AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > December > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFinals in Dome even better
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
We locals have gotten accustomed to the Georgia Dome. We drive by it on the way to work. We go there on Sundays to watch the Falcons lose. To us, it’s just another big building. But to a teenage athlete, nothing beats the Dome as a destination.
Campbell Wilson is a sophomore linebacker for Lovett, one of the ritzy private schools off Paces Ferry. He knows the Dome well, having, he said, “grown up going to Falcons games.”
On Saturday he played against Cook in the Class AA semifinals on the same field where he’d once watched Michael Vick. Was there anything familiar about the experience? “This was like a whole new world,” Wilson said. “It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had.”
Let’s carry that a step further. Let’s say that the Lovett-Cook game wasn’t just one of 10 semis spread over two days but an honest-to-goodness championship game, the kind with both memories and a trophy at stake. Wouldn’t that be even better?
Tune in next December, when all five finals will be staged here. (Two on Friday, three on Saturday.) For Georgia high school football, it will mark a clear upgrade.
Having the semis at the Dome, as had been the case since 1994, was a nice notion with an inherent conceptual flaw. Why gather teams for the season’s next-to-last weekend only to spread them out again? Imagine if the NCAA men’s Final Four consisted of two semifinals, and then the winners adjourned to the higher seed’s campus to sort out the title. Would CBS be ballyhooing “The Road to San Antonio and Wherever Else”?
“If you go to a high school in August, you’ll probably find a sign that says, ‘We’re going to the Dome,’ ” said Steve Figueroa, the Georgia High School Association’s director of media relations. “But even if you get to the Dome, you’ve still got to go somewhere else to win a state championship.”
It’s a big thing for any school, having a championship decided at its stadium. Dexter Wood, formerly a title-winning coach and still the athletics director at Buford, recalls playing host to three finals. (And Buford, which beat Dublin on Saturday, will stage the Class AA final against Lovett.) “The atmosphere was incredible,” Wood said, “and that’s where I’m torn. But after all is said and done, coming to the Dome [for the semis] is mighty close to that. And when you combine the Dome and the state championship, that’s an idea worth trying.”
Some might complain that the Dome’s immensity renders it outsized for this event. The largest single-day semifinal crowd has been roughly 30,000 in a building that can accommodate 71,250. But the alternative to empty seats isn’t a palatable one. The Class A title game will be played at Wilcox County, where the stadium seats 2,600. Both Wilcox and fellow finalist Emanuel County Institute took 2,000 tickets home. If both sell out, that means 1,400 folks will be standing come Friday.
Better to have the 10 finalists gather here. Crowds would surely grow if the imprimatur of “state title” is applied, and perhaps some enterprising Atlanta business might find it sensible to become a primary sponsor of Championship Weekend. Marketing oomph, even for a consistently superior product like Georgia high school football, would always be welcome.
And there is, it must be said, an innocence and an energy about high school football that no other Dome event — from a Falcons game to the SEC championship to the Chick-fil-A Bowl — can match. The biggest play in Lovett’s victory Saturday was Wilson’s second-quarter interception of a fourth-down Cook pass. He took the ball and fled goalward, and as he neared the culmination of his 68-yard touchdown return he resisted the urge to track his progress on the end-zone matrix board.
“I did not look up,” Wilson said.
Why not?
“Because my coach [Mike Muschamp] told us he was TiVo-ing the game. And he said, ‘If I see anybody looking at the screen, you’re going to run in practice.’ “
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By Cobb Co Dave
December 8, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
This is Georgia…it makes too much sense…and I have lived in Georgia on and off for 30 years….
By jcwfalcon
December 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
I agree with Mark but for a different reason than he mentions. It looks like #1 ranked undefeated in the last 2 years Northside(and only one loss coming in the championships game in the last 3 years) will have to travel to Waycross to play a team with 2 losses in the championship game. This is not meant to be a knock on Ware County, who has proven they are a very formidable opponent. However, if common sense and Wins/Losses can’t determine who hosts the championship game, then it should just be at a neutral site. No way a coin toss should be allowed to determine the host in my opinion (unless both teams have the same record). Anyway, I guess this problem will go away next season when the Georgia Dome is the site for the championship game. This is just one of those situations where you wonder what they were thinking when the powers that be determined that a coin toss would determine something that could and should be determined by your accomplishments during the season.
By Hatcher Backer
December 8, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this
Your point is well made. However, every high school football player and fan relishes the idea of playing for the state championship on his home field in his home town. It’s a dream of a lifetime. The way it is, 20 teams and their players get to play in the Dome (in the semi-finals), which is certainly a memorable event. But most small town teams—especially those from south Georgia—would rather play a state title game at home. It’s tradition.
By Bo
December 9, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
The Dome is great for North Ga. teams but its a 4 or 5 hour ride from South Ga. From Camden Co. and Folkston its 6 hrs. Why should South Ga do all the traveling. The Championship should be at neutral site between North and South Ga. JCWFALCO- Won/lost record don’t count in State Finals. Flip was fair.
By No_Dome
December 9, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
I still say the ONLY reason the GHSA wants the state title games in the dome, is to give the “poor-pitiful-me” whining of the Metro Atlanta schools is the reason. they are tired of the state title going “south of Macon. With the games being in the dome, then it isn’t a “neutral” site if a metro team is in the finals. The GHSA had rather see a team from the TOUGHEST region in 5A travel 5 hours to play than see a metro team have to travel 5 hours to get a whipping and travel 5 hours home without a trophy. If the GHSA “really” wants a neutral site game, then they need to pick the largest stadium that is geographically closest to the center of both schools involved.
By nhsalum
December 9, 2007 12:43 AM | Link to this
I really can’t see the advantage of having only the finals played in the dome for three main reasons.
1… now there will only be 10 teams playing in the dome as opposed to 20. Any idiot can figure out that 10 teams will bring half as many fans as 20 teams would. 2 High school football is about Friday night lights, it’s about the home-feel of a real high school football stadium, were it is a custom to pack ten to twenty thousand screaming fans into a stadium that is supposed to hold half that many. It brings an atmosphere that kids, atleast i did, grow up dreaming about. If you put those same ten or twenty thousand in the GA dome, sure its loud but the dome swallows up a crowd that size. 3.. I remember when I played and we won a huge game and I was greeted by my classmates rushing the field with the same excitment I was feeling, it made the experience that much better, doing something for your school, having pride and showing it on the field after the game. The GA dome doesn’t allow anyone to come onto the field without a pass, eliminating the field rush. If a state title is won, there should be, without question, every single student of that school celebrating on the field with their team. It’s an amazing thing to watch.I guess Georgia High School football has lost some of its traditional glamour, atleast for now. Maybe we will see it back again one day…
By nhsalum
December 9, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this
I really can’t see the advantage of having only the finals played in the dome for three main reasons.
1… now there will only be 10 teams playing in the dome as opposed to 20. Any idiot can figure out that 10 teams will bring half as many fans as 20 teams would. The same idiot could also figure out that the more fans that come, the more money generated. I guess the educated people down in Thomaston at the GHSA hq didn’t put that into their equation. 2 High school football is about Friday night lights, it’s about the home-feel of a real high school football stadium, were it is a custom to pack ten to twenty thousand screaming fans into a stadium that is supposed to hold half that many. It brings an atmosphere that kids, atleast i did, grow up dreaming about. If you put those same ten or twenty thousand in the GA dome, sure its loud but the dome swallows up a crowd that size. 3.. I remember when I played and we won a huge game and I was greeted by my classmates rushing the field with the same excitment I was feeling, it made the experience that much better, doing something for your school, having pride and showing it on the field after the game. The GA dome doesn’t allow anyone to come onto the field without a pass, eliminating the field rush. If a state title is won, there should be, without question, every single student of that school celebrating on the field with their team. It’s an amazing thing to watch.I guess Georgia High School football has lost some of its traditional glamour, atleast for now. Maybe we will see it back again one day…
By heybud
December 9, 2007 1:16 AM | Link to this
I love Atlanta. It is where I have wanted to live since growing up in south Georgia many years. I have been in Atlanta since 1979 and feel like I am living a dream.
That said I do not personally like the change to have the state high school championship games played in the Georgia Dome.
I feel that the kids from all over the state would much rather have the state championship game either at their home or at the home of the school they are playing.
If you are going to move the game to a truly neutral site, have the games in Macon, not Atlanta.
Everyone knows that the only reason that the games will be held at the Dome is that that is where the Atlanta metro schools want the games to be played. You can talk all you want about kids dreaming of playing in the Dome, but that is because for all of their lives that has been the destination to shoot for for the state semi-finals.
So, on this issue, I disagree with you, Mark.
By ttroope
December 9, 2007 1:45 AM | Link to this
I’m so tired about having the title game at the dome.I’m from South Ga,Valdosta, and it seems the Gwinnett teams are influencing long standing tradition. One of the great things about having the title game away from the dome is that it brings the community together, and huge revenues to the host city. There were a ton of Gwinnett teams in the playoffs and yet even the smaller schools from smaller towns came to support there teams, but the far fetch idea to have them play twice in Atlanta is crazy, heck my mom hates coming here for the traffic. Keep tradition alive and I hope the Ga(not Gwinnett) high school association do not change the format.
By ladyluck
December 9, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this
“Why should South GA do all the traveling???????”
Maybe because they don’t have a GA Dome in South GA. That’s like saying “why should Hawaii have to travel 2000 miles to play in the Sugar Bowl?”
The finals should be in the GA Dome. I’ve been to too many state finals where unworthy stadiums hosted a great event and I ended up standing in some make shift bleacher in the endzone freezing my butt off and not being able to see anything. Dome makes it possible to bring whole family, Grandmas, little children, handicap, etc. that might not sit out in the cold with terrible seating otherwise.
South GA teams need to quit complaining about driving. Your inferiority complex about not living near the big city by fooling yourself that the best football in the state is below Macon is a joke.
Did anybody catch Buford/Dublin Game? Buford is too good. Would roll over any team in any classification this year. I’ve never seen a high school defense tackle like that. In a 48-0 drumming, you would never think that watching the “D” was more exciting, but every snap by Dublin you had to hold your breath because you knew somebody was going to get stroked.
I never like to see HS teams get blown out, but Dublin got what they deserved after putting up 65 on Lovett last year.
By Michael
December 9, 2007 4:28 AM | Link to this
At the end of “The Bad News Bears,” did the kids go play at some rickety rec field? No. They played at the Astrodome.
You non-Atlanta people really need to evolve. The football world doesnt’ revolve around Valdosta anymore, and the thing about playing a football game in Macon over the Georgia Dome is the funniest thing I have read on here in a while. The Dome is the finest football facility in the state (not to mention indoors). What magical location do you propose a state title game be played at in Macon?
By Average Joe
December 9, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
The Georgia Dome provides the absolute WORST atmosphere for a High School football game possible.
Football was meant to play outdoors, not in an impersonal bubble.
By burrdog
December 9, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
all you south ga. residents quit complaining and now get to work petitioning macon to build a 30,000 seat stadium, (on the mercer campus). until then, it is all about money and that will trump tradition every time. plus, it’s not too much to ask to drive 4-5 hours for a state championship. i know that if my team was going for the state championship, i would gladly drive 8-10 hours to see them play, and our whole community would also.
By GS
December 9, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
It’s all about money, There is no reason NSide WR and Ware should spend the money to go to the Dome for the finals.
Class A schools like Wilcox and ECI should have the honor to host the finals. Standing at a state Championship game is part of the mistique and priviledge of the finals. Not riding three and four hours to have to pay $4.00 for a coke and be held “hostage” all day and have to pay to reenter if you want a decent meal and come back and see more than one final.
Also, Fulton County missed the boat many years ago by building megamonster HS’s like Roswell, etc. and not building any stadium large enough to host a state finals for AAAAA. Roswell and Peachtree Ridge having to play at McEchearn in Cobb last year was a big slap in Fulton and Gwinnett’s. If Peachtree Ridge was to host the game and they had to agree on McE then, shame on the other Gwinnett schools for not offering their stadia
With Buford and Lovett so rich in their recruits why should they not have the excitement of having the game at home.
Big mistake not allowing 20 teams play in the dome and reducing it to 10 in the finals. Do you really think someone like NSWR, Ware, Cairo, Lowndes, Wilcox, ECI especially the small ones can bring a decent fan base two weeks in a row.
By dawn
December 9, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
I saw some great reasons for and against here. All good reasons. I also have sit in stadiums that were not big enough for the large amount of people that come to a championship game. This can be fixed real easy, simply have the GHSA notify a school with such stadium that their stadium has been rejected as a host site and its then up to the host school to find one that the GHSA will accept, then the host school can if they want to host in the future fix it. I don’t like using the Georgia Dome for several reasons among them is the traffic problems in the metro area. maybe if the GHSA would change the playoff format and have a true north/south Georgia champion then maybe I would change my opinion about using the dome to host the north Georgia championship games. But forcing the teams from south Georgia to come every year to Atlanta is just simply wrong.
By AlbanyViking
December 9, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Feeling sorry for all you so called N. Georgia football fans…no history… no tradition….no winning. So the next best thing is to tell th rest of Georgia how they have to play their games. Valdosta State in the NCAA football championship for a third time in the last six years, Lowndes going for a 3rd state title in 4 years, Valdosta High STILL with the most wins in AMERICA. Valdosta is football and will always be about football. N. Georgia can move all the games to the dome but it won’t change the fact that Valdosta has history, tradition and WINS. Also did you Buford fans see the Plowboys D last night, sorry, you wouldn’t win that game lol.
By Country Boy
December 9, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Stupid article. Look at this year … , AAAA Ware Co. vs Northside WR, AAA Cario vs Shaw of Columbus, A Wilcox vs ECI. Bradly - look at a map for gods sake. These teams and their fans would have to travel much further to go to the “Atlanta Dome” to play for a state title. Metro Atlanta fans will not drive 20 min to see these south GA teams play for a state title. Your idea equals to a big, empty, quiet “Atlanta Dome” for these kids.
By Dale
December 9, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
With the finals at the dome, the communities involved will be the big losers. The economic impatact of the playoff/championship games would bring dollars to these communities in the form of meals, hotel rooms, fuel, etc. Instead, these dollars will go to Atlanta. The GHSA has been ham-handed in moving games around where they want them. The associations grab for money has been less than transparent. This is nothing more than GHSA greed and their favoritism toward metro Atlanta schools (especially Gwinnett schools) is plain to see. This issue, along with the manditory permanent seating issue, is headed toward court. This will mean either the end of the GHSA as it is now or the association will be forced to serve all of their members, not just the biggest or most influential.
By CoastDog
December 9, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
Typical Atlanta yuppie thinking that nothing outside the Atlanta area is worth visiting.
By george
December 9, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
I am absolutely 100% AGAINST moving the finals to the Dome. Last year, when Northside won its first state championship on their home field, I was able to celebrate on the field with thousands of other fans. Some of us stayed for more than an hour visiting with players and coaches. I hope to be able to do that at Waycross again this week. If not, at least the Waycross fans will have the same oportunity to experience what I did last year. After Northside’s emotional win at the Dome last Friday, you can hear authorities in a video telling them to clear the field because they had another game to play. After a full year’s work, the players get to celebrate for 5 minutes on the field. WHOOPEE!!! As usual though, the almighty dollar will decide where the games are played. I’m sure it won’t get much sympathy for the metro schools in Atlanta, but there are folks in south Georgia who find it financially impossible to attend games in the Dome. They can pay $10 to see their home team play, but could care less about paying $15 to attend 5 games. There is also an issue of “accessibility”. Last Friday night, many of our elderly, and somewhat disabled fans, were forced to walk what I’m sure was more than 1/2 mile to the Dome from the bus parking lot. To make matters worse, you had to walk around the Dome to the southside for the one and only open gate. Once inside, you had to walk back to the northside to get your seat. Compare that to parking in a lot adjacent to the local stadium. I’m sure the GHSA could do more to accomodate fans. Surely they make enough money to have two gates open. Bottom line, this is a bad idea that only benefits the Atlanta area schools, and fills the pockets of the GHSA.
By So. GA. Dawg
December 9, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
Mark, come to Waycross and cover the game between Ware County and Northside, and then tell me that isn’t what high school football is all about. You won’t get that feeling in the Dome. Hell, why don’t you people in Atlanta just televise your games, then you won’t be put to any trouble. Why should Atlanta get the revenue off the game as opposed to Waycross or Warner Robbins?
By NSHS FAN
December 9, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Two things: First I don’t agree with Lady Luck about Buford. The team is excellent against the competition they play. To suggested they could go up aganist AAAAA and AAAA team and win as they do is crazy. They would win maybe 4/5 games against weak teams but would be overwhelmed in the end. It is not the same, I promise you. I see this all the time in college football. A team races through Div 11 teams blowing them out. Then they play a Div 1 team and down they go. Second point: A slight relief may be coming since we do not have a dome stadium in central Georgia. In about 2-years near Locust Grove, South Henry County an in door Domed Arena will be build. I was told it would be able to host regular football games. That will be an option to the downtown Atlanta location.
By Craig
December 9, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
It should be an option for all the schools to have their “home” final in the Dome. Let us have our games in the South on our years if we like.
By Ben
December 9, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Can anyone say for sure which sports now have permanent sites? I could not tell from a quick perusal of the GHSA website. Is boys basketball still in Macon, Girls Track in Albany, and Boys Track in Jefferson? Any others I didn’t think of? Are some wrestling classes settled in at the Fairgrounds in Perry? I guess by all the anti-Dome arguments I see here, we should stop having ANY permanent sites and forget having championships held at the best and safest facilities for the spectators and players.
Good luck to North Gwinnet and Northside traveling to Florida, oops I mean Lowndes and Ware Counties, to play for the titles. At least South GA can be happy that, historically, the far north GA teams are weak, or sometimes they’d be traveling to Lakeview-Ft Oglethorpe or Blairsville for games. I definitely sympathize w/ long distance travel, but at least there will be 10 fewer teams making the trek to the Dome. When you think in terms of population, most of the state lives w/in a reasonable drive to the Dome. Seems like playing in Henry County will do just as well too although that facility alluded to by a recent poster here is news to me.
Anyway, isn’t it fun that there’s such a high level of competition statewide? South GA has the edge this year and last, but they have to admit that it’s not certain who will win year to year and that makes it more fun. Tucker and Chamblee almost pulled it out; strange how so many teams from the north (and North Gwinnett last week) forgot to not let receivers get behind you. Also, why don’t we define it as North, Metro, Middle, and South GA? That’s more precise and a better reflection of geography and “cultures”. My parents are from Columbus and seemed to think of it as middle rather than south GA.
By ladyluck
December 9, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
NSHS FAN,
Comparing HS’s to college is ascenine. Do you know what the AAAAA’s mean after the number? It means that school has more students. It does not mean they have better football programs. Take a trip to Buford sometime. I can tell you that maybe outside of McEachern, they have the nicest facilities in the state, best coaching staff in the state, and best community support in the state. Just ask the people in Folkston how many Buford Fans made the 6 hr trip to Charlton last week.
I’d also like you to tell me a school in any classification that has sent better D-1 players to college in the last 10 yrs. Are you saying that T.J. Pridemore (GA Tech), Demetrus Murray (South Florida), Darius Walker (Notre Dame), P.K. Sam (FSU), Tim Wansley (UGA), Ivan Bnag (USC), Steven Singleton (LSU), Justin Roper (Oregon), Mikey Henderson (UGA), and Omar Hunter (Notre Dame), just to name a few, could not compete with schools that have more students?
Using your rationale, Wake Forest could never win the ACC because they only have 4,000 students.
To say they would only win 4/5 games against avg. big schools is the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while. Did you happen to catch the Walton / North Gwinnett game on GPT lastnight? Those are two of the largest schools in the state. I guarantee you that neither one could stay on the field with Buford.
In closing, learn to assess talent not by the size of the student body, but by the quality of the football program.
By Mike Mcleod
December 9, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Taking State Championship Games away from Home towns across the great state would be a tragedy. Anyone who has played in or been a spectator knows what Im referring too. These are events for towns that last a lifetime. Memories you never forget. Sorry…you’re just not going to get THAT playing in some sterile, plastic DOME. I caught some of the Florida 2A final last nite between Madison Co Fl and Tampa Catholic. They were playing in the Citrus Bowl. It was pitiful. Empty seats everywhere. I cant imagine how great it would have been fir them if they had played in Madison or Tampa. Leave Georgia High School Football alone. Play the games in a High School stadium, where they’re meant to be played.
By Von Johnson
December 9, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
We enjoyed our trip from Twin City, and look forward to returning in the future. When we arrived at the dome we noticed folks selling souvenir editions of the AJC with and insert of each high school. We were anxious to purchase one but were told that they (AJC) had left us out! If your gonna host these events you need to getter done right! Anyway, we look forward to traveling to Wilcox County for the Class A State Championship Friday night! Give that dawg a bone!
By Ben
December 9, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
Maybe Craig is right, a good compromise would be to plan on Dome championships, but if two teams close to each other but far from the Dome (50+ miles?) qualify, such as Lowndes Co. & Valdosta, then they could choose to play at a suitable closer site if their home stadiums(not the case w/ those two schools) are inadequate. This would save them travel expenses etc. and make them happier. Another argument I’ve not seen mentioned here is the expense of enlarging and upgrading stadiums to playoff specifications is too much for poorer schools, so using a neutral site is less expensive in the long run. Safe travel to all fans next weekend!
By george
December 9, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
At least two of the metro schools need to learn how to throw the ball. North Hall was an absolute disgrace. Down by 28 with just over one quarter left to play, they never threw a pass. In other words, it appeared they had already conceded defeat. Tucker wasn’t much better against my Northside Eagles. They were fortunate to get a big lead and then tried to sit on it, either unable or unwilling to throw the ball. I think they had 4 passes all night, and 2 of those were in the last 12 seconds. If they were able to win that many games being so “one dimensional”, it doesn’t speak that well of the other Atlanta area schools.
By NSHS FAN
December 9, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
Hey lady luck: Buford has placed some outstanding players in college like other outstanding teams in ga. Remember what you said, over a ten year period. That is, they didn’t play at the same time. Look at (within 10 years) Warner Robins: Chansi Stuckey, Clemson now with the Jets, Willie Reid Florida State, Steelers, Richardson DB at Notre Dame (With D. Walker) now with New England, Williams,DB with Florida State, Moore, DE Southern California, Jason Respert-Tennessee, Wil Thompson Uni. Georgia, Parker OL Florida, Bass, DB Florida,Abrahams-Auburn, and others I can’t re-call. This not to brag but to show like Buford; a lot the south of Macon schools have great facilities, fans and coaches. If you went to the dome you would have seen the support that Northside, Lowndes, Thomas County and Carver of Columbus brought with them. Be careful what you said about N. Gwinnett and Walton how Buford could beat both. Some blogger(is) going to eat you alive. lol
By Chris
December 9, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
Finals in the GA Dome is a bad idea. It is yet another instance of people north of Macon completely ignoring everyone south of Macon. People from region 1 or region 2 are having to drive anywhere from 3-6 hours to play in a “neutral site” against a team that drove 45 minutes and spent the night before in their own beds. Then after spending two days in a hotel away from home they are asked to play at 9:00. We still think this is neutral? And what about Ware vs. TCC. Both teams drove 5 hours to play each other when they are normally like an hour apart. Americus played Cook a few years ago. Before we all crown the Dome as this great neutral site experiment somebody should conduct a study about the W-L records of teams from the ATL area playing teams not from the ATL area.
Finally let’s look at money. So maybe some schools do get a bigger cut from the Dome than they would from their own gates, but none of their fans can accompany them. If you live in a high poverty area (most of SW GA) you can’t afford to drive up and spend the night so you can watch your son play at 9:00am. When Americus used to make the Dome games a few years ago many of the players’ families couldn’t make the trip and had to watch their kids on TV. This is fair to them how?
For a small town to win the state championship is truly a community event and you want to take that away from these kids too? There is nothing greater than the thrill of celebrating a championship on the field with your friends and families without having to worry about clearing the field for the next team to warm up. Championships in the Dome stink and if it happens I think the schools from Southern GA should boycott it and refuse….or secede and create our own athletic division where people would look out for the interests of our players, fans, and communities.
By george
December 9, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
If the GHSA refuses to listen to common sense, I would certainly favor forming the South Georgia High School Football Association, and let the Atlanta schools have their precious Georgia Dome. The would fit well with the primary tenants, the Atlanta Falcons.
By Jay Scott
December 9, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
I have played football in high school in Fla. and watched it in Ga.for about 20 years. It is fun to have the fans come on the field if you win or lose in a state championship game. At the Dome this is not possible. I was glad to see my team play. I think it is too expensive for a lot of people who support local football to go to Atlanta. Some people can’t get off on Friday so all the championship games should be played on Sat. The food is too expensive in the Dome. I think we could find or pay for some better referees that will call penalties in the third and fourth quarters not because a another game has to be played. Maybe we need instant replay to eliminate the boo’s from the fans. This is were a call must be right even in high school. It is important to everyone that is playing or watching the game. I have seen some bad calls that have been the difference in winning and losing. Therefore we won’t have to try to play against the other team and referees at the same time.I think it is better to support local motels, gas stations and community who have supported the team all year. It is a big thing to have it played in your town. Flip the coin.
he seats or to
By ladyluck
December 9, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Somehow this got off on a tangent. My bad. I did not make the statement that S Ga schools don’t have talent. Simply stated that after watching Buford twice on TV this year, I haven’t seen anybody better.
NHSH FAN stated Buford would not last against mediocre Big Schools. I’m simply defending that. Your right, all those guys didn’t all play at the same time. But putting 5-6 in D-1 programs year in and year out, I believe they can hold their own with the teams with more players. Remember, you can only put 11 on the field at a time.
As for Northside Warner Robbins, amazing comeback Friday night. Is that Jared Lorenzon at QB? Nix definitely has one of the top programs every year. Sweet unis too.
Back to Bradley’s article… I think all of us fans could argue til we’re blue in the face about what is better, dome or 6,000 seat stadium. I bet if you ask the players, 80% would rather play in the dome wether from Folkston or Dalton.
Playing in the dome in high school was definitely a highlight that I will never forget. To be able to play on the same surface that the greatest game on earth has been played on (Super Bowl) is something very few can say. It doesn’t matter if you drive 6 hrs or 10 minutes, it’s sweet no matter what any fan in the stands says.
By ladyluck
December 9, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
Also,
I’ll say it again, neither Walton or North Gwinnett are physical with enough team speed to play with the Wolves. Sorry, that’s just how I see it. You’re right, they do have more players.
By wareagle
December 9, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Buford is one-dimensional. You must not have seen the Charlton game. Good fortune, Buford catching Charlton without it’s top back, one of the best backs in the state. A great defense with speed and quickness like Lowndes would smash those bloated players from Buford. Georgia saw Buford smash Dublin and Georgia also got to see the most puffy faced players (ie. water retention) ever accumulated on one sideline. Read into it what you will.
By John
December 9, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
Moving the finals to the Georgia Dome is a no-brainer. I have been to state championship games where half the fans either could not sit or had to sit in obstructed view temporary seating because the stadiums were inadequate. And, it is no fun for the visiting team to have to play on somewhat else’s turf. As far as fans running on the field it is not permitted on our high school field or in any place where the school cares about turf condition and school security. I haven’t seen one legitimate argument on behalf of the current system.
By ladyluck
December 9, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
one dimensional in that nobody scores on them? your right. if i recall correctly, charlton’s only pts were a kick off return and a late meaningless score after a buford squip kick. as for the offense they appear to have a big line (i guess that’s a result of water retention), good fullback, 3 good tailbacks, a solid QB who converted on 4th and 11 on the first drive against Dublin, and two solid receivers, one being 6’6” with some scoots and great hands. What part of that is one dimensional????
“Georgia also got to see the most puffy faced players (ie. water retention) ever accumulated on one sideline.” wow, that’s a first! you are very observant. So your saying they drink honey in the locker room? what a croc.
By eaglenation
December 9, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
The dome is a good option, but the state should incorporate different nuetral sites like it does in basketball for the state finals. AAAAA and AAAA could be played in the dome and A-AAA could be played in paulsen stadium at georgia southern or the stadium at albany state could be used.
By doggit
December 9, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
I think it’s a great idea - you know it makes those kids year to play in such an environment.
I only wish they would go ahead and implode that thing and put a proper retractable roof stadium close to or a little north of there that’s tailgate friendly.
By sganut
December 9, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
Ok. Everyone just ignore ladyluck. That’s histerical to think that Buford can beat Camden, Lowndes, North Gwinnett, Ware, Northside, MLK, and many others… Back to the main article by Bradly. His article just proves the point that there are two states in Georgia - Metro Atlanta and the rest of the state. Whatever is best for Metro is best for everyone, right? We should have two high school associations - one for north Georgia (Atlanta and up) and one for the rest of Georgia (Macon and south). I can’t wait for Sweringen to be ousted one day. He’s eaten up with the “Metro brain.”
By wareagle
December 9, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this
ladylick your brain is one-dimensional liker your opines about Buford arrogant a ssholes
By yo
December 9, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
S. Ga here and I just want to say Lowndes enjoys kicking your butts (Atlanta/Gwinnett) in any arena. We consider the Dome our advantage and our home away from home.
ps-ladyluck…Buford isn’t even the 3rd best team in Ga. I would take Roswell or N. Gwinnett from your area over them and they aren’t even going to win AAAAA state championship. Not to mention NSWR.
Buford was lucky Charlton Cty. was without their main horse. A team you could only beat 21-14 when Charlton was without. GET REAL!!!!!
Not to take any thing from Charlton (as you know one of the great programs of AA), but I don’t think they are quite in the league of the top AAAA and AAAAA teams.
Congratulations on beating another AA school as AA champs are supposed to do. Dublin made you guys look good.
By Rabid Dawg
December 9, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
The Chamblee Coach needs to explain why no safety on top of #1, the only threat that Carver had. How can you put a corner in his face, watch him swim and have nothing but grass between him and a TD - Again and again. That’s 3 TD in 5 1/2 minutes to lose. Why can’t you put a safety over #1?