Our Red Devils, past and present, are featured throughout the inaugural issue of the Georgia Football magazine.
The magazine, available at www.GeorgiaFB.com, covers all levels of gridiron activity in the Peach State, from high school to the pros.
The 220 page publication has schedules and profiles for every team, plus many feature articles, and is well worth the price (about $12.00).
Local fans may disagree just a bit (well, actually, A WHOLE LOT) on this ranking. Our September 14 game in Washington is ranked sixth on the list of Top 10 Matchups of 2007. Ranked ahead of that little battle are Northside Warner Robins at Warner Robins, Norcross at Peachtree Ridge, Valdosta at Lowndes, Roswell at Brookwood, and Clinch County at Charlton County (series tied at 22-22-1).
The magazine attempted to do what many think is impossible -- rank schools from all classes into a single Top 25. Big schools dominated the top of the list, with only one Class A school making the list. Our Devils are ranked #14.
As part of its Guide to Friday Night coverage, the editors ranked the best units (wide receivers, offensive lines, etc.). Included in these categories are "coaching staffs", and again we must politely disagree. Our Lincoln County staff is ranked second (although they were named the best coaching staff for 2006). First is the staff at North Gwinnett. Now, we're sure they are fine coaches over there in Suwanee, but let's start counting state titles, region titles, playoff wins, regular wins, shutouts, ...
Now, we really appreciate the efforts the editors went through in trying to rank these different things about Georgia high school football. It's certainly a tough job, and will always inspire disagreements. With that said, here's another "disagreement": Where you would rank Buddy Bufford Field on the list of toughest places to play? Or better yet, where would opposing coaches rank it? Well, these sportswriters put The Bud 7th! Yes, 7th - behind Charlton County's The Swamp (we're 3-0 there), Valdosta, Parkview, Washington County's House of Pain, Thomson's Brickyard, and Marist's stadium. Commerce's Tiger Stadium, probably high on the list for LC fans, was 14th. Dan Pitts Stadium in Forsyth and Hawkinsville's stadium were listed as honorable mention.
As noted, the magazine has many great articles. In "Community Support Makes Football Special", Larry Campbell is quoted, "I've had Normans, Normans, and more Normans. ...I've had numerous kids over the years where I've coached them and their dads." The article concludes with another Campbell quote: "You don't get a chance to rebuild in Lincolnton."
The magazine did, in our opinion, get at least one of their rankings correct. The "Best Player Since 1980"? Garrison Hearst heads the list, followed by Champ Bailey, Monte Williams, Takeo Spikes, Charles Grant, and other notables. Go Doobie!! Always a class act!!
(And if you look real close, you'll even find this website mentioned!)