This week, our Four Questions feature is being answered by some of Georgia's best-known retired coaches. We continue today with Rodney Walker, who won 300 games as a Georgia head coach before retiring after the 2011 season. He took three different schools to the state semifinals, two to the finals and one (West Rome in 1984) to a championship. His son Chip Walker followed him as head coach at Sandy Creek, and the two became the first father and son to win Georgia state championships as head coaches when Chip led Sandy Creek to the title in 2010.
Rodney Walker
1. What is the most memorable game you've been a part of as a player or coach?"In 43 years of coaching there were many memorable games that were especially exciting for the players, coaches and fans. Three of my favorites are: First, in 1981 while coaching at Habersham Central, we beat Clarke Central 7-0 for the first victory over Clarke Central in school history, sending Habersham Central to the playoffs. Second, in 1984, West Rome beat Mary Persons 14-7 in the state championship game. This game was bittersweet because it came against my high school team and coach [Dan Pitts]. And third, in 1988 while coaching at Stephens County, we beat Dalton 22-21 in overtime to put us in the state championship game. Down 21-14 with less than a minute to go, we recovered a fumble and scored on the next play. The PAT tied the game, and we won in overtime on penetration."
2. Which high school coach would you want your son to play for, and why?"I was very fortunate to be able to coach my son [Chip], and it was a great experience for me, not sure about him. If not me, then either my high school coach, Dan Pitts, or [current Stephens County head coach] Frank Barden, who played quarterback for me at Habersham Central and who I coached with at Stephens County. Both are great coaches and great men!"
3. What is your pet peeve as a coach or favorite saying/motto?"'You play like you practice.' A point that I stressed through the years was that the better you practiced, the better you played on Friday night."
4. Which GHSA policy or high school football rule would you most like to see changed? "I, like many other coaches you have interviewed, think the GHSA needs to monitor transfers more closely. This is a difficult issue because many parents today have the means and are willing to move to put their athlete in the best position for scholarships. But some student-athletes are not actually moving. These are the ones the GHSA needs to address. I also think that the practice rules that were put in place two years ago should be monitored more closely. These rules are for the safety of the players. If you are going to have rules for practice, then monitor and enforce them so that no teams are disadvantaged."
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