AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Georgia’s ‘Friday Night Lights’ schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here at Take Ten, we’re selfish.
It’s not enough for “Friday Night Lights” to be airing its season premiere this week. It’s not even enough that NBC moved FNL, fittingly enough, to Friday nights.
No, we want the show here. What does Texas have over Georgia anyway? Our high school football fans are just as passionate. We’ll put the quality of play here up against any state in the country. Plus, there’s the added incentive of not having to drive five hours down a dark, deserted, smashed lizard-covered highway to get to the game you want to see.
But who are the Dillon Panthers of Georgia? What’s the high-profile program of ours that could fill those shoes? Here are our top 10 choices. NBC, we hope you’re reading this.
10: Thomas County Central — This is a program with great tradition (five state titles), a great stadium in the Jackets’ Nest and some very strong support in Thomasville.
9: Carrollton — Even as Atlanta growth turns Carrollton away from being an isolated town and more toward being part of Atlanta-West, seven state titles, a long tradition and a tight community give the Trojans plenty of TV cach&eeacute;.
8: Parkview — With four state titles, the Big Orange Jungle and an entire neighborhood built to honor the program, Parkview has to be one of the top choices to fill Dillon’s shoes. Plus, they could bring in Jeff Francoeur for an “as himself” guest spot to rein in the all-important female demographic.
7: Dublin — In Dublin, it’s all about the new Shamrock Bowl, which may very well be the nicest stadium for any Class AA team in the state. When the Redneck Games aren’t in town, life is all about Dublin football here. Come to think of it, the Redneck Games would make a great episode.
6: Gainesville — Show up to a game at Bobby Gruhn Field, and you’ll know why the Red Elephants belong on this list. It’s a scene, with all the red, the cars parked all over the place at the off-campus stadium. They’ve been playing forever, and they still have enough buffer room from Atlanta to be their own little enclave.
5: Lowndes — You certainly can’t miss the stadium. Anyone who has driven down I-75 near Valdosta has seen the huge Concrete Palace lurking off the side of the interstate. Four state titles aid the cause. And the annual Winnersville Classic against Valdosta, with everyone in the area in attendance, would make a great season finale for the show.
4: Northside-Warner Robins — They’ve got one of the biggest parking lots we’ve ever seen for a high school stadium, the site of much tailgating, and hopefully, overly dramatic high school breakups and shouting matches that would work great for TV. Bonus points for an intense rivalry with crosstown Warner Robins, which used to be especially nasty a few decades ago. For TV’s sake, we could pretend it was just as nasty as ever.
3: LaGrange — Another team that has been playing since the Stone Age, the Grangers may be the most consistently successful program this side of Valdosta. They have collected 11 state titles, and they’ve maintained their supportive community. With four Final Four appearances since 2001, the Grangers would be bound to provide a cliffhanger finale.
2: Lincoln County — What do people in Lincolnton do when the football team isn’t playing? Yeah, we don’t know either. The seating capacity at Buddy Bufford Field seems to be twice the population. And they’ve been known to lure 6,000 or so for the biggest games. Legendary coach Larry Campbell is almost Pope-like in Lincolnton, having won 14 state titles. This place would be nearly perfect.
1: Valdosta — But this place actually would be perfect. We wanted to come up with an upset No. 1 pick, but this has to be the choice. Maybe the most successful program in the nation. An insane 24 state titles. Historic Bazemore-Hyder Stadium has seen more than its share of huge games. It’s in the middle of an otherwise non-descript neighborhood, and cars fill up the area for every game. Heck, there’s even a ghost. There’s no better TV than that.
Go on. Take Ten. What do you think? Who have we missed? Who would you want to watch? Or which ones of these would make you want to flip off the TV in disgust? Come on. Surely, we can top Texas.
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Comments
By Boobalie
October 3, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this
Come on down to Starr’s Mill, baby!
By Boobalie
October 3, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this
Come on down to Starr’s Mill, baby!
By BigPerm
October 3, 2007 7:01 AM | Link to this
What? No North Gwinnett or Peachtree Ridge? Terrible!!
By wow
October 3, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
It’s not a valid list since you didn’t mention the undefeated Tucker..
By SU1993
October 3, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Well I graduated from Parkview and my mother graduated from Dublin, so I’m definetely inclined to go with one of those two (of course when each of us were at our respective high schools they were anything but champions).
By Blue devil fan
October 3, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
you know i can see why parkview would be up there but lets think classic now like brookwood? and def north gwinnett with a prestigous* coach and admirable facility hmmm sounds like football
By mdbrave
October 3, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
How about the Brickyard in Thomson, or the House of Pain in Sandersville (Washington County)?
By MM
October 3, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
Why is Friday Night Lights being aired on Fridays? How stupid is NBC? The show will be canceled by mid season, due to stupidity. Football fans are at games on high school games on Friday night, they watch college football on Thurs. night and Sat. Watch NFL on Sun. and Mon. night. The logical night for the show come on is Tuesday or Wednesday. Wednesday would be perfect!! By the way, Tucker should have been on the list.
By jag count
October 3, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
as usual with the ajc no Stephenson, tucker, or MLK
By Regular Dynamo
October 3, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Bazemore-Hyder in a “non-descript” neighborhood? Perhaps to the east, but Valdosta State has a huge presence. What used to be a small shopping center (complete with Woolworth’s) is now part of the university, as is almost all of property within two blocks of the stadium.
Forget winning high school football. You make a better drama about some of us that don’t. What joy is there if you expect to win? It’s more fun to win when you don’t expect it.
Let me set a potential storyline:
In the small concrete stadium on Friday night, the smell of victory isn’t as strong. It’s a smell of survival. A place where scoring is held in high esteem. It has to be when you’re used to getting beat 41-0. It’s a place where a coach was once given a parade for finishing 4-6, a place where there hasn’t been a winning season since the Clinton administration. The first term, by the way.
Seasonal drama includes opening night, where you are drilled. A close victory over another team much like yourself in week two. Week three is back to the usual beating, much like week four. And weeks five through 10 (11 including the by week)
You might have to lie and make us a darling like the Chicago Cubs - a lovable loser - though we’re more akin to the St. Louis Browns.
Perhaps the season finale could be based on truth. We brawled with another team in the 1980s that also had no playoff hopes. The fight was about nothing, but strife makes for good television.
By sunny
October 3, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Douglass High School Atlanta, GA
West Side……………..
By crob
October 3, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
As a native Texan I obviously don’t think that any other state treat sfootball as a religion like Texas but Valdosta would fit in very well…
By BullDawg Rick
October 3, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
Buford Field has a small college setting.. Great fans.. The visitors even get their own side of the field in cement (not wooden or aluminum) stands.. The game this past weekend with GAC was a fantastic setting, cept GAC got run outta the place!!
By Bill
October 3, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
I grew up in Odessa, TX and graduated from the original “Friday Night Lights” school, Permian High School. After living here for 13 years, I have yet to find any school that can compare to the Permian mystique. That is why the book was written about them and not Valdosta. MOJO!!!!!
By sammy miller
October 3, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
How bout Riverwood baby!
By jlassite
October 3, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
“Historic Bazemore-Hyder Stadium” in Valdosta is not even there anymore. They tore it down and built a new one.
By Don KeBallz
October 3, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
SWD at home at Pantersville Stadium!
By Joe
October 3, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
No question - Tom Riden Stadium in the small town of Buford, which has an unbelivable record in high school football. When I first read the book and then saw the movie, all I could think of was BUFORD!
By Kristi
October 3, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
Northside High Eagles All The Way Baby!!!! Oh yes it’s great to be a Northside Eagle!!!!!
By Glenn
October 3, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
The author apparently wanted to do it on Valdosta first, but they didn’t want him to do since it wouldn’t exactly paint the community in the most positive of lights (so to speak) so actually, Valdosta WAS the first choice by the author himself!
By bclontz
October 3, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
Agree with changing Friday Night Lights to another night! Competing against real thing is dumb! I’m a Griffin Bears fans, but would cast my vote for Lincoln County, because of Larry Campbell and what he’s done in that town. By the way! Doesn’t he still take all the teams laundry down to the Laundromat after all the home games? That’s keeping yourself grounded! Number “1” all time football coach and human being “Larry Campbell” Lincoln County!
By MTS
October 3, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
““Historic Bazemore-Hyder Stadium” in Valdosta is not even there anymore. They tore it down and built a new one.”
They’re using the same lot of land and kept the scoreboards. They did build a new home side (including moving the press box back to the 50), improved the visitors’, built a new fence, fieldhouse, concession stands, and museum and installed field turf.
It is and isn’t the same. The improvements were necessary as the stadium was beginning to be an eyesore and dilapidated. There is still a mystique to the place.
By South Metro
October 3, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
People want to see major college talent, so take South Georgia off the list. People that want to watch white kids running amok in the suburbs can watch the OC, so there goes Gwinnett County. Spotlight a south metro team and show the ugly truth about high school football in the south. For many young men in this country, it appears to be the only way out of dire circumstances. Often, tragically, they remain caught in the trap. Meanwhile less talented kids in programs with more money, support, resources, and better coaching get the glory of championships and media accolades.
By warrior99
October 3, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
I gotta say, even though Im not a Valdosta fan, you have to admit, who has been better? You just dont get much better than Valdosta. Sure they have had a ruff time once in a while, but what team doesnt? I say Valdosta is perfect.
By big 51
October 3, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
how about the 4 year school that went to the state championship and we had all the former Nfl son’s like Qb Zach Grahm, DT Cameron Heyward , and K/P Drew butler. and with all just four years we went to the ship ….now nobody can beat that and not to mention the powerful defense we have in peachtreeridge that noboy else has….because this is LION COUNTRY !!!!!!!!
By Ronnie B
October 3, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
I can’t think of many schools in Georgia that have consistantly had 20k plus in attendance other than Northside Vs Warner Robins game. There may be some however I don’t know who they are?
Houston County has three high schools, NHS, WRHS, HoCO all of which are participate in the playoffs.
By Rod
October 3, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
How about the Historic Bill Chappell Staduim at Harmon Field in Dalton GA. They only have the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons in the state!
By Da' Bears....
October 3, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Griffin has had a pretty entrenched history as being one of the top competitors in the State since before the dawn of highschool football. I’d have to go w/Valdosta too…you simply can’t beat 24 State Titles. But, for those of you who don’t know, (and here comes the interesting part) more NFL players have come from Griffin High School than from any other high school in the United States. This my friends, is a fact (ref: NFL history books).
By eric
October 3, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
RIVERWOOD!!! Go Raiders
By hic
October 3, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Bazemore-Hyder has been renovated. It has to drop to at least #10. Buddy Buford Field is elevated to #1, outdistancing #2 by a huge margin. Nothing in the State of Georgia compares to Lincoln County on Friday night during football season. TRADITION, TRADITION!!! Not to mention Coach Campbell and all of those State Championships!!!
By hic
October 3, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Bazemore-Hyder has been renovated. And, Valdosta has lost that football winning mystique the last couple of years. It drops to at least #10. Buddy Buford Field is elevated to #1, outdistancing #2 by a huge margin. Nothing in the State of Georgia compares to Lincoln County on Friday night during football season. TRADITION, TRADITION!!! Not to mention Coach Campbell and all of those State Championships!!!
By DLA
October 3, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this
Never any love for BUFORD
By John Colburn
October 3, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
Northcutt Stadium, home to the Marietta Blue Devils, best high school football venue I’ve ever been to.
By John
October 3, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
I don’t even live in Buford, but how can Buford not be listed? FNL has been Buford for a many years.
By John
October 3, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
I don’t even live in Buford, but how can Buford not be listed? FNL has been Buford for many years.
By You Boobie
October 3, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
Guys, this ia a dumb question. I’m a Georgia high school fan but Georgia high school football, from top to bottom, comes no where close to high school football in Texas…never has, never will. Comparing Friday Night Lights to a similar situation in Georgia is like a comparison in watching a significant world event to watching Andy of Mayberry. Dream on boys. Playing high school football in Texas a birth-right….stay on the porch ‘cause you can’t run with the big dogs.
By Sports Reporter
October 3, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
How about Elbert County? The Granite Bowl is truly a unique setting for high school football, and when the team’s good, it’s an awesome place to be. The Hart County-Elbert County game is the best atmosphere I’ve experienced in high school ball, and I’ve covered games all around Georgia and Alabama.
By Granger by Marriage
October 3, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Nothing like Friday Night Lights!! I have always said that Lagrange is probably the best kept secret as far as consistently winning in Georgia that there is. The town of Lagrange would be perfect for that show, because of tradition and the families that have been there since the stone age. I think you could squeeze some drama out of old big blue, not to mention Callaway Stadium, that you have to get to driving through a non-discript neighborhood. Go Grangers!!
By jdh
October 3, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Rats Nest. Brooks County High School. Talent but no brains. We do have Marcus Stroud.
By Lex Luthor
October 3, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
What do we do in Lincoln County when we’re not playing? We pick the remains of our last opponent out of our cleats.
By Kevin T, Valdosta,GA
October 3, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Let me explain several things to some of you folks, Historic Bazemore-Hyder stadium is still there, they simply remodeled it after the state title game of 2003. Same place, same ghost, same tradition that has won us 23 State titles, 6 national titles, and over 830 football games! OH and on a side note back in the day when the man who wrote the original Friday Night Lights first came up with the idea he came to Winnersville(Valdosta) and asked Coach Nick Hyder if he could use Valdosta High as the school for his book, Coach Hyder said no, so old boy looked to Texas. Valdosta, not taking anyhting away from the other schools on the list, is the only choice for number 1!! My only question is how in the world did Lowndes make it in at 5, its only because they are in VALDOSTA!!! GO WILDCATS!
By pantherman
October 3, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
if you seen the movie friday night lights. its all about the small town factory and plant workers. it has to go way south. either valdosta or lowndes. i think parkview has great tradition. i also graduated from parkview. in the deep south these highschool teams sale about 10,000 tickets a game. even on the bad games!!!!
By Check this one out
October 3, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Ever been to Memorial Stadium in Waycross, home of the Ware County Gators? A really strong program with a crazy nice stadium. Big capacity, great field. Jumbotron. Nice.
By Sally Forth
October 3, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
The Swamp at Three-Peat Champions CHARLTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOLKSTON GA
By Kevin T, Valdosta,GA
October 3, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Let me add this to help out “you boobie” that says Georgia football is not close to Texas. Out of the top 50 winningest high school teams in the country Georgia has 5 in the top 50, all of which our on Jeff Haws list, Of course VALDOSTA is # 1 by over 50 games. Mighty Texas only has 4 teams on that list and Permian is not one of them so put that MOJO in your pipe and smoke it!! GO CATS.
By JN
October 3, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
There’s Valdosta and that’s it. No one else should even be on the list. Raise your hand if your stadium holds 20,000 plus. Anyone that is dogging Bazemore-Hyder Stadium has never seen a game there. If you were ever lucky enough to have seen the Wildcats host a playoff or championship game there you’d know what I’m talking about. Valdosta is the closest GA will ever come to competing with Texas Highschool Football.
By mariettaalum
October 3, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Marietta belongs somewhere on the list. Top ten in wins in GHSA history. LOADS of tradition and theres no better atmosphere than Northcutt Stadium…BETWEEN THE ROCKS BABY!!
By yeah right...
October 3, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
Valdosta is certainly a passionate place, but it’s not in the same universe as those Texas programs like Permian.
By mariettaalum
October 3, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Marietta belongs somewhere on this list. Top ten in ghsa all time wins. Theres no better atmosphere than Northcutt Stadium….BETWEEN THE ROCKS BABY!!!
By bone
October 3, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
as a valdosta grad, i can tell you that much of the mystique from the 80’s is gone. i went to a winnersville classic a few years ago and i can tell you that only brave souls would venture there: what a ridiculous gathering of thugs and hoodlums!
By suzangrace
October 3, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
my nephew plays for carrollton and they have a long history of excellent football, and almost every season of playoffs.
as much as i love his games (thurs evenings) i always look forward to ‘friday night lights’. it is an excellent show. maybe it should be moved to thursday at 8pm and get rid of the awful ‘earl’ and ‘the office’. overrated, ridiculous shows. give me ‘friday night lights’ anytime!!!!
By Peggy
October 3, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
I grew up in Odessa, TX and graduated from the original “Friday Night Lights” school, Permian High School. After living here for 13 years, I have yet to find any school that can compare to the Permian mystique. That is why the book was written about them and not Valdosta. MOJO!!!!!
Hey Bill…..I am also from Texas. We were one of your rivals back in the 80’s….Plano Wildcats. Ya’ll got the movie only because you have one more state championship than Plano :) just playing :) I agree though that the atmosphere and Texas football is completely different than the games here.
By Fit To Be Tied
October 3, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this
Lets have a contest for top ten high school football web sites. Most of us won’t visit the stadiums but can go to the web site. Check out http://www.mca.k12.pa.us/sports/football/frameset.html. Team is ranked #5 in wins, played college teams at one time, had only 2 coaches with a losing record (the worst was 4-6). Didn’t go there, they beat my team.
By Cody Davies
October 3, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Henry County High School or any Clayton County School where football is really the only sport!
By Valdosta High c/o 95
October 3, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this
DID SOMEONE FORGET THE 6 NATIONAL RINGS WE GOT DOWN THERE,,,YOU GUYS ARE NEW TO WINNING THE STATE TITLE. THE ONLY SCHOOL TO REPRESENT GA WOULD BE VALDOSTA…MAYBE IF WE HAD 3000 PLUS KIDS TO CHOOSE FROM WE WOULD STILL BE ON TOP… ANYWAY THIS COVERSATION IS OVER…CATS RULE
By C'mon
October 3, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
No REAL coach wants to be bothered with all the “hollywood” associated with that show.
By LKB
October 3, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t matter what the State of GA top 10 might be as you always get dominated by the FL schools.
By Fire T. Moore!
October 3, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this
Very accurate list of the best Ga programs!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Bill
October 3, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Glenn, WRONG. Buzz Bissinger visited Valdosta first, but after going to Odessa, he said that there was no comparison. Permian was the first choice. Write him and ask him. He also did not disclose what the book content would be before he gained access to the team. He did admit that his idea changed as the season went along. Keep dreaming about being equal to Texas high school football.
By Bill
October 3, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
By the way, Permian sells 10,000 SEASON TICKETS!!!
By NC; YOU KNOW =)
October 3, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
NORTH COBB!
By Dalton Dawg
October 3, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
What about the Dalton Catamounts? How do you not include a program who hasn’t had a losing season in 47 years? Doubt the AJC even realizes that…
By MOJO
October 3, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
http://www.mojoland.net/
By Mike
October 3, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
I played high school football in Texas and I have seen high school football here in GA. I’ve seen Parkview, Buford, even Valdosta and there is NO comparison to Texas football. Even if Ga does have 5 schools in the top 20 overall and Texas only has 4, the competion in Texas is so much greater. Dont get me wrong, GA football is a lot of fun to watch and the players are great here, but I am sorry, it is no comparison to Texas. Texas just seems to breathe high school football…..its a VERY serious game there. By the way….there are several schools in Texas that are as elite as Permian…..they really could have picked any school in Texas and the excitement and feel would have been the same. Its just Texas football.
By yo
October 3, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
I suppose Texas football is so passionate that they spend their Friday nights watching Friday Night Lights. Whatever, I’ll be at a S. Ga. football game on Friday night. Did they move it to Friday nights because people in Texas don’t have any thing better to do (like actually be at game) instead of watching one on T.V.? The network wouldnt have moved it to Friday night if they thought the state of Texas wouldn’t be there watching it. Sounds to me like they are trying to get Texas motivated and enthused over high school football instead of already being. Sounds like a Texas please come out and watch us play sales job to me. In Ga. we are already sold!
By yo
October 3, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this
Mike…going to a Valdosta game and living in Valdosta/Lowndes is 2 different things. Same for Warner Robins/Houston Co. Also other cities in Ga. If you want to see people breathe football come on down. But watch out when it comes to football we breathe fire. It might be too hot for you and you’ll find yourself in the cooler atmosphere called Texas. As I stated in an earlier blog, they wouldn’t waste their time putting a Friday Night Lights on in Ga. on a Friday night because no one in Ga. would be watching. You Texas people need to learn to get out of the living room on Friday nights and go watch a football game. It does a body good.
By Chris Brady
October 3, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
Take South Georgia off the list???!! You are nuts! I played high school football down there and we have plenty of talent coming out of much smaller cities/towns. With the exception o flast year in the “big schools” South Georgia i sconstantly in the thick of things and usually taking home several state championships.
By jc53class94
October 3, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
What no Clayton County schools North Clayton on Friday nights at Tara now thats football.
By Joseph
October 4, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this
OK So instead of acctually answering the question, as usual, folks decide to make this an arguement about something different. As a Lowndes Viking I do believe Valdosta is the perfect GEORGIA(read it again)GEORGIA school if Friday Night Lights was set in GEORGIA. You can not deny the history and dominance of the program from whatever state you come from. I have been all over this nation(Texas, Ohio, Cali., Florida, Virginia(football powerhouse states) and any time I mention Valdosta people know the school and compliment the program(then I tell them Im a Viking). Texas has great teams, no arguement but when it comes to the best GEORGIA school Valdosta wins hands down. With all that said I know Texas, Georgia, and many other states have super high school programs that would make great TV but I would still rather watch a real game. Oh and on the by and by, Valdosta has already had a shout out on the big sreen in a subtle way in Remember the Titans. Quote”…Second best team in the country.”(that was to Valdosta that year). Proud of Georgia Football and proud to be a Valdosta native. GO VIKINGS!
By Kevin T, Valdosta,GA
October 4, 2007 3:54 AM | Link to this
THE BOTTOM LINE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS THIS PLAIN AND SIMPLE FACT. THE VALDOSTA WILDCATS HAVE WON MORE FOOTBALL GAMES THAN ANYBODY, MORE THAN ANY TEAM IN TEXAS, MORE THAN ANY TEAM IN FLORIDA, MORE THAN ANY TEAM IN CALIFORNIA, JUST MORE THAN ANYBODY!!!! WE HAVE INVITED TEAMS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COME PLAY US, SOMETIMES THEY WIN BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY LOSE! THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS AS GOOD AS ANY, AND PROBABLY BETTER THAN MOST STATES IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GOOD, AND YOU WANT TO PROVE YOURSELF AS A DOMINANT FOOTBALL TEAM, THERE IS ONLY 1 SCHOOL THAT YOU WILL MEASURE YOURSELF BY! COME ON YOU ALL KNOW WHO IT IS, 833 WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU HAVE THAT MANY, NO! ONLY ONE TEAM DOES, ONLY 180 LOSSES THATS ALL, IS IT YOUR TEAM? NO!!! IT IS THE VALDOSTA WILDCATS!!!!!!!!!! PERMIAN, A JOKE, ODESSA, COME DOWN HERE AND PLAY. WE ARE THE KINGS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GAME!!!!!ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE.
By Roger
October 4, 2007 6:54 AM | Link to this
How about a real high school program not a small college program; that is what valdosta, parkview, lowndes and many of these other schools you have talked about are. If you want a to have a show about real high school football that most people go to see on friday night then you need to include schools like Stephens County, North hall, Hart County, Calhoun and any of the many other small schools who don’t have the million dollar stadiums; tv wants america to believe that if you don’t have a large school with college type facilities that you don’t have the excitement or passion that they show on friday night lights and that just isn’t the case I would much rather go to a game with that small high school setting than one where I feel like I’m at a college game. If tv wants to show real high school football then pick a small rual school.
By To Kevin T, Valdosta,GA
October 4, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
so decades ago Georgia had one good high school team. still valdosta can’t and couldn’t have competed in Texas. heck they haven’t competed in Georgia for years. what have you done lately….nothing. when they finally played a competitive team this year, they were destroyed. i.e. Brookwood. Lowndes will do the same in a few weeks. just keep living in the past and click your heels together three times…you’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy.
By Don Hill
October 4, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
BUFORD, BUFORD, BUFORD.
By Don Hill
October 4, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
Texas football. I have seen it firsthand. It is not a sport there, it is a religion. While I think that the top programs in GA would compete and many times beat the top programs in Texas, the atmosphere in TX is unbelieveable. They have two hour long HS football highight shows. The game I attended was at Cuero, TX. The Cuero Gobblers have a 7000 seat stadium that was completely packed with standing room only. (The town has only 6000 residents). I love GA HS football more than any other, but attend a game in Texas before you say they can’t compare. It is an incredible atmosphere!
By Terry B
October 4, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
What about Stephenson High School who was recently named by the AJC as the number one team in the state. Have you ever visited Stephenson? It’s stuff like this that gives the article writer no credibility.
By Jimbo
October 4, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
I think all you people don’t have much of a life to care about HIGH SCHOOL football so much. But the # 1 school is Who Gives a F#%$ High.
By Caramon
October 4, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
I’m a TEXAN.. who now lives in TUCKER… and it looks familiar…A GOOD SCHOOL, A GOOD COMMUNITY, A GOOD FOOTBALL PROGRAM… GO TUCKER TIGERS (with an AWESOME BAND TOOOO!!!)
By crob
October 4, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
I share Don Hill’s sentiments in reference to the atmosphere of high school football in Texas. I grew up in suburban Dallas and the atmosphere in the city for football was almost as electric as the games in the small towns. Georgia has some great high school football programs but I think the level of competition in Texas is greater.
By CJ
October 4, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
We moved to Texas 5 years ago after 15 years in metro Atlanta (near Parkview). There is NO WAY that Georgias are as nuts about High School football as Texans. Texans lose their collective minds in early September and find them again sometime after New Year’s Day.
By Marvel Goose
October 4, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
Link: [http://www.thedailyegg.net]
It really is historic Cleveland field that is surrounded by the newly remodeled Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Cleveland as in Dr. Cleveland the School Superentendent who loved football and whose ghost resides in the end zone.
Cleveland field is the home of TWO national championship teams — The Valdosta High Wildcats and the Valdosta State University Blazers.
And finally for all you nay-sayers out there — after Bazemore retired it took nine years before the Wildcats took a state championship and then they ripped out a whole new string. We build for the ages down here and we have looong memories.
By Zman
October 4, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
We used to play Permian in high school; it was embarrassing how good they were. Georgia schools might now compete with them but back in the day they were unrivaled. Trust me, they were that good.
By Lincoln County, Class of 86
October 4, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Thanks for recognizing the Red Devils of Lincoln County. There is no place like a Football Friday Night in Lincolnton. We also travel with alot fan support, Many times we have more fans than the home crowd.What do we do after Football season? Work, eat, and sleep.
By RamblinLonghorn
October 4, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
Valdosta: Big Fish, small pond
By The Real Friday Night Lights
October 4, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
I have lived in Georgia for a number of years and a Brookwood football fan and previously lived in Texas. One reason Texas high school football is king, in addition to the overall quality, is the quantity. Every crossroad that has a bus stop likely has a high school and a football team. There are over 275 teams that make the playoffs in Texas; let me repeat that, there are over 275 teams that MAKE the playoffs in Texas. GA puts what…160. Makes it a little harder to repeat as champions. Also the classifications are different between the states in that (ie) a AAA school in GA could have 800 students where in Texas a AAA school is more in the 300-400 range. Small schools that can’t field an 11 player team, plays 6 man football. You can blast Texas about some things but don’t mess with Texas when it comes to high school football; there is no comparison.
By To Yo
October 4, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
FYI. There will be more Texans in high school stadiums on Friday nights than there are total folks in Georgia. And no they don’t have to stay home and watch Friday Night Lights. Texans are smart enough to go on the NBC internet site and watch the episode the following day. See they get the best of both worlds. You do know what the internet is don’t you? Don’t mess with Texas!
By Kid Icarus
October 4, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
To me, supporting a winning football team is not synonymous with passion. It’s easy to love a winner.
Real fandom is when your school produces a loser year after year and still draws the whole town to the home games and outdraws the home squad at away games.
Passion is having a 40+ man roster on a AA team despite not having a winning record in 12 years and having exactly one state appearance in your 53 years of existence.
You can argue your Permians and Valdostas all day long.
I’ll raise you a Brantley, a Bacon, a Lee County, and a Hancock Central. It takes passion to lose like that for so long and come back for more.
By Hey Jeff
October 4, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Hey Jeffery, those ‘lizards’ are called horned toads. And the Dillion team is actually filmed outside of Austin in a town called Pflugerville, Texas…which is no where near Odessa, Texas. And lastly; Don’t Mess With Texas.
By 28 Sweep Pass
October 4, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
I’d knock Carrollton off the list (their fans sit on their hands most of the game) and I’d replace them with Commerce. Their place has a true small-town feel since it is a small town.
By Bill
October 4, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
There will be a new character this year. She will be played by a real life 2001 Permian graduate, Kim Smith. the character will be Lauren Davis, a new girl in school.
WWW.kimsmith.com
By EPDAD
October 4, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
EAST PAULDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!Come on out to the BONEYARD!!!!!
By Peggy
October 4, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
What you GA fans don’t understand is in Texas it is nothing for a stadium to fill 10-15,000 seats. Tickets go on sale and SELL OUT on Monday! Playoffs and Championship games are played at NFL stadiums and sell out. Ribbons are all over town, store owners really do polish their windows with spirit displays. It’s not just small towns that shut down to catch a game on Friday night. I go to games here and it’s not the same experience. Another poster had it right, it’s a religion there. Until you’ve experienced both you can’t really say it’s better here…it’s not.
By WINNERSVILLE
October 4, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
i think we would be better off as a nation if we just gave Texas back to Mexico, hell thats all thats out there anyway!
By DemonFan
October 4, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this
I can’t argue if or not Texas has better high school football than GA as I’ve only been to TX once, and it sure wasn’t to see a football game. However, based on my experience I’d have to say Valdosta is as good as it gets from a tradition perspective. My oldest brother played on the 1981 WRHS National Championship, and I recall a few teams being tough as nails back then; Valdosta, Coffee County, Clark Central, WRHS (4 state and 2 national titles), Lowndes, and Tift County.
I was only six years old, but I remember getting out of school early. We made that long trip down I-75 to Valdosta or on some state highway to Tifton or Athens. My mother made hot chocolate and it was THE only time we had McDonald’s. Just thinking about it makes me smile. That is tradition. I’m sure others have similar experiences.
Lots of schools around the state are building winning traditions, but none match Valdosta High School. Tradition takes time…
By To WINNERSVILLE
October 4, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Winnersville, Unknown US and Texas history item. In 1845 the Republic of Texas’ government voted to allow the United States to join them. Plus if you guys would have asked nicely, a couple of Texans would have come over in the 1860’s and won that war for you. Don’t Mess With Texas dude.
By Oh Winnersville Ding-Dong
October 4, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
RE: ‘I think we would be better off as a nation if we just gave Texas back to Mexico, hell thats all thats out there anyway!’
Apparently you haven’t looked around south Georgia lately. Who do you think are processing your chickens down there? Plus if your statement was true, shouldn’t Texas have better soccer teams? Also ‘gave back’?? Texas was not given to the US. Didn’t you pay attention in school…Texas won their war. As other Texans have stated: Don’t Mess With Texas. oh yeah, Texas high school football is second to NONE.
By yo
October 4, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
The say everything is bigger in Texas. Obviously they were referring to the big mouths, the only thing bigger than the oversized heads. Funny, I travel to Texas regularly and when I do they are always saying “you are from Valdosta”? “Isn’t that where they have that great football team?” 6 man football? Well I guess everything is bigger in Texas in your minds. 6 man football? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Whats the matter? You cant get enough boys to come and make a team? ha! ha! Ha! Ha! ha! Come talk about how good your football is when you catch up to the rest of the country. 6 MAN FOOTBALL? Whats the matter you cant come up with enough women to finish out a team or something? 6 man football? Ha! ha! ha! Ha! Ha! Oh I see…your football team is watching Friday Night Lights on Friday nights. 6 man football? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! ha! Does the qback throw it to himself? 6 man football? ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! Let me understand this now, is that like 3 for offense and 3 for defense? Does one person coach both teams too? Does a 1/2 a team mean a 1/2 a football field? Do you use flags or can you actually tackle? Do you allow touching above the waste? Maybe Texas should just stick to basketball. You only need 5 people for that. 6 Man Football? ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..ha.. ha..ha.
By Yo-Yo
October 5, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this
Question: “Isn’t that where they have that great football team?”
Answer: “Yes, we had a really strong 1-9 season last year, as in ONE win and NINE losses.”
Opinion: “Maybe the Valdosta 11-man team should have played some of the rural west Texas 6-man teams”.
Theory: “Maybe we can go north and play Brookwood. OK let’s vote on it….election results 37 no and 6 yes.
Overall Response: “Ha,Ha, Ha, Ha”
By To Inform Yo
October 5, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this
Texas Six-Man Football Rules are the same as NCAA Football Rules Except for the following variations.
(selected rules so your not confused)
(1-1 & 2) 1. Each team has six players. Unless necessary to use the eleven-man field, the six-man field is 80 yards by 40 yards, with the 40 yard line being the center of the field. The two inbound lines (hash marks) are 40 feet from the sidelines. There will also be marks that are measured 13 feet from the sidelines. Goal posts are 25 feet apart and the crossbar is 9 feet above the ground.
(6-1) 7. The ball must travel 15 yards on a kickoff (or place kick/punt after a safety) or be touched by the receiving team before members of the kicking team are eligible to touch it.
(7-1-3) 11. At least 3 players shall be on their line of scrimmage at the snap.
(7-1-6) 12. The ball may be handed in any direction to any player during a scrimmage down behind the neutral zone. A linesman may receive a forward hand-off at any time and is not required to be 2 yards behind his line of scrimmage and does not have to face his goal prior to receiving the hand-off.
(7-3) 13. The ball is dead when a passer, catches his own pass (untouched by B), and it is ruled as an incomplete forward pass.
(7-3) 14. All players are eligible to catch a forward pass, except that a pass is ruled incomplete when caught by the passer (see preceding rule). If a forward pass is thrown to the snapper, it must travel at least one yard in flight.
(8-1) 15. Field goals counts 4 points; successful try, 2 points if successful through place or drop kick and 1 point if successful by pass or run. The defense may not score on a try.
By Bill
October 5, 2007 7:35 AM | Link to this
Texas became a state by treaty with the USA and is the only state that is allowed to fly their flag at equal height to the US flag. It is also allowed to split into 5 different states by vote of its citizens. If it were allowed by it’s citizens, it could become an independent country and would not be dependent on Middle East oil.
By george gipp
October 5, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
Buford doesn’t count. They reside in a 5A county and play a 2A schedule.
By GAMOJO
October 5, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this
6 man football was created because those kids that live on 50,000 acre ranches don’t have many close neighbors, so the schools are pretty small. I guess if we only had 1,000 acre family farms, then the population would be more condensed.
By CHS
October 5, 2007 7:55 AM | Link to this
Cherokee High came to Starr’s Mill in the dome and beat em up. So CHS would be better on the list than Starr’s mill
By nice
October 5, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
Don’t mess with Texas.
By Hal Welch
October 5, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
UPDATE FROM VALDOSTA: The ORIGINAL setting was to be in Valdosta, However, when the producers came to Valdosta to interview the former Wildcat Coach, he declined to give them some of the information they wanted. He thought they were getting “too personal”. So they left Valdosta and went to their SECOND CHOICE… texas! You can take a quick search of the Valdosta Daily Times website to find the archived article telling the whole story… but to sum it up: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS STARTED IN VALDOSTA! GO CATS!!!
By tim dawg
October 5, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
SWD made metro Atlanta football something to talk about period. And they’re not even mentiond (This is a joke)
By Grayson Fan
October 5, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
What about South/Grayson, this is the biggest game of the year….
By vw
October 5, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Can’t believe you missed North Gwinnett…they are the only ones that made National appearence this year.
By Scot
October 5, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
I played high school here before transferring to a high school in TX. This is a non-starter because frankly, there is no comparison. Texas high school football is beyond words. We made it to the Texas 5A quarter-finals where we traveled to play Odessa Permian. We lost and Permian went on to win another state title. Even though we lost I will treasure that experience the rest of my days. There’s no lack of passion here. SEC football is much more passionate than college football is in Texas, again there’s no comparison. But high school football is a bigger deal in Texas. Look at the high school stadiums, the 5A stadiums are bigger than small college stadiums (our was bigger than SMU and TCU’s). Everyone has their strengths, college is bigger here but Texas is much bigger in the high school category. (Obviously, pro football is bigger there too).
By tbird
October 5, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Marietta- you say that cause your family in the admin there. Marietta is ok, but not all that.
By come & see
October 5, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
GO VALDOSTA WILDCATS, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST.
By To Hal Welch
October 5, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
You have no idea what you are talking about.
By i know football
October 5, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
first of all, i would like to say that SEQUOYAH is the best. cherokee is nothing but a bunch of rednecks who only think they knew football.. their only chance of winning state was 6 years ago with jayson foster. needless to say.. no foster=no good.
By i agree
October 5, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
SEQUOYAH .. enough said. cherokee is garbage. no foster=no chance. enough said.
By Jeff Haws
October 5, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
I’ve been out of town for a couple of days, so I couldn’t respond. So if anyone is still reading this, I’ll respond quickly to a couple of comments …
First, I simply couldn’t include any DeKalb County schools because they don’t have their own stadium. I think the home stadium is such a big part of the show, with the atmosphere and all that for games, that I couldn’t do it with community stadiums. Tucker and Stephenson have excellent programs, but they don’t fit the bill here.
Secondly, Dalton was mentioned. Pretty good choice. I could have seen that being on the list.
And I did think about Sequoyah and Cherokee. My thinking was that I would probably have put Sequoyah ahead of Cherokee but not quite in the top 10.
By Turbo-Charged Football
October 5, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
A lot of the small schools here in GA have consolidated unlike in Texas. Football there is such a way of life that schools will field whatever type team they can. 6-man football in Texas is turbo-charged football. It’s like football on a caffine high. It is actually a lot more entertaining than 11-man. Size doesn’t matter because there aren’t enough kids in the small rural schools to choose from. You’ll have anything from a 105 pound lineman to a back with sprinter speed. The schools are really small so if they have a couple of dozen boys they’ll have a team. If you ever get a chance to witness a game, you will love it. It’s a speed game. Speed, speed, speed and more speed. A team gets a good quarterback and receiver and will run you in the ground. Typical scores are more like basketball scores. The bands are even better. It’s not unusal for a band to only have a dozen kids and that includes middle school students. They march and play at half-time just like the large schools. Great atmosphere. No where but Texas. And Don’t Mess With Texas.
By OldBuford
October 5, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
How can you have any list without having BUFORD on it. 4 State Titles, $1Million + Stadium, Crazed Fans, and the support of the ENTIRE CITY! Who in HECK put DUBLIN on this list….come on…..When you think of FOOTBALL POWERHOUSES….you don’t think DUBLIN…..BUFORD ALL THE WAY….KICKIN TAIL IS OUR BUSINESS….BUSINESS IS GOOD!
By SouthGaRules
October 5, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
TO YO-YO
DONT EVEN BRING UP BROOKWOOD IN THE SAME CONVERSATION AS VALDOSTA. YES THEY BEAT VALDOSTA 37-6, HOWEVER WHEN BRROKWOOD WINS MORE THAN 1 STATE TITLE, JUST BACK AWAY. BROOKWOOD IS NOT EVEN THE MOST LEGENDARY PROGRAM IN GWINNETT COUNTY (EVEN THOUGH THEIR FANS LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE SO) THEY LIST SUCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS BEING A REGION FINALIST. VALDOSTA ONLY KEEPS TRACK OF NATIONAL & STATE TITLES (6 & 23) BROOKWOOD HAS 1 STATE & NO NATIONAL TITLES.
By yo
October 5, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
To “By Yo-Yo”…so I’m not the one saying “that great team in Valdosta” but your brethren in Texas. Says a lot about the state of Texas football when your brethren are calling last years 1-9 team great..huh? Also even(the so called) America’s team (remember them?) has a down year or I should say years. Even with 5 more 1-9 years Valdosta would be light years ahead of Permian. Valdosta didn’t need a TV show about them for every body to know their name. Valdosta’s tradition alone exceeds the whole state of Texas. They don’t need the rest of Ga. when it comes to that. Do you guys enlist the help of cows in that 6 Man Footbal? Ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.ha! Or are they just the spectators? Texas..6 man football and high school tv football on Friday nights no less. ha.ha.ha.ha.ha! I’ll be glad when Texas does join the union “regarding football” and catches up with the rest of the country. That 6 Man Footbal type of thinking is probably why you guys lost the Alamo.
By Georgian in TX
October 5, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
I’m originally from GA but have lived in TX for the last three years. I’ve watched football in both states and the football in Texas is NOT better than Georgia. Most Texans have an over inflated view of themselves, the state, and TX high school football.
By Yo Yo
October 5, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Yo Yo, I played 6 man football in Texas about 20 years ago. We had a total of 93 students in 9-12 grades in my high school when I was a senior. You mentioned cows. Yes we had cows behind the field and a feedlot nearby also and a grain mill. We were a rural ranching/farming community of about 900 people-reason for playing 6 man. And the cows; one was yo mama!
By WAR EAGLE
October 9, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
How about MARIST? We are small, but man do we pack a punch of School Pride. 26 straight plyoff appeareances. If you visit the hallowed Hugh Spalding Stadium on Friday night, you will see a slice of heaven. It isn’t the biggest stadium, nor the nicest, but the one with the most history, class, tradition, and love. Yes, filled with love. From the 2 year-olds toting marist jerseys to the seniors dressed up in their weekly theme to the ‘52 graduates coming back to see the war eagles continue to kick a*. If you arrive to Marist at 5 PM on friday, the Booster Club parking on the field and parking lot is jammed packed. By 6 people are walking from the far end of the practice field as rows and rows of cars fill the field. At 7, you are shuttling down from Lowes, or walking a mile from McDonalds parking lot to be on time to the game.
Spirit is affulent. From the cheerleaders to the parents and their shakers, they will always be on their feet. the students will scream out their lungs, and do not need trash cans to make noise (unlike pius). The band is not large but one of the states finest, plus with the bands in our region entering the stadium we are definately able to get our groove on. Thus, Marist is the most underrated football community in the state, the solidarity and love that bond the war eagle community together is life-long.
WDE
By B-man
October 10, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
I’m a native of Metro Atlanta (Smyrna) and I lived in Valdosta for a little over a year. Football IS life down in South GA. Every Friday nigh from late August to November, the whole town is either at Bazemore-Hyder cheering on the Wildcats or at Martin Stadium cheering on the Vikings. I cannot think of two other school (and definitely not any in the Metro Atlanta area) that literally sell out a stadium like those two schools do. No wonder they call it “Winnersville!”
By B-man
October 10, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
I’m a native of Metro Atlanta (Smyrna) and I lived in Valdosta for a little over a year. Football IS life down in South GA. Every Friday nigh from late August to November, the whole town is either at Bazemore-Hyder cheering on the Wildcats or at Martin Stadium cheering on the Vikings. I cannot think of two other schools(and definitely not any in the Metro Atlanta area) that literally sell out a stadium like those two schools do. No wonder they call it “Winnersville!”
By Dillon H.
October 14, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
as for the Texans commenting on our (Valdosta’s) 1-9 record last year: we still have our pride. we know we can’t go 14-0 every year. and when we don’t go undefeated, we don’t put “for sale” signs in our front yards and shun our team for the rest of the season. Georgia high school football rules!
Also, as for those of you who say that north Georgia football is better than south Georgia football… how many state/national titles do you have? yes, that’s what i thought. and Brookwood especially: you have but 1 state title. i won’t deny that you beat Valdosta this year, 37-6. I was at the game. but when you catch up to us in state titles, let me know.