BY WILL DAVIS
The Monroe County Reporter of Forsyth, Georgia
Mary Persons football coach Rodney Walker told the Forsyth-Monroe County Kiwanis Club earlier this month that he's enjoying this year's squad as much as any in his four years at the, helm.
He said the 2009 team has a good spirit and plays hard. As a matter of fact, Walker said legendary coach Dan Pitts came over the Saturday after the Morgan County game to watch the film. The famously laconic Pitts, who isn't easily impressed, allowed that, "boy, they're playing hard this year."
Walker conceded that the team has its typical Mary Persons' size -- which means small.
Beyond the current season, Walker said Mary Persons will likely be able to move back into a Middle Georgia region when the Georgia High School Association realigns the regions next year. He said he's been told there's a good chance the Bulldogs will return to a Macon-area region where they can re-join old AAA rivals like Peach County, West Laurens and Perry. Mary Persons is currently in Region 4-AAA which is based around South Atlanta and Henry County.
Walker, who also serves as athletic director, was asked if Mary Persons might add another sport anytime soon. Walker said he's talked to a number of parents about starting a wrestling program but said they've been told they cannot due to federal Title IX law. That law requires equal sporting opportunities for boys and girls, and any sport for boys would have to be accompanied by a new sport for girls Walker said he's considered swimming but noted there are not a lot of schools in the area to compete against. Walker also mentioned that several former MP players are competing at the college level this fall. Receiver Chris Bowden is starting for Wingate College in North Carolina and caught two passes in his first game. Defensive tackle Jadareius Hamlin is playing for Middle Tennessee State University but is sitting out after having knee surgery. Devin Chambliss is playing at Georgia Military College.
Walker, who is 24-14 in his fourth year at Mary Persons, said he's learned about the expectations of MP football. "We realize this town's about winning," said Walker. He said the computer age, giving fans easy access to vent their frustrations anonymously, has not been good for football coaches. Walker said his son, who also coaches high school football, called him and asked if he'd seen what they'd written about him on the web. Walker joked that he, in turn, asked his son if he had read what they were saying about him on the internet.
Copyright 2009 The Monroe County Reporter, Forsyth, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Monroe County Reporter Forsyth, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from
DAS.
Read Full Article at
http://www.smalltownnews.com/article.php?aid=MCR0916200901401&pub=The Monroe County Reporter&pid=171&catid=11&catname=Sports