.

Speaker 3 (24:01):
And I've even heard that. You know, he emphasized, like
you know, if a game is on Friday, then you
know your hydration needs to start on well Wednesday or
Thursday or like that. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (24:08):
Absolutely, So that's really big Luc Nelson.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
I think he's watching.

Speaker 3 (24:12):
Yeah, I wanna read his comment just now. He says,
big beat for checking out from the baseball game. He
says perfect pregame.

Speaker 2 (24:17):
Feel all right?

Speaker 4 (24:18):
How about that?

Speaker 2 (24:19):
It is perfect pre game? And don't forget what I
said Ryan Page yet Gorjia Lown said be for best
baseball facilities, hand down, hands down.

Speaker 3 (24:27):
Let me see Brits. Carter says, does anyone know of
any eight man or nine man schools looking for a game?
Or very small or very very small eleving man?

Speaker 2 (24:38):
What do you say is very small?

Speaker 1 (24:39):
What?

Speaker 3 (24:39):
Very very small? Eleven man?

Speaker 4 (24:41):
Okay, I've got just the school for him.

Speaker 2 (24:43):
Okay, new school that is a charter school, actually two
of them. So you've got a charter school in Valdosta
that is coached by a former Vowwood coach. It's not
Ashley Henderson's Ashley's brother. Somebody helped me out with that.
I can't believe I can't remember his name. He was

(25:04):
the head coach at val Wood, succeeded his brother Ashley.
But anyway, uh, justin Carter. And then you've got a
new program in Bainbridge that is a startup. And this
this coach reached out to me. So Brooks got a
couple of possibilities for you there, my man, that I
think would fit in exactly with what you're looking for.

Speaker 3 (25:24):
Yeah, you think he should like send you a message?

Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yes, do that? Brooks? Absolutely good? Good mentioned Mazzoni over
now Farley, I know you mentioned him earlier. Ron Riguez
Upshaw checking in? Did you mention Carlton Jones checking in
from Rockdale County?

Speaker 3 (25:42):
Mm? Let me see here. I just wanted to reply
to Brooks Carter real quick about what you were saying.
All right, But then we also have Andrew Watkins from
Darty High checking in.

Speaker 2 (25:53):
What's up brother Luke Bush?

Speaker 3 (25:55):
You know, of course he's the biggest a Viking fan.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
We know. I don't really know I repeating some of
these names, so bear with me. Nancy Sullivant Burrell, Nancy,
it's good to see you check it in. I think
you had answered the deal about my asking the question
about top overall athletic programs. I believe that is Nancy,
So I know you are a new beat to the show.

(26:18):
I don't recall ever seeing your name. So welcome a board, guys.
I hope you will always make it appointment Facebook every
Monday at five o'clock.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Let me see Britis Carter. He was mentioning. He says,
Region one, Class A D two and basketball season number
one and two in the region. Randolph Clay and kylehou
County get beat in number three, Mitchell County in number four,
Early County make the Elite eight and basketball this week.
And I just watched a game this previous Saturday. It

(26:49):
was Mitchell County against Clinch County and Clinch County did
losing that one. It was a great game though, Clinch
County Panthers. They've done it. They had a great season.
I just want to say that great basketball seniores. They
are dumb bit Cracie's and I enjoy watching them.

Speaker 2 (27:02):
Beautiful, beautiful, all right, who else we got in the house.

Speaker 3 (27:06):
Let me see Andrew Watkins. He says, Darty baseball is
on a hot streak. Have you been coming up with
their baseball.

Speaker 2 (27:12):
Darty, I have not. In fact, I am about to
do an update. I want to find out how my
top preseason top ten yeah in baseball is doing. I
had Edawad the number one ranked program in the state.
I think I'm safe there. They are just a machine
of baseball. But I want to see how Buford's doing.

(27:33):
I want to see how a Houston County is doing.

Speaker 3 (27:36):
Yeah, we got we got to see how Chris County
is doing as well. Yeah, that's just the last time
we talked to them.

Speaker 2 (27:42):
Absolutely, absolutely, So several programs that I want to get
an update on, So be looking out for that. Guys.
By the way, if you're not subscribing to our newsletter,
why not. It's free. It comes right to your email
inbox once a week and it gives you all the
news chalk full of all the news that's happening in
the world high sports, in addition to what we talk about.

(28:02):
So you can get that. Just go to itg next
dot com and you can subscribe to our newsletter. Not
gonna cost you a thing, comes right to your email inbox.
You'll love it.

Speaker 3 (28:14):
Mark Allen Chicken and he says, go be at Blue
Northside High School.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, so what is happening at north Side One of Robins. Look,
these these programs like north Side One of Robins had
added these new coaches, Yeah, like Boone, goach Boone at Northside,
don't you know they are chomping at the bit to
get started with well football season.

Speaker 3 (28:37):
Oh okay, okay, good.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, And I'm assuming that's what he was talking about. Yeah, yeah,
Well because north Side has been you know, long proud program,
took a back seat, you know, went downhill for a
couple of years.

Speaker 4 (28:50):
And I'm saying, as anybody's faults, just the way it is.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
So now you've got coach Daniel Boone Williams that it's
about to take over the north Side One of Robins
football program. And don't you know expectations will be sky
high at Northside. Yeah, because of what Boone did.

Speaker 3 (29:08):
Yeah, we did a lot of great things there.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
Absolutely.

Speaker 3 (29:11):
Brus Carter's just checking in again us all the information,
I mean, like a bunch of information about all these
great athletic programs. He's mentioning Southwest Georgia Academy has a
wonderful year or has had a wonderful year athletically. Yeah,
in GIAA Class Double A this past year, twenty twenty
four girls state tennis champions, twenty twenty four football state

(29:32):
runner up, they only had two losses and twenty twenty
four state softball champions. There they were twenty seven and
one and currently in the final four in the girls
basketball in their twenty three and three. So that's such great. Yeah, absolutely,
So I was wondering, you know, we're talking about all
around best athletic programs. Did you have any private schools,
which I imagine you do, but did you think of any

(29:54):
private schools that just popped up in your head?

Speaker 2 (29:56):
You know? Well, yeah I did, And so I want
to mention something real. So Westminster. We actually went up
and did a documentary on film, the documentary on We Westminster,
the Westminster School.

Speaker 4 (30:10):
I think that was like three four years ago.

Speaker 2 (30:12):
Okay, they were indeed at that time the number one
ranked overall athletic program in the state and it wasn't
even close. And again that was based on the number
of state champions, okay that were coming out of Westminster,
I mean, football, baseball, I mean, you name it. They

(30:36):
were winning state titles and one of the smaller schools. Yeah, Okay,
So to answer your question, yes, I do have and
I do know who the number one overall athletic program
is in the state, and I want to see if
anybody can guess it before we get off the air today.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
Let's see, we also have Jim Blair, he says, Cuckott
County Packers Jay Lamar story. Do you know anything abou
about that?

Speaker 2 (31:00):
Say that again?

Speaker 3 (31:01):
The Cocoa County Packers j Lamar story. Jim Blair mentioned
that I.

Speaker 2 (31:05):
Don't bring me some Is that just a player to
watch out four gim or what? What's the story there?
What's the rest of the Story's see? Here?

Speaker 3 (31:16):
We have Reda May Redda is tricking an, she says,
Marietta Blue Devils is here?

Speaker 4 (31:20):
Is that she or he?

Speaker 3 (31:23):
I don't know. I don't want to get it wrong.

Speaker 2 (31:26):
Redda Mary, Yet I love it. I just assumed it
was a heat, but I guess now we're about to
find out.

Speaker 3 (31:32):
I can't see. The picture is small right here, and
I don't want to click on it right now.

Speaker 2 (31:35):
Jo is asking me, Mazani, is that a Leak County
pullover you got on a game? Oh no, no, it's not.
It's actually just my Nike pullover that my son bought
me for Christmas.

Speaker 3 (31:46):
Oh nice, Yeah, those are comfortable.

Speaker 2 (31:49):
Absolutely, big shout out to my son. Got his Union
card yesterday. Yes, that's a big, big deal.

Speaker 4 (31:56):
Is a big deal up in New York.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
Yeah. Doesn't that mean like more consistent work if you
have a union card? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (32:03):
For money better you get protection?

Speaker 2 (32:05):
Yeah that thing. So man, I'm proud, proud, followed man,
If my son's doing all right, everything else is gravy. Yeah,
I'll be fine.

Speaker 3 (32:13):
That's good.

Speaker 1 (32:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
Absolutely, see.

Speaker 4 (32:17):
What Andrew I can say?

Speaker 2 (32:19):
My Darty did beat Calhoun in the Elite eight and
play windsor Forest this week. So are there any other
basketball updates, upsets that we need to know about. Let
me see, I was Lee County basketball doing. They're still Yeah,
Lee County is quietly having well I shouldn't say they had,

(32:42):
they have quickly. They have quietly amassed a pretty solid
basketball program that I don't think is getting a lot
of the attention that they should be.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah, because I have not paid attention to their basketball program.
But I was spaying attention to you know, and I
did vote on the polls. You will, I tould you
he has a if you guys haven't voted already, you
need to go click on the link at the month. Yes,
athlete of the month for female and male athlete of
the month.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
So I'm the one that comes up with the candidates.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
By the way, Okay, good because I already I voted
for one already, so I was excited. And what's the
closing date of the twenty six so we have another
day or two?

Speaker 2 (33:18):
That's a good question. I'm not sure that what it said.

Speaker 3 (33:20):
I believe. So so you have today, tomorrow and the
twenty sixth, I believe. Yeah, So you guys go.

Speaker 2 (33:26):
Vote absolutely Athlete of the month thought yours truly goes through.
I try to find out who had the best month,
you know, and there's a lot of good candidates.

Speaker 3 (33:34):
You have some great picks on there.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
Yeah, well, thank you, thank you for that. And I
tried to, you know, get some of the smaller schools
that maybe you haven't heard of, but athletes that do
deserve the recognition.

Speaker 3 (33:45):
Well, I was the only smaller school that I've kind
of paid attention to a lot is Clinch County. They've
had a couple of players that have reached their one
thousand points this season, so I thought that was great.
And you know, they did a lot of great things
in their season. But also you know Mitchell County they're
doing great things there too. So yeah, a lot of
these smaller schools are really showing out in basketball right now.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Absolutely. Who else we at?

Speaker 3 (34:06):
Let's see Jim Blair says on dog Nation? Uh does
he talking about? Cause he kept mentioning cock the County
Packers J Lamar story, and then he says on dog Nation. Hmm,
I'm a little lost on that one.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
All right, So.

Speaker 4 (34:23):
The so the storks of the player is R J.

Speaker 2 (34:26):
Lamar? Is that what he's saying? Now, You're not talking
about M J. Fowler, who is one of my ones
to watch pig. That's not how you're talking about, is Jim?
Why you look for clarification on that? Let me check
out something here. Jose Badia says, Phil, we're expecting a
new white helmet. Interesting. I thought they had already had

(34:50):
the white helmet.

Speaker 3 (34:51):
No, I don't think so. Now I haven't seen a
white helmet.

Speaker 2 (34:55):
Didn't they did they not debut the white helmet like
what they're all white uniform last year against Coffee? Am
I am I hallucinating?

Speaker 3 (35:04):
Lisays they're spending a new white helmet, so maybe they
had pass and then they're just getting another one.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
Could be, could well be, But I take you to
mean that he was talking about, like the gold helmet.

Speaker 4 (35:16):
I think that would listen. I love the white helmet.

Speaker 3 (35:19):
Yeah, I do like a nice all white helmet and
white uniform.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
Look.

Speaker 3 (35:22):
I think it's very.

Speaker 2 (35:23):
Nice, very classy. Yeah it does, doesn't it?

Speaker 4 (35:27):
That white Lee County helmet.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
I like that. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (35:29):
I was looking at that, and then I was looking
at the comment Obadiah who says, Phil, have you received
the north side of Robin's helmet yet?

Speaker 2 (35:36):
Have not?

Speaker 3 (35:37):
I was looking up there to see if you have.

Speaker 2 (35:38):
I have not. I supposed to be getting something from
Collins Hill, supposed to be getting something from from who
who was it he was talking.

Speaker 3 (35:49):
About, Yeah, coach Williams. So I imagine you'll start getting
before the football season starts. The time you.

Speaker 4 (35:57):
Got absolutely absolutely.

Speaker 3 (35:59):
Obadia says it was for promo and entertainment only. I
guess that white helmet the first white helmet they were
talking about.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
Oh okay, interesting, so maybe that's where I saw it at.
But uh, that that's a classy look. I just think
I'm one of these guys. The simpler the better. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (36:18):
I don't like when uniforms are doing too much.

Speaker 2 (36:21):
Too busy. Yeah, it always amazes me, guys. I don't
know if you've ever heard this before. When you passing
a billboard, do you guys know what the golden rule
on that is? Do you know what the golden rule
on billboard is? No? What is it? Okay? And again
I know this from when I was in the newspaper business.
You know, we would you know, handle advert we would
do advertising on new board, on billboards. The golden rule

(36:45):
on a billboard is to your billboard should not exceed
seven words.

Speaker 3 (36:53):
Wow, well it is a lot for people to read
while driving, right.

Speaker 2 (36:57):
Yeah, exactly. I mean it just amazes me when I
passed these billboards and you've got an essay up there,
and you're like, like, you expect me to read this,
not a book. It's seven words or less. It's the
golden rule on a billboard. That's what you can realistically
look at and comprehend when you're going down the road

(37:19):
at seventy eighty miles an hour.

Speaker 3 (37:20):
Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I didn't even think about that.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
Yeah, absolutely, So that's a listen. Sometimes you get a
lot of sports here, sometimes you get some useless information.
Just like that.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
I like the facts, you know, yeah, absolutely, absolutely, says
How about the Oregon he says, I'm assuming he's the
Oregon Ducks uniforms. Oh yeah, I haven't seen them all.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
Very colorful.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
I mean they are very colorful. They have a lot
going on on those.

Speaker 2 (37:53):
Two second round I mean of reading something that says
second round. Absolutely right about the about that, let.

Speaker 3 (38:05):
Me see Evan recy gives us update. He says Milton
lost to Wilbard and okay.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
Ye, second round loss for Milton. Now, was that just
a game or was that the series?

Speaker 3 (38:22):
I wonder if this is like you lose, you go home. Yeah,
I was talking about organ books.

Speaker 2 (38:28):
Wow, incredible. So who do you think guys is gonna
win the basketball state titles? Grayson was like, they're on
par uh to take it all in their particular uh classification?
Who are we not here? And from?

Speaker 4 (38:47):
Who is this year's wild.

Speaker 2 (38:51):
Card team when it comes to basketball?

Speaker 3 (38:53):
Evan says that was the playoffs? Who's talking about?

Speaker 2 (38:59):
Who said that?

Speaker 3 (39:00):
Evan reeves, that's when we were talking about Milton and
Woodward wood Wood By the.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Way, and I just see my buddy Luke Bush checking in.
Don't look now, but here comes the Lownes high Viketts.
Speaking of Grayson, they're gonna be taking on the Grayson
girls tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (39:18):
He said, it's a Lowns.

Speaker 2 (39:20):
I think it's a lounge.

Speaker 4 (39:22):
Well is it?

Speaker 2 (39:23):
Could that be right?

Speaker 3 (39:25):
Oh that's another great segue because you're used to talking
about home field advantage. Yes, And a lot of people
are on the road traveling, and you know, I was thinking,
you know, another example, sometimes they just have a bad night.
But you know, Mitchell County. I don't even know how
far Mitchell County is away from Clinch County.

Speaker 2 (39:44):
Do you know a pretty good ways? I mean, because
uh so Clinch and it's Mitchell County, right, So Mitchell
County is Camilla.

Speaker 3 (39:54):
Okay, and Clinch's Homerville.

Speaker 4 (39:56):
That's right. So that's a pretty good hall.

Speaker 2 (39:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (39:58):
And so you know this past Saturday, Clint did lose
to Mitchell County and I was thinking, you know, like
home field advantage and you know, like maybe travel does way.
We're down the team a little bit. But then you know,
looking at the record last year too, Clint kind of
did the same thing to Mitchell Clinch had to go
to Mitchell County to play and they upset them at
home too, So maybe Mitchell was just repaying the favor

(40:20):
you know, this year. But I was going into your
topic of what you were saying, is home build advantage
really an advantage? What do you think? Phil?

Speaker 4 (40:27):
Okay?

Speaker 2 (40:28):
So or again asking the question is home field I
think we started on this last week or maybe this
a week before its home field advantage all is cracked
up to be okay, And I would like to and
I'm going to do some kind of you know, study
on this go back, and I don't know how far

(40:48):
back I would go, but you know, let's just take
for simplistic purposes, for you know, let's take last season.
I got you, sly, you with.

Speaker 1 (40:57):
Us, Yes, sir, doing very well.

Speaker 2 (41:01):
How about you, guys, good man, So come on in
the conversation here, we're talking about you right on time.
We're talking about home field, our home court advantage, and
we'll talk about, you know, to start off with football.

Speaker 4 (41:12):
Home field advantage.

Speaker 2 (41:15):
I'm just curious if, like like this past year in
the playoffs, you know, was it the majority of the
home teams that were able to win and maintain home
field advantage or what can you tell us just.

Speaker 4 (41:28):
You know, taking this question right off the cuff here.

Speaker 1 (41:31):
Well, in football, I think you try to play for
the best disition, right, So you want to win the region.
You want to be guaranteed first and second round at
home playoffs, and then you know, usually you get the
third round and then there's a coin toss depending on
to guaranteed one and two, and that has a lot
to do a lot of things. That's a lot to
do with some money if you're you know, overall for
the program, that's a lot to do with if the

(41:53):
weather is getting cold, especially on the third or fourth rounds,
I think, uh, that's something I think is really important.
You have comfortable than the other team or inclement whether
uh more comfortable. But a lot of people don't mind
playing the way phil and I think we told her
this before because it's it tightened your schedule up right,
a lot less, a lot less moving wiggle room time
for the players, and that helps overall. But I think

(42:16):
most coacht tady want to play home, most kids tidy
want to play home. Uh you know, now, I'll be
honest with you. The first round, nobody's there at these
games Anyway, it seems like the most worst attended games
they are is the first round because the massis Arens
do very good people, and as they get they go
for obviously you pack the stadiums out.

Speaker 2 (42:37):
Yeah, I'd like to know how many upsets we've had
to speaking of those first round games.

Speaker 4 (42:44):
Uh, you're not going to find many, that's for sure.

Speaker 2 (42:47):
But so let's look at it last year, now, Milton,
you guys were were uh, you guys played at home
for how many rounds? Was it ever? Every round? You
guys were at home.

Speaker 1 (43:04):
Every round besides besides States.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
Right, right, of course? Yeah, I mean excluding we know
that States.

Speaker 1 (43:10):
Is the first floor round yestory.

Speaker 2 (43:12):
Okay, all right, so let me use another example. Look
at Thomas County Central. I know we got some Thomas
County Central fans of course in the house. Now, I
think they are the perfect example of bucking the trend
on home field advantage.

Speaker 3 (43:29):
You mean as far as like their fans, how their
fans travel.

Speaker 2 (43:32):
Well, that's one part.

Speaker 3 (43:33):
Because I'm like they go everywhere, they.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
Do that they do, but just no, just I mean
just being able to win on the road. Oh yeah, yeah,
they've been able to do it, and so to them,
It's like, who cares where we played? They've gone on
the road and taken care of business. I know that
came to an end last year with the loss what
in the semifinals at Langston Hughes. But up to that point,

(43:57):
as we all know, year before they captured the state champas,
and if I'm not mistaken, they played every playoff game
on the road. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (44:06):
Well, I have a question for like coach say, and
you know anybody out there that may have insight on this,
It's like, what is you know, I've only traveled with
football teams for you know a little bit, you know, yep,
But what is like a good schedule for teams that
the coaching staff have for the players when traveling far away?
You know, to keep the players in the right mindset,

(44:27):
you know, because teenagers, you know, they can just be
all over the place. Sometimes they become unfocused. So how
do you keep them focused and ready to handle business
on Friday nights when you have to travel to a game.

Speaker 1 (44:39):
Great question. I think it depends on the type of
team you have, right Like last year our team was veterans.
They were they were they've been around, you know, most
of those kids that played them back to back state
champions just played in back to back state championship. So
that's unheard of. Right. So you have a veteran laced team,
whether they're juniors or juniors, and they're they're pretty mature,

(44:59):
you know, if you look at the rains, say, for instance,
just look at the rain delay at Beaufort. That was
a two hour rainde lay against Putford at least a
half time. And our kids didn't even flinch, uh need Buford.
They came out ready to go too. So give them. Now,
you take that on the road and you go play
a team on the road, you gotta go on a
bus ride for an hour and a half. You can't

(45:19):
get to me. I don't think what our coach does
a great job with To answer your question, the zigni,
it's a great question. You can't get too intricate into,
like the scheduling. In other words, we're gonna get our
pregame meal in, we'll get in the bus. We gotta
be trapped. We gotta leave early, right, especially if you
go on a bus. If not, you never get a
bustle after five o'clock in our county. So you gotta
leave early. So in that case, you just have to

(45:40):
go ahead and when you get to that stadium, give
them some free time to get loose, play around, get
in their phones, whatever, and then start locking that clock
in when it gets closer to kickoff, right, whether you're
there an hour earlier than you we should be and
you gotta make that hour up somehow, and just some
free time, whether you get there like right a time
time and you literally come off the bus and you

(46:02):
try to play. I've seen teams go to parks and
get loose, to the park and fourth that stadium half
out for kickoff and start that little pregame clock and
go play ball too. So I think it just depends
on the type of team you have. This year's team,
being younger we have coming in, will be different than
last year's for sure. So I think, to me, that's
the biggest point. What do you what do you both think?

Speaker 3 (46:25):
So, yeah, I was saying that I think it is
important for you know, not to be I agree with
you said not to have a strit schedule, but you know,
just giving them enough time to you know, let loose
for a little bit, you know, let them talk and
have them you know, have the phone time. But I
know a lot of teams take up those phones at
a certain time and tell the players to lock in,
you know, and then I guess they start reviewing things

(46:47):
before the game, before they you know, start gam ready.

Speaker 1 (46:50):
What do you think of course, yeah, if you have
to make a kid lock in, right, here's the point.
If you've got to force a kid to lock in there,
they're locked in. M gotcha locked in If culture is
not set to be locked in at a certain time
and they know hate after whatever, five forty five that

(47:12):
are more locked in because six fifth team we're going
on the field for pregame. If that locked at that point,
you got a bigger problem than folk.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
Mmmm. Just real interesting, Yeah, feel your take?

Speaker 2 (47:25):
So is the question so almost makes you to understand
is the question is that is how you best avoid
distractions when you're on the road.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
Well, just like what what do you think is like
the best schedule to have or like, you know, how
do coaches go about setting a schedule for on the
road when you travel so that your team, you know,
doesn't lose too much focus because like I said, they're
high school teenagers, you know. But coach laugh made a
great points to like, you know, it depends on the
type of team you have. And you know, he was
saying that they had a lot of veterans on the team.
So it's about the mindset, you know. You know, you're

(47:55):
it's kind of like a business trip. You're want to
you know, to handle business.

Speaker 2 (47:58):
Well, I'll tell you this. So I talked with and
I know Sly probably knows him well. Right now I'm
doing a story on Saint Thomas Aquinas and you know,
they just want their six consecutive state championship in football. Wow.
And Roger Harriet is the head coach. And let me
tell you the guy, and I've come to know him
pretty well. Coach Harriet. He'll he doesn't really focus and

(48:23):
talk a lot about the x's and o's when it
comes to football. He talks about the things that we're
talking about here. He'll talk about the things that you
do to keep players focused, you know, to keep them.
One thing they do is they have like a buddy
system where they'll match up. You know, let's say if
a kid has got I don't know, let's just say
he's very hyper and doesn't have it. You know, he's

(48:46):
not able to focus a whole lot. Well, they'll put
a you know, one of the strongest, and I mean
from a personality standpoint, they'll put one of the strongest
seniors with somebody like him to kind of keep him
in line. And I just think that's a little unusual,
but it works. And I think that's one of the
things that they do at Saint Thomas Aquinas. And again,

(49:08):
success certainly speaks for itself. Yeah, Son talk about that
in his approach, and I know, you.

Speaker 1 (49:13):
Know coach Harriet, Yeah, he first off, he does a
great job down there for sure, and I think that's
a very unique approach. You know, it's so funny. So
it's the reason I just text about getting our kids
ready for next year and preparing, you know, identifying leaders,
identifying kids that are going to be in the weight

(49:33):
room leaders. And I know, getting towards spring practice, when
we plan our trips, what we're gonna do as far
as rooms, we're already talking about that. So I think
what coach Harry does the same thing. He tries to
do the intangibles right, the things that people think aren't
the biggest on the field, but off the field, you
could lose a volume hole.

Speaker 2 (49:51):
That's exactly right. So and I can tell you that.
To put my own spin on things, I would think,
you know, try to keep the schedule that you that
you have at home, Try to keep that the same
as much as possible on the road, you know, I
think if you don't stray, consistency again comes to the
key word here. Try to keep that is consistent with

(50:15):
what you're doing on the road as if you're at home.
I know it may not be an easy thing to attain,
but I think that's the key. In other words, don't
let you know the kids' habits and activities fluctuate that
much from what they learn at home versus on the road.

Speaker 4 (50:33):
I think that's I think that's one of the keys.

Speaker 1 (50:36):
Yeah, I understand, agree with you. I think that's a
great point, Bill, is consistency, continuity. Kids need boundaries, that's
all the same, you know, And it does by the
type of team you have each year. Obviously we talked
about that earlier, but I do think it's a great point.
It's consistency. Well then with then you know within the run,
where you're where you're at, like we go to Florida,

(50:58):
we played a game, or playing California or Pennsylvania. Once
game day starts it's the same schedule we have at home.
Whether it's health California, Florida or Philadelphia, it doesn't matter.
And I think that that's to your point.

Speaker 2 (51:13):
Got you you're listening, or you're listening, or you're watching
extra point with Phil Jones. Of course, we have missus
producer Mazzannie Matthews, who's pushing all the buttons and making
sure that you can see the show and here the show.
And then of course we've got on the phone lines
with us. We have none other the Newsmaker line we have.

(51:35):
I don't know where you get that from. We have
former Milton Athletic director and still very much part of
the program, Coach sly checking in with us as he
does every Monday afternoon here on the show. So all right,
we're talking about overall athletic we're gonna want to bring
Coach Lye into the mix Herely. You know, I've been
working on this. You and I talked about it last week,

(51:56):
I think, and you wanted me to kind of let
you in on the conversation once I get closer to
the writing the story. But uh, any thoughts on the
top athletic program and uh, you know your thoughts on
it and where the Milton Eagles may be landing.

Speaker 1 (52:15):
Yeah, first off, I think I think we're the best, But.

Speaker 4 (52:21):
Gee, why do I find that surprising?

Speaker 1 (52:24):
First off, I mean, look at you gotta go by
classifications because you have, right, it's so hard to do
it in sixty seven they compare to one A two.
Every class is hard. It's hard. I would say this
Buford and I know it's you know, they're probably not
on the top of your list, but over the years
has been one of the best ground. You got to
give them a props and props to do. Give them
their flowers. They're definitely good. And so many different sports,

(52:47):
whether it be wrestling, yep, baseball, football, Right, you can
go on and on gymnastics, right, I think where that's
where Milton seeds. We have. You know, our gross program
has won sixteen I think six seen that at seventeen
lacross state championships.

Speaker 2 (53:02):
Wow.

Speaker 1 (53:03):
Our boys golf has won four in a row state championships.
Football one back to back basketball boys lost in a
night two point on a buzzer beater to a really
good Woodward team. By the way, by the whole field Avana.
It's definitely helped there for Woodward. But but you know
they have won a state champions to played in the
final four girls this year in lead eight and could

(53:24):
push for a definite final four berth possibly state championship,
and I can go on across Country has won state championship.
So I think the difference between public schools and private schools,
here's where I think people forget and I love to
wait to see your article come out, is because private schools.
Also a lot of these kids are going to private schools,
they got to sign a contract saying they're gonna play

(53:45):
more than one sport because they don't have kids. So
now with sudden you get the for instance, BT has
an amazing flag football team. Well, guess what, it's not
by accident that goes across girls played flag football.

Speaker 2 (53:57):
That's Blessed Trinity.

Speaker 4 (53:57):
By the way, For you guys may not know who's
SLOs talking about.

Speaker 2 (54:00):
I go ahead, slave right.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
But that's the Trinity, so they'll no, it's no, it's
not by accident flighting for those girls. Those girls know
they got to play more than one sport, so they
all play flag and that's why they're they're they're b
a f BT as far as play football goes right,
and I think that's what you see in private school.
So I wanted to be surprised there's a a Mariss
up there or somebody like down on top of your
list because of that as well. But I'm looking forward

(54:24):
to hearing about that. And look at you said, Grayson, guys,
you can't cut racing out as well as one of
the top programs in the state in multiple sports multiple sports.

Speaker 2 (54:33):
Well, and that's what I was talking about with Mazanie
earlier before you joined the show. Look, I think to
a man, most people, whether it's just because you know,
Beauford is the school that everybody loves to hate. They
have had success.

Speaker 3 (54:48):
Then I did not know they had a gymnastis program.
Is that what he said?

Speaker 1 (54:53):
Oh? Yeah, they're good. They're good. Gymnastics, very good.

Speaker 2 (54:56):
I should have known that. Again, we did a full
you know, full uh documentary on Beeford.

Speaker 3 (55:02):
I didn't know, you're common that was for high school
to for high schools to have like a gym well,
I mean not down here, right, you know, So I
didn't know about that.

Speaker 2 (55:12):
Yeah, I don't think it's very common in its now
Georgia at all.

Speaker 1 (55:16):
Yeah, they're fun to watch. They're gymnasi's programs. We have
one in Milton. They're they're fun to watch.

Speaker 2 (55:20):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (55:21):
And now most of the girls, you know, let's face it,
it's like other sports, even like God for instance, those
kids have private trainers. They're going to private people.

Speaker 2 (55:28):
You know, they're there.

Speaker 1 (55:29):
They're nine, level nine gymnast, they're level you know, maybe
some level ten. The level nine gymnasts, they're amazing. They're
coming in. They you just put a uniful mind and
you plug and play. But maybe Buford has an amazing program.
So to my point, there's a lot of teams that
don't have that. Some teams have rifler. I think, you know,
I talked about this Phil before, like a rifle team.
We don't have ROTC. But if you have a rifle team,

(55:49):
you get points for that and the G A, D
A right, and they're in there and that whole thing
that still's talking about as far as Victor's company, So
I think that's important the people that to understand as well.
So it's it's really a cool that's one in all
SCO article. It's cool dynamic.

Speaker 3 (56:04):
Okay, I have a quick question for you, coach Slow. Oh,
I mean maybe you can answer too. I was asking
a coach slow because you know he's at previous AD,
and I was just wondering at schools, uh, like you said,
like Beaufort has gymnastists, but a lot of school I
know a lot of schools that don't have a lot
of sports down here, like you know, lacrosse, gymnastics. I
mean schools down here if I have ROTC and everything

(56:26):
like that. And then if we're talking about you know,
accumulating points as an athletic director, how can you bring
more sports down here? Because I know for Valdosta they've
only had their flag football team for a couple of
years now at this point, you know, So how can
as an ad, how can you get more sports down here?
More diverse sports? And because I know sometimes you can't

(56:47):
bring all sports down here because you don't have enough
people in your region to play against.

Speaker 1 (56:52):
Yeah, so great points. So every AD looks at what's
offered by Georgia High School and what's coming out for
fast fishings of sports. By the way, you have you
have yeah, that'spicially you have you know the es sports right,
the computer sports, flag football. So and during COVID we

(57:15):
started esports and flag football during COVID, which was but
guess what it took off, right, So I think if
the do have a most ads out of South Georgia,
they're good dudes and they and they're forward thinking guys.
Just got to get aggressive with your thought process. Doesn't
cost a ton of money to buy a few computers,
or to get some flags and some shorts and and
maybe get with a local team down there to help

(57:36):
subsidize it and then get it rolling because the more
you do that, the more you get kids out for
sports first and foremost. But then you can compete. I
know every A D at least they care about it.
They have a G A D A Espressally we had
it and I sold I want we principal had in
his office like the Wizard of Oz and he would
match and watch the points all year long where we
were tracking. Now we never wanted. I'll be honest with you,

(57:57):
we never have one.

Speaker 2 (57:58):
The J A d.

Speaker 1 (57:58):
A Cup became the second was the highest. But back
you challenge your coaches to get your points. I would
get text busts head coach, we advancing on the round.
We're getting more points for us, and became a competition
in the building. And with the kids, and that grows
your athletics to your point.

Speaker 2 (58:16):
Yeah, all right, So a couple of questions that we've
got here. I wanted to mention real quick Kelly Mitchell.
By the way, Kelly, what's up brother, Thank you so
much for checking out the show. Kelly says, hate Phil
is the news with Irwin's coach accepting another head coaching job. True.
Now you're talking about Casey Soliday who announced when he

(58:37):
was leaving Erwin County he was I guess gonna retire,
but he has since taken a job with Tift Airy Academy,
where his cousin, Now a lot of people think they're brothers,
but they're not. Their cousins, Eric Soliday, who used to
be the head coach, longtime head coach of the Turner
County Then it was the Rebels, now it's the Titans

(58:58):
football program. But he is at Tift Airy Academy and
now Casey Soliday, who was at Erwin, joins him. And
it's just from what I'm understanding, Kelly, Casey Soliday is.

Speaker 4 (59:10):
Coming in at Tift Area as a support guy.

Speaker 2 (59:12):
He's going to be like the I think an assistant
athletic director he's going to be like an assistant head
coach working under his cousin. So that's what I'm hearing
about Coach Soliday. Now I don't know if Erwin has
named a replacement. You will to talk about some big
shoes to feel in slot. I know this is in
your real cup of tea being you know, with the

(59:33):
Irwin being down down in South Georgia. But Irwin is
a longtime powerhouse, small school powerhouse. They played for I
don't know how many state championships. And this is going
to resonate big time across the state what already has
being with coach Holiday leaving.

Speaker 4 (59:54):
But now you've got I don't even know that they've
named a replacement.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
You will to talk about a And again this is
gonna fly under the radar because the smaller school. But
watch this is going to be a big time higher
to keep an eye on at Irwin to see who
they get to fill a very big shoe.

Speaker 3 (01:00:14):
Uh. We have Jerry Harrison chicken and he says, what's up,
philm Monroe area checking.

Speaker 2 (01:00:18):
In Jerry Harrison, the key member of the talking heads. Uh.
And for some of you youngsters, you don't gonna have
any clue what I'm talking about. Fly You got that one,
didn't you?

Speaker 1 (01:00:29):
I got you?

Speaker 2 (01:00:31):
Do you know who the talking heads are?

Speaker 1 (01:00:33):
No?

Speaker 3 (01:00:33):
But I mean you said talking heads. I'm thinking about like.

Speaker 2 (01:00:36):
Think a bunch of uh, never mind, I can't do it, can't.
It's the family show. But I'll tell you if we
get we after we get off the show.

Speaker 4 (01:00:50):
Okay, but Jerry, what's up?

Speaker 2 (01:00:51):
Jerry? Monroe Area checking in? Jerry, I talked to I
talked to the athletic director up there at your school
not long ago. So anyway, Monroe Area a strong program.
All right, Kelly Mesure, that is big news. Indeed, it
is for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:01:10):
Mm hmm. Is there any news or did you guys
want to talk about possible schedules being released?

Speaker 2 (01:01:17):
You read my mind. I was gonna talk about he
did you guys see the call game? Have y'all had
your schedule release?

Speaker 1 (01:01:22):
Hip? Not officially?

Speaker 2 (01:01:25):
No? Now, Look, I mean the truth is, most of
the schools you know you're talking about simply a repeat
of last year's schedule for the most part, except for
the home and away flipping. Okay, However, there are some

(01:01:45):
there are some differences. Okay, there are some exceptions.

Speaker 3 (01:01:48):
What are some differences, and I was like, do you
think some people have you know, kind of gained their
footing with this reclassification now this season.

Speaker 2 (01:01:57):
That's a good question. By the way, in case you
guys have not, in case you missed it, got a
story out. I think it was last week's newsletter where
I talk about the uh competitive balance that we talked
about a couple of weeks on the show, and I
also talk about the possibility and it's just a possibility.

(01:02:20):
I'm not sure if it's going to go anywhere, but
talking about reducing the GJSA, reducing the four classifications, my gosh, yeah, yeah,
I don't. And by the way, it was the Monroe
area and what made me think about it. The Monroe
area adlet director, I think, is the one who do
table of the discussion at g's A headquarters in thomasin
thomasin or Thompson.

Speaker 1 (01:02:43):
It's like, uh, South Southeast Alabama.

Speaker 4 (01:02:49):
No GHSA.

Speaker 2 (01:02:54):
I think it's Thomaston always giving them mixed up for
whatever reason. But anyway they were talking about I don't
even think it's ever gonna happen. That's just my opinion.

Speaker 3 (01:03:02):
Yeah, over says Phieling. Now you're gonna have me googling.

Speaker 2 (01:03:06):
Google away, but I google away.

Speaker 4 (01:03:08):
But have y'all seen the Cockwood County schedule?

Speaker 2 (01:03:11):
It caught my attention, it was it came out today,
I believe. And and again there's not really a whole
lot of change, but except for a big one. What
how about this?

Speaker 4 (01:03:24):
So Concword County cold Cutt County is I like to.

Speaker 2 (01:03:28):
Call him, is going to have Benedictine?

Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
Oh nice? Okaye message?

Speaker 2 (01:03:40):
Can you imagine? Yeah? In fact, it looks like Coqwood
County is going to open up the season at home
against Benedictine. Now, see, this is one of the few
exceptions I was just talking about. So last year you
had Cockwood County opening up with West High School from Utah.

(01:04:02):
Oh wow. And so they decided not to make that
a home and home or is it home and away whatever,
So they decided not to do the second year of
the game. So instead they needed to find an opponent.
Opponent And guys, y'all want to talk about a big
time show, what I call a showcase game.

Speaker 4 (01:04:23):
Colwick County and Benedictine at the Hall Pen.

Speaker 3 (01:04:30):
It's gonna be a nice match up, a really great matchup.
Really is two strong opponents for sure, no doubt. Are
there any updates or reminders about the Benedictine QB?

Speaker 2 (01:04:43):
Right? Was he a Stephen Cannon? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:04:47):
Was he a senior at the time or was?

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
I don't think so.

Speaker 3 (01:04:50):
Okay, so he's possibly returning, But I know he got injured,
and I'm just like, is he is he gonna be
playing this season?

Speaker 2 (01:04:57):
Was it?

Speaker 1 (01:04:57):
Was?

Speaker 2 (01:04:57):
It?

Speaker 3 (01:04:58):
I forgot what was the injury was.

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
So I think Steven had a he tore his knee up,
not completely okay, And so if I'm not mistaken, Danny
Britt told me that he was going to be I
want to say he was going to be out to
begin the season to hold.

Speaker 1 (01:05:17):
Me to that.

Speaker 2 (01:05:17):
For some reason, I'm thinking that's what he told me.
And but he should be ready to go maybe like
week three.

Speaker 3 (01:05:23):
Okay, then okay, so their backup quarterback though? Wasn't bad?

Speaker 1 (01:05:27):
Though?

Speaker 2 (01:05:27):
No, Yeah, he was really good. You know we did
that game. By the way, how about we put this
out fly you you're part of this too. So we
are now starting to think about our twenty twenty five
itg next game of the week schedule.

Speaker 3 (01:05:44):
I'm excited to hear about it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:45):
No, right, So but we want to think about you know,
we want you guys to give us some some recommendations, suggestions.

Speaker 3 (01:05:53):
Okay, that com game might not be so bad to
start out with.

Speaker 4 (01:06:00):
Unfortunately, call when not when this comes to a stream.

Speaker 3 (01:06:02):
Okay, I forgot. I didn't know they were.

Speaker 2 (01:06:04):
Come on, Cleve, come on, Cleave, you got to change
your mind on that. Man. Come on, brother, we love y'all,
we love Callwood County. It's time to you know, to
let us do like so many other schools do, and
let us come and live stream one of your football games.

Speaker 3 (01:06:20):
It's a lot of great exposure.

Speaker 4 (01:06:21):
It really is. Yeah, it really is.

Speaker 3 (01:06:23):
I mean sure people will love to tune in and
then there's still be a lot of great attendance at
the games.

Speaker 2 (01:06:28):
It's not it's not listen, if people want to come
to the game, it's not going to dampen Yeah, anybody
from coming to that game, I promise you. I've never
really thought that.

Speaker 4 (01:06:38):
I've never thought that.

Speaker 2 (01:06:40):
By televising or in our case, live streaming a game,
that that's going to keep a lot of people away.
I just don't think that. You know, Look, there are
exceptions if you got nasty weather. Yeah, but there are like,
I will make some concessions, but for the most part,
if people want to go to the game, they're going

(01:07:01):
to go to the game.

Speaker 3 (01:07:02):
It's mostly for people who like are in a different state,
you know, high family members far away who can't meet
the game agree, you know, and we're able to give
them the opportunity to tune in.

Speaker 2 (01:07:11):
One hundred percent. So Yeahzani, I think that's exactly you
get it right on the head slide. What's your take
on it now? I mean, I know you've sat in
the administration chair and you know, you've looked at the
books and you know the dollars that come in. And
I've been surprised that over the last couple of years
we've had more athletic directors that have opened up to us,

(01:07:33):
And to me, it kind of solidifies my point. You know,
when we first started doing this, I guess four or
five years ago, we would run into, you know.

Speaker 4 (01:07:43):
Some objections I'm not letting us do the games.

Speaker 2 (01:07:46):
But I'll never forget Craig McKinley at Mariette was the
first ad I reached out to that allowed us to
come to the games, and we used you know, the
first couple of years we did two Marietta games each
year and nothing that. I love Mary. But since then
we've had more and more and more ads that have
allowed us to come in. Collins Hill. They used to

(01:08:08):
have the female a d there. I can't remember her name,
but you know she was pretty dead set against us
coming in. But now and again I'm trying to is
it is it Ryan DeBerry at Collin.

Speaker 1 (01:08:19):
Zil He's at Collins Shilluh? Well, Garlett was at Collins
still before. I think you're talking about yah huh, she's
that parking now, Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:08:29):
Do you know if if her stance is softened on that,
I know you know her pretty well.

Speaker 1 (01:08:34):
Probably not. Bulldog can tell you that she's pretty tough
on anything besides mainstream media. It may have changed. I
don't want to speak for her, but I understand. I
know even during the Freedom Bowl she had a hard
time with our our our YouTubers on the field when
Travis was playing. But I'm like, hey, it's a bull
we listen, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll abide what you want.

(01:08:57):
But these kids are It's about the kids, right yeah, yeah,
And I think you know, I think so soft enough.
But to your point, though, I think most ads five
six years ago. We're very old school with the thought
process now. You know, if you look at the you
look at look at the NFL channels. If you see
the vest on the sideline that says media, there's a
vest for social media, right, there's a separate best for that.

(01:09:20):
Like it's starting to get where let me be uh,
you know Channel two getting a live shot for the news.
You can be it g next streaming the whole game
and get people to watch it right or or gp
B or whever he wants to go out and show
to stream it. So I it's not going to hurt
the gates if it hurts your gates, your gates where
we're going to begin with.

Speaker 2 (01:09:40):
Well push, yeah, well put what are your thoughts on this?

Speaker 3 (01:09:44):
I agree with us line. You know, I understand like
the old traditional way of thinking and you know, being
able to get most of your money from to just
at the door. Sure, you know, but things have changed
and streaming has become so prominent now you know, it's
kind of like why not And like coach said, this
about the kids. At the end of the day, it's
about them and we want to give them as much
exposure as they can you know, And I think it

(01:10:07):
helps with you know, possible college recruitment or just giving
the kids out there to see so that other people
can see them, see their talent.

Speaker 2 (01:10:15):
You know.

Speaker 3 (01:10:15):
So I think it's I think streaming is necessary.

Speaker 2 (01:10:19):
People like it or not, there are very valid points
that you make in this slaw made and it is
you have seen this progression, this relax relaxing of eighties
taking such a hard stance.

Speaker 3 (01:10:33):
Yeah. Also, social media isn't going anywhere you have you know,
like you know Flint on the sidelines. We're creating that
content for the game and you know, not only do
the football players like it, but I mean the student
section and people like that enjoy it. You know. You
have a bunch of YouTubers out there that create content
from high school games, you know, and then they go
on to follow these kids to college games. You know,

(01:10:55):
like like you mentioned Travis Hunter, how he had a
lot of intention in high school.

Speaker 2 (01:10:58):
You know.

Speaker 3 (01:10:59):
So it isn't a tension grabber. But it's not like
your student body doesn't like the attention either, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:11:06):
So yeah, so again kind of going back to the
point though, we are starting to see more and more ads.
In fact, they are in the majority now that allow
us to come up. And again that's one of the
reasons that we know we're doing so many games in
the Atlanta area. Yeah, you know they're like, hey, come on,
we'd love to have you. You know, Beauford, you know
they were, they were there from the very beginning, you know,
allowing us. Maryett I mentioned, uh, we haven't done it

(01:11:28):
there at Milton, not so much from the from live streaming,
not because Corey is opposed to it. I just think
you guys are don't have a whole lot of room
there at Milton, Is that right, Slaw.

Speaker 1 (01:11:40):
Yeah, it's a pretty tight press box. I mean you
could make it work for sure, but it's it's pretty tight.
It's not as you know, it's it's not as suited
for for liveyere.

Speaker 2 (01:11:50):
Well, and we did. I was trying to remember now
we had gotten the approval last year. Do you remember
what game that was to go to Milton.

Speaker 3 (01:12:00):
I can't remember what was that game that we were
going to do, And darn it, it's kind we had
some options. It was either the same or game I
can't remember which one we went to. But we've been
in some packed, some pretty tight press bosses before we have.

Speaker 2 (01:12:15):
Yeah, nothing worse than appling bless or art.

Speaker 3 (01:12:19):
Oh yes, I was thinking about that. I didn't want
to say it.

Speaker 2 (01:12:21):
Well yeah, listen, nothing, I think it is appling. It
was too many people up there. Yeah yeah, great, great
facilities for sure. But anyway, I just think that's interesting. So, uh, sly,
what do you know what your home schedule looks like
this year for for you guys, Well.

Speaker 1 (01:12:39):
Our first two games are away. We played Beauford.

Speaker 2 (01:12:43):
That's right, by the way, I've already put into for that, okay,
and it's uh the visitor. But yeah, I have taught
to Tony Wolf, and I've gotten our name in the hat.
In fact, Tony said he already had us down when
I called so fingers crossed.

Speaker 3 (01:12:59):
That's nice to hear.

Speaker 2 (01:12:59):
We and I know, look, I know we've been one
of many, but that hasn't stopped him from venting us
come up before. Yeah, so we'll see, Well go ahead
to this line.

Speaker 1 (01:13:07):
Yeah, so we have that one in game two. I
don't think we've been talked about this yet. Game two
is away in South Florida and we're playing, uh, your
buddy coach Harry and Saint Thomas is that right.

Speaker 2 (01:13:19):
Yeah, Wow, that's gonna be some then is that official?

Speaker 4 (01:13:25):
By the way, can I can I talk about that?

Speaker 1 (01:13:28):
It's uh better be? I think ESPN has been putting
it together and it's funny.

Speaker 2 (01:13:34):
Least is it better be? Uh? That's wow? What a
way to open the season.

Speaker 4 (01:13:41):
Yeah, well, o Milton.

Speaker 1 (01:13:43):
We can be abing to real quickly.

Speaker 2 (01:13:48):
Listen. The beauty of it is those slies really not
gonna matter. Yeah, I mean you know what I mean, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:13:56):
A lot of a sense about it's iron sharpens iron.

Speaker 2 (01:13:58):
That's right. In fact, I think, you know, as Milton
has proved, you know, uh, you have those tough games
to start the season, and it really does just sharpen
the team and makes them better. And I've always been
a major proponent of these early season showcase games.

Speaker 3 (01:14:15):
And then Milton, of course has proven that they're able
to maintain throughout the season. Yes, I saw a comment
by Evan Reese though he was telling us about the
Roswell Hornets schedule. He says, just like last year, Roswell
will have well, excuse me, Roswell will be playing Walton, Beauford, Westlake, Milton,

(01:14:36):
Gainesville and p T. Ridge. He says, I believe the
Mighty Hornets have the hardest schedule.

Speaker 2 (01:14:42):
What do you guys think that that's interesting, Mazanie, because
I'm let Sli speak to this guys. Y'all. Remember last
year I put together the toughest schedules in the state
and veterans came away with the toughest. Yeah, and the
one you just called out though, it sounds pretty tough.
Can you go to that for me again? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:15:02):
I can. And we're talking about the Roswell Hornets. He
says they would be playing Waltonford, Wow, right, west Lake, Milton, Gainsville,
and pt Ridge.

Speaker 2 (01:15:17):
So I was sayday, is that on non region?

Speaker 4 (01:15:19):
No, No, no, Milton of course this region, so is Gainesville.

Speaker 2 (01:15:25):
Okay, that's right? Okay, that well, Lover than Nests sounds
pretty hard so far that is, that's gonna be a
tough one. So I'm going to keep that in the
back of my mind as certainly one of the top
maybe top five toughest schedules in the state. And I
had a lot of great feedback, by the way, with
that last year. So that's the thing again, guys. You

(01:15:46):
gotta love it. Yeah, Gone, are these these fluff schedules
that we used to see about a decade ago, you know,
having these non chalant non region games. Teams would just
co through for the first five games until they got there.
I mean you had to wait until region schedule to
to you know, watch competitive football. Not that way anymore.

(01:16:09):
And I love this. I absolutely love the direction that
George High School football is taken.

Speaker 3 (01:16:14):
Yes, yes, Evan Reese also gave us another idea. He says,
Roswell be playing at Buford. He says, y'all should come.
Last year we played terribly. He says, we are looking
to put up a fight this year, So maybe that's
a game idea.

Speaker 2 (01:16:29):
That at befit.

Speaker 4 (01:16:30):
Yes, so real, Well I was gonna say so.

Speaker 2 (01:16:35):
Obviously we're talking about putting together our schedule for next
year and just this is kind of our wish list.

Speaker 3 (01:16:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:16:41):
So if we are not able to do the the
Milton Beautiford game to open the season, and I know
it's gonna be a long shot because you got you're
gonna have national television and this and that, I'm sure,
but the thing I love is to request for, you know,
for games like this, and then if we have to
fall back, yeah on again, you know we'll be able
to get in and I'm hoping that'll be the case

(01:17:02):
here with maybe doing that at Roswell.

Speaker 4 (01:17:05):
Beautiful guy. Look a lot of storylines here.

Speaker 2 (01:17:08):
Uh you know J. T. Thompson who was at Lee
County again one of the coaching changes that we broke
here at it G next.

Speaker 3 (01:17:16):
Yes, yes, you know.

Speaker 4 (01:17:18):
He's now at Roswell.

Speaker 2 (01:17:20):
I just love the move there, and I feel pretty
confident that Ben Suitor would let us come up in uh.

Speaker 3 (01:17:26):
In stream obd. I have said, just imagine opening game
intween twenty six Cockwick County versus TCC live on it
TG next Georgia.

Speaker 2 (01:17:35):
Wow, where's that game at?

Speaker 3 (01:17:38):
Let me see, I want to say in Cockod County.

Speaker 2 (01:17:44):
Darn it? Oh my bad. I don't know if it's
where is it because if it's, I mean, obviously coach
Rogers and uh he says.

Speaker 3 (01:17:53):
It's at their stadium. Wish we're thinking it's that what
Cocklick Carton Jones says. Some coaches see it as giving
up game film. I never thought of it like that.

Speaker 2 (01:18:07):
Hmm.

Speaker 3 (01:18:08):
That's interesting, but I feel like they watch film anyway, right, Yeah, what's.

Speaker 4 (01:18:11):
Your sake on that?

Speaker 1 (01:18:13):
That's a great point. But here's the and I agree
with that. Years ago, everybody has game film, everybody's hired
in game film, everybody's stealing game film, everybody. They're all
doing it. So there's so many. Let me tell you
what a minute you beat somebody, if somebody's like somebody,
you're getting DM by a coach going hey, you want
their film, you want their end zone film. They're all
doing it. So years ago that said that was something.

(01:18:35):
Now no, they're they're all doing it.

Speaker 2 (01:18:38):
Interesting, that's very interesting. I've never heard that brought up,
by the way me either. Farley questions for coach with
a leak have yes this already? No, I was just
looking at that, Okay, Obada Farley has a question for you,
coach Lie, Yes, sir, with leak any.

Speaker 4 (01:18:57):
Quarterback and they're running back leaving.

Speaker 2 (01:18:59):
What are your thought? It's about this upcoming season. I'm
guessing that he is asking specifically about Lee County. Well
you're losing, you know, mister superman. Yes, and Weston who man,
they did their best in that game up there at
Milton last year. Man, they were they kept Lee County around,
but you guys obviously were able to overcome with the talent.

(01:19:21):
But uh so, you know, about him. You've seen him
up closing personal slot.

Speaker 1 (01:19:24):
What do you think, Glad they're both graduated.

Speaker 2 (01:19:29):
I love it.

Speaker 1 (01:19:30):
I respect both of them immensely. But that quarterback is
a dude upon dudes, Like, he's just a different dude.
He's just he's just you know, not not necessarily as
a pure quarterback, but as a competitor and a football
player and a tough kid like he's team championship wrestler.
Like he's a dude. So I'm glad to see him go.

(01:19:51):
For sure, how they'll be and there, I don't know
what they have right now. We'll always look at that
down roverson film. But he took a great job down there.
Coach does an amazing job. You know, He's have a
tough team, team, a strong team, and a team that's
gonna be battle tested, know no matter what. So by
the time we see him again, you know it, you
know we will you know down the road it'll be
a battle.

Speaker 2 (01:20:11):
Well that was such a great battle last year up there.
I mean that that is the essence of high school football.
It is everything you could ever want in the game.
I promise you that it was just fantastic football. And
congratulations to our buddies at Melton. What a great season?
Uh it was? You know, I guess another million dollar

(01:20:32):
question too, speaking of losing key players, any idea who's
gonna feel the mighty big shoes of Luke Nickel.

Speaker 1 (01:20:40):
Yeah, well, I tell you what. I can't wait to
see what happens. We'll know more in the spring. Obviously,
we're a lot of football stuff right now to even
tell you that. But weight room guys are competing, guys
are flying around, well always do. But come spring football
here and we're gonna play I believe Pee Trudge again
in the spring game. It'll be interesting to see who

(01:21:01):
rises up. And you'll see real quick how that happens
in those ten days. And it's always ten days, I
get it. But it'll be a lot of fun. And
our seven on seven starts too, we'll see that as well.
So it's it's so hard to tell you know what
we have we don't have. We actually told you our
backup last year graduated. Our young kids coming up are
going to compete. One young kid left, you don't wan
to stick around. He left, which is fine. So you

(01:21:23):
have that coming and going of players per se, and
you get a couple here and there, but uh, springball
will be a great battle. I can't wait to see
if spring is always fun, you know, when you want
to see how the team kind of develops and and
and this year's culture starts developing well.

Speaker 2 (01:21:38):
Obadi has another question. Obdi is he has a bag
full of questions.

Speaker 3 (01:21:43):
Yeah, I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (01:21:47):
Listen, and I think though, uh, one is going to
be kind of compared to the question I just had.
He obed, I wants to know, coach, what position do
you think y'all really need y'all really need to work?
And I mean I would think quarterback, he's a course
right up there, but you've also got the running back

(01:22:08):
that left right, yes, and then the wide receiver boy
and I apologize for the name's not coming off right now,
but CJ. Waly.

Speaker 1 (01:22:20):
Yeah. So we're we're gonna be young upfront, for sure,
We're gonna be we have depth upfront from the guys.
A lot of guys played last year, but they're young,
right and we have a you know, the the Thomas
Gist of Ryan G's brother coming in. Landon's gonna be
a dude. He's a freshman. They'll be one of the
best of the country. So we'll be young, but will
were good be young as far as receivers go. You know,

(01:22:42):
we have Caros Swual and the befourteen got a touchdown
pass to stay championship as a sophomore. He's and it
looks like he may start getting He's got Indiana a
bunch of you know, P five offers, but Notre Dames
right there. They want to do a duel lacross possible
football one with him.

Speaker 2 (01:22:56):
Wow uh.

Speaker 1 (01:22:58):
And then we have have one the kids are Titans,
which is rising junior tight end who has like twenty
sec offers.

Speaker 4 (01:23:03):
He is a stead of a ballplayer right now.

Speaker 1 (01:23:07):
He's six five, two thirty right now.

Speaker 2 (01:23:10):
And listen, guys, I hold to say said if I'm
if I get this right, he was like the third Banana.

Speaker 4 (01:23:19):
I mean, I hate to say that, but that's what
he was.

Speaker 1 (01:23:22):
He was now he was now he could be one
of the best times, you know, leaving our team. Who
we have a bunch. We had the Nickel brother who
win Michigan State, right and then we have the g
uh you know Ryan gen went to Auburn. We have
he's them Bar who went to Georgia. He could be
just as good enough better than those guys down the road.
He's only a rising junior sixty five two thirty looks

(01:23:43):
like a danged Greek god. And he's still growing up.
He's still growing up.

Speaker 4 (01:23:47):
And that's which one coach.

Speaker 1 (01:23:49):
That's Grant Haviling.

Speaker 2 (01:23:50):
Yes, that's right, that's right. I mean, I've never seen
a team stock with so much depth pit tight end,
and that's usually a position that, yeah, sometimes becomes like
a glorified extra tackle on a lot of teams. And
I don't think it's an unfair statement.

Speaker 1 (01:24:09):
Slat no, and they tell you what you look at.
You guys are sure college football fans too. You get
kids in college that can't cover tight ends, Well, how
about in high school? You gotta have let a tight
end in high school, whether he's attached or not, attacks
and you get safety on him because the backer can't
bump over him. Or you gotta put that kind of
like slock corner in there. And see, it's hard to do.

(01:24:29):
It's hard to do, and I think that gives us
a dynamic and put a tight end that you can
attach a tight end. It's an extra gap now a
run game too, right, So the things you can do
to help your team, and then to your back to
your question, I think defensively, we got a couple of
dudes who are gonna lose and miss for sure linebacker,
But you got a couple of young linebackers that got
a lot of pete. Don't forget we had nine running

(01:24:50):
clocks at halftime this year. Wow, and three of those
are in the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (01:24:58):
Yeah, get impressive.

Speaker 1 (01:25:00):
Yeah, we have kids get some pretty good burn and
they're going to come back next year with some pretty
good burn. I think that's pretty cool. And then you know,
twenty nine we got coming up. Phil. We've talked about
those before.

Speaker 2 (01:25:09):
Right, kids, Right? Yeah, you know I put together the
list of ones to watch, and what I figured out
pretty quickly was that it's going to I need to
really do a part two.

Speaker 3 (01:25:21):
Yeah you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (01:25:23):
Yeah, because there are so many great young players that
are up and coming, and I love to see that.
I love to see young men that you know, you
don't have to worry about, you know, getting your full
development in before you see playing time. Yeah. Yeah, I
love these young men that you know, start as fresh freshman.

Speaker 3 (01:25:39):
Yeah. So it's been a lot starting as freshmen more
than I more than I thought, or at least starting
at freshmen. Agree, let me excuse me, sophomore Yeah, yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (01:25:48):
Agree, one hundred percent. All right, as we uh start
to wind down, we got about three minutes left to
go on the show. D Smiths again talking about Milton
going south. I guess it's gonna be tough against those
Broward County All stars. So you guys, all right, so

(01:26:10):
you got Saint Thomas Aquinas, right, and then what's the
other game that starts with Beeford? So is the bright
is that Saint Thomas game? Is that gonna be considered
the Broward County class again or.

Speaker 1 (01:26:24):
That's part of class again? We that's that's the one
where you know, you play a one off game every
year with them, So last way you can go play
Saint Thomas this year. We played Heritage last year, so
it's a one off game.

Speaker 2 (01:26:34):
Got you got you what any other So Saint Thomas
Aquinas is the new addition to the schedule. Any other
changes to the schedule that you know about?

Speaker 1 (01:26:49):
No, then it flips with uh, you know, flips the
Alpharetta t rightfle community and they're gonna be They're gonna
be loaded, by the way, no doubt who is that
sly that's the train. Oh yeah, yeah, and then we uh,
you know, then we have after on the schedule. It's
the arrival game. And don't forget that coach Lander's head
coach over there. We'll do a great job getting those

(01:27:10):
guys prepared. And then we go to the region and
we've got games Bull Roswell, Lanier, some pretty tough teams
in the region we got to play too, so it'll be.

Speaker 2 (01:27:17):
Fun, fantastic, fantastic. All right, guys, we got about a
minute left. We come to that point of.

Speaker 4 (01:27:23):
The show where I give everybody.

Speaker 2 (01:27:25):
A chance to get their final word in. So which
one of you chaps want to take the final word?

Speaker 3 (01:27:33):
I'll go ahead and start.

Speaker 2 (01:27:34):
Look at you, I know, right to pass it on
you do.

Speaker 3 (01:27:39):
But it was nice being back this Monday on the
show with you, Phil, and yes, why yes, I'm excited
about spring football. I don't know about you guys, but
I'm excited to see what talent we have. And then
you know, you guys mentioned a lot of the young
talent you know that's coming up, and like you know,
that's having to make a whole second half because there's
just so much talent coming through the feeder programs and
just talent in general. You guys, so I'm excited to see.

(01:28:03):
Keep in mind about the jembree. What was that May
It was the fifteenth or seventeenth, I can't remember, but
we have posted about it, so check out our timeline. Also, Phil,
remember he made a story about the top athletic program,
so you guys, make sure you comment and let him know,
keep giving him your ideas on that and being able
to look out for that story as well as one

(01:28:24):
we think. Make sure you guys vote because we were
talking about the female athlete of the month and the
male after of the month. That's super important. You know,
go show some love to these kids and support them.
Show show your support. And he picked great candidates, great
ten So I'm going to keep on voting. The closing
date is February twenty sixth, so I'm going to vote
for my player. I know who it is. So yeah,

(01:28:45):
those are my final words. That no problem.

Speaker 1 (01:28:50):
Well good wad to have Mazani back always he rolled
the ship real tonight. Fantastic job. Phil always loved me.
Let me just say this, you know our boys, beast
Well team fell short by two points this week and
they're done right, and that coach is one state championships.
He has been the final fours and runner up. Yeah,
Alan Whiteharper, I can tell you this. What he said

(01:29:12):
was so interested in me. I texted him. He goes
lessons and blessings. He says, we learn from it and
we got to growth from it. And and if every
young coach out there can think about that or standards
bigger than the ws and losses. It's about what's happening
and the growth, uh with the you know, on and
off the quarter fields guys or girls alike. I think
that would be really something cool for them take with

(01:29:33):
them as they move on.

Speaker 2 (01:29:36):
Well said, well said. All right, So guys, one thing
I want to mention before we get out of here.
I appreciate everybody and your lordy to the show. Help
us spread the word. You know, we love all of
you guys that check into the show. We'd love to
have more people because we think that what we've got

(01:29:57):
here for an hour and a half every Monday is
a pretty good deal. You know, we're talking high school football,
mostly high school football. We'll get in some other sports,
but mainly it's high school football, which everybody loves.

Speaker 4 (01:30:06):
And listen. We make the show about you, guys.

Speaker 2 (01:30:09):
You guys saw how much you know Mizzani reading a
lot of these comments and you know, engaging with y'all
and a lot of questions for sly because you know
he's been there as athletic director and coach. So it's
a good thing we've got.

Speaker 3 (01:30:23):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:30:24):
Be sure to like and share the show. Be sure
to like and share all of our content. It helps
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us get more folks checking out not only the show
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(01:30:46):
and subscribe to our newsletter comes to your email inbox
and you'll love it. We have a lot of great content,
including the stories that was on was talking about earlier
with our Athlete of the Month and doing your voting
for that, and then of course the story that I'll
be released this week top Georgia Athletic Program. So I
think you guys are gonna be surprised by what I

(01:31:07):
come up with all right, guys, that's gonna do it
for us On behalf of Coach sly On, behalf of Mazzani,
missus producer. I'm Phil Jones saying, have a great night,
have a great week, and we'll see you guys back
here next Monday. See you, take care,