For 22 years, the Corky Kell Kickoff Classic has been growing its tradition and place in high school football. Each season brings a new group of talented athletes and a fresh lineup of games. The 2012 Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic, especially, served as a year filled with firsts. It would be the first time the event would host five football games and it was the also first time a luncheon would be held beforehand to honor the start of another football season.
The kickoff luncheon will be held again Aug. 22 and guests will congregate in the Georgia Dome’s Media suite, which is situated just yards from the Dome’s turf that will host the action two days later. Georgia Public Broadcasting’s sports division and emcee Mark Harman introduces each of the 10 schools playing in the 2013 Kell Classic, and each of the 10 head coaches brings with him a player to represent his team. The two will answer questions talk about their Saturday matchup and the season ahead.
Brookwood’s Mark Crews will bring running back Josh Brown. Senior lineman Trayvon Williams joins Camden County head coach Welton Coffey. With Colquitt County, head coach Rush Prospt will be with his starting center, Gabe Mobley. Kennesaw State commit Taylor Henkle and head coach Derek Cook will represent Kell, while UAB commit and receiver Collin Lisa joins first-year Chattahoochee head coach Mike Owens.
Mickey Conn will bring Grayson’s only returning starter from last season, running back Aares McCall, Walton quarterback Price Wilson will join coach Rocky Hidalgo, McEachern coach Kyle Hockman comes with quarterback Ty Clemons and Peachtree Ridge coach Mark Fleetwood has offensive tackle Orlando Brown in tow. North Gwinnett will be represented by head coach Bob Sphire and his son Hayden, who starts at quarterback for the Bulldogs.
Catering the event will be Atlanta’s beloved sports bar, Taco Mac. The Atlanta restaurant has been a staple since its birth in the Virginia-Highland in 1979, and has grown to its now 28 locations across Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. This event celebrates the arrival of the Metro PCS Corky Kell Kickoff Classic, and also an overall celebration of football’s return to the Peach State is its universal function. Five of the 2012 state championship teams will be represented at the luncheon including head coaches: Keith Maloof (Norcross), Bruce Miller (Gainesville), T. McFerrin (Jefferson), Jess Simpson (Buford) and Chip Walker (Sandy Creek).
The Kell Classic’s premier sponsor, SprinTurf, will be at the luncheon, as well as all the sponsors that help make the event such a success like Metro PCS. Georgia’s best players heading into the season will also headline the guest list, and 10 of the 11 AJC Super 11 recipients will attend including: Lorenzo Carter, Korie Rogers, Nick Chubb, Malkom Parrish, Adam Choice, Kendarius Webster, Deshaun Watson, Cortez McDowell and DeMarre Kitt.
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