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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Will North Gwinnett’s rise continue?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
North Gwinnett is one of AAAAA’s fastest rising programs. But are the Bulldogs ready to take that next step this year?
Last season, after seeing North dismantle Collins Hill, I remember thinking that the Bulldogs did not look that impressive physically.
Under the direction of first-year coach Bob Sphire, they went on to win their first nine games, climb to No. 1 in the rankings and reach the quarterfinals.
After seeing North practice briefly on Tuesday, I got the same feeling I had after the Collins Hill game — Sphire’s bunch isn’t going to intimidate anyone when they walk off the bus.
They’re not overly speedy, although receiver Cordero Dixon and running backs Tyler Jarry and Kevin Starks can go. Sphire says his team isn’t as big as they were last year either.
Does that mean the Bulldogs are going to win their first nine games and bolt to the top of the rankings like last year? Probably not.
Does that mean North won’t be a factor in Region 7? Absolutely not.
Mark it down: North will be in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
But just making the playoffs is not what Sphire has planned for the future.
He says, in golf terms, that his program is a five handicap.
“We started as a 12,” Sphire said, “and we’ve worked very hard to move up to a five. But it’s much easier to go from a 12 to a five than a five to scratch. It takes full dedication to get to the scratch level.”
Some additional speed and bulk wouldn’t hurt either.
Who are some of the other rising programs from across the state that I should know about?
Who are some of the ones on the decline?
Updates on Douglas and Alpharetta, along with Peachtree Ridge and Collins Hill coming soon …
Later … DP
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