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DEL.ICIO.USWill 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
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: David Purdum
Comments
By North Fan
August 22, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
North Gwinnett all the way!!!!! Norcross and Peachtree Ridge better watch out. We are taking State this year!!!!!
By BigPerm
August 22, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
North is lucky they don’t play Buford any more!!!
By Pigskin for a heart
August 22, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
You are close but lets talk about the Junior class at North and how they compiment the seniors that returned on this team. As 8th graders in th GFL the D1 team played in the championship game and lost 32-28 to Collins hill. The D2 team played and won there championship. As freshmen this class went undefeated against all class AAAAA schools they faced. SInce then they have ridden a train to the state playoffs. They may not get off the bus and intimidate right away, but you are right, this team of juniors and seniors know how to win, and they also know what it takes to win. And they have always won and will continue to win. Great group of kids with great support at home and the community. Better not sell us out because of our size, we will play the game to win. Go dogs!
By Bad a-- Dog fan
August 22, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Why play a AA or an AAA school that has won all of its championships in a kindergarden league week after week. Come play Brookwood, parkview, Norcross, grayson, week end and week out, than ask to get on our schedule. if we play Buford it is a lose lose situation, why play a 3AAA school, if we win, we beat a 3 AAA school, If we lose, thats eveen worse, so why bother?
By jimbo
August 22, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Lucky?I dont think so,Buford doesent play aaaaa schools, only aa schools…
By BigPerm
August 22, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
jimbo and dog fan—-You obviously enjoying speaking ignorantly. Buford purposely schedules schools in AAA, AAAA, & AAAAA and they beat them. It’s not hard to find a school’s football schedule to realize your mistake. The point of the “lucky” North don’t play Buford is from a PRIDE point of view. Many of the Buford and North guys grew up together playing Rec. League sports until high school. That’s what made the Buford/North Gwinnett rivalry such a fierce one in the prior 3 decades. It’s also funny that Buford’s little bitty AA school is representing GA in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge Labor Day weekend. A tourney that pits the best of Ohio against the best of the rest of the USA. Where’s all the AAAAA & AAAA school’s that weren’t respected enough to get this opportunity? Fear the WOLF!!!
By Puddin
August 22, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
I say next year instead of Prattville and the Herbstreit games we bring back THE BATTLE OF BUFORD and keep the rivalry alive! Dogs and Wolves OH MY! Michael Vick could be the honorary coin tosser! ;>)
By Ol' North Dog
August 22, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
So, Buford is going up to Ohio to play a team that was 4-6 last year? Awesome. I heard Grove City is about half the size of North. Should have just saved your money and played Loganville. I hope Buford’s recruiting class is good enough to stay in the game with them.
On the flip-side, I do think that a North vs. Buford match-up would sell more tickets than any other regular season game on either schedule.
By fairplay
August 22, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
North has their work cut out in the opener with Prattville. USA Today has them ranked 8th in the NATION and they’re #1 in Alabama. Not sure I saw those Ohio teams in the rankings. A Buford-North match now might be a whole lot different than in the past. A lot of players didn’t go to North and chose Buford. That tide has turned. Plus you now have Peachtree Ridge and Millcreek in the area. There’s a lot of talent but it’s also spread out a little more. I don’t recall Buford winning the state championship last year in AA let alone playing AAAAA. With the talent at Norcross, Peactree Ridge, North and Collins Hill, BigPerm and the Buford boys should stick to worrying about GAC, that’s your rivalry. To David’s point: North played better last year by being more fit and not having any or more than a couple guys playing both ways. Discipline was much improved as well. It’s a good team, if a few key guys step up they’ll make some noise. Love to see them go over to ‘Bama and play it close or even take down Prattville. Hey, love to see Buford represent GA and Gwinnett county too. No arguments that there’s some darn fine football in this county alone.
By BigPerm
August 22, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
Buford didn’t pick their opponent,Grove City had a bad year but their recent history is laudableand you do need to check your sources, Louie at the liquor store can’t be trusted….and don’t hate because your school is just now playing above .500! It’s been said for the last 5 years by many non-Buford affilliates, Buford can hang with any classification. Fewer students, more heart.
FEAR THE WOLF!!!!!
By ahhm xcuse me
August 22, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
Mr green jeans, I mean big green perm, now you know that buford only plays 1-3 top teams a season of any caliber, so they do stay healthier and they would certainly be a bunch of bang up boys if they werent playin a bunch of little patsy’s all season, I mean GAC and dublin are the two big games of the season and that wont cut if you had to play some 5a teams every week, I agree with the dog fan 100%. we aint scared and we wud like a game of that magnitude. it wud draw more than any game in the county. this mom says we will spank that butt this time and history is…well, history.
By Buford Fan
August 23, 2007 7:16 AM | Link to this
I go to buford and we have better athletes because we recruit better. Did I just say that? We have been slipping the past few years. North would have killed us last year and will this year if they play us. I want to see a game next year about this time.
By BigPerm
August 23, 2007 8:02 AM | Link to this
“ahhm xcuse me” & so called “Buford Fan”…..we didn’t pick the Region we had to play in..that’s on the GHSA…..who would choose to go to Avondale…..we did choose to put AAA Cartersville on our schedule…..anyway, the recruiting remark is idiosy….to go to Buford and you live outside the city limits you pay tuition-believe me the GHSA would love to find something illegal to topple Buford with……it’s unfortunate that we’ve been “slipping” the past few years and still had double digit win totals each year and went deep in the playoffs….I bet North wishes they could “slip”……GHSA classification is based on student population, not Buford or North’s fault……..Just enjoy another successful season at Buford with me and come watch our playoff games to learn a little something….
FEAR THE WOLF!!!!
By tyrie
August 23, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
Buford is talented enough to play AAAAA. Matter of fact they would bury NORTH.
By nukieie
August 23, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Hey David P., what have you heard about those teams from south Ga 5A
By David P.
August 23, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
Nukieie … I fully expect for Camden Co. to be ranked near the top, if not No. 1, when the preseason polls come out on Monday. Lowndes, Tift Co., the usual suspects should be solid. The biggest question is can Valdosta rebound from last year’s debacle.
By nukieie
August 23, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
The AP poll is out: 01= Roswell 01= Norcros 03= Peachtree Ridge 04= Warner Robins 05= Camden County 06= Tift County 07= North Gwinnett 08= Lowndes 09= Brookwood 10=Stephenson According to (http://ghsfha.org/) The poll for all the classifications can be found there. For everyone info.
By ex cuse you
August 23, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
sure it will be another boring successful season full of wins against schools that well are just awful. why wouldnt Buford be successful, we would too if played the patsys buford plays, heck we could play that schedule year round and go undefeated, go ahead print that schedule up and let everyone know your big games this year, you wont have one till the semis. Geez caint you see, yall dont play anybody, its like Georgia tech playin Woford and Harvard week after week, its like yall just dont have any a* to your schedule, do us a favor, tell us your tough games where you will be worried in the fourth qtr, then tell us the games where you will be 44-0 by halftime. just caint claim to be a power when you dont play anyone consistently. heck yall got land get bigger, increase enrollment, go larger, quit spending your money on high price players and gear and build a bigger school. were waiting…… Fear the Wolves, if you are a schol in tha middle of nowhere with no players or cash.
By BBFan
August 23, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
If that is the official AP Poll, then it truly means nothing. How can my Broncos be ranked #9 when they are only returning 3 Starters and one of those is switching to QB. I believe we can win the Region and make a little noise in the playoffs, but I don’t think we are a top 10 team quite yet.
By David P.
August 23, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
Finally, a Brookwood fan shows up. Actually, I believe you were the one that questioned my belief that the Broncos may only win five or six games. But you’re right: Crews will have the Broncos in the thick of the Region 8 race. I probably have a better chance of putting Parkview, Brookwood, Grayson and Central Gwinnett in a hat and drawing for who I believe will win. But right now I’m sticking with Grayson.
By NG15
August 23, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this
With just one of the Norcross receivers and our QB we could take the state.NG will be in the playoffs and I hope we don’t have to go south to play backyard street ball like last year.We have a great head coach and I wish them the best.Prattville will be the hardest team anyone is playing in GA.on an opening game.Cordero and Mike will make things happen this weekend
By BigPerm
August 24, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
“ex cuse you”…..another ignorant handball player trying to chime in for literary fame…..the GHSA makes our schedules as far as what region we play in, they changed our schedule a couple years ago because we were killing everyone…..well change of region didn’t help much…..don’t blame our team for showing up and taking care of business….it’s unfortunate that you personally-from NG-haven’t been able to taste the success kids from the buford program have….I do sincerely wish the North Gwinnett Bulldogs the best of luck this season, as they are our “neighbors”, and I know many of the parents and kids…..FEAR THE WOLF !!!!
By excuse me
August 24, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
buford has great support, great players and we too have many friends there, just talkin smack back at ya, Buford has our respect completely, solid program from a-z. it would be real nice to see them play in gwinnett more though, we miss getting to see them ever because there arent many games in gwinnett. good luck and what a great area in general for football.
By NG FOOTBALL
August 29, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
well. i just wan tto say something to Big Perm im pretty sure that the region you play in depends on the amount of students in the school.. So you DONT choose the region you’re in by luck its by the amount of kids at Buford, and they dont let but a certain amount in, which means they regulate it, which means they’ll stay in AA until they want to add more students and play big time football.
By BigPerm
August 30, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
To NG FOOTBALL: It doesn’t make since to add students when you don’t have the space or teachers. Buford cares about the student first and “Big Time football” second. The GHSA DOES pick our region. Your ignorance is obvious…..NG is lucky they don’t play Buford this year…..NG would have another loss like the one Prattville gave you! On another note, football isn’t the only sport at Buford. Moving to another classification involves all sports and that may not be the best move for all sthletic teams at Buford High School. As you study harder, your brain may develop enough that you too can understand the BIG picture.
FEAR THE WOLF!!!