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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Buford’s retooling in ‘08, but don’t count Wolves out
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 Buford
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Buford in ‘08? Is a title repeat unthinkable? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Jess Simpson knows what he’s losing.
Fifteen starters from his Class AA champion Buford team will graduate this spring, and six will play Division I football. There will be question marks at almost every position.
Just don’t expect Simpson to use the “R” word.
“I don’t like to talk about rebuilding years, because expectations don’t change much in Buford,” the coach said. “I think there’s some potential there. Hopefully by the end of the year, we can compete for a championship.”
The Wolves, who have won the state title four times in the last seven years, are essentially starting over with spring practice. Sessions begin on May 5.
Only four starters will return from the 2007 squad that steamrolled its way to a 15-0 record. So there is significant work to be done, particularly on offense and special teams.
“To say I’m focusing on one thing would be comical,” Simpson said. “There are a lot of opportunities for kids to earn a job.”
Buford has graduated good players before … and continued to win. The Wolves have won seven straight region titles and have not lost to a region opponent since 2000.
No one will take them lightly in Region 6-AA this fall. Nor should they.
Buford Wolves
Region 6-AA
Spring practice dates: May 5-16.
Last year’s record: 15-0, Class AA state champions.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Just about everything. With 15 starters graduating, Buford has major holes to fill on offense, defense and special teams. Senior Michael May and junior Daunte Carr will compete for the starting quarterback job. At most other positions, coaches will use spring practices to get a clearer idea of what their options are.
Key starters lost: DT Omar Hunter’ LB T.J. Pridemore; RB Demetris Murray; WR Melvin Harris; QB Twoey Hosch; LB Jaytee Swanson and RB Alex Hunt.
Key starters returning: OL/DL Dallas Lee; LB Landon Anderson and DE Andrew Sachais.
2008 strengths: Run defense. This has been at the heart of Buford’s success during the last several years. No, the Wolves won’t be as dominant in this area - or any other - as they were in 2007. But Lee, Anderson and Sachais give them a solid defensive foundation against the run.
2008 weaknesses: Pass offense. The Wolves need to decide on a starting quarterback and rebuild their offensive line and receiving corps. At the moment, the only offensive playmakers are tailbacks Cody Getz and Storm Johnson.
This season’s projection: Buford is a long-shot to repeat as state champion. But this program has reloaded before while still winning most of its games and could very well do so again. Look for the Wolves to improve throughout the fall and make a run in the playoffs.
Comment: “This is a scrappy group that we’re really excited about coaching,” Simpson said. “I think there’s a quiet confidence to them. Like, ‘Hey, we know we’re pretty good, and we’ve got something to prove.’ We may not have nine kids signing scholarships next year, but you don’t have to have nine kids signing scholarships to have a good football team.”
Photos: A look at Buford
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Buford in ‘08? Is a title repeat unthinkable? 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
Comments
By marvin
April 23, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
The last time I CHECK the JV team won every game playing all 5A team in gwinnett with that being said go buford all the way. Our coaching staff is the best in georgia. No problem bring home the ring again .
By ttown one
April 23, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Retooling = recruiting the Atlanta area for all the best athletes……
By BossofBuford
April 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Mark My Word:
BUFORD WILL WIN THE STATE TITLE AGAIN!
By WolfMan
April 23, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
The upcoming 2009 senior class is loaded with athletes, just as the 2008 class was. That’s the only reason a few of them were in the starting rotation. I’ll bet this year will have the same number of senior starters as last years team. This upcoming group of seniors have been preparing for next season since they were freshman.
By WolfMan
April 23, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
This upcoming group of seniors is loaded with athletes just like last years class was. Last years senior class being so loaded with athletes is the only reason so few of the upcoming seniors earned starting positions. I’ll bet the team this year has as many senior starters as last years team. The upcoming senior class combined stats since they were freshman are 18 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie, 9 shutouts, and they’ve outscored their opponents 446-69. Last year they won the Gwinnett County championship against 5A schools. This senior class has been preparing for next season since they played GFL football.
By Expulsion
April 23, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Buford is a great place to go if you are a little light on the academic side, or if your own school district throws you out. How does Buford do in cross country, golf, and tennis? That’s what I thought.
By Dekalb Football
April 23, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Wow big bad AA (2-a) with recuitments at the skill positions. You’re lucky Marist has BALLS and refused their chance to drop down. Try region 6-AAAA with Tucker, Marist, Mays, and SW Dekalb,, and more. Buford ain’t all that. However, I must admit Buford has a great program. I just wish Buford would play instead of playing down.
By BullDawg Rick
April 23, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Quit hating on the Wolves..
They went out of state & played an Ohio team & destroyed them.. They are going out of state again this season & will, once again, represent Georgia well!!
I have never heard from the 3A, 4A or 5A teams that they have been “turned down” when offering Buford a game… Have you??
Thought so.. The higher class teams do not want to play the Wolves & get beat down!!
Dallas Lee just might be BETTER than Omar.. Scary thought, eh???
By GC
April 23, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Expulsion, WHO CARES about how Buford does in golf, tennis and cross country except you and the people who give out the Directors Cup? Football is their sport. Get over it.
By yo
April 23, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Should I say an explecitive? yes i think I will……Charlton Co.! Who in a rebuilding year lost by how many points to Buford’s greatest team of all time last year? Question should be….who does Charloton Co. have returning? What is amazing is they do their recruiting in…..oh yea! Charlton co. Population….not much.
By BigBadWolf
April 24, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
STOP HATING…Buford is a great program and can’t control the classification issues due to the other sports and it’s student population. Buford has to travel out of the state to fill in games that “other” schools shy away from….their excuse “if we win we were suppose to” BUT….”if we lose”…it would look bad, real bad!!! Stop talking and step up, there was plenty of opportunity to schedule Buford this year. Thank you Texas team for not being scared. Buford’s JV team from last year smoked all of the Gwinnett teams. This season will be the same…JUST WINS and a CHAMPIONSHIP!!! GO WOLVES.
By TRUTH
April 24, 2008 2:10 AM | Link to this
Daunte Carr should be the starting QB. Too bad kids leave communities they grew up in and go to Buford because they are too afraid to compete in 5A and 4A.
By Ted
April 24, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
You know you have a good program when other schools are so jealous of you. Kids come to Buford because they have an outstanding football program (everyone knows that) and 2. It is a good academic school. You don’t hear of Buford’s players having to go to Junior College or don’t have test scores to get in many places. Buford HAD to go out of state and play in the Texas Gridiron Showcase because they could not get one of your 4A 5A schools, that Buford is supposed to be afraid of, to play them. I take that back, I do think it was Ware Co. that agreed to play Buford, but would not do a home and home. They wanted Buford to play there two years in a row.
By mike
April 24, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
Buford should win the championship every year. They are a city school with “open enrollment” anyone in Gwinnett Co. can apply and transfer to Buford. They seem to think they are some innocent little powerhouse, when in reality they are just fielding a Gwinnett Co. all-star team every year. They are not doing anything illegal. They are allowed to do this by GHSA and that is where the problem is. They are fun to watch though.
By thad
April 24, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
What is all the hate about? Do you ever hear Buford players talking smack? NO! They just go about their business to the best of their ability. If I had a kid, we’d choose a school with ~700 kids vs. ~4K kids any day. Ask college recruiters about the intensity and integrity of the Buford coaching staff and players and see if any of these derogatory comments hold true. And by the way, Buford’s Abby Johnson just won the region title in golf.
By lester collins
April 24, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Every year we play gwinnett teams where are you ? O I know you left when you saw the score board ha ,ha go Buford I know it had to hurt seeing a 2A team BEAT a 5A team .I ‘m a Buford fan and it feels GOOD.
By tazz
April 25, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
The JV team won playing Juniors.
By Dekald Football
April 28, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Buford hasn’t offered to play TUCKER in a scheduled game. They have SCIMMAGED in a pre-season game,, when Tucker played their underclassman for the entire second half,,,, and yes tucker had more points! Also Tucker SCRIMMAGED South Gwntt, the year that SouthGwntt went undefeated in the regular season,,, I left at halftime,, Tucker was up 28-0. Call Tucker, or Mrist, or Mays, or the legendary Buck Godfrey at SWDekald and come on down to the ATL area and GETCHASOME!!!!
By Pat
April 30, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
By TX2GA
May 5, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Having moved from a Texas 5A school to Buford 2A, my money would be on Buford all day long. This is a machine of a program. Buford is a school of excellence with academics first and athletics second. You don’t just transfer into Buford, check out their standards for tuition enrollment. You mess up in school you pay the price with the coaches no matter who you are. The boys don’t have to talk smack, they save the action for the field. See you there!
By TX2GA
May 5, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Having moved from a Texas 5A school to Buford 2A, my money would be on Buford all day long. This is a machine of a program. Buford is a school of excellence with academics first and athletics second. You don’t just transfer into Buford, check out their standards for tuition enrollment. You mess up in school you pay the price with the coaches no matter who you are. The boys don’t have to talk smack, they save the action for the field. See you there!
By BufordWR
May 7, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
yall are all hatin! im playin WR and corner this year and ya we start our juniors on JV but they only play the first half then we put in mainly freshmen!!!!! and as for Daunte bein the starting QB he’s my best friend but Mike May has him beat hands down he’ll start our senior year. that’s all and as for recruiting, I came to Buford cuz i wanted to not cuz they wanted me to so stop with all the hatin!!!!!!!!!!
By OH2GA
May 8, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
I can understand the vile…repeated losses can make you mad. But they are no excuse for foolishness. There are players that come here for reasons other than FB: great academics, smaller environment, other sports, the arts (Buford has more state titles in Arts than FB), the character of the coaches and teachers. And if football is your main reason there is GA’s best head coach Jess Simpson, AD Dexter Wood, fantastic position coaches, college quality facilities, an amazing development process, the tradition, the national exposure, the equipment sponsorship, the D-1 scholarships, regular visits from the best D-1 coaches, and on and on. It is the perfect storm of great qualities offered at the same place. The reason people come to Buford is because people aren’t stupid.
By steve pierce
July 25, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
my son played @ buford in 95 and 96 and let me tell you what a difference coaching makes.Dexter Wood made such a dramatic impact on that program that it was unbelievable.buford will eventualy move up in classification but they will certainly keep winning when they do.you can count on it.! the only difference in buford and parkview and brookwood is depth. right now it would be hard for buford to play 5A teams weekend and weekout.they can compete with 5A teams!
By Lisa
August 31, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
The softball team also won a state championship also and we are continually near the top in literary and fine arts performances. And all four schools met academic requirements. Most of the atheletes are also very good students as well. Many of them take honors classes and excel at them.