Blazing To Playoffs?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
How many people can say they witnessed the first win of a football program? This writer can say that. I was there as new freshman living in Patterson Hall as me and my friends watched Valdosta State College beat Troy State 24-21 in the fall of 1982.
Fast forward to 2018 where Head Coach Kerwin Bell enters his third year and the Blazers are projected to be in the middle of the pack in the annual poll taken of Gulf South Conference head coaches throughout the league.
The Blazers garnered 38 points, finishing 24 points behind league favorite West Alabama with 62 points and 6 first-place nods. West Florida, the 2017 national runner-up, was picked second with 59 points and 3 first-place votes, while West Georgia was picked third with 44 points.
Delta State was selected fourth with 41 points, followed by VSU and Florida Tech was sixth with 32 points. Rounding out the final three teams, league-newcomer North Greenville was seventh with 24 points, followed by Mississippi College with 16 and Shorter was ninth with 8 points.
2018 FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
School Total Points
- West Alabama (6) 62
- West Florida (3) 59
- West Georgia 44
- Delta State 41
- Valdosta State 38
- Florida Tech 32
- North Greenville 24
- Mississippi College 16
- Shorter 8
On offense, the Blazers will be led by senior offensive lineman and team captain Jeremy King and running back Kenny Benjamin.
On defense, the Blazers are led by senior defensive back Raymond Palmer from Darien who starred for MCA.
Valdosta State was active in Glynn County during the last recruiting cycle as they signed Ty Hinson, DJ Whitfield, George Mincey Jr. and Tevin Small all from Brunswick High School.
I have VSU beating Albany State, Fort Valley State, Shorter, Mississippi College, Delta State, Florida Tech, and North Greenville. Wins: 7
I can’t see VSU winning in week 3 at West Alabama or beating West Florida on the road on November 3rd. Losses: 2.
The West Georgia game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on November 10th is a toss-up right now to me at this moment in time. A win here and the Blazers could get to 8-2 and make the 28 team Division II Playoffs.
Valdosta State is a three-time national champion in football 2004, 2007, and 2012.
Knights’ Quest
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
A handful of ‘Group of Five’ teams have been able to make runs that put them into the national title discussion over the years but the 2018 edition of Central Florida will be the first of its kind since the Boise State squads of the mid-2000’s with a legitimate shot of making a second consecutive Cinderella run.
The Golden Knights checked off nearly every box in the ‘exciting dark-horse’ checklist last season. They had a young, explosive, dual-threat quarterback. They had a young head coach with name recognition. They had one of the most explosive and high-scoring teams in the country. And they had a linebacker with only one hand who was better than 99 percent of other collegiate defenders with two hands.
That took care of all of the talking points but UCF also backed it up with its play on the field, rolling to the only perfect record in FBS.
But now everything resets back to 0-0. Scott Frost and his staff set sail for Nebraska while NFL draftee Shaquem Griffin and some other key components from last season are gone.
Many G5 titans would be set up for a big fall with those losses but the Knights are still set up for more success.
The key to bridging the winning streak into the new season will focus on quarterback McKenzie Milton. Pressed into action as a freshman in 2016, Milton had a trial by fire that prepared him for a 2017 campaign that saw him put up over 4,500 yards of total offense. Still just a junior, Milton has already proven to be a leader that can will his team to wins.
Also providing a potential path to more success is a schedule that bodes well for the Knights.
Of Central Florida’s two games against Power Five schools, both are very winnable. The Knights take on a North Carolina squad that was just slapped with 13 suspensions midway through September and will host a Pittsburgh team that isn’t projected to be much of an ACC contender to close out the month.
Looking at UCF’s American Athletic Conference schedule brings more good news.
Those stepping up to fill holes in the depth chart will face the conference’s weaker teams throughout the first two months of the season, with the Knights’ biggest division rivals filling out the month of November.
There is enough continuity on both sides of the ball to believe that the Knights can contend again this season but the biggest question will be how the team adjusts to an overhaul on the coaching staff.
Taking the reins of the program after the departure of Frost is former Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel. The 2000 AP Player of the Year didn’t accomplish much in the NFL but began his coaching career at Oklahoma in 2004 and has been rising ever since.
Heupel coached Sam Bradford to a Heisman trophy at Oklahoma and worked his way up to offensive coordinator. He spent a year each at Utah State and Missouri before landing what is his first head coaching gig.
There are sure to be some growing pains with new starters and a new coaching staff but there is no reason to think that the Knights aren’t a contender for another AAC title and – with a little luck – another run at a New Year’s Day bowl.
After all, if UCF can go from 0-12 to 13-0 in just two years, anything seems possible.
Panthers Ready To Pounce
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The college football season is approaching fast. The major programs in the state are normally talked about consistently like Georgia, Georgia Tech or Georgia Southern. Georgia State often flies under the radar. We’re going to take a look at the Panthers and see what they will do in 2018.
This is a pretty new program considering they started playing in 2010. They only spent two seasons at the FCS level before moving up to Division 1 or the FBS level. They are a member of the Sun Belt Conference which is competitive.
They also used to play in the Georgia Dome, which used to look empty during games. Last season they converted Turner Field into Georgia State Stadium. Attendance not only improved by 5 percent in the first year (despite the home-opener loss to Tennessee State), but with a capacity of 24,333, the stadium actually fit the fan base.
Last season was the first year for head coach Shawn Elliott. It started off poorly with a season opening loss then a 56-0 drubbing by Penn State. Then they ripped off 6 wins in 7 games and won the first bowl game in program history. They won the Cure Bowl 27-17 over Western Kentucky and finished the year 7-5.
That momentum has carried over into recruiting because Elliott’s first full-year recruiting class ranked third in the Sun Belt and averaged a three-star rating. His staff is full of hungry young assistants like 33-year old offensive coordinator Travis Trickett and 37-year old defensive coordinator Nate Fuqua.
GSU may take a step backwards in 2018. The run game was maybe the worst in FBS last year and isn’t guaranteed to improve much. The defense returns several playmakers and the receiving corps is exciting.
Quarterback Connor Manning played well last season, completing 64% of his passes. He graduated so junior Aaron Winchester will likely be the starter. Winchester nearly saved GSU against Tennessee State in the opener, leading a fourth-quarter scoring drive before throwing a pick in the final minute. Winchester has mobility (not including sacks, he carried 17 times for 101 yards last year).
Penny Hart was the leading receiver with 74 catches, 1,121 yards and 8 touchdowns. I expect him to be just as explosive this season. GSU adds two SEC transfers, 6’4 South Carolina receiver Christian Owens and 6’3 Florida tight end Camrin Knight.
There’s minimal guarantee that the run game will improve, though it can’t get worse. The line does return four starters and seven players with starting experience.
The defense was able to stop the run, ranking 41st nationally in run defense. Fuqua gets four of his top five linemen and five of seven linebackers back in 2018. The secondary is the weakest position group and they ranked 110th in passing defense. They also allowed a 63% completion rate with a 23-10 TD-to-INT ratio.
The schedule is tough; they open against Kennesaw State who is ranked No.3 in the FCS preseason poll. I think the Owls will pull off the upset and beat GSU.
The schedule features road trips to NC State, Memphis, and all three of last year’s Sun Belt heavyweights (Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Troy), which means there will be almost no margin for error.
The best chances to win are against Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, Western Michigan, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette. I think the Panthers will win 5 games in 2018.
War Chant
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When the clock struck midnight and the year rolled over to 2018, I’m sure there were a lot of people happy to leave 2017 in the rear-view mirror. A certain fan base emanating from Tallahassee, FL would fall under that category.
To proclaim that the 2017 college football season didn’t turn out quite the way the Florida State Seminoles had anticipated is a bit of an understatement.
For a team that started the season with the goal of a National Championship, they finished with a 7-6 record (relying on a makeup game against Louisiana-Monroe and a technicality ruling concerning the number of scholarships awarded by Delaware State just to become bowl eligible) and lost their head coach when Jimbo Fisher pulled a “Lane Kiffin” on his way to Texas A&M.
Like every team heading into the season, there are few things to keep an eye on; in Tallahassee, it starts with the new man in charge.
Willie Taggart, who has changed coaching jobs so much over the past nine years that he had a forwarding address for his forwarding address, was brought in to replace the aforementioned Fisher.
And yes, it’s easy to joke about the number of head coaching jobs he has had during this nine years (four) but to Taggart’s credit they have all been a step up in prominence; Western Kentucky- South Florida- Oregon- Florida State. He is regarded as a very good coach and an excellent recruiter but he has yet to win a bowl game and arrives at FSU with an overall losing record of 47-50.
With all the uncertainty surrounding Taggart, I will say he is just as deserving of this opportunity, if not more so, than other coaches who have been given this chance- here’s looking at you Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain.
It should help things that he’ll have Deondre Francois back under center. I say “should” because after suffering from a season ending injury in the first game last year, you don’t know how Francois will be once he comes back. I imagine the 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year will be more than capable of regaining his prior form but until he’s able to prove it, you would understand if there’s some skepticism.
There’s plenty of talent on this year’s squad, too- something Florida State never seems to be in short supply of- especially on the defensive line and at running back.
However, even though I believe they return four starters on the offensive line, that is their area of weakness; another reason to temper expectations on Francois’ return.
If Francois is healthy and the offensive line is able to help keep him upright, things could be very promising.
However, if neither of those things take place, I do believe this team is more capable of holding things together better than they were last year.
Francois’ injury became a convenient excuse for last year’s troubles, but there’s a team in Athens that may have a different opinion on whether your season is over when it comes to losing your starting quarterback.
Florida State doesn’t necessarily have an easy schedule either, with road games against Miami, NC State, and Notre Dame. But, they do get Clemson at home, which I guess is a plus?
Regardless of the questions entering this season there’s a new era beginning in Tallahassee, and with it comes a renewed sense of optimism.
After last season, what other choice do they have?
Rebuilding Rocky Top
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
A new era has begun at the University of Tennessee: the Jeremy Pruitt era. After five years of varying success under Butch Jones (and two games under interim coach Brady Hoe), the Volunteers are hoping to see a resurgence under this new leadership.
Pruitt comes from the winning ways of FSU, UGA and Alabama and has already begun to make his mark, shaking up the way the Vols are going to play football and shaking up the roster as well.
After the chaos of 2017, it seemed like Pruitt was being brought in to lead Tennessee through a rebuilding period but Pruitt, apparently has other plans. With fall camp finally upon us, let’s dive in and look at a preview of things to come for this new head coach and his team as the season’s first kickoff rapidly approaches.
The first thing to watch will be seeing how the team adapts to a new style of offense.
The spread style that Butch Jones implemented worked with Joshua Dobbs but no one else. With a cadre of passers on the roster and more traditional, a pro-type offense could see success. There will also be a heavier reliance on backs for big plays, with the hope that Madre London and Ty Chandler will step up and be big pieces of the puzzle for the Vols.
Preseason should be an intriguing time in Tennessee, as the transition to this new style will be more telling than it was in the spring.
A key piece to the success of the offense will be whoever wins the positional battle for quarterback. Sophomore Will McBride and freshman JT Shrout are competing for the slot but the competition is really between sophomore Jarrett Guarantano, who made six starts in 2017, and senior graduate transfer Keller Chryst, incoming from Stanford.
Guarantano has an arm to be excited about but the offense faltered under his guidance last year.
Chryst brings a leadership presence to the locker room and, perhaps just as important, a familiarity with the pro-style offense the Vols will be using. Either young man could see the majority of snaps this year.
QB is far from the only position battle the Vols will be hosting during camp this year: tight end will pit incumbent sophomore Eli Wolf (brother of the NFL’s Ethan) against 4-star JUCO transfer Domick Wood-Anderson.
Wood-Anderson came with much fanfare, having been courted by the likes of Nick Saban at Alabama but Wolf comes with experience.
One of the most intriguing differences between the Vols’ squad from last season until now is the number of upper classmen transfer that have showed up on the roster. By bringing in these players it seems clear that Pruitt doesn’t want to settle for a rebuilding season and is ready to win often in 2018.
The dynamic of the locker room is sure to be shaken up compared to where it was in the spring, especially with so many of these transfers being looked at for starting roles. It remains to be seen how the returning players will react to this mass immigration.
Another big change comes in the form of a shift to a 3-4 defense after five years at 4-3.
This might be a tough pill to swallow (just look at the struggles of recent teams who’ve made this change like UGA under Mark Richt or even Tennessee under Derek Dooley).
The defense implemented this change in the spring and looked bad doing it. If Pruitt and Kevin Sherrer plan to stick to it, expect some growing pains in Rocky Top.
The New Buzz
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets enter the 2018 football season with their third coach in three years.
Barrett Davis takes over after Steve Pennington filled in on an interim basis in 2017 and inherits a Yellow Jacket team that lost a few key contributors but return 19 seniors for the 2018 campaign.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s Southeast Bulloch football team,” Davis said. “We have a great senior class and a lot of versatility, so we are ready to pull up our sleeves and get to work.”
The Yellow Jackets will have a new look on offense this season and for the first time in four years it will not revolve around fullback Chase Walker, who left Southeast Bulloch with over 6,000 yards rushing and 91 career touchdowns.
“Replacing someone like Chase Walker will be tough to do but we feel like we are going to be able to take advantage of what we do have talent wise,” Davis said. “We will be running our offense out of the wishbone but we will be throwing the ball a little more and not be quite as reliant on the fullback position.”
This year’s offense may not have Walker – or much of his talented offensive line – but they do return a talented trio of skill position threats in quarterback Blaize Minick, running back Jontrell Wells and receiver Tyler Bailey.
“We’ve got a quarterback in Blaize, who is pretty versatile,” Davis said. “Tyler has done a great job at receiver, but it also solid in the secondary, and Jontrell is a great athlete who can not only help us running the ball, but also at outside linebacker. Our offensive line will be doing different little things scheme wise, and we are stressing technique with them.”
Defensively the Jackets return eight starters from a year ago anchored by linebacker Logan Gomez, and quite a few players playing on both sides of the ball.
“Defensively we will work out of a 3-5 stack, allowing us to send pressure from different directions,” Davis said. “Logan has been doing a great job as well as Jabari Daniels, Rashode Hobbs, as well as a few other guys that will be counted on to go both ways.”
The previous two coaches each led the Jackets to the state playoffs but were unable to do something that still hasn’t been accomplished since 1974, and that is win a state playoff game.
“With us having 19 seniors that were around last year we are hoping they understand what it takes to win a state playoff game,” Davis said. “I think last year was a wakeup call for them to really see what it takes and I feel they have been putting in the work.”
While this may be the third head coach in three years for the players, there are a few familiar faces on the coaching staff as Brandon Peterson returns on offense, along with Chris Pye, while Jeremy Gantt returns to SEB after a year at Lincoln County.
“Jeremy Gant is back and will be joining coach Chris Pye and Brandon Peterson in running our offense, while I will be heading up the defense,” Davis said. “I feel like, along with our other coaches, we have really started to come together and are on the same page.”
Not only will coach Davis have to deal with the growing pains of being a first-year head coach at a new school but he will also have to deal with the new kid on the block in Region 3 AAA, the former AA state champion Cadets of Benedictine.
“The guys started off a little slow last year with a tough schedule and then built up some confidence and finished strong,” Davis said. “We know the kind of talent and tradition a team like Benedictine brings to our region and it will be a challenge but I feel our team is hungry and ready for a challenge.”
The Yellow Jackets open the 2018 season at home Friday August 24th as they host the Screven County Gamecocks.
The New Trick Dawgs
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I know many of you Dawg lifers like me are wondering if last year was a fluke.
Let me ease your mind and tell you all that UGA, under Kirby Smart, will be in position to compete for National Championships for years to come.
Georgia just hauled in the best recruiting class in the nation during the last cycle and has five 5-star recruits committed for the next cycle so the talent pool is as deep as it has ever been in Athens, Georgia with top talent at every position on the two-deep roster.
At QB, Jake Fromm is the starter after that fantastic freshman season last fall that came a blown coverage away from a Natty. Fromm will be a starting NFL QB one day and then you have a once in a generation talent in Justin Fields that UGA will have to figure out ways to get in the game in special packages that will make opposing defensive coordinators binge eat at night trying to keep their jobs.
UGA is running back U. Sony and Chubb are gone but Swift, White and Cook to the rescue. Oh yeah, Georgia still has Holyfield too. This is a nasty sick positional group.
Now that UGA has a head coach that knows how to recruit offensive lineman, the run game looks unstoppable. D’Andre Swift may be in Heisman discussions in October. Wow, I left out Brian Herrien.
Where’s the beef? That used to be the question, but not anymore. Sam Pittman may the best offensive line coach in the business. Andrew Thomas moves to LT, Kendall Baker, Lamont Galliard, Ben Cleveland, and stud recruits coming in like Jamaree Salyer, and Cade Mays make this group a team strength. UGA has recruited this position well and has quality SEC depth in place now.
Terry Godwin leads a talented WR group. Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley and if transfer Demetris Robinson can get a favorable hardship ruling from the NCAA then this unit will be the best UGA has had in a long time.
Isaac Nauta looks to play a huge role at TE this season. Watch out for newcomer Kearis Jackson.
The Dawgs are going to need more production in the passing game this fall. Yeah, I know that sounds like I’m looking for something to be critical about but better balance makes this offense almost unstoppable.
On defense, UGA lost 6 out of its top 7 tacklers in 2017. Am I worried? No, I am not because talent is ready to step in.
On the defensive line, look for Tyler Clark to have a big season. Notre Dame Transfer Jay Hayes will provide depth. Jonathan Ledbetter will clog the middle. Oh yeah, I almost forgot Julien Rochester.
UGA lost some awesome linebackers from last season. Get ready to hear the name Monty Rice who will step in and be the next all conference LB for UGA. Natrez Patrick has all-American potential on the inside if he can get his head straight. Walter Grant, D’Andre Walker, and newcomers Brenton Cox and Adam Anderson make for a deep and talented unit but very young.
Georgia could be special at DB. Deandre Baker is the best corner in the country. J. R. Reed could make many All-America teams. Richard LeCounte is a potential superstar at safety, William Poole, Tyrique McGee and some talented others provide depth. Watch out for incoming freshman Tyson Campbell at CB.
Mecole Hardman could end of being the best kick returner in the SEC. Rod Blankenship will be the best FG kicker in the conference. Punter will sort itself out in fall camp.
Road games at LSU, South Carolina and Missouri will be tough. Auburn at home in November will not be easy. Florida and Tennessee are still a year or two away.
Georgia wins the East with an 11-1 record and plays Alabama for the SEC title and playoff berth. This team could go 12-0, but will slip up against someone in the rugged SEC.
Enjoy this ride Dawg fans. You have suffered long enough. In Kirby we trust. Georgia begins the season ranked #4 in the first coach’s poll just released.
Buzzing In Atlanta
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I have to start this with full disclosure. I’m from Atlanta and I’m a huge Georgia Tech fan. I grew up going to spring practices and home games. I wish George O’Leary never left the program for Notre Dame.
I’m also not a fan of Paul Johnson, at all. He started well when he got to Atlanta in 2008 because he had the players recruited by Chan Gailey.
Things have gotten progressively worse each year because of poor recruiting. The Yellow Jackets were 3-9 in 2015 and 5-6 last season. It seems like CPJ does just enough to not be fired but he’s not good enough to leave for a job at any other Power 5 school.
Not to sound pessimistic but as long as Johnson is the coach Tech has accepted mediocrity. They have attempted to make a positive change by getting rid of defensive coordinator Ted Roof and replacing him with Nate Woody.
Woody comes from Appalachian State and the scheme he uses is an attacking 3-4 defense. I’m not sure if Tech has the athletes for this so we will see how this goes.
The best player on the team is quarterback TaQuan Marshall. He’s the prototypical option quarterback meaning he runs well but struggles throwing the football. He led the team in rushing with 1,218 yards and 18 touchdowns. He passed for 936 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He only completed 37.6% of his passes.
Georgia Tech’s 2018 slate is balanced with six home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and six road contests.
Eight of the Yellow Jackets’ 12 opponents advanced to postseason play in 2017, including all four ACC teams that will visit Bobby Dodd Stadium — College Football Playoff participant and ACC champion Clemson, Quick Lane Bowl champion Duke, ACC Coastal Division champion Miami and Military Bowl participant Virginia.
Game 1 is September 1st against FCS opponent Alcorn State. This is an easy 50-point blowout win.
The next week is on the road at South Florida. USF was 10-2 last year so the Bulls have some talent. They lost 25 seniors from the 2017 team so they have lost talent and leadership. The Yellow Jackets will get the W.
Game 3 is also on the road at Pitt. GA Tech beat them 35-17 in 2017 and I expect a similar result.
They return home to face Clemson who will be ranked in the top five. The Tigers have drastically superior talent. Clemson will obliterate Tech.
Bowling Green comes to town September 29th. This will be a rebound win.
Friday October 5th is at Louisville. I’m not sure if the Cardinals can replace superstar Lamar Jackson so I anticipate them struggling on offense. Yellow Jackets should win.
They return home the following week to face Duke. The Blue Devils have had Tech’s number recently. This is a tossup.
After a bye week the Jackets travel to Blacksburg for a Thursday night game. VA Tech will win the game.
Game 9 is at North Carolina. UNC is coming off a 3-9 season so they may not be very good in 2018. This should be another win for the Yellow Jackets.
November 10th is home against Miami. The Hurricanes have also dominated Tech since CPJ has been head coach. Canes will win.
Virginia travels to Atlanta after that and Tech should win.
The finale is in Athens against a much more talented UGA team. Jake Fromm will be better in his second season and Georgia gets an easy win.
I think Georgia Tech will win 7-8 games and return to a bowl game.
Renaissance Man
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In the midst of our fandom it’s easy to look at the team name on the front of the jersey, and not the player name on the back.
No matter your feelings towards the Carolina Panthers, it’s hard not admire their current linebacker and former Georgia All-American, Thomas Davis. (I realize Davis will serve a four-game suspension to start the season due to testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, so I understand if that changes your opinion of him. Personally, while it certainly factors in, I view it as merely a footnote as opposed to the main story.)
Normally, when a player like Davis is about to retire- he announced months ago this would be his final season- unless that athlete was a complete malcontent, most of the focus is aimed towards any accomplishments he or she received on the field.
A Super Bowl appearance, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro team, and one 2nd team All-Pro tends to lend itself to pats on the back. I’m not quite sure if Davis is Hall of Fame worthy, but you could make an argument in his favor. However, in this particular case his on-field achievements are merely an opening act to a much larger headliner.
For starters, and it has been well documented, are Davis’ return from three ACL tears.
Sports has a history riddled with athletes that couldn’t get over the mental and physical hurdle of one ACL year, let alone three.
Not only did Davis return but he came back better than he was before; all those accolades I just mentioned above, they after took place after those three surgeries.
I’m so mentally fragile, I came across a copperhead walking my dogs the other day and now I’m trying to teach them to use a toilet so I don’t have to take them outside. If I tore my ACL once I just render that leg useless for the rest of my life.
Now the one piece of recognition I didn’t mention and the second piece of Davis’ legacy that will be remembered is his philanthropy.
In 2014 he was awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, given to a player based on his volunteer and charity work.
There have been numerous instances of Davis’ charitable work around the Charlotte/Mecklenburg area, as well as his hometown of Randolph County. None have been more influential though than his Defending Dreams Foundation.
Through his foundation Thomas has spent an immeasurable amount of time and money giving the youth in his community opportunities they would otherwise never be afforded. As someone who has friends and family in the Charlotte area, the name “Thomas Davis” has become synonymous with giving.
There are better and more athletic players that have come out of the Georgia football program but I’m not sure there has been a more successful one, considering all the different phases of life.
As Davis enters his final season it will be easy to get caught up in his suspension, after all we are a country that seems to feed off negativity. My suggestion though would be to focus on what he has overcome and how incredible it has been for him to actually achieve what he has.
Once the season ends though, there really will be only one question on my mind- “How does Thomas Davis feel about copperheads?” The potty training hasn’t gone according to plan and my dogs really need to go outside.
That’s My Guy
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Babe Ruth. Ted Williams. Nolan Ryan. Chipper Jones. Frank Robinson. Rod Carew.
Do any of those names feel out of place with the rest? None should. They are all, as of July 29th, Hall of Famers. First ballot Hall of Famers, in fact – and all deserving. But seeing Chipper’s name among those legend is a bit surreal.
And to reiterate my point, he absolutely deserves it. Anyone who watched him play knew he was a Hall of Famer years before he hung up his cleats for good. It’s no surprise that he was voted in, or that he was voted in first ballot, or that he got as high as 97% of the vote on that first ballot. The guy was as all-time great, and everyone knew it.
You’ve seen the numbers. You’ve seen the resume. Top ten in this, top ten in this, top ten in this. The numbers he put up in his 19 years as a big leaguer were getting him in.
Plus, he was one of the few (one of the last?) players to retire having played their entire career with one team.
Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter are going to follow him in 2019 and 2020. Chipper was a lifelong Brave and that was just as special as his numbers.
I wonder if watching him play every night for all those years is what makes his induction so strange. Hall of Famers are to be revered and while I have always admired and respected and even been in awe of Chipper’s talent, he never had that ‘legendary’ aura to me.
Maybe it’s because I got to see him interviewed on Braves Live every few days, or because Fox Sports South won’t stop replaying that episode of Driven about him, or maybe even because he laughed at a stupid joke I made when he signed my baseball bat a decade ago; he was a consistent part of my life for years and so it’s surreal to see his name among those greats. He’s just our Chipper, after all.
I wonder as well if kids who just recently started watching baseball will see him go in and it seem completely normal. They’ve heard about how great he was, they can look up his stellar numbers and agree with the consensus that he belongs in the hallowed grounds of the Hall. Anyone who started watching baseball in 2013 and anyone who watches baseball from now on will just think of Chipper Jones as a legendary ballplayer, a Hall of Famer who rightfully went in on his first shot. And they’re right. He is those things.
He’s also our guy, our family member getting a prestigious award. Everyone claps and applauds for the accomplishment because everyone claps and applauds for the accomplishments because they dictate that he is deserving. I will clap and applaud for the guy I spent so much of my time with for more than a decade because I saw him earn it.
Maybe what I’m trying to get at here is that I’m actually proud of him. I’m not proud of Derek Jeter, even though I think he’s one of the great shortstops of all time and will deserve his probably record-breaking vote percentage. Why would I be? He isn’t my guy the way Chipper is.
And Chipper definitely is, more than Maddux or Glavine or Smoltz was, even more than Bobby, I think. Being that, being my guy, being our guy, makes this surreal, and strange and absolutely deserved, and absolutely wonderful.
Congrats Chipper. We knew you could do it.
