Spring Games, Transfers & Coaching Moves – Georgia High School Football Update - Extra Point! With Phil Jones

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:44):
Alright, guys, and we are now live with Extra Point
with Phil Jones and Larry Godwin.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Alright, guys, welcome in to another week of talking high
school football. It is indeed Extra Point with Phil Jones.
And of course I got with me, my buddy, my partner,
and I would say seventy five percent co host. He
joins me from time to time. He is welcome anytime,
of course. I'm talking about there. God, there was that buddy.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Hey man, this is yeah, this is like episode two
of this.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Was our friend and co worker Flint Diykes, who is
the master behind the scenes making it all happen. So
Flint big thanks to Flint Dikes for our new format. Guys.
I know it's a different look. Obviously, we've scaled it down.
We're not so busy. We don't have all the pomp
in the circumstance and uh you know, look if that matters,

(01:44):
hopefully it doesn't. Let us know what you think about
the new setup. I like it. It is simpler, it
is scaled down. The bottom line that remains the same.
Larry into our viewers. We're talking high school footballs of
the content is not going to change one bit, that's right. Yeah,
so also, of course I were our sponsors. Of course

(02:05):
still remained the same as always want to thank my
Bady Doyer Deloche and our friends at Pepsi Cola, as
well as doctor Kevin Collins with the Houston Clinic, best
orthopedic surgeon around. If you need anything, and I know
a lot of them, you like me, man, You're getting up,
they're in age, especially the knees are starting to give out.

(02:25):
That's what twenty years of tennis will do to you.
But whatever your ailment, whatever is something you need to
work on, it's Kevincollins MD dot com is the website.
And of course you guys know about the Pepsi thing.
They've been with us forever, so grabyat and ice cool
Pepsi like I have with me right now. So all right,

(02:46):
let's get right to it, Larry. I'm gonna talk about
a couple of different things today. Reclassification, of course, is
on a lot of people's minds, and we're gonna talk
a little bit about that. I got some on that, Larry,
You've got a little bit of news on that as well.
As always, we're talking a little Region one six A,

(03:07):
mainly because there's a lot of the viewers that check
out the show that have interested in one six say
one way or the other, they're going to talk a
little bit about that. I had a conversation earlier today,
in fact, about thirty minutesfore I went on the show
with one of the Region one six A head football coaches.
I've been trying to talk to all those.

Speaker 4 (03:25):
Guys, and some pretty interesting news coming out of at
least one of these Regional one six A football teams
camps out of spring training, so you'll want to hear
about that.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
I've got an update on that in a very very
critical position. Also, as I mentioned Larry earlier this week,
he and I were talking and talked with Adam Carter
at lounge. So there are several teams that I've been
talking to with the completion of spring training or spring football.
Should say that I've got some updated news for it,
so many four to sharing that with you.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, we are heading into I guess most people would
call it the downtime, right, the true off season summer,
that kind of stuff. We just finished. All the schools
have finished spring practice, you know, more and more are
opting out of spring practice now for the most part,

(04:21):
all the competitive spring football games are gone, and so
the teams that are still doing the actual playing another
team during spring ball, that's just a handful. Now most
of them, if they're electing to go through spring practice,
are now opting for like intrasquad scrimmages, that kind of stuff,

(04:41):
these crimson and white games, black and yellow games, that
kind of stuff where it's it's the same foot that
you've been practicing against for the last two weeks. So
sometimes sometimes people like that, sometimes they don't. Coaches, I
think favor that format more because it's easier for them
instead of having a schedule team that kind of stuff. Now, fans,
we want to see real, live competitive action, But you

(05:03):
have to take that with a grain of salt as well,
because even if you bring another team in, most of
these are very very controlled formats, a little bit more
than an ota, if you will. But it's still kind
of exciting because you actually get to see players in
pad to each other.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, there is some really uh point that's fought on
comment uh comments that you make there, and I second that,
And again I can tell you these coaches that I
spoke with, uh, it's we're starting to see a change.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
I think you know, like you said, a lot of
the coaches used to like to have the spring game
at the end of the spring practice. But listen, I
can tell you and Larry was fought on that's starting
to go by the wayside. Yeah, coaches are wanting to
take advantage of every minute. It's not many that they've
got in spring. You know, we've talked about that, you

(05:56):
only get the ten practice, slash games, whatever it is
you want to do, So that's starting to go by
the wayside. And you mentioned OTAs. I think that's another
thing that we're gonna start to see more of in
lieu of the seven on sevens. Now, of course, we're
we're in dead week here in Georgia this week, so
nothing going on. Everybody's shutting it down after spring practice.

(06:19):
Got a lot of coaches on vacation or just kicking back.
So we have good week across Georgia. But they'll kick
back in next week. It's gonna be interesting to see
how many teams revert back to the seven on sevens
or the OTAs and kind of your eleven on eleven stuff,
which is more football life, of course, and I'm arning
more and more coaches that are opting to do that

(06:42):
that want to get all team involved, Larry, and not
just the skilled position. Guys. I wrote a story about
the seven on seven, the good, the Mad, and the
oblis been about a couple of months ago, and in
that story, you can go back, guys, and go back
and read it. Of course it's up at itg next
at our Facebook page, but you can check it out.
And the coaches there kind of gave a hint that, hey,

(07:03):
you know, we're really leaning toward more of the OTAs
is how we want to spend our summer. So I
think there's a couple of changes there, you know, with
the the advent of the intersquad scrimmages instead of the
team versus seen screw game, and the OTAs that are
coming up. So a couple of changes I think that

(07:24):
we'll see moving forward as well.

Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, so it's gonna be fun. You know, seven on
sevens are a real big deal. Now, you know, these things,
these types of things happened in cycles.

Speaker 2 (07:35):
You know.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
I remember years ago when I was playing, we made
a big deal out of competitive spring football games, right,
I mean, everybody looked forward to it, including coaches that
kind of stuff. Uh, and then you you you know,
after folks like us graduated high school, about a decade later,
basically everybody did away with spring spring games and you

(07:58):
just had inter squad scrimmages. Then about a decade ago,
it's swung back around and you started introducing competitive games.
And then the GHSA implemented a new rule that said,
if you forego a spring game, then you could have
then you could schedule two preseason fall preseason games before

(08:18):
your season. And so then a lot of coaches saw
that as more value to their team, getting them prepared
for the fall season. And so we're starting to see
a gravitation towards that. And then on top of it,
feel the era of h I'll call it the transient

(08:38):
and the mobile student athlete, where you start to hear
and see transfers happen more often. It's more prevalent nowadays,
and so I think coaches are very wary of exposing
their their student athletes to other programs, other schools, that
kind of stuff, where they're afraid of their their players
getting poached. And so now now you're starting to see

(09:02):
a pendulum swing back around where coaches are are starting
to become more and more uh protective of their programs
because they don't want to expose their kids to outside influences.

Speaker 2 (09:15):
Larry, again, you you're you're bringing some great momentum to
the show here right out of the gate, my friend,
really good stuff. And I'll second that because again, how
many guys do we see, you know that come out
of these seven on sevens. You know they're from different teams.
I'm talking about these travel you know, seven on seven
and hey, why don't you come over to Iron Team? Man,
We're gonna be doing some great things. And I think

(09:36):
that's where a lot of this transfer issue is probably
born out of. Is these is these seven on sevens,
but uh, plus the eleventh of the O tas give
you more of a game feel. It's basically, I mean,
let's let's face it, it's eleven on eleven football. You know,
it's more it's a battle between are the cross between
a game and a controlled scrimmage. But again, I think

(09:57):
we're gonna start to see more of that, So it's
gonna be interesting as we move forward. Guys, I don't
know if I mentioned or not, but want to hear
your thoughts, want to hear your comments, let us know
where you're checking out the show from who your favorite
team is. And of course, as I like to remind
you of those two things, not always one and the same.
We've got man Evan Reese checking us out from Roswell

(10:20):
Georgia says, go mighty, Roswell warn its Evan. You'll be
glad to know that one of the aforementioned coaches talked
about that I spoke with this past week about how
spring practice went. I'm gonna be writing up stories on
all these teams. In fact, I think part one is
going to be posted today in the ITG Next Georgia newsletter.

(10:40):
But I'll be doing this in several parts because there
was a bunch of teams I talked with, Call with Coffee, Roswell,
park View and today. Earlier today I spoke with Travis
Rowland at Camden County and why don't we start we're
talking about the one six ations I talked, why don't
we start by letting you know what Travis Roland had

(11:03):
to say today. Now, of course Larry we and fr
yourers we've been talking about you know the region want
six say and you know this is the mystery region.
In my opinion, I have absolutely no way to determine
or predict how this region's gonna wind up. You know,
no way.

Speaker 3 (11:21):
So I know this year, this year, yeah, this year.
You know, last year was kind of enigma because we
had all these brand new coaches. This year is even
gonna be even worse trying to handicap a favored horse
in this race because you still have a lot of
coaches that are younger or newer to their programs, and

(11:41):
then you have a lot of turnover as far as
players graduating, that kind of stuff. And because of that,
I think this year is even more difficult than last
year to handicap a horse.

Speaker 2 (11:53):
Absolutely, And so it's fun, you know, talking about these
teams and Evan, I'll get back with you about Roswell,
will You. Guys have got a heck of a quarterback
up there in Terce Smith, and he's certainly going to
be leading the team up there at Roswell. Of course. JT.
Thompson the new head football coach. He was the former
offensive coordinator at Lee County. I can tell you one thing,

(12:15):
if you knew anything about the Leak County offense, man,
they were go, go, go, go, all that no huddle.
Get ready, Roswell, That's what you're gonna see that JT.
Thompson inspired offense on a no huddle, and again they've
got a great leader in the Trace Smith to leave
the offense in to lead the charge. Now, speaking of quarterbacks,
I mentioned the fact that I had spoken with Travis

(12:36):
Rowland up at Camden County or over at Camdon County,
so we know about parts around do either three or
four year starter. I know he's been the start of
the last three years. He's entering his senior season. The
young man has done everything that they've asked for. And
I say they You went from Jeff Aaron who had
him as the starter and Jeff Herron's run head the offense,

(13:01):
but then he had Travis Rowland took over last year
and he just kept doing what he was doing throwing
the football. He threw for close to nineteen hundred yards
last year, the twenty one touchdowns. He's not a dual
threat kid, but he's definitely more than capable of handling
and running that Camden offense. However, he has some competition

(13:22):
this sprint okay entered the picture. Entered the picture is
junior Will Jackson. He's transferred in from South Florida from
Lake Minneola. It's I think it's I think it's Wilson
Park High School in Lake Minneola, Florida. He's a dual

(13:42):
threat quarterback, six foot four, about two hundred pounds. He's
being recruited by several major colleges. Interestingly enough, got a
lot of pack, got a lot of the pack ten
or whatever the heck they call it now out there.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
He's got a lot of the Pacific colleges Washington, Washington State, USC, Arizona,
Arizona State.

Speaker 2 (14:06):
That are recruiting this young man. So look out for
Will Jackson getting good looking quarterback. Look, Travis Rowland was
very particular. They said, Field, don't go on the show
now and say that we got a quarterback controversy, because
we don't, he said, us a long way from being settled.
He said, parts Rendo has showed what he can do
for our Camden offense. But he definitely was impressed with

(14:28):
what this young this young man, Kevin Yan yeal threat
quarterback Will Jackson has showed in spring. And so we'll
see how this thing pans out. Now you can bet
Camden probably going to be involved in a lot of
seven on sevens. Larry to kind of go against what
we were absolution about the all season stuff, to let
these two guys battle it out and throw it around.

(14:50):
And what a for cris do you? Every thing would
be saying that about Camden County offense. Ye, aired it
out and throwing it around. Got a lovely.

Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yeah, Phil, let me let me go. I'm glad you
brought up Camden and this transfer from South Florida. I'm
starting to notice a trend. You know, whenever, whether it's
competitive football or anything business related, whenever there's competition and
you have an opponent that gets an advantage somehow, right,

(15:21):
So now you transfer that thought over to high school football.
And so it's been thought for many years for teams
south of Atlanta that there's a competitive advantage that the
Metro Atlanta schools have with the mobile athlete that's transferring
from school to school. So we all recognize that. You know,

(15:42):
I'm not going to call recruiting, I just call it
mobile athletes that are transferred. Okay, So how do teams
south of Atlanta start to attack that problem? They can
sit back and try to develop their own and sometimes
that works, sometimes it doesn't, depending on the cycle of
athletes that you have. But Phil, I'm starting to see
a trend among a number of South Georgia programs where

(16:08):
I call it the transfer pool and the State of
Georgia now it looks like it's setting up for the
Metro Atlanta. They're transfer pool basically is all the other
counties surrounding that area, right, you have athletes moving from

(16:29):
school to school. Now, what we're starting to see in
South Georgia is that transfer pool. Now are North Florida
and Florida kids in general in larger numbers are starting
to transfer up into South Georgia schools. You see this
case with the South Florida quarterback going over to Camden

(16:51):
Lownes has got a number of kids from North Florida.
Thomas County Central, there's a number of kids transfer out
of town because it's just right across Thomasville is very
close to Tallahassee right, so you have a right across
the state line. There a bunch of transfers. Uh So,
so is this the Is this the pool that's starting

(17:12):
to take effect? Now starting to see a trend where
you have Florida kids moving into South Georgia schools. Is
that going to increase in larger numbers. Is that how
schools down here start to combat the competitive advantage that
Metro Atlanta school So it's going to be interesting over
the next five years to see if there's going to

(17:33):
be a mass migration of Florida student athletes up into
South Georgia schools.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
Well, Larry, that that's interesting and again great information, and
you're spot on once again, Larry. And here's why what
you're saying is so important. And I know that there's
been a lot of social media attention given to this,
which is a lot of people asking the question, who's
going to be the next Georgia's school? And of course

(18:01):
again we're talking about six A primarily, maybe even five A.
But who's gonna be a next school from South Georgia
to win a state championship. I think I saw that post.
I think it was in South of Middle Georgia, the
South of Middle Georgia facebook page. You have a lot
of great content there and a lot of guys post
took questions and stuff. I think somebody had asked would
it be Calledwick County or I guess they are the

(18:23):
first team to come to mind, But you know, Camden
would have to be right in the mix. Lounge would
have to be in the mix, I know. But anyway
to get to that point, Larry, You're gonna start to
see more advent of what you just mentioned, you know,
with kids coming across the state line from North forty
gonna have to compete with the ongoing growth that we're

(18:44):
seeing transfer wise and just from the general growth that
we've got in North Georgia. I mean, let's face it,
that's where the lords and party of the growth in
the state of Georgia comes from. I'm not talking about transferred.
I'm just talking about you know, kids being born and
rolling up and living in the Metro Atlantes's right.

Speaker 3 (19:03):
So this is what I'm gonna do to you know
when when I still have a lot of fellow South
Georgia die hard friends that that just just live and
breathe this stuff kind of like we do, right, And
so they're they're always when I present this art because
I used to be a guy that says, no, we
can develop our own and and I'm still mostly under

(19:27):
that impression because listen, I'm allows guy and I would
stack up all our athletes against anybody in the state.
But if you go back and I'll bet you this
is the case if you go back and take a look,
especially in the larger classifications, back and look at the
previous state championships, and how many not just D one athletes,

(19:50):
but I'm talking about blue chip D one athletes that
go to the major schools. How many of those student
athletes are on the rosters of the eventual state champions
So when you compare that stacked deck versus Allows or
a calquit or a Valdosta that might have one or
two blue chip athletes and the rest of the roster

(20:12):
are are full of D one athletes, but but at
smaller schools. So there is a true competitive advantage there
that these metro schools have. And so is our transfers
in from Florida the ants. I don't know the answer
to that, but it's going to be very interesting to
watch as a football fan to see if that is

(20:34):
how some of these programs combat the disadvantage they're they're
facing down.

Speaker 2 (20:39):
Well, so let me give back to Camden for a second. Okay,
so there was no secret. First of all, camping is
a little bit different animal anyway. Yeah, they're stuck over
there by themselves exactly exactly. You got you got a
lot of the course, you get the naval base that
attracts a lot of the fan leaves with kids that

(21:01):
come in.

Speaker 3 (21:02):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
You got the Jacksonville area, you know, just south of Camden.
Uh and and that whole area. And really that when
that naval base was first built, you had that and
I think it was the big lumber It was the
wood production company and it was Gilmans Would Would Company.
I may be mistaken. Anyway, there were two major industries

(21:24):
that drew a lot of growth into Camden and that,
you know, to a man, is what fueled a lot
of the growth and a lot of the success that
Jeff Aron had with all those Camden County teams. You
could even say that boss fire after Jeff Heron had
you know, some success. He did a pretty good job
and had it had some moderate success. But you know

(21:45):
that's where a lot of that came from. And so
once those plants are that one plant closed down, you
know you started to see that wane a little bit.
And listen, that's not me. Jeff Herrott had mentioned that
to me, okay, and so Harry and of course was
that would have come back once again came back to Camden,
was able to get him back what to a semi
final game three three years ago, and but it's not

(22:09):
the candidate of old. However, Candid is always going to
be in the mix because of those reasons I just mentioned.

Speaker 3 (22:18):
Phil, I've got a little bit of trivia. I've got
a little bit of I've got a little bit of
trivia for you, lad On that love triat involved Camden
County and my alma modern Barrion County.

Speaker 2 (22:32):
Never thought I would hear those two schools mentioned in
the same breath.

Speaker 3 (22:35):
When was the last time I had Barrion County? The
Barrion County River has ever been ranked in the top
ten in football? Can you ever recall?

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Okay, I would have to say when Gosh, the former Thomas.

Speaker 5 (22:55):
County Central coach, Yeah, Ed Pilcher, Ed Pilcher, I would
because he had some success there, Larry, and I would
think that if they were it would have come in
his tenure.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
But I'm going to answer the question and say.

Speaker 3 (23:08):
No, it didn't. It hasn't happened very often. So I remember,
I remember back when I was playing for the Rebels.
This was back in the kind of mid to late eighties. Okay,
this might have been in the eighty seven time frame
something like that. I remember we we Camden County was

(23:29):
actually used to be a Double A school because we
played them so so back then on my rebels, we
finished the first half of the season with a five
and zero record, ranked number nine in the state, and
we went down to Saint Mary's to play Camden the

(23:50):
following weekend and it was the hypes a game all
across the state, that kind of stuff. We got a
little ride up in the AJAC watch out for those
burying rebels. Bill McCalls ahead coach and we called a
wild Bill and he had to play with our hair
on fire, right, So we go over there big and bad.
They I mean, the Booster Club was so excited field
they bought they got not bought us, but they got

(24:11):
us a charter bus to go over there. And so
we thought we would go over there and intimidate those
those kids on the coast Man. After that forty eight
minute game, we we kind of struggled back to Nashville
with our tales between the man. They whipped us so
bad that night. So anyway, that's a little trivia for you.

(24:34):
Camden County used to be a Double A program where
they played Barrion County and were actually the underdogs that
night to the mighty Rebels from Nashville.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
How about that? Well, miracles do see, I guess. But anyway,
there's your useless trivia for the Syney from God. I
love it. I tell you the did you head to
coach there at those God? I'm excited?

Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (25:02):
Jackson Dean, Jackson Dean. Absolutely, he's got the new I
love it when coaches come in they get the new
shirts printed up. You know, this is our year and anyway,
we'll see though he's done a great job. Hey, let's
check out who is on the show. I promise everybody
that we would take a look and see who all
was in the show. We've got Gabe, Garrett, good Ivy

(25:22):
Feeling Laria from good old Toutons County. What is happening? Hey?
I think your Toombs County team is gonna be one
of the repeats that I've been talking about. By the way, guys,
check out the story right now at IgG next George
is the story I wrote about who I think is
gonna be repeating the state champions from last year? Who
I think is gonna do it again this year? I

(25:43):
think Toots County's gonna do it. But check out the story, guys.
You'll see everybody that I predicted. I think it was
about half of the state champions from last year. I
think are gonna repeat. Donnie Jarvis is checking out the show.
He says, go packers, Donnie. Great to see you on board.
Here's Oscar Malls, of course, a big Carver Columbus fan.
By the way, to Carver announced their new head coach.

(26:05):
It was the best, the worst kept sleeping in the world.
Jarvis Jones, the former Carver, the former University of Georgia bulldog.
I knew he was gonna get the job. Everybody had
been telling me. In fact, I wanted to say, hey,
I've got a little bit of a nugget for you guys,
but I didn't want to do that. But I knew
it was gonna be Jarvis Jones, and we're trying to
I'm trying to get a hold of him. By the way,

(26:25):
anybody that can help me get a hold of Jarvis.
I want to talk to him and and interview him
here for our newsletter. But Oscar Males is going back
to our conversation Larry about spring games or inner squad
of scrimmages, and Oscar says, I'd rather have spring games
than a normal practice like scrimmages, where you have scrimmage

(26:46):
and practice against each other all spring. It just doesn't
really show where you are in real like game situations
because they knew each other pretty well, they knew each
other's plays pretty well. Yeah, I seen what Oscar is
saying there. Well, here's the bottom line. I think Oscar's
really what he's trying to say is and the coaches

(27:07):
have complained about this, have talked about this. If you
are going to have spring practice or lart he said it.
There's some coaches don't even bother them with it. But
you only get ten activities, whether that's nine practices in
a game or whatever combination. So there's only so much
you're really going to glean from that few practices anyway.

Speaker 3 (27:28):
Yeah, yeah, listen, I can understand Oscar's comment borderlining on
frustration as a fan. You do, yeah, I mean, you
haven't had football since what November December, depending on how
far your team made it into the playoffs, and you've
been waiting several months, and you get all excited, you

(27:51):
go out there spring practice that kind of stuff and
it's almost kind of a letdown if you don't have
a competitive game at the end of this practice period.
But on the other hand, I can completely understand where
coaches are coming from when they don't view a spring
practice as anything really to get upset about when it

(28:12):
comes to not having a competitive game, because the purpose
of spring ball is to evaluate, not to win a
game against an opponent, but to truly evaluate your younger kids, right,
And so if that's the goal, then I can completely
understand not having a competitive game because you're just trying

(28:33):
to get as many kids on film as possible. And
the other thing is, you know, fans make too much
of a big deal out of these spring games anyway,
and we got to the point where trash talking entered
the picture, and feel, let's fay, let's be honest about something.
There's a lot on the line every time my team

(28:56):
faces another team, right, So these heads coaches are highly
paid individuals nowadays, and because they're so highly paid, the
pressure is even more tremendous than it's ever been, right,
I think everybody would agree with that. So these coaches
are not going to stick their neck out online for

(29:18):
a meaningless football game that they have to live with
these results for the next three to four months. Let's
just say Lowndes would have played someone in a competitive
spring game, and because both coaches use it for what
it's supposed to be, Oh, I think I was still alive.
I'm not sure most coaches use it for what it's

(29:40):
supposed to be an evaluation period. And let's say Lownes
just happens to lose it in a close game against.

Speaker 6 (29:46):
Someone like let's say a Cook County or something like that,
because it's a spring game, right, you know, if that
ever happened, then you got to believe not just Lowndes fans,
but opposing pro.

Speaker 3 (30:03):
And call for fans, we can Adam Carter all kinds
of grief for the next four months until August. Right, So, coaches,
because there's so much pressure on them to perform on
the field, they're not going to stick their necks out
on the line for something as meaningless as a as

(30:24):
a spring football game.

Speaker 2 (30:26):
Absolutely, all right. We've got some other viewers, Robert Tallart
Trojan's friv Peach County and coach Westbrook. Robert give us
the update. Man on Beach County. It looked like you
guys took that first Beech step, I say, first week
step since the coach Westbrook had arrived last year. Maybe
getting back to the old days of Peach County under

(30:48):
Chad Camvill. Let us know what's happening up there. Michael
Loota checking in from Ony, Alabama. Go, big Buford Stadium
is cool? Indeed it is. There a lot of people
talking about Buford's big what is it? Seven million dollars stadium? Uh.
I think I may be undercutting it a little bit.

(31:10):
I don't know that's the number I'm pulling out, but
it is big. Jeremy Jones Sr. Says, let's go Lee.

Speaker 3 (31:19):
Right, what you got Larry Man. There was an incredible
bolt of lightning right outside of this hotel window. So
that that Beuford Stadium per second, it's it's sixty sixty
two million dollars. It's one of the most expensive in
the country. But here's here's the thing. And I confirmed

(31:40):
this with uh uh a friend. So I'm Buford guy.

Speaker 7 (31:49):
Right.

Speaker 3 (31:50):
So the the school system, the Buford School System, absolutely
loves that new stadium and the facilities that come with it.
You know why. Obviously it's a nice program, a nice
stadium for the school system to use that kind of stuff.
But here's Billfield. The city of Buford actually picked up
the bill for that thing. Oh yeah, so the school

(32:13):
system did not have to lay out the city two
million dollars. So the city owns it, and so that's
going to allow the city to hold other events in
it like concerts and whatever else they choose to use
it fortely. So it's a mutually beneficial stadium that the
city thought that was a great investment to help their
school system and they benefit the same time. Now that's

(32:34):
the creative partnership that a lot of these school programs
are going to need going forward if they want to
continue to lay down big Tom Bucks for these types
of programs.

Speaker 2 (32:46):
H listen, And that wasn't the first example that we
saw of that partnership, like we spoke about between the
school system and the city. That's also the same situation
with the Buford Arena. Yeah, that's that's the arena that
the volleyball I guess the uh the basketball teams play. Uh,

(33:07):
it's not just an arena for Beauford Athletics. Same like
you talked about the stadium, it's a multi purpose fasciily
where they'll have concerts and so many other things. And
again that's the forethought of uh, you know, the I said,
the fathers of city of the Beuford City politics and
Buford City government. This goes back a ways back, and

(33:30):
people want to know about the success of Buford and
where that came from. And again this goes back to
the planning of years and years ago when Beuford you
know you mentioned about Camden me and double A NERD.
Viewford was double A and they worked their way up.
You know, this planning was let's just say that the
forefathers of Buford government had the foresight to see the

(33:55):
future literally and what Beuford High School, Beauford Athletics could be.
And we're starting to see the fruition of all that now,
you know, come about. It's really a great story. And look,
a lot of people Hateviewford and I get it, but
you cannot fault what they have done from a government standpoint. Yeah,
in producing you know all those facilities up there with

(34:18):
very little of any debt.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yeah, absolutely, man. So I think you're going to going forward,
I think you're going to see more and more of
these creative types of partnerships, especially when prices continue to
go up on different things. You're going to have to
have partnerships, whether it's local businesses with the school systems,
or businesses or school systems that partner with other local

(34:41):
governments just to be able to create some of the
stuff that they want to create. Because like it or not,
we are truly in an arms race when it comes
to facilities for different programs throughout the state.

Speaker 2 (34:52):
Well here's something interesting. So you've got Beauford the brand
new stadium, I mean really all of their facilities are,
you know, second to none. We're starting to see games full.
You know, well, they put together one of the finest stadium's,
finest press boxes you're ever gonna see. So we're starting
to see a lot of that up in the north

(35:15):
part of the state. We're in the south part of
the state. You know, we're starting to see other than
allows the indoor practice facilities, and so you're starting to
see facilities one way or the other. Schools are beginning
to add these facilities in kind of different proportions, and
it's all for the betterment, of course of the student athletes.
And of course, like the stadium in Buford and that

(35:37):
or Buford arena also for the betterment of fans as well. There.

Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah, Phil, let me ask you your viewers something. We'll
get them engaged in this conversation about facilities. You know, guys,
we're both Phil and I are both aware of some
of the existing facilities and maybe some of the programs
around our areas that are planning facilities. But you know

(36:02):
your programs better than we do. So whether you're watching
from Water, Robbins or Savannah or all been wherever you from,
you're from, if your program, if you think, if you've
heard rumblings that your program is planning to build a facility,
put in the comment we'd love to have a discussion

(36:22):
about it. You know, Phil, you've mentioned that Lownes has
built THEIRS. Valdosta is on the cusp of breaking ground
on THEIRS. I think they've already approved the funding for it.
You know, Thomas Thomas County Center is building a mega facility,
like a forty million plus dollar facility there. Obviously, everybody
knows about Cufford County's facility. Does Lee County have a

(36:45):
lot a small facility, indoor practice facility or no?

Speaker 2 (36:51):
Well? Good question, Well, good question, and let me answer it.
This way. So Lee County was one of the first
goals that decide to build a new facility. But again
I was just talking about how different schools do it
different ways. You know, you got it, Gamesville, you know,
they decided a major part of their new facility was

(37:12):
going to involve this grand brand news press box you
got at Buford. It's got you know everything, But again,
no indoor facility. So what Lee County what you got?
And again they're one of the first schools to really
do this. They built this multi purpose indoor facility, but
it has got a I think it's like a twenty
five or thirty yard indoor I call it practice facility.

(37:35):
It's where they can do kind of walk throughs and
stuff on a very miniaturized football looking field. Okay, but
nothing like you know what they got a call quit
or over it lowns. But it's also got however, and
Lee County is considered to have one of the top
weight rooms in the country. In fact, I think Max
Preps rated the Lee County weight room the third best

(37:57):
in the country. Now I don't know exactly what the
cret but if you go into the Leak County into
this indoor, this brand new facility they've got. It's got
this brand new weight room again Max Preps right, is
the third best weight room in the country. You've got
that miniature walk through field, and then upstairs you've got
this huge meeting area where fans can view the game

(38:20):
or I think it's a VIP kind of situation. But
if you have groups come out for the game, I
think leak Any will rent this space to you. And
it oversees the stadium from the west end of the
football field, overlooking the entire stadium. So again that answers
your question, I hope, Larry. But again we're talking about
all these different facilities being built to suit different schools

(38:44):
and their fan bases taste. Well, I think it's so cool.

Speaker 3 (38:48):
It is, man, it is. You know, some some people
are are against that kind of stuff. I actually I
am one of them because I don't like the idea
of high school spin any this kind of money on
those times type of facilities because of it's using tax
dollars to do it. But that argument aside, for the

(39:09):
program itself, it's a pretty good deal. Now I've heard
whether you're I think Chris pace is watching that. He's
a big Coffee County fan Mark Skipper might be watching
other coffee men. Does Coffee have a new facility as well?
Did they build a facility?

Speaker 2 (39:25):
Okay, there's a one.

Speaker 3 (39:27):
And so we've been here in rumors several years now,
especially when Noel Dean was up in Tiff County. The
Tiff County was going to build a different kind of one.
It was going to be kind of an open air
kinde of facility. Do you know if they've broken ground
on that or the kind of raptor.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
I don't think they have, Larry, I don't think they have.
And that may have had something to do, of course
with the coaching change. I don't know that. But we're
gonna be hosting the Jeff Littleton Show this year, one
of several coaches shows that we're gonna have. Before we
get to that point, though, I'll talk to coach Middlson
and ask him what the what the latest is with that.

(40:05):
But I gotta be honest with you, man, there's a
lot of excitement in Tiff County. You know, you and
I have talked a good bit about it. I know
folks here on the show have talked a good bit
about it. And let me add this to kind of
go back and circle back into some of our previous
conversations we've already had on the show talking about spring giving.
I'm almost spend a lot of time on this, but

(40:27):
as spring games and spring practices goes, we talked about
very little benefit blah blah blah. Well, let me tell
you don't tell that to the fans at tiff County. Yeah,
because their spring game, Larry, that has had one of
the biggest impacts on any fan base that I can

(40:47):
remember in recent memory. They played for those of you
that have been under rock, they played election used very
It's a very intriguing game. You know, we don't see
many teams that come from North and Land, North George
to down the South in a spring game. So I
remember when that thing was announced, I said, this is
going to be pretty intriguing, and indeed it was. Tim

(41:07):
County came out wanted and Tim County fans had been
a buzz since that happened. So that's the other side
of the impact of what spring games can mean together.
I just thought I would throw that in to kind
of bridge this conversation again.

Speaker 3 (41:22):
Listen, let me let me say this about Jeff loison.
You know, whenever a new coach comes into a program,
they have a bit. You know, there's always this honeymoon period, right,
everyone is so excited. It's a brand new day, new regime,
that kind of stuff. But those good feelings only last
a certain amount of time. So a brand new coach

(41:44):
has a very limited window to do several things all
at one time. It's got to get his fan based
super excited. Why because he needs dollars. Because a brand
new coach, when they come in that they have these
grandiose ideas of upgrading helmets, uniforms, doing something with a stadium.

(42:05):
All of it costs money, right, especially more than what
they currently have. So they got to get the community
excited backing his And they always use the word buy in, right,
So we need the community and the fan base to
buy in the administration to buy in. So he's got
to play diplomat and salesman. But he's also got to

(42:26):
play head honcho football coach and start recruiting his own
kids in his school. Because when coaches come in, it's
typically under typically bad circumstances. Coach probably just got fired,
unless it's a great coach that got promoted or retiring whatever.
But in most cases coach is going to get terminated

(42:47):
and that's why they're bringing a new guy in. So
there's usually a bad mojo, if you will, surrounding a
program with a new coach. So he's got to turn
that attitude around. Now, we have all talked about Tiff
County football over the years. Sometimes they have good years,
a lot of times they have so so years, I'll
phrase it that way. So when Lyttleton comes in, we

(43:08):
all know his success success he's had over Bainbridge, right,
so he comes in with a lot of fanfare. But
remember he's got a very short period of time where
he's got to keep people excited. So last year's campaign
there was a little bit of excitement because he was
competitive in a lot of football games. So that kept
the buzz going through the off season into the sprint

(43:30):
and skal, competitive team in practice and beats them, you know,
Langston Hughes, which made it what they made it to
a state championship game last year, and so and so
they come down even though they lost their their head coach,
is still a really really good program over the last

(43:52):
several years, and Tiff County pulls off the wind and feel.
So what Littleton has done is he has e did
his grace period and created so much more buzz. And
because of that, more dollars are gonna flood into the program,
more fans are gonna get excited, and so it's gonna

(44:12):
be interesting going into the fall. You know, the non
origin games. He's gonna win the probably the first two
or three non region games, and then that's gonna catapult
into the region schedule and feel if he can knock
off a Region one six a opponent early in that
region part of that schedule. Man, you talked about that
fan base is gonna be off the chain excited.

Speaker 2 (44:35):
All right, So let's get to some of the let's
get some of the other comments that we've got coming
in here, Larry, can you hear me, by the way, yeah, man, Okay, Matthew. So,
so first of all, let me address Corey Kresble, who's
trying to rain on the Tiff County Parade lane. Since
played a lot of JV players, don't get too height

(44:57):
Tiff Corey, Listen, I thought, yeah, I talked to Koch Times. Okay,
that wasn't the case. Okay, darniell Kelly, I think went
the first three chords. Both teams played the varsities pretty much,
the ones and the two's for the first three quarters.
I just wanted to just want to make sure that
we get that on point, all right. We make sure
we got that straight, all right? I want to know.

(45:19):
So Matthew Fielder and then my man Overdeed Farley, having
a conversation going on between the two. Hey, y'all, guys,
get us in this conversation. Man, uh, what's going on?
My man Obadie Faraday? Of course, Thomas County Central looking
to make some noise once again in the region. What's up,
Matthew Felder, what y'all talking about? Man? Get us in
this conversation. You'll got to share the love, brother, all right?

(45:41):
Who else we got here? By the way, obdi I
remember talking about?

Speaker 3 (45:46):
Are they talking about De Soto High out of Texas?

Speaker 2 (45:48):
I don't, I don't know. I mean, come come on, guys,
get with it here, man, come on, don't don't don't
hang us out to dry here. Matthew Fielder says, overdw
you hear what Creeksud's doing? Well, know what you tell us?
What's excited? Man?

Speaker 7 (46:05):
Get us in the including little of us in this conversation.
We just we're just coasting the show. Luke Bush, speaking
of Lowns. By the way, I'm trying.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
I've been trying to join the Vikings Booster Club for
a while, Luke Bush proms will take me lunch, but
still waiting on that rain check. Luke Mushy is so
excited to watch the upcoming season.

Speaker 3 (46:27):
Yeah, go ahead, wait a minute, You've been trying to
join the Lownes Booster Club.

Speaker 2 (46:32):
Yeah, I like to join all your teams booster clubs,
you know, offer a little sw work.

Speaker 3 (46:36):
Well, Luke Bush happens to be the Booster Club president
of this year.

Speaker 2 (46:40):
Luke, which is why I called off field tonight.

Speaker 3 (46:42):
Take his money.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
We talked, We talked about two months ago. I'm just
messing with him. Luke Bush is so excited to watch
the upcoming season. Coach Carter and his staff are working
hard to develop our young men to be the best
they can be. Go Vikings. By the way, we are
hoping to have our coach Carter coaches show once again,
have him returning back to ITG next We certainly hope
that will work out all right. So let's see who

(47:08):
else we got to say, I want to make sure
we don't miss anybody. I let you know. I'd love
to give you guys credit for checking out the show.
Matthew Fielder Jones County has their fall scrimmage game August
the eighth home versus Mary Persons. By the way, speaking
of Mary Persons, I heard today that they have got
a brand new facility. I don't know what all is involved,

(47:29):
but it is it's pretty magnificent for what I understand.
Jerry Harrison checking out the show from Monroe area. Jerry Harrison,
what's up, my man? Thanks so much as always for
checking out the show. And we would be remiss without
checking out. Tay Retta may read it Marietta in the building.
What's up, Phiel. A lot of excitement up there, by

(47:51):
the way in Marietta with the Cameron Duke coming in
Larry from Edgewater High. He's taking over that Marietta football team. Tiretta,
I know you've got a lot of excitement up there
with you guys. Tell us what spring practice was like
up in Mariette. By the way, Larry Kelly Mitchell's checking
out the show said, I was in the Bauford area

(48:12):
and it's unreal as a high school stadium. Yeah, I've been,
of course, So I went by there when we were
in there last year calling the Collins Hill game. And
of course the construction was not far as long as
it is now, of course, but boy, you could see
the building of something great for sure. Yeah, let's see
David Woods Stadium. Does wee championship? But great's done on shore?

(48:36):
What that means, David, Matthew Felder, Donnie Coffee disappointed me
last year. I don't know if you're talking about the season,
and God, I don't know why you'd be disappointed if
you're a Coffee fan. Mike co has done everything I think,
and a lot more than you could have hoped for
at Coffee. One of my state championship took them what

(48:57):
to deepen the playoffs last year, So I mean, I
think you've got to be pretty excited having Mike k
By the way, speaking of Coffee, Larry and our and
our viewers, Okay, we talk a lot about Region one
six A. What is that Region two thil gonna look

(49:19):
like this year? Lead counting Thomas County Central Coffee. Who listened?
Hell me out here, you guys, so.

Speaker 3 (49:31):
So Phil, let me let me let's talk about let's
talk about that region first second, and we'll lead off
with with coach co and the Coffee Trojans. You know,
we've heard the cliche before where you know, if you're
going to be hired by program, you don't want to
be the guy following the guy, right, And Robbie Preuitt

(49:54):
was the guy when it comes to the Coffee Trojans
because uh, he's had so much much success there over
the years, just couldn't win that state championship there at
Coffee County. So he retires. Mike Coe comes in and
let me tell you what coach co has done since. Okay,
So he came on board in twenty twenty two and

(50:17):
immediately went ten and three with a quarterfinals appearance the
previous year after the first round. So Cole immediately goes in,
goes ten and three, quarterfinals, phil his second year he
goes fifteen and oh wins a state championship, and so

(50:43):
last year he goes eleven and three and makes it
to the semi finals. So if you're if you're a
Coffee fan, I don't know what more you can ask
for other than three state championships in a row. Because
Mike Cove has done everything. You know, in three seasons,
He's only lost six games and went to the quarterfinals,

(51:05):
Citi Finals and won a state championship. That's how effective
Mike co has been.

Speaker 2 (51:11):
Yeah, I mean again, we were talking about one sixth
ave in that Region two five A, which and I've
said this before guys, and I'll say it again. I
think Class five A is the toughest classification from top
to bottom. Yeah, I just think it's always impossible to
predict who's gonna move. It's gonna come out of that
classification as a state champion this year. But anyway, uh so,

(51:35):
more about Region two five eight. So let me you
talk about coffee real quick, let me talk about Lee County.
I think Lee County is going to be a little
better than what a lot of people are given credit for.
And now listen, you lose a Weston Brian and you
lose an ob die uh listen to its many crow
ma overdie man. I'm trying to make you leak County's

(51:56):
big premiere running back. If you lose those two guys,
I mean obviously goes without saying you're gonna have a
little bit of fall off. However, Lee County is going
to leave. Defa Brezio. He's just that kind of coach
we're talking about code Defa Brizio. He's seen this throughout
the years. He had a lot of great players come
and go. My only question mark was Lee counting it's quarterback. Yeah,

(52:23):
so far from what I'm understanding, they're going with a
young man who has come up through the system. His
name ascapes me right now. I don't know anything about him,
to be fair about it, I just think that in
this region you've got to have a premier quarterback. This
young man may turn out to be that Western Pryme
Western Brant turned out to be that he also happened

(52:46):
to have in his backfield with him a very premiere
running back. So it's gonna be interesting to see though,
if that quarterback. If they're go with the young man
who's coming up with the system and they get a
transfer coming in, De Fabrizio has been pretty muma, But
that would be the only reason I would think that's
gonna hold Lee County back. It could be wrong, but

(53:06):
that's just my opinion. What do you guys think, Give
me some feedback, Larry, what do you think?

Speaker 3 (53:12):
Well, you know, that's that man. That's that's a brutal region.
It really is. You know, just taking a look at
last year, you had Lee County finish as region champs,
followed by Thomas County Central, then Coffee the bottom half
of that region, Houston County. We saw how well they
they played last year. They had what all world quarterback

(53:34):
last year as well, right, so you also had veterans
in Northside war Field. They finished the year with Lee
County ranked number two according to the AJAC, Thomas County
ranked number three, Coffee County ranked number seven, So you
had half of their region ranked in the top ten.

(53:56):
That is a brutal, brutal region. Now, ob Obadia Farley
is he's thinking a friendly shot. You know, when I
said Mike Co's only lost six games in three years,
he counters with Justin Rodgers only lost three games in
three years.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
So I went away, Man, you gotta you gotta remember
the success that Dean Fabrizio has had in that region.
I mean, for longer than than those guys. And I'm
not taking any shots. I'm just I'm just stating. And
that's why I'm saying, you know, quarterback or no quarterback
coach Frezio is going to have him in the mix
this year. Just don't I don't want anybody thinking that
I think they're gonna fall off. That's just my one

(54:38):
position just happens to be the guy touches the ball
every down is my concern. But anyway, gooy head Larry. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (54:44):
So it doesn't matter if you you're Lee County, Thomas County, Central, Coffee,
or some of these other programs. They all have top
tier head coaches, and Northside Warner Robin has just added
to that during the off season with their new head coaching.
Higher right, I'm getting the links the news head coach.

(55:05):
So you got to think that they're gonna be much improved.
I don't think they're gonna be a contender after year one,
but they're gonna be much improved over the previous season.
So man, you talking about the who's who among head
coaches in high school that reaching from top to bottom,
you know, throw a head coach to on a different
team in that region. I think I think they're still
just as successful.

Speaker 2 (55:27):
Oh yeah, I agree with Janni percent. We are winding down, guys,
got about five minutes left to go in the show. Hey,
if you want to let's make this last five minutes
strictly viewer questions. Okay, let us know what you guys
want to talk about, what's on your mind. We'll close
it out with your questions. What you got, Obdiight Farley

(55:47):
asking about what was this his coach? Let me let
me find it here. Is coach coming back on or
is he retired? I'm not sure what you meant by that,
Obdie Which coach you're talking?

Speaker 3 (55:59):
I think slink?

Speaker 2 (56:02):
Oh yeah, well listen for those of you that don't know,
coach Sly has taken another athletic director's position at a
smaller school in Forsyth County and the name is case
me right now. But anyway, he is eventually gonna be

(56:22):
leaving Milton, so I think he's got his hands tied
up right now with that. But no, once he gets
things settled and it's comfortable, we we will welcome him
back with open arms. We miss him here on the show.
He was a he was a regular, uh you know,
coming in about midway through the show, and he is
welcome back now he'll be back. But right now he's

(56:43):
got his mind on taking over this new school there.
It's a it's a new startup school I believe in
for Sayth County. I think they're gonna be playing in
G I A A if I'm not mistaken. Gotcha?

Speaker 3 (56:53):
Gotcha? Well, you know, one of the topics that we
intended to get tonight, we just ran out of time
with all these other great time topics. Maybe we can
cover that next week.

Speaker 2 (57:02):
Is that?

Speaker 3 (57:03):
What do we think this reclassification is going to finally
jape up to to look like?

Speaker 8 (57:09):
So I've got a code, Well, I've got an ad
and his name will remain he'll remain anonymous, but he
is going to give me the latest reclassification model tomorrow morning,
and I'm going to come back and talk about this
on next week, next week's show.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
So that's what I can tell you. Larry. I know
you have seen and we got to make this quick,
but I think you've taken in a sneak peek at
one and there's several of these these models that are
floating around out there. But Larry, what can you tell
us about what you've seen and what you know about reclassification.
I will tell you this. I heard there's not going
to be any drastic changes, And you guys got to
remember this is not for this upcoming season. Okay, everything

(57:50):
said for this season that's going to be for I
think it's the twenty seaxon twenty seven starting in the
twenty sex twenty seven season.

Speaker 3 (57:56):
Go ahead, Larry, Well, I'll just tease it out this
way so we hear this reclassification stot every couple of years,
because according to the GHDA bylaws, they have to reclass
every couple of years. And for years and years and years,
we just basically kept the same kind of tinkered around
edges of that kind of stuff. But in this particular

(58:17):
off season this year, the reclassification committee has talked about
everything has been on the table, and it's they've talked
about some wild stuff, I mean some really really drastic stuff,
and I think have to take incremental steps to get there,

(58:53):
to allow people time to adjust. So back to your
original point, I think there are some change is coming.
They're just not going to be very very drastic.

Speaker 2 (59:04):
That's right before we get out of here. Stephen K
and my brother State Quailer.

Speaker 3 (59:12):
And I think they're talking about two different things at
the same time. One is reclassification and then two is
a separate matter, and that is a power ranking system.
And receding for the playoffs competitive battle. So they're talking
about both of those things. That's right. I think the
receding thing is it may look like it's headed that
way in one form of the fashion because of competitive balance.

(59:35):
People want that. But as far as drastic changes when
it comes to reclassification, I think they're gonna pump the
brakes on that and go much slower.

Speaker 2 (59:43):
Yeah, I think from what I am here, and competitive
ballance is dead in the water. It just does not
have the support. And then reclassification I think is going
to be It'll go through, it go be some minor changes,
but I don't think you're going to see any major
drastic changes, not like we had with this last reclassed.
I wanted to Mitch real quick. My man Stephen k
Wynn chegging In says. He says Coach Live was a

(01:00:06):
Milton spy to get in sidefield.

Speaker 3 (01:00:11):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:00:13):
I love it. We can't wait to get my buddy
coach Live like he's a great man, did a great job.
You got to remember, you know, uh, you know it
was him. And then of course buddy Adam Klake who's
now at Park View. Boy, you know we're out for
Park View. Uh they've got Adam Clack as the head
coach there. But yeah, those guys did a lot for

(01:00:33):
Milton football and now coach Live is going to go
on to his new school and try to do the
same thing. Guys, we are out of time. I want
to thank Larry Godlin for joining me. Larry, thanks so
much man. We could keep going, but all good things
must come to an end, as they say, and unfortunately
our conversation high school football must come to an end now.
Thanks Larry.

Speaker 3 (01:00:55):
Absolutely man. Thanks for having me tonight. Guys have a
great weekend. God bless you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
Thanks again to Pepsi Cola and UH our our buddy
and doctor Kevin Collins the Porthspeedic Church in the Houston
Clinic for respond

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Spring Games, Transfers & Coaching Moves – Georgia High School Football Update

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