Four Questions with Brookwood's Mark Crews

1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career? "Any coach will tell you that most everything we learn in this business is what someone else is generous enough to teach or share with you. I've been fortunate to be associated with great coaches throughout my 38-year career. I worked with and learned from Crawford Kennedy (Avondale). T. McFerin (Peachtree) and Dave Hunter (Brookwood). All were state championship coaches. Also, Ray Allen, whom I worked with since 1980. Ray is maybe the best X's and O's guy I've ever been around, Along with Tom Jones, who coached me in high school at Columbia and has been with me at Brookwood since 1988. All of these guys have been instructors and inspiration to me through the years."

2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced? "We've faced so many great players over the years, it's really hard to pick just one. Many were dominating type players that were fun to watch. Go way back ... Stacey Driver, RB (Griffin 1980), Warren Newson RB (Newnan 1981), Jamal Lewis at Douglass of Atlanta. All great players, but I think the most savvy player, the one who had an uncanny way of taking over a game and helping his entire team play at a higher level and win football games was Jeff Francoeur at Parkview."

3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach? "Again, over the years, we've played so many great teams that all deserve their due recognition, but the team that Cecil Flowe put together at Parkview from 2000-2002 was about as powerful as any high school team I've ever seen. They won 46 consecutive games and three consecutive state championships in Georgia's largest classification. I hope people realize how awesome a task that was for them to accomplish. I am also proud to remind my good friend, Cecil, that it was us at Brookwood that finally won and broke the streak at 46 early in the 2003 season."

4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change? "One of the biggest issues that I believe must be confronted in Georgia high school football is the issue of recruiting, attendance, transfers and eligibility. The current rules create a distinct competitive advantage for some, along with a lot of confusion and loopholes. The rules are poorly enforced, if enforced at all. I don't profess to have all the answers to this very difficult problem. Perhaps an investigatory and enforcement department within the GHSA would help, but I believe a complete overhaul of the rules in this area is overdue."

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.