I have talked to a lot of high school coaches and players over the last few weeks and I come up with some very interesting tidbits when we have these conversations. So I am giving all of you the info I gather on here. None of it is really newspaper worthy, but it is definitely interesting I think
Lets start off with the most controversial topic, which is the kneeling during the national anthem. Now this is not a topic I really wanted to get into , but as I was having lunch with a friend the other day (yes I have friends) We started to discuss this issue and since this person has a son the plays high school football, I thought it would be interesting to see what high school coaches had to say on the topic. So a simple text went out. "Hello coach, I was wondering and this is off the record how you would handle a player wanting to kneel during the national anthem." I sent this text out to six coaching friends in Middle Georgia, once ex football coach and one principal in the area. Out of the eight people I sent it to, six answered within 10 minutes of the text going out.
It seems as if a lot of the coaches have avoided the question altogether because of the eight texts I sent, five of them informed me that their players on in the locker rooms during the national anthem. That is not dome to avoid the anthem and possible kneeling. That's just the way they have always done it.
I had one coach tell me that he would just have to respect the players beliefs if he chose to kneel, while the ex coach gave me enough information for this entire blog. He started off by say he understood why it started in the first place with Kaepernick but he also said that personally he thinks that the qb should not have put his livelihood and other jobs in jeopardy. he also said that until this country addresses racism, the nation will remain in national turmoil. He ended by saying he hopes all of this doesn't move into the high school and college levels. Powerful Stuff here.
So on a lighter side things are starting to get a bit interesting around the football map. Jones County is still being Jones County, although they were tested by Eagles Landing, Warner Robins gets tested this week with a difficult game against Coffee, while we may get to see if Howard is a player or a pretender as they travel to West Laurens. Tattnall survived a score last week, while Stratford handled a test. However they have Mount de Sales, which serves as a chance for the Cavaliers to get out of the dark and be a contender.
I am worried about Tattnall. I think Wilkinson will challenge them a bit this week and then an easy one against Twiggs, but after that they run in FPD. Tattnall gave up 300 yards passing to Washington Wilkes, so what will Dalton Cox do to them ? I mean he could have a really really big night. You have a quarterback with 12 touchdown passes in three games , a beast of an offensive line that can pass protect, and receivers that can jump over people. Greg Moore, throw the football, throw it every play if you must. You have an all state quarterback and everyone knows that the secondary is the weakest part of a class A high school football team. I just don't think Tattnall can handle that, nor anyone else. Right now Cox is throwing the ball a pedestrian 22 times a game. If you have Tom Brady you have to use him. Of course I am not a coach and barely a writer, but that is what I would be doing.
It is really good to see Teldrick Ross get the attention he is getting. It seems like every time I open up twitter, someone else has offered him. If I were Mercer, I would be living at his house right now. This kid is electricity on a football field and he patiently waited his turn. Jones County is in the midst of a magical football period, and that is because of Justin Rogers and nobody else. The man came in and changed the face of high school football and was able to do it very quickly.
Northeast also has a chance to step out of mediocrity this weekend but Dodge County will be a huge test for Ashley Harden. I am covering that game and I am excited to see the new look Raiders.
Westside has a must win game against Jackson on the road this weekend and even though Peach County beat them up, I saw some bright signs from a sputtering offense. Victor Dixon and Jaylon Barden are a very interesting combo to say the least and both of them are just sophomores. /
Oh how I hope that the Howard Huskies are ready to step up and get a win in yet another big game. The Huskies have never made the playoffs, never ever, not even a first round, and this is the year that should change that. Howard was a bad bad football team but they seem to have turned the corner. But West Laurens is a MUST win for them. Its time for Quintin Sewell and Jeremiah Kelly to show that they are special . Do you hear me Howard ?
I will close this with a softball line or two. Tattnall Square will win state this year and Joey Hiller is the best baseball coach/softball coach/recruiter in Middle Georgia. They are loaded this year and for years to come and the others just wont be able to keep up with what he has. Sorry but its just the truth.
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