AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: What we’d like to see during the 2008 football season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We here at Take Ten have undergone a bit of facelift (bye, Jeff) but you’ll find that we bear the same passionate love of high school football. We’ve had enough of baseball, golf and Michael Phelps’ abs. (We could never do that many crunches.) It’s time for football. We’ve all waited long enough.
That said, here are 10 things we’d like to see happen this football season:
10: An undefeated season in Class AAAAA — Last year was a mess in the state’s highest division. We think, at some point, everyone in the state was ranked No. 1. North Cobb held that title the longest, only to get bounced in first round of the playoffs. Lowndes walked away the champs and currently sit in our top spot. The Vikings were the last team to go unscathed back in 2004.
9: Someone to kick a 68-yard field goal — Don’t laugh. The state record is held by Duluth’s Rusty Curry, who made a 67-yarder against Norcross in 1999. Curry was also the first man to successfully undergo a leg transplant with a horse. Just amazing. There is precedent for this. Walton’s Adam Shreiner kicked a 58-yard field goal with some room to spare to take down top-ranked Roswell a year ago.
8: Coaching stability — There were 95 head coaching changes during the offseason. Then the coach at Meadowcreek quit on Monday. Enough already. Among those lost were some legends and mainstays, including long-time McEachern coach Jimmy Dorsey, Harrison coach Bruce Cobleigh and Roswell skipper Tim McFarlin.
7: Championships in the Georgia Dome — Actually, this is going to happen. The GHSA voted to move the title games to the Dome. Finally, the state’s biggest games will be played on the state’s biggest stage. And it will only cost you $20 ($15 in advance). Now if we can only get them to lower the price of a hot dog and Coke. We had to mortgage our house after visiting the Corky Kell Classic last weekend.
6: A scoreless season from the Tucker defense — This really isn’t absurd. Until the Tigers classic semifinal loss to Northside-Warner Robins, Tucker had only allowed 53 points in 13 games. That included five shutouts to start the season and seven oh-fers total. Jonathan Davis, the ball is in your court.
5: A reality TV show for a Georgia football program — You remember “Two-A-Days” on MTV? We’ve always been impressed by the Hoover football program, but a team with that much money behind it should never lose. How about a reality show based on a real program and not a school that looks like “The Hills” with jockstraps.
4: Football stealing athletes from baseball — You’ll have noticed a trend this offseason. Some of the state’s best talent is jumping ship to focus on baseball. Sandy Creek wide receiver Braxton Lane and Cartersville’s Donavan Tate are skipping their senior football seasons to focus on baseball. We say, fight back. Rent a van, drive up to East Cobb and start kidnapping baseball players.
3: Realignment every year — Why not? Who needs traditional rivalries? The GHSA opted to make realignment every four years starting in 2010. We think drawing names from a hat would be more fun. Why not have that epic showdown between Camden County and East Paulding be a region game? Who doesn’t like the short road trip from Valdosta to Murray County?
2: New touchdown king — Last year, ECI’s Washaun Ealey topped Darius Walker’s mark of 46 touchdowns in a season with an amazing 58 of his own. That’s impressive, but we’d like to see someone shoot for the 60-plus range.
1: Better Take Ten ideas — Seriously, if you have a suggestion, email us. Last year, we covered everything from best football helmets to top sports movies. We’d love to hear from you.
Go on. Take Ten. What are some of the things you’d like to see this football season? Were we not ambitious enough? What should we add? Let us know. Here’s your chance to voice your own dreams for the season.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By HS_Football_Fan
August 27, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see the AJC hire someone that knows something about High School Football!
By GoVolsGo
August 27, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Goober LaFollette is fantastic. He has plenty of humor and talent. Seems like HS Foosball Fan needs to lighten up. It’s ok, your boy will get to dress one of these days. Keep washing those jock straps.
By Hotty Toddy
August 27, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
re: item #4 - Please check out the East Cobb Yankees 18 and under roster and 2008 Connie Mack Champs this past year. Jonathon Taylor (signed with Georgia) played last year at North Cobb High School. Carter Harrison (pitcher) is currently a RB/LB at Calhoun High School and Kyle Farmer (2009 GA commit) will be playing some quarterback this year at Marist. And don’t forget Gordon Beckham who started at quarterback at Westminster and you know the rest of the story!! Coach Perno at Georgia is one of the biggest supporters of kids playing mutliple sports including football! Best of luck to those players this year and pray for healthy spring bones!
By NSHS Athletic Fan
August 27, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
What about a true State Football Championship game. Each classification champion would participate in a play-off. There would be no more guesses on who is the best. I get so tired of hearing (for example only), how Buford would have beaten Lowndes, ECI over Carver-Columbus, etc.
By Zachary
August 27, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
I don’t think everyone is excited about having the finals at the Georgia Dome. The place destroys any team spirit that has been built up over the season…especially for teams south of Macon. I’d much rather play at the other teams house than head up to the dome. Need evidence? AAAAA 2004 featured Lowndes vs Parkview. Even though Lowndes was undefeated, they headed up to Atlanta to play at the Jungle. They traveled well and filled up the entire visitor side. It was like a giant party over there. Plus, seeing Parkview’s students section rush to “protect their field” was touching in a weird way.
Furthermore, everyone knows the dome is bias to Atlanta teams anyway. Look at the attendance for the North Gwinnett/Walton game versus that of Lowndes/Camden during last years Semi-Finals.
Forget the dome. Play the State Final at a real stadium…that’s the way high school ball is meant to be. Plus, I don’t think you have to take out a second mortgage to get some food down at the Concrete Palace. I’m pretty sure that goes for most stadiums out there.
By AsianGirl
August 27, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Funny stuff. I hope Mr. LaFollette does this all year. The first commenter needs to relax.
By Houser
August 27, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
I personally feel that not enough top level players are being well prepared for college football. Mr. Lafollette should set up a program that allows every prospect that plans on visiting UGA to meet with campus police so they won’t be strangers before they are arrested. Keep up the good work covering prep sports.
By D
August 27, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
I would like to see them switch up the playoff brackets. I’m tired of seeing the speedy teams cancel each other out every year.
By BleedBlue
August 27, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
What about Stephenson finally making it to a state championship game with some of the best talent in the state. Cmon Coaches!
By BravesFan
August 27, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Great snapshot of the Fall 2008 season. When do tickets to the championship games in the Dome go on sale?
Lafollette, what games will you cover this fall? A blog or something similar for friday night highlights would be great.
By Black & White & Read All Over
August 27, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
Good stuff! With the new four-year classifications, how about a Take Ten on new region or classification make-ups in the future, circa 2010-11.
Like the present, we could hear about how unfair it is to have two defending state champs in the same region (1AAAAA - Northside WR and Lowndes) or how unfair it is to have eight returning playoff teams in the same region (3AA) or how unfair it is to let Buford play in AA or how Buford and Charlton never meet in the finals, only in the quarters.
Did I say unfair?
I meant to say how great it is to have 1AAAAA in its present form, what a region! A game of the week in nearly every match-up.
And I meant to say how great it is to have a wonderfully balanced region like 3AA featuring Dublin, Dodge, Jeff Co, Laney, Swainsboro, Bleckley, East Laurens, Toombs, Vidalia, SEB and Screven battling it out every week in a full region schedule, with their own game of the week, AA style.
As for Buford and Charlton, betcha $100 they don’t see one another in the finals this year…..!
By DAWG
August 27, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Personally, I’d like to see a Cobb County team win a State Championship! (GO HOYAS!)
By demonfan
August 27, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
northside warner robins is not as good as they want you to think i was at their game against westside and they could not get past the fifty the score was 14-0 they got a couple of early scores and that was it perry has the talent to beat them and supprise alot of people perry killed hoco
By Reeze
August 27, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
Well put Zachery ,championship games should have full community access……….And Demon fan, we are talking about Burnett and the Westside defense ,14 pts on 8 minute qtrs thats not just it, thats enough…lol, and perry could defeat a good number of AAAAA teams…but we are talking about Hoco….How did the demons scrimmage turn out? :)
By demonfan
August 28, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
why did the mighty northside high school schedule two AAA schools are the afraid to go all AAAAA your 30-0 record might get tarnished too soon no respect until you go all AAAAA
By MArcusWorthing
August 28, 2008 1:57 AM | Link to this
Who are the top ten coaches in the state? Past and present.
By eaglebeagle
August 28, 2008 2:01 AM | Link to this
demonfan sounds like a die-hard Reggie Ball TechNerd from either Ignico Drive or 2nd Street. Northside will have to perform. Warner Robins will have to quit getting 30 False Start Penalties each game to compete. Dub MAC at QB for WR is a former peewee leager I can’t wait to see play again.
By SGT CHRIS
August 28, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
SOMETHING ID LIKE TO SEE—FANS OF GHS FOOTBALL GETTING A VOTE ON SOME OF THE STUPID IDEAS OF THE GHSA, OR EVEN BETTER GET SOME OF THESE GHSA HISTORY BUFFS IN HERE A SEAT ON THE COMMITTEE..PRETTY SOON, IF YOURE NOT AN ATLANTA SCHOOL, YOURE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE DOWN TO THE GISA!!
QUESTION—DO THE TEAMS THAT MAKE IT TO THE DOME GET A FINANCIAL PAYOUT OR SOMETHING? JUST CURIOUS.
By Vince
August 28, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Why not move the biggest regular season high school game of the year to the dome. I am talking about Lowndes vs Valdosta. Sold out every year, could easily put 30,000 plus in the stands. It would lose that something special feeling, being at Martin stadium or Cleveland field has that electric atmosphere that is missing at the dome and this is true of the State championship. Everyone gets a good seat but the dome is so big its like playing in a big cave. Besides Atlanta’s people don’t turn out for the games, they are too numb from losing all these years.
By Dan
August 28, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
I would like to see some losing program have a turnaround season and get to the playoff’s like my alma mater lakeside, but unfortunately I don’t think that will happen.
By LawDawg
August 28, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
How about some coverage for the Douglas County Schools.
By Northside Athletic Fan
August 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
DemonFan, why are you so bitter? NSWR will play top ten Perry and Carver-Columbus. Both can beat Houston County and Warner Robins. Also, WR scheduled Beach of Savannah, a team whose student body says it should play at AAA but stays in AAAAA to give Camden County a region to pay in (as other Savannah schools). Please just worry when NSWR plays your little weak demons on 17 Oct. 08. You better do something about that offensive line that—Oh, yes, AAA “unrated” Peach County feasted on.
By Home Field
August 28, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
In the play-offs eliminate the home field advantage by playing neutral fields throughout the play-offs. Texas, the top high school football state in the nation does it and they’re a lot larger state than we are and do it with five times the teams. Determines a more true champion instead of a ‘home field’ champion.
By tiger4Life
August 28, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
I would like like for Tucker to finally get there State ring in Football. With one of the best sports programs for developing players its hard to beleive we do not have a banner to hang.
By rw
August 28, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
All the schools need a score board with a play clock. I saw way too many delay of game calls last year because we are dependent on referees keeping the time and the teams sometimes get delay of game penalties at the worst possible times.
By jawjadude
August 28, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
it is supposedly against the rules to have a play clock up.
and has anyone noticed the only people excited about the championships being in the Dome or the ones in Atlanta?
there were over 6,000 people in the stands last year when ECI played Wilcox in the state class A final. It was an electric atmosphere in the stadium in Cordele.
6,000 folks in the dome will sound like a whisper.
By hs football ref
August 28, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
RW: 25 second play clocks are illegal in GHSA. Some schools have installed them but are not allowed to use them.
There is a substantial cost to instll them, then you would have to pay an additional official to run it.
If you are going to add another official, I would rather see that official on the field as part of the crew, moving from the 6-man crew to a 7-man crew as the NCAA and NFL employ.
By pius fann
August 28, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
pius to beat marist finally go lions!
By Nate
August 28, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Take ten ideas (if they havent been done already): Best Stadium (on campus), Best Bands, best pregame ritual, best stadium food(some of these boosters can work a grill),loudest stadium,best scoreboard, coolest field design,. Just a few ideas.
By T.J.
August 28, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
Best Stadium and scoreboard: Camden
Best Entertaining Band: Meadow Creek
Best Musical Band: Northview
Loudest Stadium: Norcross
Coolest Field Design: Valdosta
Best Grill: Brookwood
Best Pre Game Ritual: Grayson
By graysonfan2
August 29, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
TJ
Lol, what about the Grayson ritual? Are you speaking of touching the ram statue? Funny you mention how loud Norcross stadium is, last year in the second round, even the news paper referred to how much louder the Grayson fans were at that particular game. Players still say that might have been the edge that pulled them through. Would love to see the Valdosta stadium, Camden does have a great score board and seating, absolutely love meadow creek band, the floored me last year.
By Warner Robins Football Fan
August 29, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
To Northside Athletic Fan,the only ones bitter are Northside fans due to having to live under the shadow of Warner Robins High for 30+ yrs(WR 32 wins to NSWR 18 wins in the series).And yes your right,WR has taken alot of hits on the chin from Northside the last 10 years.Congratulation on your success the last couple of years…your(our)team deserves it. I also support Nothside football when I’m not supporting my Demons.You wouldn’t understand it’s a pride in your town thing.But,I do know after watching the scrimmage with Westside your offense needs alot of work also.Your inability to move the ball & 2 interception in the 2nd half raised more than an eyebrow among all fans attending to include the Northside faithful.Your defense on the other hand was outstanding or should I say the play of Abry Jones.He probably had 15 tackles & was in on most every play.Take away his play and your defense was still impressive but 2 notches below your standing with him.It didn’t hurt that and I quote from a loyal seminole fan at the game that their QB couldn’t hit a bulls a* with a bass fiddle that night.Don’t claim that undefeated season/state championship yet because the team is good but is not of the same calbre of last years team.It will take a healthy team and a little luck along the way to get into the playoffs in 1AAAAA this year. Warner Robins looks forward to a great year in 1AAAAA.While we certainly won’t claim to go undefeated we will be in the mix this year.Go ahead Northside fans keep telling yourself how good you are and when the season unfolds you’ll be the ones absent from the blogs if your not careful.Best of luck and I’ll continue to support Northside and HOCO until they play my Demons.
By Syrupmaker03
August 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I’d like to see 5 State Champions come from just off HWY 84…Clinch Co., Charlton or T’ville, Cairo, Thomas Co. Central or Bainbridge, and Lowndes…as greedy as that sounds, it may not be too far of a stretch…Look for South GA football to reign supreme this year!
GO MAKERS!
By Coach
August 29, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
play clocks
By joe
August 30, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
I want to see Mcintosh high school get some coverage…its a new spirit rising!!
By joe
August 30, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
I want to see Mcintosh high school get some coverage…its a new spirit rising!!
By CAKRIDGE
September 6, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
WE LOYAL FANS AT E.C.I. WILL SEE IF EALEY CAN DO A 60+ TOUCHDOWN RECORD THIS SEASON-NOT SOMEONE ELSE. WE KNOW HE HAS THE SKILLS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO IT AND I THINK HE WILL SURPASS THAT MARK THIS YEAR IF EVERYONE DOESN’T KEEP TRYING TO BREAK HIS LEG LIKE SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN TRIED TO DO IN OUR GAME LAST NITE. WHICH I MIGHT ADD THEY DID NOT SUCCEED. WAY TO GO DOGS!!!!
By Die hard MAYS HIGH SCHOOL Fan
September 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
There are quite a few Mays High School fans that would like to see MAYS throw the football. They are two good WR. I don’t know if the coach knows or cares, that one of the WR# 81-oldest brother, I heard holds the GA STate track and field record for the 200meters, when he attended MAYs and his other brother is (3) time Socon champ, who played WR for MAYS. those WR need to be rewarded for all the blocking (4) quarters, no passes???
By LANEY 06 GRAD
September 24, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
THIS IS RESPONSED TO By Black & White & Read All Over
YEA LANEY HAS IT BAD THIS YEAR… WELL WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THE RE-ARRANGING OF SCHEDULE, I GUESS SOMEBODY MISSED THE MEMO. BUT AS FAR AS THE REGION PLAY GOES, I DON’T SEE ONE TEAM GOING UNDEFEATED IN THE REGION. AND IM LOVING THE 21-11 WIN OVER THE OVERATED DUBLIN FIGHTING IRISH LAST WEEK. LANEY HAS GOT THREE PRETTY LIGHT WEEKS AHEAD AGAINST DODGE COUNTY, TOOMBS COUNTY AND BLECKLEY COUNTY… WE SHOULD BE 5-1 AS WE ENTER GAME 7 AGAINST VADALIA WHO HAS 3 BIG GAMES B4 FACING LANEY. GO WILDCATS! I THINK THIS MAYBE A YEAR TO PROVE THAT WE STILL THE BIG CATS IN THE STATE AA PLAY!