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July 7, 2025 96 mins
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“Extra Point! With Phil Jones” is your go-to podcast for the latest news, hot topics, and insider opinions on Georgia high school sports! Tune in to the live stream every Monday at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter, or experience the excitement in person as host Phil Jones goes live from Mellow Mushroom in Valdosta, GA.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Attatatattattat a.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Team around. You know, we saw that, all right, guys,
and we are back with Extra Point with Phil Jones.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Welcome in, everybody, all right, guys, welcome in, as you
heard Flint Dikes in his resounding invitation and opening greeting, everybody. Indeed,
welcome back. Excuse me to another week of Extra Point
with Phil Jones. Mark Dike's not able to join us

(01:40):
this week, but you can see on the screen in
place of Mark Dyke's we have back by popular demand.
Not really. I just happened to call him up about
three o'clock to day. I said, hey, Larry, can you
do the show with me? Is Larry God one us up? LG?

Speaker 2 (01:57):
What's up? Man? Listen? I just I just came in
from work and ready to talk high school football because Phil,
I'm starting to get an itch. Man. It's July. The
dead week is over with and now it is we're
all getting tunnel vision and it's a straight shot to
the start of the season.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
Now, indeed it is. And as Larry just mentioned it is.
The dead week is over. So that's the second dead
week that we've had and it is now full boor
ahead as I think the ship's captain says, full steam
ahead as we get ready now, Larry, no more interruptions.

(02:36):
It's straight to the pre game or the preseason scrimmages
that some teams will have, some teams have more than one,
and then we'll be ready to start the season before
you know it.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Heck yeah, man, I can't wait. I can't wait.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
I can't either. Guys a lot to talk about today.
I made a late post on our it gen X
facebook page talking about some of the potential topics that
we'll get to today's time, permitting, obviously, what you guys
are talking about we want to hear about. So by
all means, let us know where you're watching the show

(03:11):
from and who your favorite team is. You guys know
the drill. All of you that are veterans of the show.
If you're not used to the show, well welcome in.
We do this every Monday at five thirty. I am
love from Melo Mushroom, where we have a good crowd
on hand here today, of course, break pizza. We want
to thank our friends here at Melo Mushroom for taking
care of us and let me get the camera straightened

(03:33):
down a little bit. There, there we go, and.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
I'm live from the fifty yard line in Martin.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
I was just about to say so, I'm from mellow mushroom,
Larry is you can see it's live at Martin Stadium. Amazingly,
it's already dark there Martin State. How does that work?

Speaker 2 (03:51):
This is part of my dream fantasy world where football
season has already started. You know, we're kidding around. This
is my background that I have show. I'm actually in
my home office. But you know, this is the kind
of mood that we're all in. We just cannot wait
until the start of the season.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Speaking of which, Larry, and guys, I'm gonna get to
all of our viewers here in a minute. I'm trying
to go down the line and see who all is
in the house. By all means, thanks so much for
joining us and let me know what's on your mind.
But Larry, I don't know if it's just me and
I don't want to propose this to the everybody that's
watching the show as well. I gotta tell you, this

(04:30):
off season, there has been more talk. I think there's
been more looking forward to the start of the regular season.
A lot of times in the off season, Larry, you know,
you'll have these these laws and people will just kind
of go and let five people will go by the wayside. Yeah,
and it'll be kind of become, you know, not really

(04:51):
a topic that's on the front of everybody's mind. But
I don't think that's been the case this year. I
will admit us doing this podcast year round. Yeah, that
helps to keep high school football in you know, on
everybody's mind. But other than that, I just think that
there has been more anticipation to the twenty twenty five

(05:12):
high school football season. Have you seen that to be
the point? And guys, what do y'all think about that?

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, normally in the offseason, which you know starts for
some you know, right after November when the season's over
with and going into December. But even if your team
goes deep into the playoffs and you get into the
January after Christmas timeframe and it's kind of a kind
of a lull uh, there's nothing to talk about for
a while. But that hadn't been the case this year.
A lot of it, a lot of transfers going on

(05:39):
around the state, and then the you know, the GHSA
has been engaged in talks of reclassification, you know, power
rankings for the playoffs, not just for one classification, but
potentially for all the classifications. That kind of stuff. They've
looked at different types of scenarios on how to reclassify

(06:00):
based on total sports performance. So there's been a lot
of stuff, and plus the regular moving around of coaches,
and then you had some late season headlining stuff like
Tucker Prout going over to Appland County that captivated a
lot of people's attention. And so you had a lot
of stuff going on during the off season that kept
high school football in the forefront of everyone's mind. And

(06:21):
now we're on the cusp of going through that threshold
that I think everybody's fired up and ready to go.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
I agree. I couldn't send it better myself, Larry, So
real quick, I want to take a look at who
all is in the house. We got a lot of
people that are just joining on joining board. So thank
you guys so much for your support. My buddy met Debut.
It's great to see who back.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
I heard that name in a while.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, right, me too, Larry. It's like where you been Matt?
The other day. I had to call him and say,
did you forget about me? He said? Phil? Who you
got the wrong number and just kidding he did not.

Speaker 4 (07:06):
But Matt Debuck, the multi state champion coach from Fort
Lauderdale's Cardinal Gibbons checking in with us.

Speaker 3 (07:17):
Coach is really great to see you, my man. By
the way, I am drinking a pepsi for you and
I'm also eating some elementary and pizza for you as well. Matt,
Really good to see you in the house, Larry, what
were you saying?

Speaker 2 (07:29):
Well, you know, uh, Matt. Matt is one of coaching books.
I guess like call coach the book. He is one
of those those names because you know, Phil, it's no
secret that a lot of Florida coaches have moved up
to Georgia to take advantage of the higher pay because,
let's be honest, Florida high school football coaches they don't
get paid very much compared to their you know, neighboring

(07:53):
states like Georgia and Alabama. So there's a lot of
uh coaches from the Florida have moved up to Georgia.
You know, Camden County's head coach, coach Rolandi, is the
latest one inside Georgia that's made the move after winning
a state championship down there close to the Daytona area.
So I keep waiting for a big name like a

(08:14):
Matt Debuck to come join us up here in Georgia
because he's got a unique, wide open spread him slinging
all over the field kind of offense that would be
your unique for Georgia and very entertaining to watch.

Speaker 3 (08:25):
Listen. I get asked about Matt Debuck quite a bit.
You know, Matt is a descendant, if you will, from
a high school offense to like to throw it around.
He's the receiver. He is, by the way, an alumni
where he coaches now at Cardinal Gibbons. So as a player,
you know, he was brought up in that philosophy of

(08:47):
throwing it around, kind of the old air raid. We
don't hear that a lot anymore, right, Yeah, yeah, air raid,
but remember that became kind of the hallmark of Gosh,
I'm trying to some of the coaches. I can only
reference some of the local coach that I'm familiar with.
Remember Jerry Glanville. I know some of you may say, well,

(09:08):
that's not the best they listen to. Jerry Glanville was
a winning coach, if you'll remember, he did it with
the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons, and that's just
one of the very one of the few names that
comes up. But anyway, Matt Debuck then went to Texas
A and n or Texas Tech as a player. Yeah,
and again guy involved in that wide open offense. Then

(09:30):
went to the Canadian Football League. And you know, Canadian
Football League, you only get three downs. If you've never
watched a CFL game Canadian Football League game, guys, you
gotta watch it. It is something else. You get basically
two downs to get a first down. If you don't
get a first down, you punt on third down instead
of fourth down. You believe that.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah, it's I've watched that game. I remember years ago
when the NFL was on strike and there wasn't much
to watch as far as football goes.

Speaker 3 (09:57):
And league, yes, thank you, Matt, go ahead, Larry.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
And Canadian football was on. So it was kind of
weird seeing the field was longer and the goalposts were
kind of wonky in the end zone and the wide
receivers can get a running start. It's like, what the
heck kind of game is this?

Speaker 3 (10:14):
Exactly wide open? But anyway, great to see my buddy
Matt Debuck again and yeah, we dope, we'll see him
sometime up here in Georgia. Would love to have it.
And you're right, Matt, like Mike leach as the guy
I was trying to think of me rest in peace,
Mike leach Man, sort of the Godfather, if you would too,
the running shoot air raid, call it what you will.

(10:38):
Let's see who else we got checking out the show today.
We've got David Woods checking in from Grayson Rams Country.
Gotta tell you, Larry, Grayson Rams gonna be right back
up at the top as one of the favorites to
win the state championship, to repeat as state champions this year.

Speaker 2 (10:56):
They to me, I don't. I don't even think it's
it's a question. I don't think Bufor is the team
to beat. I think Grayson is the team to be
this year.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
Another one that I think is going to be a look.
I wrote a story about this not long ago, several
of the state champions Larry from twenty twenty four. I
think you have an excellent chance of repeating in twenty
twenty five. I think North of County one of those teams,
Grayson one of those teams. And Gabe Garrett who's checking
in with us. His Twom's County Bulldogs are another team

(11:26):
I think that have an excellent chance of repeating as
state champions this year.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
You know, Phil, isn't a you know, we're this is
the last time I'll talk about this and we can
move on. But isn't it interesting how, you know, head
coaches adopt the systems that they adopt, whether it's an
offensive scheme or a defensive scheme. Most of the time,
it's probably the way the coach that they played under

(11:55):
as they were growing up, and they basically got their
training from that coach. They fell in love with it,
learned it inside and out, so by the time they
became a coach, that was their go to system because
they'd been trained up in it. I think it's just
fascinating how that kind of stuff just evolves in the
life of a Coach's.

Speaker 3 (12:13):
Great point, and yeah, we're just again, we're just talking
about Matt Debuck and not to stay on not making
the Matt Debut show, although it sounded like we already have.
But that's what Matt Debuck did. Grew up pleas at
player in high school, college, professional, and of course now
still is adopted as a back as a head coach.
So you're absolutely right, Larry. It's a really good point.

(12:34):
But all right, So so talking points we're gonna get to.
And I don't worry, guys, I'm gonna name some of
you other guys that are checking out the show. But
we posted a graphic today. I say we my buddy
of Flint Dykes, who of course is right now producing
the show, doing a great job by the bay. Let
us know what you think about the new format. I
like it a lot. Larry Godwin had been a big

(12:55):
advocate of us going to this format for a while,
and Larry, it obviously paid off, so your persistence did.
But one of the things that we talked about and
Flint put up a great graphic and this was born
out of a conversation that I had talking about, you know,
the heat that we've got and obviously the first month

(13:16):
of the season, you know, uh, it's gonna be hot
in some of these places, and we're gonna be talking
about where you guys are gonna be opening week. But guys,
what was the hottest game you were ever a part of?
Can you remember? I can remember? And this is the
reason that we put together this graphic. Hottest game I've
ever been involved in was two years ago. That would

(13:39):
have been I guess the twenty twenty three season. It
was one of our ITG Next Game of the Weeks,
which of course we're gonna be doing again this year,
but itg Nicks Georgia Game of the Week. We were
at Hughes Langston Hughes Stadium there on the campus of
Langston Hughes High School as they were hosting Car of Atlanta. No, no,

(14:01):
I'm sorry mckeecher, the mckecheren Indians were in town, and
I'm gonna tell you if it was blazing hot. It
was one of those nights where you could get no relief.
He didn't really affect me that bad, just going up
in South Georgia. I mean, I kind of like it.
I like it burning Nicole, But that was one of
the hottest nights, and it was just not me. It

(14:22):
was everybody. Nobody wanted to go into the press box.
One thing that didn't help. Press box had no air conditioning,
but there was no relief to be found everywhere, so
it's very easy. That was the hottest night, hottest game
I've ever been involved in as a player, as a
you know, as a fan, whatever, what do you think?
And guys, what do y'all think? What was the hottest
game you ever been a part of?

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Phil? I remember this was a game back in twenty
sixteen or go way back then, and I'm actually trying
to pull up the who's the quarterback? I can't remember
who was the quarterback? Was it Michael Barrett? It might
have been Michael Barrett? But anyway, you know, Lowndes was
had a decent season that year, ten and three overall?

Speaker 3 (15:06):
What are you talking about there?

Speaker 2 (15:07):
This was year twenty sixteen, so so Lownes was ten
and three overall. But more importantly, in the first round
of the playoffs that year, Hill Grove came to Martin Stadium,
and Phil, when I say that was a shootout, that
is an understatement. The final score for that game, well,

(15:27):
let me before I give you the final score. I
remember being up in the radio booth. I was helping
the radio team that year, and I remember when when
Lowndes had had gone over the I'm saying this right, okay,
So when Lowndes had gone over the eighty point mark,
I remember vividly leaning over to one of the radio

(15:48):
guys that I'm still worried we might lose this game.
Hill The final score was ninety two to sixty one
in a play a playoff game against Hill Growth. So
that was the most exciting game that I've ever witnessed
in person.

Speaker 3 (16:06):
Okay, now here's a fun little factory for you. Who
was the head coach of Hill Growth?

Speaker 2 (16:14):
Shoot?

Speaker 3 (16:17):
I kind of a trick question here.

Speaker 2 (16:19):
I know the name because it was the guy that
came down and spent a couple of seasons at Worth County.
What was his name?

Speaker 3 (16:27):
Okay? So I was thinking it was your former defensive coordinator.

Speaker 2 (16:32):
No, No, this was this was before barn Slack went
up there.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
Okay, so that would have been Philip Gosh. I cannot
believe I can't remember his last name. Some Mike guys,
I guarantee you one of our listeners viewers will get it. Yeah,
he did spend a couple of the years at at
Worth County. You know what he was famous for the
air raid offense. Well, no shoes.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
Oh that's that's right.

Speaker 3 (17:01):
And yeah in November and he had on that night
he had on shorts and flip flops. Man, my man
just does not care. And you know what, so be it.
He was a good football coach, but uh man, he
did not really care about the old attire did not

(17:22):
matter to him. I tell you he was. He was
the most fish and crazy coach I ever met. But uh, anyway,
so somebody helps out on that. What's that? What's that
gentleman's name? What's Runda? And I know him personally, but
I can't recall his name. But anyway, so.

Speaker 5 (17:38):
What's that Phil Ironside? That's right, Philip Ironside? Man, I
hate that. Hey, I can't come up with that. All right,
So dead week is over? Where are you guys gonna
be Opening week?

Speaker 3 (17:53):
I gotta tell you there's been some there's there's gonna
be some great season week one openers. Everybody is looking
forward to that, uh that Buford Milton opener that's gonna
christen the brand new stadium. I know we've all been
seeing the all the post on social media about all

(18:14):
all the uh uh, all the drone shots that everybody's getting.
We I've been talking to Tony Wolf, the athletic director
up at Buford. We're gonna go up there and kind
of get a sneak peek once they get their official
stitugative occupancy. We want to obviously go down and take
a tour of the you know everything the stadium inside
and out. So we're waiting on that, and once we

(18:35):
do it, t G is gonna go up there and
take a look and get the tour if you will,
uh from our friend Tony Wolf and the folks find
folks at Buford. So looking forward to that. However, having
said that, you can take you know, obviously take a
look at these the drone shots that they've been getting
from overhead. Everybody's been following the update on the stadium,
the construction. Man, it is gonna be the something to

(18:59):
behold when it comes to high school football stadiums, right Larry.

Speaker 2 (19:03):
Oh my gosh, it is beautiful. I think everybody has
seen it by now. It's it's made the nationwide circuit,
been picked up by a lot of different media outlets
including Max Preps and others. So it is a beautiful stadium.
And man, what a sweet deal on how that thing
came together. You know, we have a mutual friend up

(19:24):
there in one of the play by play guys up there,
and he confirmed this for me. The city of Buford
basically paid for that stadium for the school system, with
the understanding that the city can use it for other
purposes that that well as well. But that's a that's
a win win situation for everybody, certainly for the team

(19:44):
and the football players, but for the school system and
the city do that as well. That that is a
way that governments can kind of work together to you know,
feel a common purpose. But you're right, man, that is
such a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Speaker 3 (20:02):
Yeah, it really is. By the way, I want to
say hello to Austin A. B. Butler, my man, a
By what's up brother up there in the Rome area.
I know you're looking forward to what's going to be
happening up in the northwest Georgia area. Austin, appreciate you
as always. Kelly Fountain, speaking of Rome, another big Rome fan.

(20:23):
What's up, Kelly? Uh? You guys may remember Kelly, and
of course you may remember us saying Reees Fountain, Uh,
fantastic quarterback at Rome. I tell you Rome, Man, they
they are kind of quietly, I say quietly, they're kind
of quietly, you know, contending for yet another appearance in

(20:43):
the state championship or state championship game this year. But man,
they're in that that that dreaded uh Class five five A, right, Yeah,
and that's got to be the hardest classification of the state.
Got a lot of great football teams that our championship worthy, Larry,
but obviously only two teams can make it to the

(21:03):
tywer game.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
Yeah, man, So you know, I'm hoping that some of
the Southern schools can represent a little bit better this
year in the upcoming seasons. You know that I'm starting
to kind of lose my hope when it comes to
seeing Southern schools in the final game of the season.

(21:26):
Really doesn't matter what classification is. It just seems like
the football prowess is making a major shift to the
metro Atlanta area. So, you know, we always look forward
to the state championship game, but it just seems like
there's fewer and fewer Southern schools in it every year.

Speaker 3 (21:43):
It really is. And of course, you know we've talked
about this particular topic. You know, everybody wanted to talk about,
you know, who we think is gonna be the next
team from South Georgia that can tend for a state championship.
And again we're talking about Class six A, and I

(22:03):
think it's one of the usual suspect we're good. Yeah,
I don't either. But anyway, we were talking about, you know, class,

(22:25):
who's gonna be the next team? You know, that is
I guess our best chance at winning a state championship
from the south, from Southern Georgia. And of course you
take a look at one six A and what I
was saying before we blacked out there, you know, I
think one six A. We talked about this a little

(22:46):
bit last year. I think it is as wide open
as it's ever been. Yeah, And I think because of that, Larry,
I don't think it really bodes well in terms of
a South jeord A team being able to represent in
the championship game because one six A is so diluted.

(23:08):
And again I'm not taking any shots. I'm just saying
there's not that pre eminent team that's head and shoulders,
yeah above everybody else. Do you agree with that? And guys,
what do y'all think about that?

Speaker 2 (23:18):
I do you know specifically Region one sixth A for
the it started to me it started last year with
all the new coaches, a lot of teams graduating players
all at the same time, influx of new talent and
and feel you know, we we have that situation again,
but this year is a little bit different because of
a number of our schools in this region have I've

(23:41):
got a number of transfers into their program. So that
is a variable that's unknown and how it's going to
play out on the field as well. So, as you said,
and rightfully so, Region On's six A is up for grabs.
Caukwit's probably gonna be the favorite again this year. Lowndes
and Valdosta is probably gonna duke it out for second

(24:01):
and third according to the preseason projections. We'll see a
little bit later on as we go into the season,
but Region one six eight is wide open. I think
Region one five A. I mean, I'm sorry, Colemore corrects
me every time I say this, Region two five A.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
It's smart again, I did the same thing.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yeah, and so that should be wide open this year.
I don't think there's a clear cut favorite in that region.
Uh so we'll see.

Speaker 3 (24:27):
Man, it's crazy. Uh My brother Luke Neltson aka Big
Buford is in the house. Look, I know that you
are really looking forward to being a part of that
that scene there at Beauford's brand new stadium. Of course,
taking on Milton and Luke. Neltson's son Canaan is one

(24:52):
of the top performers on that Buford defense. So once again,
speaking of course anothernunce South Georgia, but once again b
got to be mentioned as a top contender or the
Class six A state champion this year. They once again
have got so much talent.

Speaker 2 (25:10):
Larry, Yeah, Beauford is one of those teams that, as
we all know, really loaded year after year, right, and
so because of that, because of where they are, because
of the new facilities they have this year, you expect
them to be a major draw for a lot of athletes.
You know that they have a lot of great athletes

(25:31):
that fall within their school district to begin with because
of where they're located. But you have other athletes in
that metro area that want to move to Buford as
well to take advantage of that type of program. But
you know, ever since Beaufort has made it to the
highest classification, they've had a trouble. They've had a little
bit of trouble getting over that final hurdle. You know,

(25:52):
the largest classification is just one of those classes they've
never won a state championship in They've had a several
seasons crack at it, but they just never gotten over.
So is this the year that they're finally going to
get over that hump and take it all the way.
They've gotten close in the highest classification, just hadn't been
able to do.

Speaker 3 (26:11):
It yet, you know, And it's really you stop and
and somebody had to remind me of this the other day.
You know, Brian Appling has won three state championships, but
it's been saying Larry, you and I were at one
of them, the Lee County View for a game, you remember,
the one talking.

Speaker 2 (26:30):
About, my gosh, that was such an exciting game.

Speaker 3 (26:32):
It was.

Speaker 2 (26:34):
Lee County really should have won that game.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
Of course they should have. Of course they should have
knocking at the door of the two yard line and
overtime a touchdown wins it. And bless his heart, it happens.

Speaker 2 (26:46):
That's football, right, It just happened.

Speaker 3 (26:48):
You're right, You're right. I'm trying to remember the well
today it's not a good day for names.

Speaker 2 (26:52):
J Lewis.

Speaker 3 (26:53):
It was thank you, Larry and Larry, You and I
were standing in about ten feet from Yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
Mean, it happened right in in front of us. And
as soon as that ball got punched out of his arms, like,
oh my gosh, I can't believe what just happened.

Speaker 3 (27:06):
That was Jack Pope, Yeah, he.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
Just happened.

Speaker 3 (27:12):
Look, Jack Pope brought the wood man. Listen. He earned
his money that night. Pope one of the hardest hitting
safeties I've ever seen. And it was just mono amano.
That night was great. Two great footballs clashing at the
one yard line. Ballpops loose, Beuford recovers and that's that.
And you know, man, you want to talk about a

(27:33):
range of emotion. You're going from looking at winning the
state championship. But Beuford did not give up. They did
what they had to do. It's just football at its
finest and so nothing you can do with chipy hat
to to Pope and the Beautiford Wolves. But going back

(27:54):
to it, so it's been it just seems like that's
been forever, Larry, that they've won a championship there. So
let me ask you this, and I want to ask
you the Beautiford fans, there really anybody out there. Look,
I think the world of Brian Apple. I want to
make sure I know a lot of you are saying, yeah,
we know that Phil. You know, people accuse me of
being the big Buford homer. Look, I just have a

(28:14):
major respect. I know a lot of people that are
Beauford fans. I like Kenny for Lot. I hope I'm
saying his name right, Kenny, forgive me if I'm not.
We're just talking about Luke Nelson and his great dude.
I just I just, you know, like so many of
the people of there, Beefer, Tony Wolf I just talked about,
I made a lot of friends at Beauford. I think

(28:34):
they get a bad rap. You know, people hate a winner.
Having said all that, Stephen.

Speaker 2 (28:42):
Winn correct me. It wasn't Juju Lewise. He was a quarterback.

Speaker 3 (28:44):
Juju McDowell, that's right, Juju McDowell, that's right. Well, I
think we're so focused on the.

Speaker 6 (28:50):
Ju Tuo part of anyway. But anyway, is the heat
on Brian appling to win a state championship?

Speaker 2 (29:01):
That's a good question. I don't know enough about Newford
football to understand the political dynamics, because even in high
school football, there's always a political dynamic. Sure, everybody loves
the coach when they're winning like they should, but when
they but when they don't do things that are are
expected of them. Then you got people that start to

(29:22):
come out of the woodwork, that start angling for the
guys' job. I feel sorry for head coaches, I really
do so, because that kind of stuff happens. So with
that said, I just don't understand. I just don't know
enough about the Buford political dynamics around the football prayer
to answer that question. Well, but you know, uh, people
have got to be talking up there about that. It's like,

(29:44):
we got all the talent, we've got all the facilities,
got all the resources, and we've got the athletes. So
what's the hold up here? Well, the hold up? He
is in the largest classification. There's a lot of good
teams that have great talent, that have great coaching, that
have great facilities, and there's this mono mono and and
they just come up short.

Speaker 3 (30:04):
God, I know, we we got quite a few folks watching.
We've got some Beauford fans watching. I'm sure us all
Luke Luke Nelson, Big Buford. Let me know your thoughts.
I mean, is there any pressure up there? Again? Because
you've got so much talent on that Buford roster, they're
gonna be a favorite every year now, I mean you

(30:26):
understand what I'm saying. I don't think really from this
point forward, especially with the growth of that area. I
lived up there for ten years in the neighboring county
for sitey, and it was the fastest growing county in
the country. Then I'm not some about the state just
to say nothing about the country. So that has done
nothing but ramp up every year. So you've got so
much population growth that it becomes a strengthen numbers deal. Okay, anyway,

(30:51):
haven't said all that. I just think that Beuford's gonna
be a favorite probably forever, even in this age of
where you have teams SI, you have rosters cycle in
and out with talent. But I think Beautiford is obviously
going to be right up there, at least for the
foreseeable future. Larry, So yeah, I'd like to know some
of y'all feedback about Beauford. What do you think up

(31:12):
there all right? Where are you going to be opening week?
I pose that question some of the answers. By the way,
Michael Atlata says, Beauford Stadium going to rank up there
with the Texas stadiums as far as high school football
is concerned. Good point. There, brother, and that will be
one that will be talking about just as much as

(31:33):
when you remember when I think it was McKinney Texas, McKinley, Texas.
If I'm not mistaken, that stadium opened up and everybody
was talking about it, all the meellions of dollars. Well,
step aside, because now you've got Beauford Stadium. It's going
to be the talk of the country when it comes
to high school football stadiums.

Speaker 2 (31:51):
Larry, Yeah, so you know your question, where are you
going to be at on opening?

Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah? Yes, thank you.

Speaker 7 (32:00):
Right, listen, I'm allows guy. Everybody knows where I'm going
to yet. But if I were not allowns guy, so
let me answer. Let me answer your question that way. Okay,
if I were not allowns guy, where would I be?
I would be over in Multre, Georgia.

Speaker 2 (32:16):
You know why because because Benedictine is going over the
life and that's gonna be a really good game.

Speaker 3 (32:25):
So I wrote a series which had to do with
the top openers for twenty twenty five, Top season openers
for twenty twenty five. I included several big time games.
It may have been the first game in that series
that I started Larry and where I talked about and

(32:45):
basically did a preview of both teams. I got to
tell you something, the way that game came about in
and of itself was a big thing. I remember I
taught the on Calhoune, the head coach of the Packers,
and look he admitted to me. And you guys can
go back and check out the story I got. Just
pull it up your itg next Georgia and you pull
up season openers Cauquit and Benedictine. But Larry sarn Calhoun

(33:14):
really didn't want to do that game, didn't want to
play that game. If you'll remember, that was the game
that was the spot on the schedule last year that
Conquit hosted West High School from you Tah.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah so you remember that. Yeah, so you know. Benedictine
is just feel Benedictine is just one of these programs
that they're just not afraid to play anybody. It doesn't
matter what classification they're in, all right, they'll take on anybody. Now,
some will say because they have athletes moving into their
school system from all over the metro Savannah area, which

(33:53):
make the case. I don't know, but they're just one
of these programs that if you want a good test
early in your season, schedule Benedictine, they'll give you a test.

Speaker 3 (34:05):
Okay, So, speaking of Benedictine, we've mentioned a couple of things.
Remember you've got better check this out, guys. Now I've
got jumping around a living over here. But remember last
year I put together the top ten toughest schedules in
the state. I know Buford was number two, and I
haven't done it yet. This year probably will and it's

(34:27):
really probably shouldn't be a lot of different because remember
this is the second year of the of the the
back end rather of the two year agreements that you
just say he has for schedules. But man, I don't
have the complete Benedictine schedule in front of me, guys.
But look at Benedictine playing Buford over in Savannah this year, Larry, Yeah,

(34:48):
Benedictine is gonna play Collkwood count need to open up
the season. I look, I don't have to look any further, guys.
And if y'all want to, you, Kim, I dare you
to tell me any other team that's got a tough
and rather a tough tougher opening to the season than
the Benedictine Cadeunce.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
Yeah. So here's their schedule right here, and this when
we'll go over this schedule. I mean, this is not
an easy schedule. I mean they're like you said that.
In the first two games non Region is at Couchwood
County and then they played Buford. Then uh, you know,
Burke County. I don't know about them. They played west
They're at Westminster.

Speaker 3 (35:25):
They force state championship last year.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
Yeah, I know so, and then they traveled to Waitecross
to play Ware County, and then they Warner Robbins and
then on October twenty fourth, they're at Perry.

Speaker 3 (35:40):
So guys, are you kidding men?

Speaker 2 (35:44):
That is a tough schedule, man, Larry, was that.

Speaker 3 (35:47):
Back to back or did you just kind of go through?

Speaker 2 (35:51):
Okay, so I will give you all the games back
to back their entire season.

Speaker 3 (35:55):
Okay, Okay, So.

Speaker 2 (35:57):
Cauchwood County at Cauchwood County, then they host Buford, then
they're at Burke County, They're at Westminster, they're at Ware County,
they host Warner Robbins, they host Wayne County, they're at Perry,
and they're at New Hampstead.

Speaker 3 (36:15):
Wow. That is murderers Row guys, that's a tough one. Look.
I have not yet put together the story for the
toughest schedules, but I think we just may have found
the one.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
Yeah. Now, according to this, they may have added a
teenth game, But according to this, that's only nine games,
so they may be even looking for a game.

Speaker 3 (36:39):
By the way, speaking of tough schedules, do you guys
remember who last year I had rated as the toughest schedule,
the team with the toughest schedule in the state.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
Who's that?

Speaker 3 (36:50):
The Veterans war Hawks? Oh?

Speaker 1 (36:52):
Is that right?

Speaker 3 (36:54):
Man? Let me tell you got Steve divorce and who's
coming in there to take over Veterans this year? Great
coach led Griffin to a state championship. We did, we
know the job he did down at k ro Right.
The guy is one heck of a football coach. But
he is now going to have his work cut out

(37:16):
for him. Uh. Over at Veterans and again, great school,
great program. He's got the former defensive coordinator for Colkwood
County going to join him. That's a huge addition to
his devo staff.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
To join him. Say again, guess who else he has
joined him?

Speaker 3 (37:38):
Who?

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Uh? Former Lownes defensive coordinator Ashley Anders.

Speaker 3 (37:43):
What Yeah, at Veterans Veterans High School.

Speaker 2 (37:48):
They announced it one coach Andrews to the Warhawk family.

Speaker 3 (37:54):
How about that? Well, guys, they got to tell you something.
He they may have their workoutout for him, but he's
definitely going in with all of his guns. I can
tell you because he sounds like he is really beefed
up that coaching staff just with the ones. And somebody
helped me out with the defensive coordinator that I'm talking
about formerly of Calwood County. Uh. He was a longtime
rush protege and his name hascaes me right now. Cockwood

(38:19):
County fans helped me out there, Big Yellow to Andrew Watkins,
who's checking out the show? Andrew Watkins, Big Darty High
Trojan fan, what's up, Andrew? Thanks for checking out. Obdi
Fall he's in the house, Larry, let's say hello to Obadi.

Speaker 2 (38:35):
No man, every time you say that name, I just
I just love that name. Obadi.

Speaker 3 (38:42):
Just don't know what That's a great name, for sure.
It goes into our name anonymous Hall of fame for sure.
But Donnie Jarvis, you're checking out the show, Donnie, tell
me about your former defensive coordinator that's going up to
Veterans to join Steve Bart's news staff. I mentioned Nello

(39:03):
to Kelly Fountain, who's checking out the show, by the way,
and I mentioned Andrew Walking, and Andrew says he's gonna
be a home as Tooms comes calling. So Andrew, that's
Tones and Darty that you're gonna be watching.

Speaker 2 (39:21):
Okay, So, uh, Phil, Yes, you're talking about Jeremy Rawl
that's him.

Speaker 3 (39:28):
Yeah, that's him. Yep, Jeremy Rowl, Jay Dennis checking out
the show representing Thomas County Central, Jason Michael Richmond. Houston
County schools are gonna be tough this season. Lots of
coaching changes and talent is everywhere around here. So speaking

(39:49):
of Jason Michael Richmond, this is another topic on my
list and I put out today and I mentioned it
to Larry and you've we got the ultimate hint there
with what Jason Michael or Richmond just just pointed out
about Houston County schools. Which team and there may be

(40:11):
one more than one answer on this one, guys, but
which team do y'all think is the biggest question mark
going into the season. Now, I'm not saying that they
have the biggest question mark necessarily, but which team do
y'all think? And I'll tell you mine, I'll tell you who.

(40:35):
That's why I'm asking the question. And again you have
the ultimate hint here based on what Jason Michael Richmond said.
And again I'll read it and see if this guy,
see if this will draw y'all's interest and maybe give
you a clues to who I'm talking about. Jason Michael
Richmond says Houston County schools are going to be tough
this season, a lot of coaching changes and talent is

(40:57):
everywhere around here. Said that, I think Veterans is going
to be drastically improved. Number one, you gotta know where
to give it up, right, But again, don't forget that
toughest schedule. I annointed them having the toughest schedule in
the state last year. However, as Larry just mentioned, you
got Ashley Anders, who has been a head coach and

(41:20):
defensive coordinator. Remember he was the last head coach Larry
to have some real success at Tim count.

Speaker 2 (41:28):
Yeah, he was a former national champion assistant coach at
the college level as well.

Speaker 3 (41:34):
That's right at BSU, right, and Ashley Anders of course
most recently of Lownes High School their defensive coordinator. And
now you've got Ashley Anders going up to help seve
divorce and it think about that. You got Ashley Anders
and you've got the Corkwood County defensive coordinator. What was
his name of kach Rawls?

Speaker 2 (41:55):
Jemmy Rowl.

Speaker 3 (41:56):
Yeah, Raoul, I'm sorry, saman You've got to great defensive
minds there on one staff and that's under steved divorcing.
So look out for veterans that may right there be
the most improved team and they haven't even played a
game yet. But going back to my question, which team
is the biggest question mark? And I'm gonna go ahead

(42:18):
and let you off the I'm gonna let you off
the hook. Okay, I think the I think the biggest
question mark is Houston County. Okay, ask me why.

Speaker 2 (42:30):
I probably know why, but I'm gonna.

Speaker 3 (42:32):
Ask you about. Thanks for the easy set up there,
Larry A. J. Heill four year starter at Houston County. Well,
you know, talking about pressure, and look, I love my
buddy Jeremy Edwards. He's a good friend. I really liked
him a lot, he said coach at Houston County. But

(42:54):
you'll talk about pressure. Now you had the ultimate, maybe
one of the best quarterbacks for four years, Larry, Yeah,
at ag Aj Hill. But I can tell you after
talking with Jeremy Edwards, unless he's really sandbagging, I don't
think that they've had any kind of major move in
major transfer trying to go with a young man who's

(43:15):
come up through the system. But I and again this
is never disrespect to him, but I tell you, Houston County,
You've got a lot of talent there. But I just
don't know. Losing aj Hill and not being able to
replace him with a quarterback nearly of the talent level
of a J. Hill, I just don't know where they're

(43:35):
gonna go. That's why I have anointed Houston County. That's
my biggest question mark.

Speaker 2 (43:42):
All right, So I'm gonna answer your question. My answer
differs from yours a little bit, but I'm going to
actually write down another name of a high school there.
As soon as I give you my answer, I'll go
to the second one because this next one, I think
it's a pretty good question. But the team that I'm
looking for to do something this year, that has potential

(44:06):
to do something are the North Side Eagles, because that's
one of those schools, you know, Phil, I think everybody
would agree that. Uh, you know, head coaches can make
a major impact in high school just because of who
they are, their presence, their their aura, their coaches style,

(44:27):
whatever the reason. I mean, just changing a coach can
flip a team just like that. And so you know,
I was I was kind of pleasantly surprised during the
off season when they named their new head coach and
coach Boone Williams right coming from Langston Hughes, right, and
just because he's going into that program. Now, I'm interested

(44:48):
to know anybody in the Houston County area have you
seen have you noticed athletes start to migrate and transfer
over to the North Side school district? Because that's usually
a tailtale sign when a new coach, especially a multi
school system like that, when a new coach moves in.
Do you see athletes start to transfer into that school system.

(45:11):
If the answers yes, watch out for Northside. If the
answers no, I would give coach Williams probably at least
a couple of years before he gets his program. But
he's such a dynamic coach or head coach that I
can't wait to see what he does differently with the
North Side Eagles. So I'm looking forward to see what
Northside does. And I understand where you're coming from with
Houston County, but feel the team that I'm looking forward

(45:34):
to watching out of Houston County schools this year, which
may surprise some folks because you know, up until the
last few years ago, this team was probably one of
the doormats up there. And it's the little old Perry Panthers.
Are they now the number one team in Houston County?

Speaker 3 (45:53):
What great point, Larry. You know, we were just talking
about one six A and of course I know all
these teams aren't in the same region, but but but
stay with me on this. So we're talking about a
county and area that really has been one of the
most football talent rich areas and counties within the entire state.

(46:17):
Right now, I'm gonna back away from the Gordett County, Okay,
I'm gonna exclude them. Those are the mega counties. I'm
talking about Houston County, Middle Georgia, Perry, and I gotta
be ask with you sometimes I still think of Perry
is going to be in the Redheaded step Child. Yeah,
I think of Houston County that way. Houston County used

(46:39):
to be your baseball only school. They would take their
lumps in football. Perry was that way, you know. So
it's it's completely reversed. North Side used to be on
top of the world when it came to high school football, right, yeah,
I mean I gottaunk with you guys. North Side, one
of Robins had one of the most dominating runs any

(47:00):
high school team in this country over a twenty year period.
One of Robbins. We remember one of Robins under Marky's
Westbrook and how dominant they were. But you take away
one of Robins and North Side and one of Robins there,
you're right, Perry, Houston County veterans and fairness to veterans

(47:22):
now instead of the Newers the US school, isn't it right?
I believe that's right. So yeah, am I missing anybody
by the way.

Speaker 2 (47:33):
I don't think. So you got north Side, one of Robins,
You've got Houston Veterans and Parry. Yeah, five high spitals.

Speaker 3 (47:40):
So that's a great point you make. We remember Perry
won in the state championship two years ago, right mm hmm. Kevin,
A great job he did. By the way, Lay, that.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
Just goes to my point, whether you're talking about north
Side and coach Williams or you know Oben brought up
in the the comments. You know what Justin Rodgers was
able to do from his first year and all the
excitement around that program changed, it flipped it on a dime.
So the same thing can be said about Perry. You know,
when they got their coach, he basically changed the attitude.

Speaker 3 (48:15):
The culture. Everything.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
Larry changed the culture got them listen, there is nothing
stronger in this world. There's no force that can even
rival a bunch of high school boys that get emotional
and rally behind a leader for a common purpose and
high school football, that's probably why it's so exciting because

(48:36):
you have all that mix, and so a charismatic leader
comes into a system, he can change it just like that.
And so that's what would happen with Parry, has happened
to Thomas County Central. I'm anxious to see if Northside
is going to follow that same temple.

Speaker 3 (48:54):
So here's the interesting point on north Side, Winner Robbins,
You're gonna see Boone Williams unless something has changed drastically,
You're gonna see Daniel Boone Williams start a ninth grader
at quarterback. Yeah, did you know that?

Speaker 2 (49:14):
I did not know that.

Speaker 3 (49:15):
Yeah, so the young man was actually an eighth grader
back in the spring game. Now he'll of course go
through you know, he'll come out of the summer and
enter his ninth grade year. And as of right now,
he is the starting quarterback. And again I'm told you
it's a bad day for that, but he is the Uh,

(49:36):
he's gonna be the starting quarterback going into going into
in the fall in twenty five seas now. And that's
another thing we're seeing. I think I talked about this
a couple of shows ago. We're seeing more and more
of that, Larry. Yeah, more and more true freshman. I
don't know why I'm saying true freshman freshman going back
to the old college thing, but we're seeing more freshmen

(50:01):
starting in critical roles, and especially the quarterback. Of course,
Trace Hawkins is the biggest name comes to mind, him
taking over last year Larry at Calhoun. I believe what
three games end of the season. Remember Calhoun started off
one in three and then they go off and win
eleventh straight under the leadership of a freshman quarterback and
Trace Hawkins. So my point being that I think it's

(50:25):
one of the things you're gonna see from Boone Williams
starting a freshman quarterback. And again, it is not that
unheard of like it used to be. You know, Larry,
Boone Williams, by the way, one of those guys that
I just cannot see him lose it, you know what
I mean.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
He's gonna figure out a way to win there North Side.
I would be shot if he's run out of there
on a rail because he's had several losing seasons. He's
just one of those guys that's very charismatic, gets his
five players pumped up, and so I think it's not
going to take him long to get that program going
back in the right direction.

Speaker 3 (51:00):
I agree with you one hundred percent. You want to
talking about a great hire in the off season. You know,
there were we had a lot of coaching change, Larry.
We always do in Georgia. But I gotta tell you,
I think Boone Williams being hired at Norse Ivy Wonder
Robins may be Numero uno.

Speaker 2 (51:28):
Are you still there?

Speaker 3 (51:29):
Yeah, I'm here.

Speaker 2 (51:30):
You froze up on my screen for there for a second.

Speaker 3 (51:32):
So okay, were you able to hear me?

Speaker 2 (51:35):
Yeah, I missed the last part of your question.

Speaker 3 (51:38):
Yeah, so I was talking about the boom Boone william
Daniel Boone Williams. You know, there's been a lot of
great off season hires with Mitchell Steve, Divorceity going to
Veterans High School. Uh, but I gotta be honest with you,
Daniel Boone Williams going as a championship caliber coach. I
want to stay a championship at links News took them

(52:01):
to a state title game last year, Larry again in
the state's highest classification, like we're doing talking about, and
he goes now to one or North Side one of Robins. Yeah,
I gotta tell you that's Norse Side Wonder. Robins fans
should be absolutely astatic.

Speaker 2 (52:20):
You know, that's just one of the situations. I think
they are cautiously optimistic. I think they're fired up, but
they're kind of kind of lurking in the in the
weeds and the shadows right now. Because listen, in their heyday, Uh,
you couldn't get a North Side fan to stop talking,
right So, so the swagger has left that program as

(52:40):
far as a fan base goes. But it's going to
be interesting. I think they're lurking in the shadows waiting
for coach Williams to make his mark on the program,
to get it going in the right direction. And I
think they're going to be coming back out in full forth.
I think high school football needs programs like a North
Side or Allowed Tharry.

Speaker 3 (53:00):
You know, Larry, that's a great talking point, Larry. I
said the same thing that you said about I don't know,
five six years ago, maybe maybe longer than that. And Larry,
I'll tell you the program that I mentioned, but it's
wrong along the lines of what you're talking about. There

(53:21):
are certain schools, certain programs that we need to be
playing consistently winning football. That's right, and you hit it
right on the head, Larry, great call in North side
of one of Robins. Who do you think I was
talking about? About? Again, I'm just I'm just estimating here,
maybe going back maybe a decade ago, I'll say somewhere

(53:46):
between seven to ten years ago, somewhere in that range.
But it's a Southern Georgia team, Larry, Who do you
think I was talking about? And it's not fair for
me to put you on the spot like that, but
it's a team that I remember saying it's important that
this school, that this program has a winning football program.

Speaker 2 (54:09):
Of Valdosta, probably.

Speaker 3 (54:11):
That's not it, but that certainly applies to them as
well there. And it's a great guess, but it was Thomasville.
Oh okay, I just think Thomasville. You know, when you're
talking about tradition, you know, Thomasville High School football has
so much tradition. Now it's a great thing. And of

(54:32):
course I was really talking about the city for the
city of Thomasville, and now you've got Thomasville and Thomas
County Central, two really good football teams. Of course, we
know that Thomas County Central has taken the league there,
you know, there's no doubt about that. But it's good
to see Thomasville, the city of Thomasville, having good, winning football.

Speaker 2 (54:56):
Absolutely absolutely. You know, you strike up another interesting topic.
Kind of stumbled on it, but it's it's that whole
dynamic of rivalries of teams in the same county where
you know, we just got there talking about Housing County
and the rivalries up there. You know, obviously everybody's familiar
with Lowndes in Valdosta, but you know, a rivalry that

(55:20):
that we kind of need to get kicked off again
is that Thomas County Central Thomasville rivalry because it was
kind of back and forth there for several years, and
just not too long ago, Thomasville dominated that that that series.
But now that Justin Rodgers there, he's kind of flipped
the script, and uh, Phil, I'm afraid for the Thomasville

(55:40):
Bulldogs when it comes to Thomas County Central. And here's why,
because what I've noticed over the years, and guys like
Obadiah Farley and others can correct me if I'm wrong,
but what I've noticed over the years is whichever team
basically had the best athletes, meaning that sometimes you'd have
athletes migrating from the county to the city, sometimes you
have the athletes ugrading from the city over to the county,

(56:02):
and whoever had the better athletes that year typically won
that rivalry. Right. But what we're seeing now with Justin
Rogers and all the resources that Thomas County Central is
pouring into that program, including their outstanding fifty sixty million dollars,
well that's probably a little forty to fifty million dollar
athletic complex. I don't think Thomasville has the dollars and

(56:25):
the resources to keep up with Thomas County Central. So
as a result, I think you're you're gonna see a
mass migration of athletes out of the city over to
the county school over there. And I think TCC is
gonna win that series for many many years to come,
as long as Justin Rodgers is there.

Speaker 3 (56:43):
Really Now, that's interesting, now, Larry. We do have to remember, Yeah,
Thomas County Central is the bigger school. Yeah, We've got
to be fair about it. Yeah, Thomasville is a single
a school now, correct, So just just you know, just
making sure that we're you know, we're on a level
playing field here. But I understand what you're saying. I

(57:05):
will say this, it's an exciting gonna be an exciting
year for Thomasville. You've got cam Hill four year starter, Larry.
I can remember the game we were there. I t
G Next Game of the Week that year. We were
at Thomasville, Thomas County Central at Thomasville, and I think

(57:33):
that was coming off the year after Thomas County Central
got beat by Rossholt if I'm not mistaken and somebody
making correct me. But anyway, it definitely was the arrival
of coach Rogers. I mean, you know, came came in
roaring leading Thomas County Central, you know, who had just
come off the Ashley Henderson era. But I can remember

(57:57):
that game you had the young quarterback for Thomas to
is Beckham what's his last name? And Steven Beckham maybe
I can't remember. Anyway, cameo, came in freshman, took over Larry,
he took his lungs, but he went on to become
the starter. And now here we are three four years

(58:18):
later and he's turned into one of the top quarterbacks
in the state. Cam Hill a name. We'll be hearing
about it and we'll look out for him, Larry in
twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (58:28):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely. Now, My only point about talking about
Thomasville and TCC and that rivalry and the direction that
is headed is you know, you know, in modern day football,
and we see this with a lot of mobile athletes
now right, transferring from school to school, and they typically

(58:50):
transfer to schools that have better facilities, better resources, better
access to college recruiters, that kind of stuff, and it's
kind of hard hard to argue against that with with
what you see Central building over there. As far as
facilities goes because you know, I keep in toch I

(59:10):
keep tabs on all these city and county budgets in
South Georgia because that's another part of my hobbies is
government tracking and their spending. And the budget for Thomas
Thomas City Schools doesn't rival Thomas County Central when it
comes to athletic spending. This discretionary funding that comes that

(59:32):
they pour into athletic spending and Central has devoted made
the decision to commit to to going down that road.
And man, having that committed, now it's going to be
up to Tomsville. They're going to have to counter that
to keep their athletes in the city school system. Right,
So it's going to be interesting to see if they
over the next couple of years, if they start to

(59:53):
do some type of you know, not fundraising effort, because
it's going to take more than that, if they're going
to take some type of you know, city initiative as
far as taxing goes to raise more money for that
athletic program for the c school system just to be
able to keep up with Central.

Speaker 3 (01:00:11):
Very interesting point, Larry, and that's something to sure a
lot of people don't pay attention to, but it's definitely
worth pointing out for sure. C. J. Williams says, can
we talk about hypothetical matchups? By the way, Steven Tate,
what's up, my man? We are releasing a follow up story.

(01:00:32):
I wanted to mention real quick. If you'll remember, back
in February, we released a story. I written the story
on top stadiums, talk to the stadium, they stadium, atmospheres, environments,
And from that came a lot of people talking about tailgating,
and of course it all goes in and hand, right Larry, Yeah,
And so we decided to reach out. We decided to

(01:00:54):
put together a top tailgate, the top programs for the
best tailgate. And I wrapped up that story today and
it should be posted maybe within the next couple of days.
Be looking for that. I got some great comments from
from fans, from some athletic directors, some coaches. I think
you guys are gonna like it. But looking forward to that,

(01:01:15):
looking forward to it to release the nest you guys
can see it. So be on the look out. And again, guys,
be sure to take take a look at all of
our top ten lists that we're putting out. We've been
doing this all year top ten by positions. We're ranking
the top top offensive defensive players by position, and of
course also we are your truly is releasing the classification

(01:01:36):
top ten pre season, so be on the look out
for that.

Speaker 2 (01:01:39):
Hey, Phil, let me let me say something real fast
about that kind of stuff, you know, because because you know,
I've known you for a long time now, and you
know I used to spend a lot of time over
in your office when you guys were located downtown Valdosta,
when I was getting ready to go over there and
do show pro for this show. And you know, a
lot of your viewers don't know this, but this is

(01:02:02):
your full time job, meaning that no one covers high
school football across the state, not just Georgia, but you
guys are down into Florida as well with programs like
Mike Debuck and the like. So I want to give
you kudos, man, because a lot of our viewers do
not know how much time effort research that you put

(01:02:24):
into the stories that you post on itg.

Speaker 3 (01:02:27):
Next, Larry, thank you for that, buddy, I really appreciate that.
Thank you very much.

Speaker 2 (01:02:34):
No problem, man, You when someone does a good job,
they need to be recognized for it. So hats off
to you for keeping.

Speaker 3 (01:02:43):
Thank you very much, Larry. I really appreciate that necessarily, Buddy,
I do appreciate that. You know, part of it's a
labor of love, of course. Uh. You know, we've made
we've been fortunate to make a living, uh you know,
to make a business out of it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:02:55):
Man, we cannot do it without the players, the coaches,
the fans. I have made so many great relationships of relationships, Larry,
And thank you again for saying that. I really do
appreciate that. But well, we're winding down the show. I
wanted to mention and just throw this out a couple

(01:03:16):
of things. So we're expecting the the playoff brackets for
the twenty twenty five season to be released any day now.
But I want to talk about as we depart the
there's a possibility that Larry, that is starting next year
twenty twenty six, we're gonna have the g Say is

(01:03:37):
going to take avote on this, and there's a possibility
that we're going to have the larger classification go to
a power ranking format, just like the Class A, Division one,
Double A and Triple A schools did this past year.

(01:03:58):
The private schools, they adopted their playoff brackets by one, two, three, four, five,
one through thirty two. Right, yeah, throughout the old traditional
region for the top four region format. Okay, you with me,
all right? So there is a very strong likelihood that

(01:04:21):
next season, now not twenty five to twenty six, we're
gonna have that same format adopted by four A, five A,
six A, and seven A. And I hope it passes.
Let me tell you what this past season. You know,
we had coaches and I'm not if I'm not fault

(01:04:43):
to them, Don't don't get me wrong, I'm not. I'm
not saying it's even bad. But we had coaches that
were already being able to pretty much project who their
playoff opponent was gonna be if everything fell into place,
and for the most part at d it was very predictable,
is what I'm saying. Okay, and again I'm not knocking anybody.

(01:05:07):
I don't want anybody to think that, but I'm just
gonna give you an example. Like we knew, I say we,
And when Dean Fabrizio and I talked, I was talking
about midway of the season. He pretty much knew that
if things went the way that they should for his
lead County team and that everything fell into place for Milton,
that Lee County and Milton were on a collision course

(01:05:31):
for a semi final matchup in Milton, and that's exactly
what happened.

Speaker 2 (01:05:38):
Okay, Yeah, and so I feel, you know, you bring
up an interesting point, but there were other issues that
came up with the current ways it's seated, as you
as your viewers are probably well aware of. You know, currently,
the top four teams in a region get seated for
the playoffs and then based on and arbitrary region one

(01:06:01):
versus Region five whatever, they set up the brackets that way.
And one of the consequences, I think unintended consequences of
doing it that way, and we've done that way for
years now in the upper classifications is you might have
two very very highly rated teams meeting in the second
round of the playoffs, where you get a great team

(01:06:23):
that gets knocked out early because you got a like
a top ten five team here and a top five
team here playing in the second round, and then all
of a sudden, on the other side of the bracket,
you got someone that's barely scraping by in the region.
But because of the way the bracket is laid out.
You know, they make it all the way to the quarterfinals.
So it just robs the fans of potentially.

Speaker 3 (01:06:47):
Keep talking money, keep talking it just of.

Speaker 2 (01:06:50):
Potential later round matchups. So one of the benefits of
the upper classification switching, you know, and this is not
a done deal. I mean, they're still talking about this,
but Phil and I like the direction that the conversation
is headed with the GHSA. So hopefully starting in the

(01:07:12):
season twenty twenty six next year, that you would have that.
So you would have in essence at the larger classifications
with class four A and above, so you could possibly
have the top four teams again making the playoffs. But
then once you get the thirty two teams, like in
the lower classifications, you start to seed those teams one
through thirty two and not this arbitrary you know, seed

(01:07:33):
one for reaching here, play seed four over here. No,
it's seeded one through thirty two. And so in the
first round you would have the number one seed in
the state faces the thirty second seeded team in the state,
and then you fill in the blanks that way, and
so that way you have a lot more equity equity
spread out in the playoff system. So you have the

(01:07:56):
teams that have worked their tails off and had a
great season being real warded through this power ranking system
of having a higher seat. So what's the what What
are some other benefits of having a higher seat right?
One of those obviously is hosting early round playoff games.
So there is a potential that you could still have

(01:08:17):
the second seed in your region that if things laid
out just right in this power ranking that you could
have potentially, you know, at least two home games that
you would be hosting in in the playoffs. Right now,
if you're the second seed in the region, there's a
very good chance that you just host one playoff game
the very first round, and then the second round you're

(01:08:38):
probably going to be on the road. That's just the
way it shakes out. So I'm all in favor of
a power ranking system when it comes to playoff season
in the upper classifications.

Speaker 3 (01:08:49):
Sorry about that, Larry, but I had to take a
quick restroom break. But no problem. It's the second time
that's ever happened to me. He's been doing the show.
But anyway, so I guess as I came back in,
I guess you were talking about continuing the conversation about
the playoff bracket and the predictability of such.

Speaker 2 (01:09:08):
Yeah, and so I was. I made the point where,
you know, in the current system, you've got the situation
where it's very possible that two highly ranked teams are
facing each other in the second round, which is not
fair to either team. Right, Okay, you this past season
you had Valdost and Carrollton playing in the second round.
You had in the second round, you.

Speaker 3 (01:09:31):
Know, Larry, And that's that was my point for I
had to get a little boys room. But so, if
you'll remember, and I made this point a couple of
different occasions, and a lot of people thought I was
crazy for it, and I get it. But if you'll remember,
I called for a receding. Yeah you remember you, Yeah,

(01:09:53):
And what I was proposing, and I mean I didn't
put together really any kind of you know, major proposal.
I just mentioned it very casually. But my thought was
to avoid what you just described, Larry. My thought was,
after the first round of the state playoffs, let's actually
do a receding and let's try to avoid you know what,

(01:10:19):
we ran into what you just described last year with
well again, Lee County meeting Milton and this is no
knock on the other teams that I'm not saying they
don't deserved and didn't deserve to be in the in
the state title game. I mean, Lee County and Milton
played in the semi finals, but a lot of people
felt like those were the two best teams in Class
five A last year, right, and a lot of people

(01:10:43):
were like, man, these this is really sort of the
facto state title game and be kind of a hard
to you know, make an argument with that. So I
say all that to say, if this power ranking formula
goes forward for the twenty twenty six playoffs in classes
forty five or sixty seven or so, I'm sorry there's
no seven out, I'll make you forget about that. But

(01:11:06):
if they go forward with a power ranking system similar
to the one that they use in the lower classification
this past year, there's not gonna be that level of predictability.
In other words, coaches will not be able to forecast
who they're going to be playing. And the reason for

(01:11:27):
that is every play after after every playoff round, okay,
the formula is gonna determine who is gonna be playing whom.
Right that way, you're not gonna know for the most part,
I'm not gonna I'm not gonna say it's gonna be
completely eliminated the forecasting, the and the and the ability

(01:11:49):
to predict. But for the most part, you're not gonna
be able to predict who your opponent's gonna be until
you get into the playoffs on a week by week basis.
I don't like that there, in essence is your receiving
if you will, that I had advocated for last year.

Speaker 2 (01:12:10):
Yeah, you know, other than the playoffs field, I wish
the GHSA would do one more thing or to help
these teams in the non region part. You know. One
of the reasons they're talking about doing this kind of stuff,
especially of when it comes to Southern teams and teams
on the coast that kind of stuff is there's still
a problem with forcing these teams to travel as much

(01:12:33):
as they do, especially in the early rounds of the playoffs.
That's one of the reasons that's driving this conversation now
by addressing the playoffs, But so something else that is
happening with a lot of these teams down here is
in the non region part of their schedule, they're having
to pay some teams like thousands of dollars to come

(01:12:53):
in just to you know, get a team to come
and play non reagion game, or if they don't do that,
they've got to go up to the Metro Atlanta area again,
travel and the cost associated with that. So I wish
the team. You know, one thing that GHSA did by consolidating.
You remember we used to have seven classes, right, so

(01:13:13):
by taking away the largest class and consolidating, they were
hoping to address long distance travel for these teams by
putting teams in more teams in a region. But the
problems still exists. So what I wish the GHSA would
do would establish something like what I call companion regions,

(01:13:36):
whether it's basically regions that aren't necessarily in the same classification,
but maybe a similar sized region that let's say a
Region one six A and a Region two five A. Right,
you have there's similarly talented programs, but you kind of
pair them up these companion region regions, if you will,

(01:13:56):
You kind of pare them up for non region play.
So the GHSA says to these two regions, hey, we're
going to set you to up as companion regions with
the understanding that you're going to schedule each other's teams
to play for the non region part of your schedule,
so it doesn't affect region schedules and seedings for the
playoffs whatever that kind of stuff. Address is the cost

(01:14:19):
of travel, and as a byproduct of that, fans like
us get treated to better quality games during the non
region part of all these schedules.

Speaker 3 (01:14:27):
Down here here here. I like it, Larry, great point
you're making. Evan Rees says the fact that Roswell and
Hughes were playing in the second round last year while
Sprayberry was playing Newton in the second round was crazy. Yeah,
and he's exactly right. So I don't know why this.

(01:14:54):
Hopefully this power ranking system won't go into the fact.
Do you guys remember we as actually adopted this format?
What was it three four years ago?

Speaker 2 (01:15:06):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:15:06):
No, it was longer than that, Larry. It was the
year that tiff County went in as the thirty second.
They may have even went in at because they did
not finish in the top four in the region. Do
you remember this.

Speaker 2 (01:15:25):
Vaguely? I don't remember all the details of it.

Speaker 3 (01:15:27):
Okay, Ashley Andrews was the head football coach, and I'm
like you, I don't remember all the details. But I
remember Tiff County. I think it was like five and
five or so. Anyway, they got the at large bid
in I believe it was then seven eight, Okay, and

(01:15:47):
they made it into the playoffs and they beat a
couple of pretty continues. Anyway, they made it to the
quarterfinals and they lost I think to Archer in overtime.
Point being that. See, that's why I liked this system
because under the old traditional format, Larry Tiff County would

(01:16:09):
not have even qualified for the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (01:16:13):
I remember what you're talking about now, vaguely remember it,
but I remember what you're talking about now, yep.

Speaker 3 (01:16:18):
I remember I was I was not able to go
to the game. Well, I mean we were working, but
I remember I think GPB had that game. I'm not
mistaking anyway. By the way, I do want to mention
we will be once again having our ITG next Game
of the Week. Uh not at Liberty to really talk

(01:16:39):
about any of the games. Still working out some deals,
some agreements, but I didn't want you guys to know.
You can look forward to that on Friday nights again
this year. It TG next Georgia Game of the Week. Okay,
As we wind down the show, and I want to
thank everybody for uh for again staying with us tonight,
for joining the conversation. We'll kind of give you the

(01:17:02):
final rank or the final rankings, give you the final
word here, see if we got any kind of good
the final words from our call from our folks watching
the show. Michael fowlers as power rankings will end the
cupcake schedule, skirt. I'll think his word for it.

Speaker 2 (01:17:25):
I think what he's referring to is the calculation that goes.

Speaker 3 (01:17:30):
To that power rankings exact. Yeah, and he's right.

Speaker 2 (01:17:32):
You might get rewarded with more points in beating a
team that is better ranked versus a nobody from Savannah
or the coast or somebody.

Speaker 3 (01:17:44):
And some people are mistaken this for the Mats preps
Ye power. That's not the case. This is I'm pretty
sure a g HS a proprietary formula that they're using. Larry. Yeah,
but Michael Fowler, I think you're absolutely right. Oscar Miles,

(01:18:07):
my buddy, Oscar Miles be Carver, Columbus man who I think.
I think they are a shoe in in my opinion
to repeat as state champions, Oscar Miles, Larry says Stephen
k Win Bridgewater team was loaded and full of track kids. Okay,
what's he talking about? Uh, but we're different than Georgia

(01:18:29):
Milton's speed and physicality, they would beat them, I guess.
I think we're talking about some hypothetical matchups here, which
I'll ask y' all this, What would happen if last
year's Milton team played Saint John Boscott.

Speaker 2 (01:18:49):
Oh that's an interesting question.

Speaker 3 (01:18:53):
No, no, no, I'm sorry, you mean to take you the woman.
I was really intended to say my Modern Day six.

Speaker 2 (01:19:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:19:01):
Modern Day widely considered the top team in the country.
That's why I'm asking listen.

Speaker 2 (01:19:06):
As good as Milton is, as as highly ranked as
they were last year, I still think they would have
lost to Modern Day and and Bosco by a couple
of touchdowns.

Speaker 3 (01:19:18):
Who was it? It was Creekside the state champion, was
it two years ago? Yeah, they got beat by one
of those two aforementioned teams like sixty three to nothing
or something, and.

Speaker 2 (01:19:32):
They were they were good.

Speaker 3 (01:19:34):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely. But what I think that goes to
your point, Larry Yes, as you mentioned.

Speaker 2 (01:19:42):
Yeah, now, as far as the hypotheticals, and they were.
I saw a couple of comments where they were using
teams out of the South Florida area. And then you know,
the South Florida area is one of those areas that
is just loaded with talent, very talented teams down there.
But those teams that talent seems to migrate from school
to school, so you never know what team you're going
to get year to year. I remember one year Miami

(01:20:04):
Northwest came up to Lownes when Corey Brown was here
and Lowndes beating them pretty handily. Now a couple of
years later, what was that team that came from South Florida.
I cannot remember, American heritage, American character. They beat the
stew out of my Vikings pretty sound of that year.
So it depends on what year. Because a lot of

(01:20:26):
the athletes in the state of Florida, with their transfer rules,
can transfer even to the up to enrollment and with
with no penalty of ineligibility. They can literally move overnight
and start the next game. So that's the wild wide
West in the state of Florida where you have talent
migrating from state and there's there's nothing, it's completely legal.

(01:20:47):
So that's what you see. A lot in the South
Florida teams talent migrating from school to school down.

Speaker 3 (01:20:53):
Stephen kay Wynn, who, as I mentioned before, giving credit
where credits do Stephen k Win is our unoff shoal
kind of like Larry is an unofficial extension of an employee.
Uh force here at it t G next we ever
have a question where we call it Larry or Stephen
k Win?

Speaker 2 (01:21:12):
Uh? Steven, have you gotten a check yet?

Speaker 3 (01:21:17):
You put? You guys are part of our payroll savings plant,
which means if we don't pay you, we say it
when our payroll. But Stephen k Winn was saying Larry
modern day, Uh, it's actually yeah, anyway, modern day would
have beaten Milton. I was thinking I was not pronouncing

(01:21:37):
it right anyway. What's that?

Speaker 2 (01:21:41):
You're right? Modern day?

Speaker 3 (01:21:42):
Yeah? But I think everybody Larry is an agreement. Come
of what you were saying. Modern day would have beaten Milton.
I would sure love to have seen him play though. Sure.
By the way, guys, are we still is the Geico
uh Champions Bowl Series still being played?

Speaker 2 (01:22:00):
I don't think it is anymore? Is it didn't it
stop a couple of years ago?

Speaker 3 (01:22:04):
I don't think they did it last year. I made
me mistaken and the reason I brought that up. You
remember that solid Collins HILLD team that had Travis Hunter.

Speaker 2 (01:22:16):
Yeah, and.

Speaker 3 (01:22:19):
Gosh the quarterback who wound up going to Missouri, Sam Horn.
They went out to Washington, Washington State and got beat
up pretty bad by the Washington State champion, Larry. Did
we see a theme that's developing year by the way, Yeah,

(01:22:42):
we seem to think that we've got the best high
school football in Georgia. And I've melt one to argue that.
But guys got to tell you, when our state champions
venture outside the state, we're going off a very small,
stay ample size. I'll be honest with.

Speaker 2 (01:23:01):
You, But peel this, this is the way I would
address that. I think I think overall across the state,
from Class single A all the way to Class six A,
I think the overall football quality is better in the
state of Georgia. But when you take best on best,
I think some of these other programs like a Modern

(01:23:21):
Day or Bosco or uh some of these other programs
you know dellasau in there in their era, these teams
are on a different level just because of the level
of black athletes across the board. Not well, I'm not
talking about just you know, one or two or five
or ten. I'm talking about a twenty two man roster.
About every one of them are Major D one recruits.

(01:23:46):
And so where we would so as a as a
football state as a whole, from top to bottom. I
think the quality of football in Georgia is better even
than than the state of Texas. But when it comes
to individual teams, like the best team in the state
of Georgia versus modern day, I don't think there's any competition.

(01:24:07):
I think modern day wins at ten out of ten times.

Speaker 3 (01:24:12):
I hear what you're saying, Larry, I do. I don't
want to be respectful. I just don't understand the reasoning though, Larry, okay,
and please don't no disrespecting ten could you? I mean
the proos in the budden But why is that? I mean,
what you know, help me out.

Speaker 2 (01:24:33):
But to me, it just comes down to population. We
see what happens in the metro Atlanta area.

Speaker 3 (01:24:38):
Right, sure, right, population, right.

Speaker 2 (01:24:40):
But that's nothing compared to Los Angeles. That's nothing. When
the you're talking about the population of Los Angeles is
it's humongous, right, And you talk about the resources out
there as well, So you know, you got athletes that
come from all over the country and they've done a
year after year after year after year because they know
that they're usually uh you know, fast fast lane highways

(01:25:06):
to major D one programs. Now, I'm hoping that starts
to change with some of the you know transferm that's
going on in the state of Georgia. But it's nothing
compared to what these other programs at because they have
the depth, not just the breadth of athletes, but they
have them stacked two, three, three levels deep versus you know,

(01:25:30):
our best right now seems to be Grayson, Buford, Milton Yep,
you know, and they might be able to compete. But
when we see these programs uh that from the state
of Georgia play some of these other premier programs, you know,
sometimes they're they're good games, but most of the time
they're not.

Speaker 3 (01:25:52):
Yeah, you know, one another one came to mind, and
that was the Lee County You remember when Lee County
was state champions h And again guys Stephen K. Winn
helped me out here. Lee County were state champions the
year I believe it wanted to be Coffee. Uh. You remember,
they hosted the team from Maryland. Larry, Yeah, Frank, you

(01:26:17):
remember what huh? Yeah, Saint Francis and my goodness, you
know St. Francis came down and I mean put I
mean physically physically assaulted Lee County.

Speaker 2 (01:26:30):
Yeah, that was one of those situations where you know
Lee because they're playing in front of their home crowd
and they consider basically when the game like that, all
of South Georgia is basically their home crowd. So the
emotion of that game kept them in it for a
quarter and a half. But then the athleticism entire team
wide from Saint Francis just took over.

Speaker 3 (01:26:52):
Indeed it did. But but Larry, and let's close with this.
So we're looking at we have just in the last
fifteen to twenty minutes and to our viewers, now, let
me know if we have if we missed anybody. But
we've made the connection now with the Lee County versus

(01:27:16):
Saint Francis. We've made the connection with the undefeated Collins
Hill team with Travis Hunter and Sam Horn going out
to Washington State and getting beat up pretty bad. I
take that back. They lost in overtime. So that was
the game. Okay, Still remember when Valdosta I think it

(01:27:38):
was the twenty eighteen state championship. I could be mistaken
about the year. Remember when Valdosta went out to the
Star in Frisco, Texas and they took on the team
from Arizona.

Speaker 2 (01:27:55):
Do you remember that, Yes, got to be pretty bad.

Speaker 3 (01:28:00):
They're gonna be pretty bad Candler Canon, not Chandler, but Candler,
the Candler Wolves from Candler, Arizona. So, Larry, we're we're
we're looking at now examples or samples if you will,
of George's best going up against Maryland's best, tex Are uh,

(01:28:22):
Arizona's best, Washington State's best. Now, come on, Uh, you
see where I'm going It just we seem to think
and I understand your point you made earlier, but Georgia
needs to start winning some of these these my state
versus your state games if we're going to continue to

(01:28:45):
claim that we've got the best high school football talent
in the country period. Again, I'm not saying we don't.

Speaker 2 (01:28:53):
Yeah, but what you're talking about, I think the difference
between mine and your argument is is, you know, there
is a concentration of talent into a handful of programs
out west. Now in the state of Georgia, as we
see in the you know, you know, you know college signings, uh,

(01:29:15):
players that get sent to the NFL, that kind of
stuff by a number of different metrics. The just the
just the pure number of athletes spread across the state
of Georgia rivals in any state, including California and Texas. Right,
but some of these programs have that talent concentrated in
a handful of programs. I think that's the biggest difference

(01:29:35):
that we see now.

Speaker 3 (01:29:38):
But isn't that interesting you really break that down? All right?
Final comments Stephen k Win taking us back to that
Saint Francis game, Stephen k Win says Phil Lee was
in the game into the third quarter. Saint Francis roster
covered nine states. Fair point, Stephen, h And that's a

(01:30:00):
good point. Thank you for keeping us honus there. Twenty
sixteen was the year Valdosta took on the Candler Wolves
out of Arizona. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:30:13):
Phil, So, one of these one of these shows when
I come.

Speaker 3 (01:30:16):
Back, Matthew Fielder, how you doing, Buddy boit.

Speaker 2 (01:30:18):
Larry, Phil, one of these shows when I come back on.
You got to promise me to cover a topic and
we can do it like off and all throughout the show.
But man, now that we're approaching close to football season,
I would love for the for the tailgate officionados out there.
I would love to find out what is your favorite
tailgate recipe?

Speaker 3 (01:30:40):
I love it beyond.

Speaker 2 (01:30:41):
Hamburger's Hot No, I don't want to hear any Hamburgers hot.
What is the best tailgate recipe that you want to
brag about? Because I because man, I'm I'm that excited
about this season. So I'm going to be experimenting in
my own kitchen on coming up with some some kind
of tasty recipes for tailgating.

Speaker 3 (01:30:58):
To see me if I could, if I could segue
off of your comment and remind everybody, I just wrapped
up our story on top Tailgators or our top tailgating programs,
and the insight was incredible that I got the feedback
that I got. But I'm gonna just tell you point

(01:31:21):
blank from my personal experience, not many people do it
better than Steven Tate and the crew at Coffee High.
Yeah I'm talking like what Maybe I'm not talking about
Hamburger's hot dogs. Yes they do that, but I'm talking
pot roast. Yeah, I'm talking prime rib. I'm talking cast

(01:31:47):
and rolls. Now, that's taking tailgate to a whole different level.
But anyway, Larry, I like it. One other thing I
want to answer that to let's talk about press box favre. Now.
I know that in fairness, that's not gonna be applicable
to everybody because everybody doesn't get to taste the press
box food. So it's gonna be a small sample size.

(01:32:10):
But but but nevertheless, as we leave, I want to
think Harold Burgess, Harold, Harold's son is the great Travis
Burgess for Grayson Elite eleven nationally. Just got back from
Southern California not long ago. Uh, Harold, thanks so much
for your support man and checking out the show. We

(01:32:31):
appreciate it. And by the way, this afternoon we had
an announcement and we'll close with this. It was our
number one rated corner Backlesaiah Jackson out of Lee County
in an announcement at Lee County High School. I don't
know if you guys have been keeping up with this.

(01:32:52):
I think Losia is last four were uh, Southern California, Stanford, Ohio,
State of maybe off. Anyway, Losaia made his commitment today
is going to attend the University of Stanford. Wow, and
I'm gonna.

Speaker 2 (01:33:09):
Tell you must be a smart kid.

Speaker 3 (01:33:11):
I was just about to say the same thing, Larry.
Congratulations young man, whether you play a down in football
or not, which he should. But you're going to be
guaranteed to uh to have as long as you keep
your studies up. Pretty good degree from Stanford, right, Yeah, listen.

Speaker 2 (01:33:31):
You know that's one of those handful of schools in
the country where you walk into an employer and with
a Stanford degree, is you're gonna get the job.

Speaker 3 (01:33:41):
There Georgia Tech. Pretty interesting that we've got a number
of kids that are transfer transferred that we are seen
committing to California. Yeah, Earl brooks Son cam is a
committing to the California Golden Bears. I'd like to see that.
So anyway, Harold, thank you for your kind words. But
ye appreciate you. Back at you. Let the final word, man,

(01:34:03):
Let you take us out of there, take us out
of here.

Speaker 2 (01:34:05):
Listen, Phil, it is a July seventh. UH teams are
ending their uh you know dead week that everybody enjoyed
one last rest fit before they really kick off there,
you know, Now it's a sprint, it's it's no longer
a job or a marathon. Now it's a sprint to
get ready for the season, right, and so it's going

(01:34:27):
to be interesting to see how these teams start to position.
This is because we have a lot of question marks
about programs in the South and Mill Georgia areas. Is
it going to be? Is how how is Erwin County
going to do with a brand new head football coach?
How's Applete and Fitzgerald going to do with new head coaches?
Right point I was Region one six? Is can Justin

(01:34:50):
Rogers continue that powerhouse that he's building over there in
Central Or is Fabrizio going to put the brakes on
that and reclaim the region supremacy in Region two fives?
A lot of question marks. So that's why we're so
excited heading into the season. So I hope you guys
are just as excited as we are. So as you

(01:35:13):
expect us to bring our a game in these programs
that we present to you, we as host expect you
as fans to bring your a game when it comes
to being a great fan this fall. So that's my
final word.

Speaker 3 (01:35:27):
Well said Larry Big. Thanks to our friends at Pepsi
Cola as well as doctor Kevin Collins of the Houston Clinics,
sponsors of our show. We do it every week. Extra
point with Phil Jones tonight, it was extra point that
Phil johnes Larry Godwin. Hopefully we'll have Mark Knights back
next week and at some point guys probably going to

(01:35:49):
be going to two days a week like we've done
in the past, Monday and Thursday. So Larry, thank you
for answering the bell today. Love having you on the show.
You all bring great content and great stuff to the show.
We value your friendship and your association with us. Here
at ITG Next, Buddy, thank you very much.

Speaker 2 (01:36:10):
Yeah, thanks for the kind words and anytime. Man. I
love talking about this stuff, love interacting with your audience.
You've got a great loyal audience. So thumbs up to
everybody involved.

Speaker 3 (01:36:20):
Absolutely and an hey Day's ran. We've got the best
viewers in the state Bard. Thank you guys for your
confidence you're place in us. Thank you for your loyalty.
I want to thank Flint Dike's back at Central Control
for making it happened on his production level. Guys, We'll
see you next week right here at ITG Next, Georgia,
Extra point
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