GHSF Daily asked Georgia head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Jacob Nichols, Alpharetta
1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career? "Mark Whitley, AD and football coach. I had the opportunity to play under Coach Whitley at Parkview for only one year, but in that one year he showed me how influential a coach can be in a young man's life and set an example of a wonderful family man, coach, teacher and mentor."
2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced? "As a player, Nate French, defensive lineman at Colquitt County, 1999. Biggest, strongest player I ever had to block. As a coach, Cameron Lynch, linebacker, Bookwood, 2010. He was all over the field, blitzing, covering, tackling, etc. Made it very hard to game plan/account for him."
3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach? "2013 Collins Hill. Big, strong and fast at every position on both sides of the ball. 2009 Lassiter. Dynamic offense with a QB [Hutson Mason] that could put the ball anywhere and everywhere."
4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change? "Total quarters of eligibility starting on Friday. I know that was in place for a year or two but went away again last year, I believe. For many programs that may be lower in numbers, depth charts are sometimes a difficult thing to manage. In many cases, a JV starter may be the same person as a varsity backup. Sometimes those can be two totally different scenarios/situations. Also, having to manage eligibility from week to week and day to day can be very confusing, and sometimes may cost a younger player opportunities for development at the sub-varsity level."
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
About the Author
