Prep Zone

By Mark

December 12, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

I have to disagree with you on this one. Props to Roswell and Peachtree Ridge in 5A and Marist in 4A, but the other 7 teams in the playoffs are outside the Metro area. Most of the state is well-represented. There is quality football played statewide and the power will shift from year to year. There is more to Georgia football than 5A.

By Mark

December 12, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

Oh, one more thing. The best team in Georgia, any classification, plays in Central Georgia. Marist will find that out Friday night. Northside played their worst game of the year and survived a tough St. Pius team. If the Eagles bring their A game, it will be a long night for Marist.

By grantham

December 12, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

The fallacy of your argument is that you make 5A the “barometer” of so-called football power. Yes, a larger school, per attendance, results in a larger pool of players to choose. Yet, I would put some of the 1A and 2A schools like Lincoln Co. up against any 5A team and I wouldn’t bet against the lesser classified team.

You see, just because you are a 5A school doesn’t mean the athletes are somehow genetically made to be stronger, run faster, jump higher, or throw further than the 1A or 2A programs. It is an ignorant argument to try and attempt to make 5A the head of the class just becasue they have more students.

By Jerry

December 12, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this

IT is reported that a Marist player is reported to have said, they (Marist) would “beat NSWR like a bunch of 12 year old girls.” That’s a pretty strong statement about a pretty good football team, but worse things have happened.

By Jerry

December 12, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this

In regard to Granthams comments: Tell that to Murray county in Chatsworth. They had to move up to AAAAA and got killed every game. They had a pretty fair AAAA team last year and went to the playoffs.

Their head coach for 16 years, Bill Napier resigned after their 0-10 season this year and the fans are convinced the AAAAA players are head and shoulders above AAAA.

By 5A Fan

December 12, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

The smaller school classification have always believed that they are equal to or better than the 5A schools. Year after year I’m sure there is some small schools that could play with the 5A schools,but not on a consistent basis. They have the different classification for a reason, so the smaller schools can be competititive which each other.You can say all you want about how tough your 4A,3A,or 2A school is but they still can’t compete on a week in and week out schedule with the 5A teams.

By grantham

December 12, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this

I think you make my point, Jerry. “A pretty fair 4A team” is different from a perennial playoff program. Notice< I used the word program. Most “successful” programs will make a jump from one class to the next and still win because of the coaching the culture of the school, and the climate of the supportive community.

Historically speaking, why is it that the same teams are traditionally in the playoffs, in every classification, despite moving up or down the student population chart? It is because of the mindset of that football program. High expectations and a culture of winning typically yields touchdowns and trophies.

I bet the final four football teams in 1A, 2A, and 3A, would not be steamrolled by any of the final four in 4A or 5A.

5A should not be the barometer based on studetn population. That is an ignorant assumption. It should be based on the field of play and I would be hard pressed to pick against a pereenial playoff, well, perennial final four participant in the lower classes versus an upper class team.

By Roswell Ed

December 12, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this

Mark, the only schools in metro atlanta that aren’t in 4a and 5a are private schools!!

By JP

December 12, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this

To Jerry: My son plays for Marist and there is no way a Marist player would say that about NWR. They know what they’re up against. Also, NWR knows Marist well enough to know our players don’t talk that trash. Keep your gossip to yourself.

By Steve

December 12, 2006 05:36 PM | Link to this

Pull out your roadmap, Curt. Six of the ten teams in the championship games are from south of a line from Columbus to Macon to Savannah. To use one classification as the “barometer” and ignore the other four classifications shows ignorance of the scope of football in Georgia. Better luck next year.

By butler

December 12, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

in regards to jerry and 5a fan. i woudnt say that the 1a to 3a teams could cut it with a 5a schedule but i would say that some of the top 4a teams could handle a 5a schedule and make the playoffs. take northside for instance, they beat warner robins high and houston county high. both 5a teams that did very well this season, making it deep into the playoffs. i have to say that i am partial to northside seeing as i played football there for my high school tenure. also northside has been in the 5a class before, and im pretty sure they were the number one team in georgia, until the end of the reg. season. i think that was the year that northside lost in the dome against lowndes(but not sure, not good with dates). marist is a good solid fundatmental team that plays hard football, but northside does too. not considering last weeks game, where any northside fan would tell you that we didnt play the best game. just so happens even on an off night we were the better team. friday night is going to be a good one. i wish the best and safe travel for all of the teams and parents. ill let the play of the eagles talk for them friday night. go eagles!!!

By kriddi

December 12, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

curtis, what were you thinking? the balance of football power in our great state lies south of macon! apparently, you were either not at the dome, or not watching gptv. just because “da ridge” beat a warner robins team, whose own coach described their offense as ineffective, doesn’t shift that balance. what about charlton county, the 2- time defending state champions? what about 4-time champion clinch county? where’s the love for defending state champion peach county? or what about northside-warner robins and dublin, the 2 most dominating teams in the state? now i admit, lincoln county is north of macon, but they arent a metro- atlanta area team. look at the sports page and tell me this, how many of the 20 teams in the dome were from south of macon? i counted 11, which leaves 9 from the north. now, out of those nine, how many still have games left? i counted 4, you do the math!

By Mark

December 12, 2006 08:58 PM | Link to this

Curtis, your opinion may make your metro readers feel better, but I’d rather look at an outside neutral expert opinion. MaxPreps.com ranks the top 10 teams in each state with it’s unbiased rating system, and the top 5 are:

1. Northside W.R. AAAA
2. Dublin AA
3. Charlton Co. AA
4. Marist AAAA
5. Roswell AAAAA

They seem to think there are 4 teams in lower classifications better than the top team in 5A. We can agree to disagree.

By Yo

December 12, 2006 09:08 PM | Link to this

1AAAAA will be back and every year just like this year you will have to go through 1AAAAA to win a football championship. “Occassionally” you may succeed. Even the Ga. Bulldogs “once” won a National championship and if one searches long and hard enough one “can” find a needle in a haystack.

By B State historian

December 12, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this

I know that creating 5A was to “give smaller schools a chance at a title,” but it seems that 5A was created to give Big Atlanta schools who never won in 4A(only 8 since the creation of 4A) a chance to win eliminating most of the rest of the state from contention with the big Atlanta schools who could not make it the whole way through the state playoffs with schools like Statesboro, Ware County, Effingham and Northside-WR involved. So of course it will seem like Atlanta Dominates when you make up 80% of a division. 5A = community service for Atlanta Schools.

By B State historian

December 12, 2006 09:19 PM | Link to this

And look at who defeated WRHS[who defeat Houston County(two teams that beat the normal 5A powerhouse programs)] earlier in the season—Northside High School. The best teams this year came from 4A. 5A had a down year.

By B State historian

December 12, 2006 09:30 PM | Link to this

Also. Northside moved down in the 2004 season. Prior to that they spent season since 1998 in the top 5 of 5A. Went to the dome twice. went the the round before the dome 3 times and were also ranked 1 and 2 in the state with there cross town rival Warner Robins High in the 2000 season when Willie Ried was the Demons RB. The move down has not changed work ethic in either “program” and it showed from Warner Robins High School this year when they made it to the dome. Northside would still be a dominating force in 5A. St. Pius, Marist, Statesboro, Ware County, Effingham, and many other teams would dominate 5A. 5A is good but greatly overated. History always wins. The only teams that have history in 5A is Brookwood and Parkview(Brookwoods offspring). Thus WRHS (history) dominates in its first year back. It shows that Programs win not size.

By B State historian

December 12, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this

MaxPreps Georgia Rankings 1. Northside (Warner Robins, GA) 2. Dublin (GA) 3. Charlton County (Folkston, GA) 4. Marist (Atlanta, GA) 5. Roswell (GA) 6. Tift County (Tifton, GA) 7. Shaw (Columbus, GA) 8. Norcross (GA) 9. Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, GA) 10. Peach County (Fort Valley, GA

By Goober

December 12, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this

I have waited..5-A Georgia football is ruled by the north. Way to go Roswell and Peachtree Ridge.

By Eagle76

December 12, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

How about some respect for middle Georgia? Dublin, Peach County, and Northside all in the championship games. Not ruling 5A would be a shame for metro Atlanta seeing that they compose around 70% of the teams in the division. Kudos to 1AAAAA for sending two teams to the semifinals in spite of an abundance of Atlanta teams in the playoffs. When Northside joins the region in 2008, the region will be unstoppable—Northside, Warner Robins, Houston County, Coffee, Valdosta, Lowndes, Colquitt, and Tift—no one will come close to competing with that region.

By GeorgiaScorpio

December 13, 2006 01:53 AM | Link to this

Curtis you will always be an Atlanta homer. I guess you have to do what you have to do to keep your job.

The truth of the matter is that with almost 4 million residents in metro Atlanta, only 3 teams are among the 10 finalists in the state of Georgia. One could say the same thing about Middle Georgia with fewer than 100,000 people living in Warner Robins (Northside), Fort Valley (Peach County), and Dublin—all favorites to win State Championships and all located within a 35 miles radius in Middle Georgia.

Northside ran up the score on 5A semifinalist Warner Robins and Houston County, who reached the quarterfinals of 5A. Ironic that you failed to mention Northside, who will humiliate Marist on Friday.

Peach County are defending champions and Dublin, who kicked Atlanta’s Lovett around so badly the entire state was crying for mercy, set a record for the beating they handed an Atlanta school (65-7 if you forgot).

Marist has no chance of winning a State Championship, no matter how much you hope and pray. My guess is the score will get run up on them. This AJC hype machine that has made the Northside-St. Pius X game a nailbiter is a total misrepresentation of the truth. It was actually a boring game that Northside controlled from the 1st minute.

I would have to say that this is the worst year for Atlanta football since the mid-1990s with powers like Brookwood, SW DeKalb, Parkview, Stephenson, Mays, and Douglass not even sniffing the Dome. The area that you should be writing an article about is Middle Georgia. Of course, that would affect your readership. Would it not, Curtis? With the manner by which you losely write the real facts, you have to do everything you can to keep a job.

Hey Curtis, put on some pants this weekend and take off your skirt as you put away the pom-poms. Not even your misrepresentation of the truth is going to save Marist on Friday night. Then, you will still have some silly excuse about the weakness of Atlanta football.

By calvin

December 13, 2006 06:43 AM | Link to this

Peach Co., Dublin, or Northside would beat either of these teams playing for the AAAAA title.

However, none of these teams have won the championship yet, most of all Northside who stands a tall test vs. Marist.

Calvin

By Ellen

December 13, 2006 08:27 AM | Link to this

Once again Curtis, you have it all wrong. By now I guess that shouldn’t really surprise any of us. Have you forgotten that there is more than one classification in high school football? I give props to any Atlanta school (not to mention any in the rest of the state of GA as well) that makes it to the championship game…in ANY classification. It’s a long season and every one of these young men have fought hard to make it to this game. Your total lack of respect for any team outside of metro is appalling and ridiculous. The Georgia border does extend past the Atlanta city limits.

By Raiden

December 13, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this

I’m sure you’ve had this one saved up for three years under lock and key, hoping and praying for the day you could have it printed. Revel in the short-lived success of your beloved North Georgia teams in a down year of AAAAA ball. From what I hear, Lowndes will have a very dominant team next year with what’s returning, along with some other Southern teams. Then we’ll see what you have to say. Like my boy Scorpio said, please put down the pom-poms.

By JT@waregator

December 13, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

How many AAAAA teams are in the Atlanta area vs. the rest of the state? Let’s see…there are 70 AAAAA teams and approximately 15 of those teams are not from the metro Atlanta area. I would hope metro Atlanta could win every now and then with those odds???!!!

By Mike

December 13, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

It is amusing to hear comments from GeorgiaScorpio about how Northside is going to beat up on Marist. Here are the FACTS: Northside Warner Robins has NEVER won a state title NEVER. They were defeated on their home field by Parkview in 2001 and last year were Defeated by Statesboro. Marist won state by beating Statesboro in 2003. Until Northside gets “over the hump” and actually wins a state title stop talking smack. As far as 5A being the barometer of Georgia High School football I do not agree that this is true. There are schools in the lower classes that could compete and beat the 5A teams. There are many quality teams in 4A, 3A, 2A, and 1A. It is not about the numbmer students at a school the determines the stength of the football team, it is the players, coaches, talent, hardwork, and execution that determines how good the team is.

By Yo

December 13, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

While it is important to have a quality program the number of students in a school is a great contributor to a winning program. That is why on par AAAAA is stronger than the lower classifications. Of course in almost everything there can be occasional exceptions. To state AAAAA is not stronger than the other classifications is to ignore history. Lets see… what do you suppose would happen if we paired the top 20 AAAAA schools against the top 20 of any of the other classifications. My guess is that it would not be very pretty. Yes there would be a few upsets but in general AAAAA would dominate.

By TWill

December 13, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

It really amazes me how all of a sudden Atlanta Area AAAAA schools have become the barometer for football in Georgia. Middle and South Ga. football has dominated Northern teams for years and have gotten no respect for it. As a native of Middle Ga., this type of bias sports writing is exactly the reason why there has always been a dislike for Atlanta football simply because of the over-hype and ridiculous bias for the area in classification, competition, ranking and recruiting. This article proves this fact and to put it plainly, your level of play is soft and no match for Middle and South Ga. football.

By dscoles

December 13, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

Northside WR didn’t beat St Pius; St Pius beat themselves. A miffed punt that led to 7 points for NWR and another fumble in the red zone that led to a 14 point swing. (7 not for Pius and 7 for NWR) With all of the errors, Pius only lost by 3 points. The only Marist loss was in a similar vein. (miffed punt that led to 7 points for Tucker)

It should be a wonderful game. Good luck to all for a well fought game that will be filled with sportsmanship and fair play.

By Ellen

December 13, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

*David Purdum: Down year will produce sub-par champion *

See commentary link to the right. At least someone at the AJC sees the truth.

By dscoles

December 13, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this

That alleged statement was manufactured by YOU. I personally know that the players are far too well coached and intelligent to make a statement like that. The Marist School is one that is above that type of behavior. We are of the belief that performance on the field speaks for itself.

Please let the players play without any outside commentary.

By Ben

December 13, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this

I live in Atlanta, and in my opinion football is competitive in metro Atlanta and north GA, but overall not as strong year in and year out as in south and central GA, for many reasons. Looking at the GHSA website, teams north of Macon have won more total titles(I checked this using a map and spreadsheet several years ago and the difference has narrowed but not switched), but given fewer schools south of Macon those schools are more likely to win on average. Valdosta’s dominance really skews things like the Yankees skew MLB comparisons. Ultimately football is more important to central & south GA and thus you see more emphasis there. By the way, can someone make the time to count the # of teams in A, 2A, 3A and 4A to see what percentage are from South and Central GA? I suspect it is more even than 5A. I think the most honest assessment is that the south & central respect the north, but they still have the edge when you compare averages. But I guess I’ll see these debates year in and year out, it does make the blogs a bit more interesting.

By kriddi

December 13, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

last time i checked marist was a private school. which means that they arent restricted by boundries, such as northside and warner robins. they also arent resticted by the county cutting schools in half to make more schools, such as warner robins and perry were when houston county was opened. sounds like an unfair advantage to me.

By JamesD

December 13, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

This is a retarded argument. Well lets look at the statistics. There is basically 4 million people in metro area and 6 million in the entire state. Wow, you would Assume for that number teams from the metro area should fill 66% of the spots in the playoffs. Genius. Lets look at Houston County aka central GA. Population maybe 150,000: Northside finals, Warner Robins Quarter finals and Houston county Semis. The odd all three make it to the semis alone is 1 in 567,894 based on population. Nice try, the Metro area just has more schools and more students statistically they should win every year. The best recreation leagues and most insane fans/athletes come from central and south GA.

By DemonFan

December 13, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

I agree with you JamesD. Houston County had excellent representation in the playoffs this year. Plus, WRHS was only pegged to be a 5-5 squad and not make the playoffs. I’m proud of every school in this county.

By marist fan

December 13, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

Yes, Marist is a private school, and it is one that puts academics first. That is another reason why it is hard to compare to similar schools, as there are few (if any) schools that put academics first and are still able to compete athletically.

It is even more remarkable when Marist has the enrollment of a AA school, and is forced to play in AAAA. One level is thanks to Tom Murphy, who grew tired of the Bremen debate team losing to the debate team from Pace Academy. The rising of another level was due to Marist winning the state championship a few years ago.

Marist is playing against teams with a student body that is 40-60% higher than theirs. The game shoud be a good game if the “adults” stop overanalyzing, and let them play.

By aap4212

December 13, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

Lets get the numbers straight, Over 4 million in the Atlanta Metro area and only 55,000 in the Warner Robins, Northside and Houston County High Area. 400 of the states best athletes in a 35 mile area and in three schools. And all three were in the finals with two in the Dome. Championships all and all are in Middle Georgia. Then you can add Peach County High to top it off.

By Comparis

December 13, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this

Based on the conversations I’ve read with the smaller classifications saying that the size of student bodies doesn’t matter with good football programs. I guess Valdosta State should schedule Georgia each year and Gorgia Southern play Ohio State each year because they are good small programs and can win against these larger teams. Size does matter, live with it, or move to a 5A program.

By Keith

December 13, 2006 02:13 PM | Link to this

kriddi -

Last time I checked private schools have to play up. According to this blog, Northside Warner Robins was in 5A until 2004 and will go back in 2008.

That being said, we’ve got a 2A sized-school playing a 5A sized-School playing for the 4A state title. Marist has an unfair advantage? Or a disadvantage they aren’t complaining about? We’ll see who’s smiling Saturday morning.

By JamesD

December 13, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

Comparis What a horrable compaison, did it take you long to come up with that. Try this colleges recruite, sizes really doesn’t matter in college. Noter Dame only has 2000 students. A good percentage of the best college BB teams only have 2000 students Duke for example. Your idea is shot down try again. .

marist fan

“Yes, Marist is a private school, and it is one that puts academics first. That is another reason why it is hard to compare to similar schools, as there are few (if any) schools that put academics first and are still able to compete athletically.”

Are you telling me they only let in smart student into private schools. So celeb king was accepted into GCA because of his IQ, not because he was the top RB in the nation. I hardly doubt that. I would say a large percentage of your football team came to the school not for academic but to play for marist. Marist has the opertuinty to obtian players that public schools cannot. Public schools play with what they get.

By JamesD

December 13, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this

Keith
Marist is a 2A sized school with the entire mero area to obtain students from. If the best playes from Northside Houston County High and Warner Robins were on a them they would win the National Championship every year. Better youth programs, Athletes and Coaches in the South.

By JamesD

December 13, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

Size does not matter, 5A was created so that the large Atlanta teams would be able to seperate them selves from the small southern schools that historicaly dominate them. Look out Warner Robins Deamons, Northside Eagles, and Houston County are comming to dominate a 5A region soon, can’t wait until Metro designates a 6A region. Better FB programs in the South.

By AB83

December 13, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this

maristfan….”Yes, Marist is a private school, and it is one that puts academics first. That is another reason why it is hard to compare to similar schools, as there are few (if any) schools that put academics first and are still able to compete athletically.”

A comment like this is the reason some people look down on private schools. A status of being a private school does not make the students, athletes, staff, administration, etc. any more intelligent than those at public schools. If the other schools do not put emphasis on their academic curriculums, all of the young men who work hard and are dedicated to playing on their respective teams would not be a part of the team. Humble yourself and don’t look down on those that are not as fortunate as others. It’s comments like this that shows the shallow-mindedness of people and their inability to socialize with people on all levels of society.

By Northside Fan

December 13, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this

WELL PUT AB83. Thats ok though, if things go as predicted by just about everyone, they’ll be going back up to Atlanta after visiting Northside with thier money and nose poked in the air but without a AAAA state championship. You people just keep talking, we talk on the field and your snobby words are not going to do anything but motivate us more. Just keep it up.

By marist fan

December 13, 2006 05:40 PM | Link to this

Perhaps we are reading too much into this. I was just stating that, as a private school, they are required to “play up” and were escalated up another class because of their prior success.

I never once stated that Marist was superior academically or in any other way.

“A status of being a private school does not make the students, athletes, staff, administration, etc. any more intelligent than those at public schools.”

I am proud of a small group of athletes that are competing successfully against a group of schools that have a larger pool of candidates for an athletic team.

As for any “snobby words,” there were no intended words; I was attempting to shed some light on some misinformation that has been circling around this forum.

“It’s comments like this that shows the shallow-mindedness of people and their inability to socialize with people on all levels of society.” I have no idea how that incorrect analysis was derived from comments and discussion that has teken place in this forum. Oh well, good luck, in the game, if you are truly connected to the game and not just trying to stir up the masses.

By BigB

December 13, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this

JamesD great points.

Comparis, ask University of Miami (FL) or Wake Forest about large enrollment numbers and good football. Your O State analogy was weak.

I grew up in Fort Valley having graduated from Peach County in 1991. Middle and Southern Georgia dominated High School football when I was in school and it still does now. Lincoln County from Eastern Georgia always dominates. Valdosta, Lowndes, Northside, Warner Robins, Dublin, Peach County, Shaw-Columbus, Lagrange, both Thomasville schools, Cairo, Macon County all would beat these METRO schools.

I personally think they should even stop wasting Middle Georgia school money by making them come to the Dome, the semis should be at home fields and the State Championship should be in Macon. Of the five championship games, how many are being played in the metro area?

Being from Fort Valley, I’m wasn’t bred to like anything Warner Robins (except those pretty girls whose parents worked at the base & maybe their skating rink where those girls hung out) but I have to say that it was impressive for all three of their High Schools to go as far as they did in the playoffs.

Now on to Peach County. We will win our second title in as many years, thus exerting our dominance over the 3A division. This is our third title game in three years, if I’m not mistaken. We’re like the Braves, we have been to the Championship at least five times (including this year) since the Fall of 1991 and we only have 1 title. I know Thomasville Central beat us twice, Lagrange once, we beat Doughtery last year and we’ll beat Shaw on Saturday.

By B State Historian

December 13, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this

I am not trying to down Marist. I respect Marist. But those who down NHS for choking away State Titles like they have from Marist cannot talk. Marist is an academic school true, but when it comes to football, they will take a great athelete out of public schools and say to a parent “we will get your kid to college if he plays football here” just like every other private school, thus they created the every student counts for 1.5 instead of 1. Marist wants there team to win so they recruit the winners. Public schools build them from what is available - unless you are in Gwinnett county and your dad was the starting kicker for UGA/ you played any other professional sport and your kid just happens to play the same sport. I am losing the point though. My point is that Marist is known for choking away big games in the dome or in the finals just like Northside and got lucky in 2003 and won one. It seems that both teams are choke prone and one of those is at home. Lost to Parkview which was ranked #3 in the nation at the time and beat tradition from WRHS this year. Northside-Marist will be a good game. But I’m tired of Tressel acting like he’s a fair coach when all of his players end up with some kind of controversy and I’m tired of Marist acting like they are so humble because they are a Cathelic School out of Atlanta who “doesnt have bad character”. Admit that you recruit the best the rich and poor of Midtown/downtown/north atlanta have to offer.

By B State Historian

December 13, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

Also forget northside being a 5A school. There are close to 1600 enrolled. So just like Marist a school with 800 playing up to Northside 1600, Northside was a top contender in 5A when they played up before 2004 against Collins Hill and Dacula and McEachern all having close to 4000. The difference between Northside and McEachern is they take the 150 lb. kid from the school zone and turn him into an athelete. Marist recruits the 210 lbs athelete and makes him do what he has wanted to since day one. I’m sure that #2 from St. Pius wasnt a pick up from some Fulton county school with the promise to his parents that “we will raise his GPA so he can play at Clemson.” Any body who know’s anything about private schools know that they recruit the best dumb atheletes from public schools with the promise of a better GPA. Then the athelete cannot make the SAT score and what happens…the athelete is declared learning disabled and colleges have to let him or her in. The Private school hook-up.

By B State Historian

December 13, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

Message to Keith and Comparis And to the person who commented on Georgia Southern playing Ohio State…You know nothing about high school sports. I would not say that 1A-2A could beat 5A even though they have more heart and probably skill. They are mostly single string schools. The Athelete go both ways. It would be a good first half but they would get shut down. Georgia Southern losing to Ohio State is a different issue. The recruits are left overs that did not go to UGA, South Carolina, Alabama. They had less potential from day one. All high school players start at the same grade. That is why you see the top Linebacker Recruit in the state is from Macintosh County. The top Wide Reciever Recruit from last year was from Peach County. But the top 4A schools from this year would kill all of those schools from 5A because most of the players dont go both ways. It is even competition. Facilities arent better considering that State Championships have to be played in WR due to the stadiums meeting standards for a finals game. It all comes to who works harder and who fights harder. Last time I checked, the last time that NHS played Lowndes they won 44-0. Buford AA almost beat Central Gwinnett AAAAA. It’s all about heart.

Georgia Southern will not beat Ohio State because Ohio State does not recruit hand me downs. Your argument is stupid. Ohio State would probably not lose to South Carolina, or Clemson(both big schools, that cant recruit the bulk of their team from their own state) because they can recruit there own state. You obviously know nothing about high school sports and college recruitment.

And to Marist Fan “small group of athletes”? You sideline looked just as thick as Northside’s and I did not see anybody playing both ways. It looks like you don’t have a disadvantage. Your music program suffers but it looks like you have plenty of Athletes on that side line to choose from. And plenty of money to back a good booster program considering those who are not on scholarship’s parents have to pay a pretty penny to the school and I’m sure your booster program doesnt have members in Government housing like NHS or living in $30000 houses like northside. You do not have a disadvantage. You don’t have school boards telling your athletes that played in your middle school program to go to Houston County High School so that the Minority % is above 35 because you obviously care about diversity (considering you had about ten minorities in the dome last friday).

By AB83

December 13, 2006 11:25 PM | Link to this

marist fan

I have no reason to stir up the masses. As a proud graduate of Northside, I am truly connected to this game as well as the real world. All of the young men on both teams have the ability to compete academically and athletically. It’s just that to some, they are on different levels. As far as I’m concerned, they are all on the same level - whether from a public school or private school. They have all been successful making it this far to the big game. A private school or public school status will never define an athlete or person for that matter. With that, I wish all fans of both teams traveling mercy and safety. It’s definitely going to be a good game, but my cheers will be for NORTHSIDE! Go Big Blue!!

By B State Historian

December 14, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this

We should all be cheering on Florida because if they dominate it will put UGA that much closer to winning a title win the pups go through puberty.

By Hagar

December 14, 2006 06:52 AM | Link to this

As a loyal WR Demon fan, I don’t cheer for Northside. I think if they can keep from getting too full of themselves have the best team in the state. Marst could win, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Get real people! Enrollment doesn’t make the team powerful or give it a winning tradition. However, look at the teams objectively. A powerhouse program can move up a class and still be successfull, but don’t in your wildest dreams think 3A or less teams can compete with 5A teams and make it to the Dome! Too much size and too much talent to choose from for the 5A “programs” even in down years to take “programs” from 3A and less seriously. Yes, Dublin could win games against 5A teams, but be honest and do some research line size, overall team speed, and skill at all positions is not something you can give up week in and week out. You can overcome these for a game or two during a season and win against the punching bags in that class. Yes, individally a team may have some better players in the smaller classes, but not overall team strength and talent. Best of luck in the championship games, but they don’t have classes to keep small schools to let Metro teams win championships. The classes are there to allow teams a chance to compete and increase the quality of the games.

By kriddi

December 14, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

hey bigb, i have to admire your taste! i too, am an 1991 graduate of peach county. thats said, i do have to correct you on one thing. this is our third championship game in four years. we lost a heart breaker in 2004 to mlk. anyways, heres to our mighty trojans!!!!! see ya saturday at anderson field!

By kriddi

December 14, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

hey hagar, have you ever thought about how good the demons would have been if players such as kyle moore, frank fountain, eric o’neal, or brandon king didnt have to go to houston county? these arguments about enrollment sizes are so bogus. dublin beat stephens county, which is a larger school! peach county played westside very tough, and westside is bigger than houston county. hawkinsville, which is single A, beat perry, which is triple AAA. wake forest, which is one of the smallest division 1 schools, with an enrollment of about 3400, beat florida state and wonn the acc! enrollment numbers mean nothing! heart, desire, and ability mean everything!

keith, marist being a private school is an advantage. maybe marist doesn’t reruit players, but how many kids at marist are there because the didnt want to play at creekside, collins hill, or some other public school?

By To South GA.et all

December 14, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

If your 1aaaaa teams could play as well as you all talk, maybe they would be playing in the championship.It gets a little boring hearing about how tough middle ga. and south ga. football is all the time.If you have a team in the finals, you brag how good they are, if you lose, you continue to talk about wait until next year! Parity at all levels of teams through out ga. North and South is here, and here to stay!!!

By BigB

December 14, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this

KRiddi,

If you’re who I think you are, we were in the Bahamas for our Senior Trip. Two of my best friends were there too, #33 on our football team and the other guy played sax and is a former Blackhawk Pilot and Iraq Vet, my initials are BS, I was our senior class vice-pres.

Damn good to hear, well, read a response from you. Where are you living now?

I do remember that lost to MLK. The ironic thing is that MLK’s coach that year, went to Fort Valley State, where he played football and I use to think he was the best running back ever and then he winds up beating my beloved high school.

Yeah, I’ll be at the game on Saturday, maybe I’ll see you there. Peach County 38 - Shaw 14!!!

By marist fan

December 16, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this

It looks like NWR was the better team last night. Congratulations on a well deserved victory.

By kriddi

December 17, 2006 08:25 AM | Link to this

hey big b, thats me. i still remember that trip. ahhhh, the good old days. im still around the mid-state, purposely tormenting all those perry panther fans i work with. i am a beacon of light in wannabe land. tell my favorite saxophnist/blackhawk pilot and his beautiful wife i said hey!!!!!

28-7 way to go PC 30-6 way to go NHS-WR

where does the might lie now?