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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Valdosta, still rebuilding, has plenty of holes to fill
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
4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P’tree Ridge
4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette Co. • 4/27: Brookwood
Photos: A look at Valdosta
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Valdosta in ‘08? Can the ‘Cats return to form? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Valdosta left with many holes to fill
The building process continues in Valdosta.
Graduation was not kind to the Wildcats, who must replace eight starters on defense and its three best skill-position players - running backs David Arnold and Marcus McNair and quarterback Michael Turner.
Ever-optimistic coach Rick Tomberlin insists he has talent to fill the holes.
Tomberlin points to the fact that the Wildcats’ junior varsity, ninth- and eighth-grade teams excelled last year and that his third year of heavy emphasis in the weight room will reap huge benefits this fall.
Leading the way will be two of the state’s top college prospects - linebacker Michael Gilliard and offensive tackle Tony Foster. Gilliard is considering offers from Georgia, Florida State and Florida, and Foster should play at an ACC or SEC program.
Valdosta Wildcats
Region 1-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 5-16
Last year’s record: 9-3, lost in the second round of the state playoffs to M.L. King, 21-18.
Reclassification challenge: As if the region needed another powerhouse, two-time Class AAAA state champion Northside-Warner Robins was forced to move up and was placed in 1-AAAAA.
Working on: The Wildcats made great strides last year by winning nine games and being a play away from reaching the state quarterfinals after winning only one game the season before. Merely surviving Region 1-AAAAA and making a deeper run in state would be considered a success.
Key starters lost: QB Turner (Hutchinson Junior College), RB Arnold (Georgia Southern), RB McNair (Valdosta State), LB Curtis Weatherspoon (Valdosta State).
Key starters returning: LB - Michael Gilliard, Sr., (6-2, 205); LB - Ahmad Williams, Sr., (6-2, 205); DT - Damien Doe, Sr., (5-11, 260); OT - Tony Foster, Sr., (6-4, 290).
2008 strengths: Quickness. The defense lacks experience, but this group will be active. Tomberlin also is convinced his offensive line will be his best. A talented group of wide receivers will be paced by 6-foot-5 sophomore Jay Rome, son of legendary Wildcats QB Stan Rome.
2008 weaknesses: Quarterback. Tomberlin feels the skill and smarts are there - it is just a matter of who will take the helm. Inexperienced seniors Kyle Rowe and Tavoris Belcher and junior Chad Prain lead the pack. The running back situation is in a similar situation.
This season’s projection: Winning a 24th state championship is the ultimate goal. But even getting out of Region 1-AAAAA will be a challenge.
Photos: A look at Valdosta
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Valdosta in ‘08? Can the ‘Cats return to form? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Last Week’s Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison
• 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
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Comments
By Buck
April 22, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Cats are going all the way this YEAR!
By Buck
April 22, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Cats are going all the way this YEAR!
By Smart Scheduling Move
April 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
NOT KEEPING BROOKWOOD ON THE SCHEDULE SHOULD HELP VALDOSTA’S WON/LOSS RECORD. BY THE WAY, OF LAST YEARS 3 LOSSES, 2 WERE BY NORTH GEORGIA TEAMS….WITH ONE A SOLID THUMPING.
By Buck
April 22, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Valdosta plays one of the hardest schedules in by far the toughest region. Including Lincoln (Tallahassee), a 6-A item in Florida. How many state championships and national titles does Brookwood have again compared to VHS?
By Buck
April 22, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Brookwood would get raped this year by VHS. Good move Brookwood
By Jeff
April 22, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Stop living in the past Valdosta fans. We can’t change the past. Brookwood stomped Valdosta last year-really embarasssed them. Good luck Valdosta, hopefully you can hang with the N GA boys soon!
By Shea
April 22, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
In order for Valdosta to be successful, they have to buy into what Rick Tomberlin is doing down their, because Lowndes is the power in Valdosta now, and if Valdosta ever wants to see another State Championship they have too be patient with Tomberlin.
By ttown one
April 22, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Smart Scheduling Move: there is a reason why the state champ teams come from the cupcakes up north—they play French patsies all season long. Come down south, play our region week-in, week-out and we’ll see how you can measure up. It’s a completely different football played down south. You can’t measure up to that. Face the facts and stop hiding from them.
By Buck
April 22, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Lowndes won last year. If I recall, they are from S GA
By Shamrock Slinger
April 22, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
The ‘Cats play a weak non-region slate this year. It is a smart move by Tomberlin to gets some early wins and build confidence prior to the brutal 1-AAAAA schedule. I expect Valdosta to be a notch below Lowndes and a notch above WR, HoCO, Colquitt, Coffee and Tift. The Northside game should decide the 2 slot for the region.
By jdawgs
April 22, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
I guess when your coach is the system wide AD with truck and big supplement…I guess you can rebuild your team….priority in Valdosta is a little different than the schools in this area. Don’t even know if he even teaches a class…
By 1eyedJack
April 22, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Don’t know how it is now but back in the late 70’s when I was playing high school football I remember going to play Valdosta and they ran so many players onto the field that some of the numbers were duplicates and some of their players had on jerseys without any numbers. They must have dressed out 150 guys and every series of downs they brought in a fresh team. We might have had 30 players total. They killed us.
By TRUTH
April 22, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Their career in the south is playing HS football. After that it’s back on the farm or the neighborhood McDonalds. It doesn’t matter whether they are 18 or 19 year old seniors. How many guys even see a college campus after being all world at the local high school. Not many!
By jc
April 22, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Woodstock and former VHS coach Mike O’Brien will rule this year…..
By Ebony
April 22, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Wilcats will go all the way this year!
By Ebony
April 22, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Wilcats will go all the way this year!
By Ebony
April 22, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Wilcats will go all the way this year!
By Greg
April 22, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Rob Morton
If memory serves, I think the legendary Stan Rome was a wide-out and not a QB. He was a pretty good round-baller, too.
By B. Scott
April 22, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Uh, Stan Rome was a WR not a QB.
By Jess
April 22, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
your correct, Stan Rome was the wide-out and i think Stanley Bounds was the QB?
By Not About VHS; Who Cares
April 23, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
AJC removed the blog about which state plays the best high school football. But for the record, the USA Today had articles on 4/22/08 about the states and colleges that supply the most NFL players. NO WHERE was Georgia mentioned.
By Curtis
April 23, 2008 2:25 AM | Link to this
Who are the top running backs and quarterbacks in Cobb County for the coming season?
By Donald
April 23, 2008 4:33 AM | Link to this
This is for By Not About VHS;Who Cares. What list were you looking at?I read that same article and Georgia is fourth on that list. When talking about high schools, only California, Florida, and Texas put more players in the NFL than us. If you want to state numbers, you had better make sure they are accurate.
By gman
April 23, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Valdosta’s glory days are behind them. They are clinging to the memories of the great teams of the past. It’s worth mentioning that they aren’t even the best team in Valdosta anymore. Lowdnes wipes the floor with them. Lowdnes has has won 4, repeat 4 state championships in the last 9 years. Kinda sounds like the glory days of Valdosta doesn’t it. A demographic shift to the rural areas of Lowdnes has killed the Wildcats.
By Call it Like it is
April 23, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
The reason that Valdosta is not what they used to be are due to several facts:
No new development in the city - all new development is in the county which forces most to attend Lowndes.
The Great Old coaching staff that was at Valdosta is now gone.
However, this by far is the toughest region to play in within the state.
Lowndes now = the New Valdosta!!
By ttroope
April 23, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Wow, Valdosta’s, Lowndes, and Warner Robbins out of region schedule is way tougher than any Gwinnett teams. I give credit to Buford for looking to play better teams outside of North Ga. I would love to see Brookwood and Parkview play Buford. At least we would know who’s the best team in North Ga. But Gwinnett teams will always have the overhyped Korky Bell Classic. GO Cats!! Class of 91’.
By gman
April 23, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Lowdnes High gets the better lineman, and Quarterbacks. Lowdnes county Georgia produces by far the best football players in the state and maybe the nation. No matter how much money, past titles, and tradition Valdosta high has it is on a long slide to mediocrity. You can only live on the achievements of prior coaches and teams for so long. As I said Lowdnes High has the best team in Lowdnes County and Valdosta, Ga. Watch for a few more titles in the near future. Go VIKINGS!!!
By ttroope
April 23, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
We all know why they moved the championship game to the dome, it was because all the big money Cobb, Gwinnett teams were complaining about how it was an unfair advantage to the south teams. Yet when the semifinal games were in the dome the smaller South teams sold more tickets than the teams in metro Atlanta.
By To ttroope
April 23, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
any playoff game on a team’s home field is an advantage to the home team. Check on how many games the state champions played away from home last year.
By Terrance Troope
April 23, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
The main reason Lowndes is better than Valdosta is that Lowndes County shuffled the district where most of Valdosta students used to go. It took a huge chunk of Valdosta players. Don’t get me wrong I bleed black and gold, but i’m very proud that Lowndes, Camden, and Colquitt are representing South Ga.
By John
April 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Stop all the this talking about that he say she say mess. You know who the best the Valdosta Wildcats is going all the way
By John
April 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Stop all the this talking about that he say she say mess. You know who the best the Valdosta Wildcats is going all the way
By John
April 24, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Stop all the this talking about that he say she say mess. You know who the best the Valdosta Wildcats is going all the way
By John
April 24, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Stop all the this talking about that he say she say mess. You know who the best the Valdosta Wildcats is going all the way
By slalom1
April 24, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
To: All “wildcat fans”, Give Tomberlin time, and you will once again see Valdosta rise from the ashes. And…whip Lowndes on a routine basis.
By yo
April 25, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
Slalom we need to qualify what a routine basis is. I don’t consider 1 or 2 times every 10 years a routine basis.
By gman
April 26, 2008 7:19 AM | Link to this
Valdosta will never rise again, Tomberlin won’t be given the time. They have lost too much talent to Lowndes. All the Alumni(the ones will the state titles), like Buck Belue, John Lastinger, John Bond, Rome, Bounds, Stewart,etc, will not tolerate continued mediocrity at Valdosta. 3 of the last 4 state titles are in the trophy case at Lowdnes, more will be added. You can’t rest on your past achievements. So Valdosta will maybe be 8-2 yearly, maybe, with a loss to Lowdnes 8 out of every 10 years, or they may slip to 4-6 and be happy with that.
By slalom1
April 27, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
To “YO”, “Routine basis”….hmmmm….I believe my point was the idea of parity.(although not stated well). I do believe that Valdosta, with Tomberlin, if given time, can at least give Lowndes THE fight of the year. The “Winnersville Classic” would matter somewhat more than it has in recent years.(aside from the pride factor.) In fact, I believe that in 2007, it was an 8-0 win for Lowndes. Not a bad game. As for me, I do not have a favorite in “Winnersville”. Just enjoy the fact that year in and year out, the best high school football in the nation is played there. IN GEORGIA. That gives me pride.
By bone
April 28, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
i graduated during the late 80’s super teams. i have to agree with the posters regarding the talent moving to the county: valdosta is very much an inner-city school now with little to attract families. i am happy rick is there and i do hope valdosta will be competitive and, maybe, go deep in the playoffs for years to come. glory days, though, are past. my brother is a viking and reminds me constantly that the talent pool is much deeper in his part of the county - curious to see how the new high school affects lowndes’ numbers.
By swamprat
April 29, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this
There are 2 reasons why Lowndes has beaten Valdosta consistently over the last 5 years. 1. Lowndes has over twice as many players to choose from (Lowndes - over 4000 students; Valdosta - just over 1800 students. That makes a big difference. 2. Valdosta has had 3 different head coaches in the past 5 years and every time a new coach came in, there was a complete system to learn. Tomberlin came to Valdosta last year and to start with had several players to come down down with the flu over the course of playing 2 crucial games, plus the players had to learn his system, which takes a full year for the most part. With all that said, remember that I TOLD YOU SO…Valdosta will be back regardless of what some of you think. Tomberlin was head coach at Lowndes for several years and is very determined to beat his former team year in and year out. I’ll remind you of this blog during the upcoming season, but remember that I TOLD YOU SO… Oh one more thing: Valdosta and Lowndes just might play each other for the state 5A championship. Stay tuned.
By LHS
April 30, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
To Swamprat:I don’t know where your getting your information from but Lowndes does not have anywhere near 4000 students,Valdosta has 2000 students,Lowndes has 2700.If the size of the school population had anything to do with success in sports the largest school’s would have all the titles,there are many schools in the state largesr than Lowndes.
By SouthGARules
May 1, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
gman: Tell me what year Buck Belue won a state title at Valdosta. It was not 1974-William Andrews & Thomasville. It was not 1975-Central Macon. It was not 1976- Warner Robins (with James Brooks, Ron Simmons & Jimmy Womack) It was not 1977-Clarke Central. He graduated in 1978. The problem with Valdosta is they are too impatient with coaches. They had a coach that had the misfortune to follow Wright Bazemore & went 17-3 in 2 years & got run out of town. I seem to remember Nick Hyder went 3-7 in his first year and did not win a state title until his FIFTH year (1978) shared with Griffin. Leave Tomberlin alone & he will produce. Brookwood may have beaten Valdosta the last 2 years, but what other South Ga team have they beaten? It seems the last time they played Lowndes they were destroyed in the state finals.
By Demetrius Waters
July 7, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Let me remind you LHS fans. CCHS enjoyed a long win steak vs. Valdosta in the 90’s, and everyone began claiming that CCHS was the mighty dog over Valdosta. Then one Friday all of a sudden Valdosta changed that. I don’t care how great Lowndes is or how much better they are than Valdosta. I like what I’m seeing at Valdosta and have not thought once about Tomberlin being replaced. They are working really hard over there and I’m proud of each and everyone of them. So to hell with Lowndes, Brookwood, or anyonelse who has any thing to say. There is nothing wrong with Valdosta’s program. Throughout there winning history are some down seasons.
By D. Waters
July 7, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Brookwood. Wonder why you have not won many championships. Well teams that measure there success by results of one game (Valdosta) usually don’t win many titles.
By D. Waters
July 11, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
gman CCHS said the same thing. Valdosta is still a success. When people talk about Valdosta, they talk about the Wildcats. To be honest with you, I think the Valdosta fans are enjoying their rebuilding process. I have seen their B-team, 9th and 8th grade teams, and the future is very bright for Valdosta. Their is no trash talk going on, just working hard to get better.
By RAMSEY
September 14, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Valdosta is working hard and while all the attention is on lowndes & Northside valdosta being the underdogs gone take it all, just wait and see!!!
By RAMSEY
September 14, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
Valdosta is working hard and while all the attention is on lowndes & Northside valdosta being the underdogs gone take it all, just wait and see!!!