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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Roswell faces season of rebuilding under new coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
Mon: Roswell • Tues: Norcross • Weds: Walton • Thurs: Harrison
• Fri: Camden Co. • Sat: Newnan • Sun: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Roswell in ‘08? Still an elite program or in a rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Roswell: Replace, rebuild, rebound while retaining respect
Roswell’s football team will take the field for spring workouts next month without 31 players who graduated. That should be challenge enough. But it also appears the program will begin those workouts without a head coach.
Tim McFarlin unexpectedly resigned two weeks ago, and although receivers coach John Coen has been put in charge of football operations, he, athletics director Mike Power and principal Ed Spurka continued interviewing for McFarlin’s replacement last week.
“The program’s going to continue being in great shape,” McFarlin said. “It was in great shape when I inherited it [10 years ago], and it will be next fall.”
The Hornets will be playing for a ninth consecutive winning season, a sixth straight playoff appearance, a chance to match their region titles of 2000 and ‘05 and a 2006 Class AAAAA state co-championship with Peachtree Ridge.
Every coach since the program began in the GHSA in the 1950s has been promoted from within, and Spurka said a new head coach likely will come from Roswell’s current staff. With offensive coordinator Gary Varner having accepted a head coaching job at Allatoona, a new school in Cobb County, defensive coordinator Leo Barker is believed to be the Hornets’ frontrunner.
“Leo’s the main reason we won that state championship,” McFarlin said. “He’d do a great job [as head coach].”
The new coach will be challenged to replace key players, including three-year quarterback Dustin Taliaferro, who signed with Samford, and running back Alex Daniel, who signed with Northwestern. Also gone are kicker Jim Broadway, who is playing at Miami of Ohio; defensive end Curtis Hazelton, who is at Duke; and linebacker Ebele Okakpu, who is at North Carolina.
Roswell Hornets
Region 6-AAAAA • Photos
Spring practice dates: May 6-20.
Last season’s record: 10-3, lost in state quarterfinals to Lowndes County, 31-20.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Despite the abrupt resignation of McFarlin and the graduation of 31 players, the Hornets are seeking to continue continuity from the last two seasons, when they shared a Class AAAAA championship with Peachtree Ridge and reached the quarterfinals against Lowndes.
Key starters lost: OL - Travis Dupart, 6-2, 250, (Valdosta State); K - Broadway, 6-0, 170, (Miami of Ohio); RB - Daniel, 5-11, 200, (Northwestern); WR - Garrett Embry, 6-3, 210, (Oregon); DE - Hazelton, 6-2, 255, (Duke); FS - LaVelle Larry, 6-0, 205, (); LB - Okakpu, 6-2, 210, (North Carolina); QB - Taliaferro 6-3, 205, (Samford)
Key players returning: OT - Cade Yates, Sr., (6-1, 275); FB - Emmerson Plantico, Sr., (5-11, 230); WR - Donnovan Bennett, Sr., (5-11, 165), WR - Tailor Jones, Jr. (6-0, 170); WR/S - Keegan Hughes, Jr., (6-0, 175); DE - Foo Dorsett, Jr., (6-0, 245); NG - Brayden Knudson, Jr. (5-10, 250), CB - Tyler Watson, So. (6-0, 170)
2008 strengths: Speed should again be plentiful, particularly offensively, with Plantico in the offensive backfield and Jones, Bennett and Hughes as wideouts. Like last season, when the Hornets allowed only 11 points a game, defensive speed should be key as well.
2008 weaknesses: Interim head coach Coen will have to find replacements for offensive linemen Travis Dupart, Brandon Reynolds, Tyler Lippincott and Matt Cobb, as well as a linebacking group depleted by the loss of Okakpu, Zach Waddell and Kyle Gruskowski. A huge vacancy remains at quarterback.
This season’s projection: Promoting its new head coach from within, as it has for roughly 50 years, might go far toward extending the Hornets’ run of eight playoff appearances and two region championships in McFarlin’s 10 seasons. The cupboard is not bare. There is considerable talent coming up from last season’s dominant junior varsity and freshmen programs.
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Roswell in ‘08? Still an elite program or in a rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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By Shamrock Slinger
April 14, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a lot of buzzing out of the Hornet’s Nest this season…..
By T.J.
April 14, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
This is good article. Would like this to continue through to include all the teams that made it into the playoffs this year. Grayson will be one of the teams looked at? They look to be in a rebuilding year as well. Brookwood too. Surprise team from Gwinnett will be Parkview.
By STEVE EDENFIELD
April 14, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
I UNDERSTAND ROSWELL TRAVELS SOUTH THIS SEASON FOR A GAME WITH TIFT COUNTY - NOT A GOOD TRIP FOR A TEAM REBUILDING , I DONT THINK THEY HAVE FORGOTTON THE DOME GAME A COUPLE SEASONS BACK
By Cathy
April 14, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
High school football talk in the spring? That’s just sad….
By Football Fan
April 14, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Roswell has a very good group of young players coming up in the program. I think they will struggle against Tift County, but I think the key to Roswell’s success is going to be the way their ability to overcome these challenges. The region has many new head coaches and things are going to be different this year. In my opinion Roswell is still talented enough to make the playoffs, but they need to get a high seed so they do not get eliminated early in the playoffs.
By BullDawg Rick
April 14, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
High School Football Talk in the Spring??
That’s Awesome, Baby!!
(Cathy, fix me a sandwich & bring me a Coke & rub my feet!)
By Andre
April 14, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
What? Yall are doing Camden County before a city school? Washington is only 5 paces away from AJC and Douglass is only 15 more paces. C’mon guys get it together.
By Vince
April 15, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Guys, Lowndes is still the team to beat. GHSA give us a matchup for the ages, Lowndes vs Buford.
By Granite Forever
April 15, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
Roswell hasn’t fully recovered from being whupped by Stone Mountain back in 1971. Roswell was the defending state champ, but couldn’t withstand the onslaught from the mighty Pirates!
By Hornet Nation
April 15, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Granite Forever what are you smoking? In the last two years alone Roswell has a 2006 State Championship and a Elite 8 in 2007. So they have not fully recovered? Give us a break and come back from your 1971 dreams.
By haha
April 15, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
roswell good job the last couple of season yall have earned ur respect every team eventuall faces a rebuilding season…but yall do need to figure out who ur coach is coach coens fatt asss cant get the job done
By haha
April 15, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
roswell good job the last couple of season yall have earned ur respect every team eventuall faces a rebuilding season…but yall do need to figure out who ur coach is coach coens fatt asss cant get the job done
By roswellfan
April 16, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
Who will Roswell hire for their head coach?
By StallionDevil
April 20, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Also remember that Tift is renovating their stadium to the tune of $4million. Brodie Field will be rocking that night. Expect 12,000 people with most rooting against Roswell.
By coldhardtruth
April 21, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
To Granite Forever: Roswell “recovered” nicely from the 1971 loss to Stone Mountain that very SAME YEAR!!!…Roswell went on to beat Lithonia and Jefferson in the Region and State Playoffs before losing to eventual State Champion Carrollton in the Semi-Finals…nice to know that beating the Hornets was a highlite of your Highschool career!!
By coldhardtruth
April 21, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Roswell just announced that Defensive Co-ordinator Leo Barker was named the Head Football Coach by Dr. Spurka, Principal. Coach Barker becomes only the 6th Head Football Coach at Roswell High since 1954. Coach Barker played at New Mexico State and with the Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl teams in the 1980’s. He was hired by Coach McFarlin from Walton High School 2 years ago where he was the Defensive Backs coach. Look for the Hornets to play “hard and fast”
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By BlueDevil4ever
May 17, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I hate to say it. Roswell 28 Tift 17 in the renovated Devil’s Den. What the South is known for(defense), Tift will lack this year due to graduation.
By Buzz in Roswell
May 18, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
The region is not incredibly difficult next year. Chattahoochee and Sprayberry (who made the playoffs) leave to other regions/classes. Walton and Centennial are likely to be as good or better than last year. Milton will probably sneak in at the fourth playoff spot. The rest of the region is average at best: Pope, Lassiter, Kell, Alpharetta. The wild card will be Campbell. I am confident Roswell will make the playoffs again, and if we can get into the top two then a third straight trip to the elite eight is not out of the question.