Uncategorized
Taking Off The Jersey
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Nico Iamaleava’s name will go down in college football history as one that created a turning point for players in multiple ways.
Which part fans remember might depend on how the rest of Iamaleava’s football career plays out.
As he prepares to enter the transfer portal amid a public breakup with Tennessee about name, image and likeness re-negotiations, this first-of-its-kind NFL-style holdout situation was possible only because of what had come before it.
Iamaleava once again has brought college football a lot closer to … whatever its future will be. His NIL deal going public before enrolling at Tennessee and the legal defense of it led to more money for players. Iamaleava gave a lot more leverage to the players by knowing the value of college athletes.
On the other hand, his public breakup with Tennessee gave leverage to the universities. Had Tennessee and its collective balked or hesitated, more stars might’ve started public holdouts. Instead, Vols fans backed coach Josh Heupel, and players are anticipating that fans won’t be on their side.
It started in 2022, an $8 million multiyear for Iamaleava while he was still in high school.
It was one of the first sets of public NIL numbers, and this caught more attention from the public because Iamaleava hadn’t played a single down of college football.
When the NCAA looked into it, the state of Tennessee’s attorney general sued the Tennessee collective, leading to a settlement that allows boosters to negotiate NIL with athletes and their agents before players enroll.
Both of those situations will likely lead to more millions going to players. The public contract leak in 2022 reset the market for active players and recruits and has removed the possibility of universities underpaying athletes who are inexperienced in negotiation.
The AG’s lawsuit opened the door to more direct NIL conversations with recruits. Cracking the NIL and creating a more lucrative space for athletes is part of Iamaleava’s legacy.
That is why the whole idea of calling this “NIL” remains farcical. The millions and millions spent on players for NIL come from boosters, local business owners, and rich alumni who want these players to represent their business the same way they represent their university.
This has created tension between regular fans, who don’t care about any individual’s success, they just want to see their team win…
College football is a transient sport; because of that fans root for a team more than a player because the players are only there for 4 years MAX.
The NCAA was able to keep up amateurism and cheat athletes for so long. The NCAA has purposely made the unionization of players hard on the principle that fans, more often than not, will show up on Saturdays no matter who’s on the field, even if they’re showing up with paper bags on their heads.
That reminder is the message coming out of Iamaleava’s impending divorce from Tennessee. Tennessee was one of the only states in America that never outlawed sharecropping, and their slave-owner mentality with college athletes is what bit them in the ass financially and on the field.
There is no college football without college athletes, and there is no excellence in college football without excellent college athletes.
The story is far from over. Perhaps Iamaleava finds a new home, continues to succeed, and earns whatever amount of money he’s worth.
Perhaps Tennessee can’t find an adequate replacement internally or in the portal and struggles in 2025.
The Vols appear willing to live with the potential consequences of fumbling a world class athlete, and the fans support being a worse team in 2025.
Players are worth what organizations are willing to pay them. That’s basic business. This breakup is a reminder that it only goes so far.
Pirates Sail Into Playoffs
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates are headed to the State Playoffs!
After a long regular season of ups and downs, the Brunswick High Pirates Baseball team punched their ticket to the state playoffs after sweeping the Evans Knights in 3 game series.
Since suffering a 2-1 series loss to the Glynn Academy Red Terrors in the city championship and losing one of their stars with Junior OF/P Grant Moore suffering a season ending injury during game one of the city championship, the Pirates have tallied wins in 8 of their last 10 games.
It’s safe to say the Pirates and head coach Greg Roberts seem to be getting hot at the right time. Brunswick definitely has a chance to make some noise in the playoffs this year, but with Grant Moore being out for the season it did seem to raise a big question of whether the Pirates have enough talent on the mound to replace him in the rotation.
Well, the short answer is yes.
They still have their other go-to starters in star OF/P Trenton Robinson who is only a junior and University of Central Florida commit standout senior Jordan Lodise. Robinson has pitched 53.2 innings so far this season with a 1.69 ERA that has led him to a 6-1 record on the mound. Jordan has pitched 46.1 innings this season with a 1.83 ERA giving him a 5-0 record.
Brunswick has a variety of options to go to on the mound besides those two. They have Junior Catcher Avery Jefferson, who has proven he can be a valuable asset behind the plate and on the mound.
Jefferson has a 2-0 record starting on the mound, pitching 24 innings for the pirates this season. The Pirates also have options in the Bullpen with Junior 2nd baseman Brett Hickson, Junior 1st baseman Braxton Johnson, and Sophomore Right Fielder Coleman Smith all being able to come in and provide quality arm talent on the mound to close out games.
We all know the importance of a team’s ability to pitch, but that’s still only part of the game. Not only was Moore a go-to on the mound, but he was also the Pirates starting Center Fielder and batting .311 as the number two hitter.
Coach Greg Roberts was forced to make some quick mid-season defensive adjustments and must have designed the perfect recipe for success.
With the emergence of Junior Braxton Johnson into the starting lineup at 1st base, it allowed Coach Roberts to Shift Trenton Robinson from RF to CF and Coleman Smith from 1st to RF.
You might be wondering what they do when one of those guys mentioned is told to head up to the mound, well that’s where the super versatile Junior Garrison Strickland comes in. Strickland is one of those Charlie Culberson types of players. This season Strickland has played right field, shortstop, 2nd base and even catches when Jefferson is on the mound.
The Pirates this season are averaging almost 7 runs per game, which means they can be a very dangerous team when they get their bats going in sync and get on base. Leading them in runs scored are Hickson (26) and Lodise (25), but the Pirates runs are being scored all across the lineup.
Close behind them you have Senior Left Fielder Dawson Parke (20), Coleman Smith (16), Garrison Strickland (14), Trenton Robinson (14), and even Freshman Bentley Henson (10) and Sophomore Brady Miller (7), who get brought in at times for some additional speed on the bases, have brought in their fair share of runs for pirates.
Brunswick’s batting is highlighted by Brett Hickson who is batting .442, Jordan Lodise batting .337, and Avery Jefferson batting .312, but they aren’t the only ones putting the ball in play.
A few others who have had a consistent season at the plate are Coleman Smith, Dawson Parke, and Trenton Robinson all batting over .250 for the Pirates this season.
The Pirates finished the regular season off very strong, but their big 10-0 win against Seckinger wasn’t the only accomplishment that night.
It was also a huge achievement for Coach Greg Roberts with that game marking off his 300th career win as a baseball coach.
There’s no doubt the Pirates have had a rough road to the playoffs, but with the ability of these players and their coaches being able to gain all of this momentum over the last few weeks, the only thing that matters now is what’s ahead of them.
The playoffs and a chance to reach the coveted State Championship. If this Pirates team under the leadership of coach Roberts can continue to stay hot and take it game by game the sky is truly the limit for them.
Wildcat Wrestling
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Camden County’s boys’ wrestling team isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
The Wildcats dominated in Macon two weekends ago, locking up their 11th straight state championship with a runaway 303.5-point performance—more than 80 points ahead of second-place Buford.
Leading the charge were three-time champs Bradley Patterson and Ryder Wilder, along with first-time winners Isaac Santos and Brock Weaver.
But it was a full-team effort that made the difference, with 14 wrestlers earning top six finishes and eight making it to the finals.
For an understanding of Camden Wrestling’s continued dominance, consider that the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) created the 7-A classification in 2016, and the Wildcats have won the state championship in wrestling every year since 2014.
The GHSA did away with the 7-A classification at the end of the 2024 school year, making 6-A the highest classification in the state. This means that in the history books of Georgia high school wrestling, Camden County will remain the ONLY squad to have ever won a 7-A wrestling state championship.
Camden set the tone early and never looked back, outscoring every team across all classifications. Head coach Jess Wilder knew his team had the firepower to finish the job, but he didn’t want them getting too comfortable.
“Two years ago, we were down by 28 points going into the last day, and a lot of these guys remember that because they were freshmen,” Wilder said. “We came back and won that year, so we knew we couldn’t take our foot off the gas.”
Camden finished with four individual champions: Patterson (113), Wilder (190), Santos (120), and Weaver (157).
They also had four runners-up—Cane Smolarsky (126), Rod Zow (144), Jamaal Coppedge (165), and Brian Wright (175)—plus several other key contributors. Brandon Higgins (132), Hunter Prosen (138), and Joseph Schulze (285) placed third, Waylon Rozier (150) and Caleb Gaskin (215) finished fourth, and Clayton Newton (106) took fifth.
Buford had the same number of finalists as Camden, but their lack of depth hurt them. “That’s why we win state,” Wilder said. “Our depth is what separates us. Our guys who battled back through the consolation rounds made a huge difference.”
Wilder and Patterson were nearly untouchable. Wilder pinned his finals opponent in just 27 seconds, with his other two pins lasting 31 and 49 seconds.
Patterson was just as dominant, racking up two pins in 25 seconds total before winning his semifinal and final by technical fall, including a 16-0 shutout in the championship match.
Santos fought through a tough semifinal before rolling to a 16-0 title win, while Weaver capped off his run with an 11-3 major decision.
Other Wildcats put together strong performances as well, with Smolarsky, Zow, Coppedge, and Wright all making the finals.
Higgins had one of the fastest pins of the tournament—just five seconds—before winning third place with a clutch 3-1 decision.
The boys weren’t the only ones making headlines. Breanna Higgins tore through the girls’ 100-pound bracket, pinning all four of her opponents to claim a state title.
She finished things off with a second-period pin in the finals after making quick work of the competition leading up to it.
With 15 total state placers between the boys’ and girls’ teams, Camden County once again showed why it’s the top wrestling program in Georgia.
The Wildcats keep setting the bar—and they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon.
It Just Means More
By: Charlie Moon
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I’m glad I was born and raised in a family with friends that believed it was better to be hooked on sports than it was drugs and alcohol.
If we Family Feud style poll 500 UGA fans on their favorite memories of the annual UGA – Florida game, the #1 answer would assuredly be Larry Munson’s call of Lindsay Scott’s TD catch-n-run from Buck Belue that saved the Dawgs’ 1980 National Title hopes.
Even many young Dawg fans would agree. They weren’t even alive. Maybe they know because it came up in the Dawgs’ recent titles, the first since 1980.
But I could almost guarantee they know because it was passed down from family and friends. On some late October Halloween weekend, they watched the annual “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” game. It came up on the broadcast, or maybe they saw it on College Gameday. But maybe, just maybe, they heard of Munson’s call by mom, dad, uncle, grandparent, etc etc.
Then they hopped on that Worldwide Internet Machine and found out for themselves!
All too often, bigtime sports fans wonder if they’re spending too much time in front of the TV on weekends, or weekdays for that matter. We wonder if we should spend more time cooking, cutting the grass or whatever else. And then sometimes we’re reminded the answer to that question is very relative.
The spices of life that reveal who we are, come from different aspects. Maybe it’s nature. Maybe it’s the arts. Maybe it’s cooking. But we all have that one thing that draws us in, no matter how bad the day is.
It hits that sweet spot in our soul. My parents raised me to know it was certainly okay to be obsessed with sports, as long as you stayed well-rounded. And I am.
I was heavily involved in the arts, even into my adult life, as a vocal and percussion performer. I love the movies, crime shows and other things.
But anyone that knows me, will tell you. “Moon’s crazy about sports!”
And the Georgia-Florida game has provided many memories around family and friends that remind us why we love it.
Sure, the game is big. But in the end, it’s memories of seeing family and friends – the times on Amelia Island, or the Landings. The first time you drive across the St. John’s River Bridge and overlook the sea of Red and Black versus Orange and Blue tailgate tents.
Like the Moons, many fans see specific family and friends, only in Jacksonville.
I know I’ve got some memories that will always stick.
Once, we went to the UGA-FL Game Hall of Fame Banquet. David Pollack was inducted. My mom has always loved him. She went right up to him, like a fawning teenager, and Pollack signed the back of the left shoulder of her shirt.
I remember my brother and I going onto the docks on Jacksonville Beach with a bucket of beer and just chilling in the late night breeze. Once, my dad nearly ripped off a drunk Gator fan’s head when they got rude with mom.
Bottom line is, no matter the outcome, the annual UGA – Florida game is one that splits a stadium right down the middle. It produces iconic photos like Tebow’s bloody face or the Dawgs storming the end zone while Mark Richt grins.
So, no matter how you take in the game – from the seats, from a watch party outside the stadium, Fernandina Beach, Jekyll Island or any town in Georgia, always remember this.
The value of being around family and friends and those memories will mean so much more than whether Larry Munson is celebrating in high, or Gator Nation is doing that ridiculous chomp.
Small Town Pride
By: Charlie Moon
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Charlton County Indian baseball coach Thad Marchman told me, “Our players and community take a lot of pride in our field.”
I had no idea where he was going after asking him about Charlton’s (Folkston, GA) hometown feel.
I wondered, “Is this guy ok?” It’s a busy week for him, but…..more on that later.
This weekend, for my third consecutive year, I’m honored to call the GHSA A-Div. 2 State Championships at Georgia Southern’s JI Clements Field. I feel like an honorary Tribe Nation member.
The #1 ranked Indians (36-2, 20-0) battle #2 ranked, fellow Region 2 rival, Lanier County (32-9, 15-5) – a 3-game series.
For the Tribe, it’s familiar territory. Since Marchman took over in 2007, Folkston’s diamond boys have won 3 state and 10 region titles, including a state title last year.
The only thing between them and a possible 3rd consecutive state title, is a 2022 mis-played deep left field fly ball on a late-night cloudy, hazy sky against Metter, at JI Clements Field.
…..back to why Marchman talked about their field, when discussing Folkston pride.
“First thing we did when I started was, improve our field. Our players and community take a lot of pride in it. It’s beautiful…come a long way. All players have a role making it that way and keeping it that way.”
I knew where he was going now.
“That’s a reflection of our town. The common ground of small-town high school athletics builds the hometown feel, taking pride in how we represent our community when we play, keeps it that way.”
And it’s not just baseball. In the modern era, between baseball, football and hoops, Charlton owns 7 state titles, 36 region titles and 7 state runners-up.
Although Charlton has had long-time athletics success, baseball was a doormat – until Marchman arrived in 2007.
“We immediately focused on the field so our players would have a place they were proud to play. Then we focused on discipline, then on performance.
We finally started to see some success in 2011. We made the state playoffs for the first time since like 1977.”
Marchman doesn’t worry about private schools poaching players either.
“I have to coach the players that live in my county. Whoever is there, that’s who I am going to coach. If they want to be with us, great. If not, that’s ok too.”
Charlton and Lanier call the Okefenokee Swamp their backyard. They’ll shut down their towns, drive to Statesboro, and decide a state title.
One thing is for sure. The Indians of Charlton will bring every bit of hometown pride that JI Clements Stadium can handle!
Chop On!
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Everything that the Braves have heard for 6 months is that “if the Braves have to rely on pitching, they’re in trouble.” What did the Bravos do? Only churn out the best record in baseball and prepare for a NL Division Series match-up against NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies that will serve as a re-match of the 2022 NLDS.
The Braves rang out a record of 104-58 and joined only the Orioles and Dodgers as the only three teams in MLB with 100 wins. A big part has been the best offense in baseball scoring the most, and the biggest run differential in MLB this year.
A big question for Atlanta has been the ace of the staff Max Fried, who has been dealing with a blister on his pitching hand.
In the downtime between the end of the regular season and the Saturday beginning of the Phillies series, the Braves had 3 days of simulated games between current players and minor-leaguers split into two teams.
In the Tuesday intersquad game, Fried threw with a band-aid on the pitching hand in question just for a little precaution. All indications after the outing from Manager Brian Snitker and Braves personnel point to Fried being a go for the NLDS roster, and potentially starting game 2 on Monday. Signs would lead Braves fans to expect the series opening nod to go to right-hander Spencer Strider.
As much as Braves fans enjoyed the down years for the Phillies (just one year over .500 from 2012-2022), it’s good to have the Braves-Phillies rivalry back to it’s best. This year in the 13 games head-to-head, the Braves hold the 8-5 lead as the two look to the best of 5 game NLDS.
With the best record in Baseball, the Braves have locked up home field advantage all the way through to the World Series.
Atlanta will host game one on Saturday at Truist Park with a 6:07 first pitch.
Game two from Atlanta will come Monday at the same time before the series shifts to Philadelphia for games 3 and (if necessary) 4 at Citizen’s Bank Park.
If the series goes the distance, the deciding game 5 will return to Cobb County in metro-Atlanta.
The Phillies come into the series with a 90-72 record in the regular season and finished 14 games back of the Braves in the NL East.
After sweeping the Marlins in a best-of-three series in the Wild Card round, the Phillies come into Atlanta behind an offense led by Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who each drove in over 100 runs, and Bryce Harper, who missed just shy of 40 games earlier in the year with injury.
On the mound, the Phanatics are led by the duo of Aaron Nola and Zack Weeler who both threw over 190 innings and fanned 200 hitters.
Outside of Jeff Hoffman (the only Phillies reliever with a sub-3.00 ERA), the bullpen for the Phils is familiar to Atlanta fans. Craig Kimbrel capped off 23 saves to the tune of a 3.26 ERA while fighting off some nagging injuries.
So, what’s different this postseason for the Braves, who look to get the bad taste of the 2022 NLDS that the Phillies won 3-1?
A big key is the pure health of the squad. Going into the postseason last year, off the top, they were without infielder Ozzie Albies who only played 64 games last year because of a broken right pinky and broken left foot.
Spencer Strider was trying to fend off an oblique injury that pushed him to a game 3 start. He threw 2 strong innings before the 3rd seeing him only recording 1 out.
This postseason, the Braves franchise have adopted the mantra “As One” to symbolize that the Braves “team” isn’t just the players on the field, but also coaches, staff, front office, and even the fans.
So “As One” it’s time to Chop On Braves Country!
In Need Of Highlights
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s October now so the NBA season will begin later this month.
There are typically about four teams that have legitimate chances to compete for a championship. Atlanta is normally not one of those teams.
Let’s take a look at the Hawks and what we should expect for the 2023-24 season.
Star point guard Trae Young is entering his sixth season in the league. He’s a two time NBA All-Star (2020, 2022) and he averaged 26.2 points per game and 10.2 assists per game last season.
The biggest struggle the franchise is having is adding another great player to the roster.
Atlanta is typically decent enough so they do not get a high draft pick. They consistently pick in the middle of the first round so they add role players. Also, they are not a free agent destination and I am surprised by that.
A couple of decades ago the franchise also had this problem with Dominique Wilkins. Hopefully history does not repeat itself and they don’t waste a star players prime years.
Last year they finished the season 41 – 41 and beat the Miami Heat in the Play-In tournament. Then they lost to the Boston Celtics (2 – 4) in the first round of the playoffs.
Head coach Nate McMillan was fired in February and he spent three seasons with the team. Quin Snyder was hired as the head coach a few days later.
The Hawks drafted guard Kobe Bufkin (Michigan) with the 15th pick in the draft. The sophomore earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors. He’s a 6’5 left hander and hopefully he can become a solid scoring option.
In the second round they drafted 6’6 guard/forward Seth Lundy (Penn State). He’s a four year starter and as a senior he averaged 14.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg.
They also brought in two veterans in guards Patty Mills and Wesley Matthews. They will both contribute to leading the team and sharing their knowledge with the younger players.
The team emphasized how important it is to establish good habits.
“It’s about a day in day process about creating good and sustainable habits so that when you do reach those goals, you can continue to surpass them, because you’re leaning on the process of your work, rather than just ‘we’re doing anything we can to just achieve this specific goal,’” general manager Landry Fields said. “So that sort of paradigm of that mindset is really what we’re hopping on right now.”
Spacing the floor is also crucial to their success this season.
“I mentioned spacing a lot last year and spacing allows you to move the ball, it allows you to attack and even though you think it’s subtle, if you’re spaced properly sometimes that can be as simple as like you’re not in someone’s way when they get to go lay the ball in,” Snyder said. “So again, you’re doing something for someone else.”
Another goal entering the season is establishing an unselfish mindset.
“This season is about hard work,” Snyder said. “I would like for that to be characteristic of our system, us being a selfless team is huge and you can point to that in so many different areas, whether it’s taking the charge, making the extra pass, running back on defense, celebrating your teammates successes, all those different things.”
The season will begin at Charlotte on October 25 and is followed with a home game against the Knicks two days later.
I think they will finish the season slightly above .500 with an early playoff exit.
Walking the Plank
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There was no way for the Bucs to find another quarterback who could command the offense the way Brady did. So, they chose to give the gifted but unsuccessful Baker Mayfield a chance and allow room for the development of second-year passer Kyle Trask.
The Bucs will be dependent on much more than whoever is throwing the ball. They will need solid coaching, an improved running game, dependable receivers, and a better defense. It will take many to replace the greatest in the history of the game.
I feel like the Bucs, without Tom Brady, have fallen off the face of the earth. Has there ever been a team that went from winning a Super Bowl two short years ago to fighting for relevance within its own division this fast? (OK, let’s leave the Rams out of this.)
Let’s start with the reality that Tampa was somewhat limited by salary cap issues they knew would come due (such as $35 million in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement). Releasing running back Leonard Fournette ($5 million) and several others totaling $75 million in dead money … yikes. Nothing like biting the bullet for 2023- and Tampa Bay has lead teeth.
The Bucs defense is easiest to trust, and they will have to sustain dominance to give their tender offense the chance to score. Overall, they ranked in the top half of the league in most defensive stats last season, being top 10 in sacks and third down stops.
Devin White’s performance has tailed off a bit since his All-Pro season in 2020, nevertheless he is a supremely gifted linebacker and at 25 he probably has not yet played his best ball.
White should be more motivated than ever. He reportedly requested a trade in the offseason because he wants his contract reworked.
The Bucs exercised the option year of his rookie contract and he will be a free agent after this season, barring an extension or tag.
White knows the cost of middle linebackers has gone up in the last year with Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, and Tremaine Edmunds signing new deals. White and the defense need to play at an extremely high level for the Bucs to have anywhere close to a successful season.
I like GM Jason Licht’s philosophy of drafting BIG with his top three picks this year — two front-seven players on defense and an offensive tackle. Add free-agent acquisition Greg Gaines from the Rams at defensive tackle, and this group has gotten a nice makeover on a limited budget.
Also, it’s year 2 under head coach Todd Bowles, and roles should be defined more clearly after the awkward departure of Bruce Arians last offseason.
On offense, I struggle with Baker Mayfield. He is on his fourth team since being the first pick in the 2018 draft. I have less faith in Kyle Trask.
The Bucs’ inexperience at running back and lack of depth in the perimeter leave me with more questions than answers for this offense.
Today, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as the division winner from 2022, even if it was with an 8-9 record.
At least they have that Super Bowl trophy to shine up if all else fails. If the future’s looking bad, why not live in the past Tampa Bay?
It’s A Gimme
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Glynn Academy Golf has long been a perennial power in the state.
And while it’s been over a decade since the Glynn Academy Boys Golf team has won a state championship, it couldn’t have been soon enough for Mike Zito and the Senior laden 2023 Red Terror outfit.
Meanwhile over on the ladies’ side, the very young Lady Terrors of Kip Hall waltzed through the AAAAAA tournament again to become back-to-back state champs for 2023.
With the old adage of age before beauty, let’s take a look at the boy’s side today.
The Glynn boys have won multiple state championships in Golf. The lineage goes back decades with great teams and great individuals.
However, as talented as Glynn has been, 2011 was the last time they had hoisted the trophy as the best team in the region and state.
I got to sit down and talk with coach Mike Zito about this year’s outfit and how the 2023 Glynn outfit was different.
Mike has headed the Red Terrors for the past decade and he has had teams as talented as this one. He will tell you that. Some very good players have come through the old school down on the south side of Brunswick. But the recurring theme of our conversation was that this team “jelled” at the right time.
He spoke of how it wasn’t easy with this group. They had ups and downs throughout the early part of the season. Some of it being injuries. Try a broken leg to one of your best players! And some of it was just young men being young men!
Through it all, Zito said these guys never lost sight of the team and the prize. And about a month before the state tournament, they jelled. They became a senior led team, which wanted it.
The result was 5 shot win for the Terrors and Red Terror Williamson Mosher taking home the individual title with an outstanding -3 (141). It was Coach Zito’s first title and a week later he was still smiling ear to ear.
“These guys were a close-knit bunch and jelled at the right time.” He said. In the weeks leading up to the tournament it was all business. The maturity and realization that it was the last shot time hit home for the boys and they responded. Let’s take a look at the 2023 State Champs and how they fared in the tournament.
I guess we should start with Williamson Mosher, who led the Terrors and won the individual trophy. His 141 over two days in subpar weather carried the Terrors. Zito noted his overall game and focus. “When he’s on, he’s just tough to beat.” And he was on!
The leading junior on the team, Hank Holcomb, finished tied for fourth at 147. Coach Zito mentioned that he was the team’s most consistent ball striker and had that “confidence in his game.” He will be back to lead the 2024 outfit.
Seniors Shep Davenport and Ellis Long rounded out scoring with a 151 and 158, respectively. Zito said Davenport had “all the shots and was uber competitive.”
While Long was “long off the tee with a great short game and demeanor.
Senior Grady Sanders, who was 3 months removed from breaking his leg in a car accident, shot a 159. Before his accident, Grady was maybe the team’s best player. It was a testament to the team concept that he fought his way back and contributed.
Seniors Michael Cook and Walker Larkin provided the depth needed and were integral members of the team.
Drew Harrison and Hayden Couturier were the young guns, having recently picked up the game and Zito spoke of how they all had steadily improved during the year, were consummate team players, and their best golf being in front of them.
Back for another shot next year are Juniors Chris Reddini and Jake Dancy, whom Coach Zito said worked hard and their time is coming.
He’s looking for them and Hank Holcomb to step up and fill some big shoes next year. I can’t express how proud Coach Zito was of these young guys and who they were and what they had accomplished.
He mentioned that ALL of the seniors would be heading to the University of Georgia next year with the exception of Ellis Long, who will head to Harvard.
Next year’s Terrors will be talented and young. But with Tim Hall churning out players from the Junior Varsity and the returning core, Zito is excited about the future.
But today, lets enjoy what these guys and this team accomplished.
GLYNN ACADEMY BOYS AAAAAA STATE CHAMPIONS.
And next issue we get to look at the burgeoning dynasty that is Glynn Academy Girls Golf.
Rivalries
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With Texas and Oklahoma entering the SEC in 2024 the conference will move to a 9-game SEC football slate.
Most are speculating that the SEC could adopt a 3+6 scheduling model. Under that model you would have three permanent opponents that you would play annually and six other conference opponents.
Also, under that model every team in the SEC would play each other every two years and play home and home with every non-permanent opponent every four years.
The current SEC scheduling format has some flaws. Example Georgia has only played Texas A&M once since they joined the conference in 2012. The Dawgs have yet to make a trip to College Station to play the Aggies. A 3+6 model will eliminate that.
There are rivalry games in the SEC that need to be protected at all costs under any new scheduling format. Here are my top six annual rivalry games that need to be protected by the expanding SEC.
Alabama vs Auburn: The Iron Bowl is the most iconic rivalry game in all of college football. To tinker with this one is a sign of the pending Rapture.
The Iron Bowl has given us some of the greatest moments in college football history.
Georgia vs Florida: The best border war in all of college football. The “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” currently resides in Jacksonville.
I would like to see it stay there forever. It could end up going to a home and home series, but frankly I would hate it. The game is not going anywhere however and is an SEC staple.
Auburn vs Georgia: The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry has lost some of its luster lately with UGA winning fifteen of the last eighteen games, but there is too much history in place to discontinue playing this contest on an annual basis.
Alabama vs Tennessee: The Third Saturday in October is a classic SEC Rivalry game that needs to stay in place.
The 2022 game in Knoxville was a classic with Tennessee breaking a 15-year losing streak to Alabama. You saw the passion for the contest in the Tennessee postgame celebration.
Oklahoma vs Texas: There is no conceivable way the SEC does not keep The Red River Shootout in place once these two teams join next year.
A huge game played in Dallas every year during the Texas State Fair in the Cotton Bowl Stadium.
Mississippi State vs Ole Miss: The Egg Bowl is very intense and usually played on Thanksgiving Night.
The intensity and passion this game displays must not be touched.
These six games mentioned above are the fabric of the historic SEC and the newly expanded SEC.
The SEC must decide everyone’s three permanent opponents. Other big games that we could see annually depending in the SEC:
Florida vs Tennessee: This was the SEC in the 1990’s. It has lost some luster lately but is still a huge game.
Alabama vs LSU: This has become the matchup that determines the SEC West Champion often.
Texas vs Texas A&M: What a shame this game ended when A&M joined the SEC. I suspect it will get back on track.
Georgia vs South Carolina: Georgia is South Carolina’s biggest SEC rival.
Kentucky vs Tennessee: Kentucky will want Tennessee as one of its permanent opponents and Tennessee will jump for joy.
Tennessee vs Vanderbilt: See Kentucky vs Tennessee above.
Florida vs LSU: This is an underrated rivalry game.
Auburn vs Florida: This was a classic rivalry game that got lost in the shuffle when the SEC reshuffled permanent opponents after the 2002 season. These teams have played 84 times, but only 4 times since 2002.
Arkansas vs Texas: Old Southwest Conference rivals could reunite annually.
You never know how it will all shake out. Some folks will be happy, and some will not. We shall see.
