Clay Cox likely will think twice before making a gentleman’s agreement again.
The former state representative from Lilburn, who served in the General Assembly from 2005 to 2010, is an unpaid kicking coach for Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. But after the Spartans failed in 2009 to reach the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, the former kicker for Snellville’s Brookwood High School and Western Carolina University told his players that he would try out for a team if they resumed their old ways.
Sure enough, they made the playoffs in 2010.
That means Cox, 43, now can be found kicking field goals on sweltering Saturday nights for the Atlanta Chiefs, a minor league team. His placekicking holder is 21 years his junior. Cox is married with two sons, both of whom play football at Greater Atlanta Christian. We talked to him about his rejuvenated football career.
Q: How are football and politics alike?
A: They are both full contact sports, to be sure. Once you are elected, you’ve got to really be able to be part of a team. You have your party caucus. You have committees where you are working with people from both parties, people with different interests and backgrounds. It is similar on a football team.
Q: How is football different this time around?
A: I use a lot more Advil. A few of my teammates still call me sir. Before they knew I was in politics, my nicknames were Brett Favre and Touch of Gray. Now it is Mr. President.
Q: Do your players at GAC rib you about playing football?
A: Constantly, but they are having fun with it. Several show up for the games. I gave them my word that I’d find a team to try out for. I never expected to make it.
Q: What does it take to be a good kicker?
A: Obviously balance is huge because you are trying to do something on one foot. Foot speed. Flexibility. These are all of the things I didn’t have any more when it came time to try out. I had to start running again and stretching every morning to get back into some semblance of physical shape.
Q: This is your first season with the Chiefs, right?
A: Yes, and I may be retiring soon.
Q: Really?
A: I am having an absolute ball. I would consider doing it as long as my body holds up. I feel better physically than I did a year ago.
Q: You kick barefoot, right?
A: Yes. Barefoot allows me to get under the ball and hit the sweet spot more consistently.
Q: So this football thing isn’t a midlife crisis?
A: It probably is, but I already had a convertible. I wasn’t interested in finding a girlfriend; I’ve been married 20 years to the best woman in the world. I guess I had to find something crazy to do in my 40s.
Q: Did you miss football when you weren’t playing anymore?
A: Absolutely. Football is an incredible sport. It is the ultimate team sport.
Q: Do you miss politics?
A: Not as much as I missed football. I do miss lawmaking and legislating. I’ll always consider that to be a great time in my life.
Q: Do you anticipate running for political office again?
A: I don’t have any plans to get back into politics, but you never know. I have a strong faith and if that is something that God puts in front of me, I will certainly consider it.
Q: Do you think you are setting an example for the players at GAC?
A: Our starting field goal kicker next year is going to be my son Connor. I can’t think of a better example for the guys or me than him. He enlisted in the Army his junior year and is going to his infantry training next summer. We have a lot great kids at GAC who impress me every day.
The Sunday Conversation is edited for length and clarity. Writer Ann Hardie can be reached by email at ann.hardie@ymail.com.
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