GHSF Daily asked each of Georgia's eight 2017 state-winning head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Hal Lamb, Class AAA champion Calhoun
1. With a full offseason to reflect, what is the most memorable or special thing that you take from your championship season? "Our championship was very gratifying because we weren't expected to be in the state championship game, much less win the state championship. We had a really tough stretch in the playoffs and were unfortunate in losing the coin flip two weeks in a row, but our kids believed in the process of getting better each week. Everything that we do in our program is built around peaking toward the end of the season, and this past season was a perfect example. We really played well down the stretch."
2. What did winning this championship teach you about what it takes to win a championship that you didn't already know? "I am a firm believer in team chemistry playing a major role in winning championships. After our team got embarrassed by Cartersville in game four, our seniors had to decide what direction our team was going to go in, and to their credit, they handled it like champions."
3. The 2017 finals had some controversies. One was the weather postponement of several games out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The other was a call in the Peach County-Calhoun game that sparked a debate about the use of instant replay. How would you critique the GHSA's handling of those situations? "I believe the GHSA handled the weather situation the best way they could. They were in a no-win situation, and it was impossible for them to please everyone. They focused on safety first. There is one thing for sure - we cannot control the weather. As for instant replay, I am not a proponent of it. My thoughts are that every single high school football game has good calls and bad calls, and that is not going to change as long as humans are involved. Referees are part of the game just like the players and coaches, and we all make mistakes. I agree that there are definite benefits to instant replay, but as a high school coach of 30 plus years, I do not believe instant replay is necessary or feasible for high school sports. Learning to take the good with the bad is a valuable lesson that we all need to learn, as it is part of life."
4. What's the outlook for your team this season? What are your chances of repeating? "We have a good nucleus of starters back from last year's team, which can be good and bad. If we stay grounded and focused on getting better each week, then we have a chance to have another great season. However, I think Class AAA is as strong as it has ever been, so it should to be fun to watch."
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