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Description
Columbus Connections - 15th SportsVisions High School Football Awards
A
A
Welcome
to
Columbus
connections
for
a
special
episode,
I
Am
David
Britt-
and
we
are
here
at
the
15th
annual
Sports,
Vision,
Middle,
School
and
High
School
awards.
Luncheon
behind
me
are
so
many
great
athletes
from
the
Chattahoochee,
Valley
and
I'm
here
with
me
with
the
man
who
puts
it
all
together,
I'm
going
to
just
give
him
the
microphone,
because
he
is
the
man
and
just
let
him
talk
about
what
he's
doing,
and
why
are
you
here?
How
you
doing
sir.
A
B
I
tell
you
man.
This
is
a
beautiful
thing,
because
Dale
and
I,
when
we
created
this
Awards
luncheon
15
years
ago,
we
had
the
thought
in
mind
of
what
it
was
like
when
we
were
here
in
this
community
and
we
just
had
a
plethora
of
organizations
that
came
together
to
honor,
the
local
high
school
athletes
and
coaches
and
when
Dale
and
I
started
our
business
back
18
years
ago.
We
realized
that
that
had
dried
up
and
gone
away.
B
A
If
you
don't
know
who
this
is,
this
is
the
one
of
the
only
the
man
of
the
myth,
the
legend
DJ
Jones
himself,
the
Georgia
athlete
professional
athlete,
Communications
Guru
and
just
amazing
for
what
you
do
in
the
community.
We
can't
say
enough
about
the
the
exposure
you
give
to
these
young
people
well,.
A
B
B
I
can
expect
you
know
just
to
be
honored
and
celebrated
in
a
way,
unlike
any
other.
This
has
been
billed
as
one
of
the
top
high
school
football
awards
luncheons
in
America,
and
we're
just
proud
that
we
have
a
great
Community,
a
great
group
of
supporters
in
this
community
as
far
as
our
Community
Partners
and
sponsors,
and
it's
a
great
Facility
Saint
Luke,
Ministry
Center
and
the
Lisa
Marie
and
the
people
that
help
us
put
this
together
are
just
tremendous
and.
A
B
You
know,
first
and
foremost,
how
many
people
can
get
Kirby
Smart.
That's
the
big
thing
and
being
the
number
one
coach
in
America
right
now
and
we're
just
hoping
and
and
praying
that
coach
Martin
will
come
in
and
bring
some
inspiration
to
these
young
coaches
and
young
athletes
to
uplift
them
Inspire
them
and
motivate
them.
That's.
A
Right,
this
is
reason
for
motivation.
If
you
are
a
student
athlete,
this
is
where
you
want
to
be.
This
is
cars
to
work
hard
to
celebrate,
to
have
such
a
great
event
like
this
for
the
holidays,
so
thankful
for
DJ,
Jones
and
sports
vision
and
the
whole
staff
for
putting
this
together.
Because,
again
this
you
don't
see
this
every
day.
You
don't
see
this
in
every
Community,
but
this
is
an
amazing
event
that
we're
very
appreciative
for
we'll
appreciate
you
being
here
right
and
we'll
have
more
coming.
Your
way
don't
go
anywhere.
C
B
B
B
C
I
certainly
appreciate
it
and
it's
been
a
great
ride.
It's
been
a
fun
ride,
a
long
time
coming
to
get
back
to
my
alma
mater
and
be
able
to
enjoy
this.
This
great
state
and
I
know
we
got
a
lot
of
States
represented
in
here
across
the
state
line,
but
there's
nowhere
in
the
country
that
high
school
football
has
played
at
a
higher
level
in
a
more
competitive
level
than
across
these
two
state
lines.
C
So
I
I
give
a
lot
of
recognition
to
these
men
in
this
room
that
help
raise
these
young
kids
to
be
better
men
and
better
football
players.
There's
a
lot
of
coaches
I
saw
in
this
room
that
have
dedicated
their
lives
to
making
football
possible
and
raising
young
men.
So
I'm
Mighty,
proud
of
the
some
of
the
faces,
I
hadn't,
seen
in
a
long
time
in
here,
coach.
B
C
I'd
start
by
saying
I
got
raised
by
a
community
like
most
of
us.
Did
you
know
back
in
the
80s
and
90s?
You
know
you,
you
felt
comfortable,
sending
your
kid
out
to
to
baseball
practice
or
football
practice
or
neighborhood
and
play
pickup
games,
and
you
didn't
worry
about
anything
and
there's
a
lot
of
parents
involved
in
raising
myself
and
and
really
all
my
friends,
but
both
my
parents
were
high
school
Educators
mom
long
time,
English
teacher
dad
assistant
principal
football
coach,
a
principal
I
kind
of
did
the
whole
education
thing.
C
So
I
spent
every
one
of
my
days
to
be
the
first
one
to
the
high
school
and
the
last
one
to
leave,
because
you
couldn't
leave
until
your
parents
left
and
I
think
the
community
in
bambers
helped
raise
me.
We
actually
were
in
the
region
with
Columbus
when
I
was
in
high
school
I
saw
coach,
Wallace
Davis.
Earlier
we
got
to
play
his
team
in
Bainbridge
and
then
we
had
to
go
all
the
way
up
to
Columbus
and
play
his
team
up
here
and
I.
C
Have
a
lot
of
memories
are
going
up
and
down
Highway
27
I
think
it
was
back
and
forth
to
come
up
and
play
in
the
Columbus
area,
but
Bainbridge
meant
a
lot
to
me.
It's
what
I
call
home,
even
though
my
dad
being
a
coach
left,
but
the
people
in
the
community,
like
all
the
sponsors
in
this
room,
all
the
people
who
helped
make
this
event
happen.
Dj
in
in
your
your
staff
and
your
willingness
to
have
make
this
event
happen.
There's
a
lot
of
these
young
men
that
wouldn't
get
recognized
if
it
were
not.
B
Coach,
when
you
talk
about
making
an
impact,
and
obviously
these
young
men
and
these
people
in
this
room,
understand
what
I
mean
by
making
an
impact.
How
proud
of
your
community?
How
proud
of
you
were
you
for
your
parents
and
coaches
to
to
know
that
you
would
be
one
day
and
I
know
it's
far-fetched
to
think
that
you
would
be
the
coach
of
the
national
championship.
Sec
Championship,
Georgia,
Bulldogs,.
C
Yeah
I,
never
even
dreamed
of
that.
You
know
I
just
wanted
to
be
a
good
football
player.
I
wanted
to
go
into
coaching.
I'd
have
been
happy
being
a
high
school
coach.
To
be
honest
with
you,
that
was
it's
not
like.
I
sat
there
and
said:
I
need
to
go,
be
a
college
coach
or
do
any
of
that.
I
just
wanted
to
affect
young
people
and
have
an
impact
on
their
lives
and
it's
a
great
burden,
but
with
that
burden
is
a
huge
responsibility
to
do
the
game
Justice
and
represent
these
kids.
C
C
Yeah,
anytime,
you
go
off
to
college
I,
tell
kids
every
day,
I've
been
in
I,
think
17
homes
or
something
in
the
last
three
days.
I
tell
people
all
the
time.
The
greatest
transition
in
your
life
will
be
from
the
time
you
walk
out
that
door
from
what
you
call
home
until
you
get
through
college
and
it's
the
greatest
transition
of
my
life
number
one.
It's
hard.
You
find
out
that
you're
not
the
best
that
you're
not
even
close
to
the
best.
When
you
walk
in
that
locker
room
wherever
you
go
it's
hard.
C
It's
it's
hard
and
the
lessons
you
learn
in
football,
guess
what
they
are
they're
hard
and
in
most
sports
you
play
nowadays
don't
require
you
to
put
on
25
to
35
pounds
of
equipment,
go
out
in
110
degrees,
summer
heat
and
hit
another
man.
That's
not
normal.
You
know
the
guy,
it's
just
not
normal!
So
when
you're
doing
that,
you're
learning
these
tough
life,
lessons
that
will
help
you
be
successful
and
really
that's
what
Athens
taught
me.
C
C
Well,
it
probably
benefited
me
in
terms
of
the
state
right
like
if
I
had
gone
to
any
other
school
I.
Don't
know
that
I
would
know
this
state
as
well.
I
do
think
that
you
know
most
of
our
fan
base
comes
from
this
state.
So
the
fact
that
I
played
at
Georgia
impacted
my
ability
to
be
the
head
coach
at
Georgia,
but
it's
not
a
prerequisite.
You
know
you
look
at
all
these
coaches
across
the
country.
They
didn't
necessarily
play
at
that
school.
C
You
know,
I,
never
looked
and
said:
oh
man,
I
want
to
be
the
head
coach
of
Georgia
I
just
wanted
to
be
successful.
Coaching
and
I
didn't
care
where
that
was,
but
the
fact
that
it
happened
at
Georgia
and
my
dad
had
been
a
high
school
coach
in
the
state
for
so
long
I
feel
like
every
airport
I
fly
into
in
the
state
of
Georgia
I've
already
been
there
10
times
every
school
that
I
walk
into
I've
already
been
there
a
bunch.
C
You
know
I
had
the
great
Fortune
of
coaching
at
Valdosta
State,
so
I
call
them
the
state
representing
Valdosta
State,
then
I
call
them
the
state
represent
Florida
State,
then
I
call
on
the
state
represent
LSU
and
then
oh
by
the
way,
I
spent
nine
years
at
Alabama,
recruiting
this
state
representing
Alabama.
So
I've
had
a
lot
of
of
experience
being
in
the
state
I'm.
Just
very
thankful
for
the
High
School
coaches,
who
make
this
state
special.
C
Yeah
I
hope
to
make
the
NFL
I
think,
as
every
young
man
plays
the
game
of
football.
You
don't
say
well,
I
hope
it
ends
right
now.
You
know
you
aspire
to
do
great
things.
I
always
wondered
whether
I
was
talented
enough
and
there
were
years
at
Georgia,
my
first
two
or
three
years,
I
didn't
think
I
would
ever
play
at
Georgia,
more
or
less
the
NFL,
but
I
saw
so
many
of
my
peers
go
on
to
the
NFL
I
said.
C
Well,
maybe
there's
a
chance
and
once
I
got
there,
I
knew
real,
quick
I
didn't
belong,
so
it
was
they
they
call
it.
A
a
a
cup
of
coffee,
I
had
less
than
a
cup
of
coffee.
I
had
maybe
a
little
bit
of
creamer,
but
no
coffee
while
I
was
there,
but
it
was
a
great
experience
to
be
able
to
go
to
an
NFL
training
camp
to
have
an
opportunity
to
make
a
team
I
made
friends
that
I
mean
I
was
a
Tampa
Bay
practice
the
other
day,
seeing
one
of
our
recruits.
C
Parents
and
a
scout
came
up
to
me
and
said
my
first
year
being
a
scout
in
1999,
I
evaluated
you
coming
out
of
Georgia
and
I
still
remember,
watching
your
tape
and
evaluating
you,
those
networks,
those
friendships,
coaches,
that
coached
the
the
Colts
when
I
was
there.
I
still
am
friends
with
today,
so
I
always
tell
people
don't
ever
burn
a
bridge
and
everybody
you
meet.
You
meet
them
like
it's
the
first
and
last
time,
you'll
ever
see
them
and
try
to
have
an
impact
on
their
lives.
When.
C
I
couldn't
play
so
if
you
can't
play
you
better,
find
another
job
and
I
think
when
it
hit
me
the
most
was
the
drive
back
I'll,
never
forget:
I
had
a
1984
Honda
Accord
that
had
250
000
miles
on
it
and
I
drove
it
to
Indianapolis.
My
greatest
concern
was
well
whenever
I
get
cut
because
I
know
I'm
getting
cut.
I'm
gonna
have
a
hard
time
getting
this
car
back
and
I
got
back
to
Athens
and
I'd
been
cut
released
from
the
Colts,
and
it
was
probably
about
that
time.
C
I
called
my
dad
and
I
said
dad.
My
my
car
is
getting
old
and
you
know
it
might
need
some
new
tires
or
like
a
a
engine
change.
He
said:
well,
you
better
get
a
job
because
for
for
you
to
pay
for
that,
you're
going
to
need
to
have
some
income
and
that's
when
the
realization
came,
I
got
to
go,
find
a
job.
I
got
to
do
something,
you
know:
you're,
not
wearing
the
silver
britches
anymore
and
when
you're
not
wearing
the
silver
Bridges
anymore.
All
they
care
about
is
the
guy
that
replaced
you.
C
They
don't
care
about
you
anymore.
So
it's
kind
of
like
okay
but
I
decided
to
get
into
coaching.
At
that
point.
Jim
Downing
gave
me
my
first
opportunity
to
help
out
I
spent
about
four
months
with
Georgia
and
then
I
jumped
onto
Valdosta
State.
So
it
inspired
me
to
affect
young
men
when
I
first
got
into
coaching.
B
C
I
would
say
be
where
your
feet
are.
I
would
say:
do
a
good
job
where
you
are,
and
people
notice
that
people
that
are
in
hiring
positions,
whether
it's
myself,
an
A.D,
a
president
they're,
not
looking
for
the
guy
that
that
is
trying
to
make
his
Mark
and
and
show
somebody
he
can
go
to
college
they're,
not
really
looking
they're,
not
looking
to
see
how
much
you
know,
they're
wanting
to
see
how
you
operate
with
your
young
men
in
your
program.
How
do
you
carry
yourself
with
your
staff?
How
do
you
treat
your
players?
C
How
do
you
develop
your
players?
Those
are
things
that
are
going
to
get
you
an
opportunity,
so
be
where
your
feet
are.
Look
some
of
the
best
coaches
I
have
ever
been
around
in
my
20,
whatever
years,
23
24
years
of
coaching
have
been
High,
School,
coaches
and
I
like
to
think
my
dad
was
a
great
coach
and
he
never
coached
in
college.
That's
not
the
be-all
and
end-all.
It's
really
more
about
how
you
impact
lives
and
what
kind
of
impact
you
make
on
them
that
last
forever.
I.
C
C
That
was
easy,
I
had
been
in
Dell
school
for
years.
He
was
a
perfect
example
of
what
you
just
said.
He
was
a
guy
that
didn't
worry
about
all
the
accolades.
He
didn't
really
worry
about
aspiring
to
go
to
college.
He
may
have
wanted
to
go
to
college,
but
I
came
in
as
high
school
at
least
15
times,
and
he
never
brought
that
up
once
he
was
worried
about
his
program.
C
He
wanted
to
win,
he
demanded
a
lot
from
his
players
and
he
got
his
foot
in
the
door
and
he
worked
his
way
up
and
when
I
got
the
job
at
Georgia,
he
was
immediately
a
target.
For
me
he
was
at
Georgia
Southern
I,
still
remember
to
this
day
going
down
and
having
a
two
and
a
half
hour
running
back
interview
with
him
and
I
knew
the
entire
time.
C
I
was
hiring
him,
but
I
wanted
him
to
sweat
a
little
bit,
so
he
he
did
a
great
job
on
the
interview
and
he's
been
in
the
central
piece
of
glue
that
has
helped
our
program
go
through
some
very
Changing
Times
in
college.
Football
he's
been
a
very
big
part
of
our
players:
lives
of
recruiting
lives,
social
issues
across
the
country
Dale's
been
at
the
Forefront
of
that
and
I
would
not
have
the
success
that
I've
had.
We
would
not
have
the
success
we've
had
were
it
not
for
the
Columbus
native
Dale
McGee.
B
C
Incredible
people
first
thing
we
start
with
in
our
place
is:
are
you
the
right
kind
of
person?
Do
you
fit
our
culture?
Those
two
guys
I
mean
my
son
is
in
the
locker
room
every
day
and
he
loves
those
two
guys.
They
endear
themselves
to
my
son
who's
10
years
old.
They
work
so
hard
in
the
weight
room.
I'll,
never
forget.
Well,
it
was
a
summer.
It
was
like
110
degrees
and
I'm
like
it's.
Hot
Turf
is
out
there
the
little
the
little
black
beads
down
in
the
turf.
Y'all
know
what
I'm
talking
about.
C
C
I
know
better
than
that,
so
they
would
never
do
that,
but
Michael's
out
there
on
the
turf
hitting
a
sled
by
himself
and
I
had
to
ride
my
truck
through
two
practice
fields
to
get
out
the
gate
and
I
had
to
ride
right
behind
right
by
him.
I
said
Michael.
What
are
you
doing?
He
said
coach,
I,
gotta
get
better
he's
like
I
saw
in
the
spring.
C
These
guys
ahead
of
me
he's
out
there
hitting
a
sled
by
himself
on
a
Sunday
afternoon
and
I
said
this
guy's
different
I
said
he's
different,
he's
wired
different
anybody
that
gets
up
on
their
own
time
and
goes
and
does
that
just
showed
incredible
want
to
and
then
Jackson's
been
awesome
for
us
on
special
teams
he's
got
great
toughness.
He
has
the
smartest
questions
in
meetings.
I
mean
both
of
those
kids
are
exactly
what
you
want
in
your
program,
and
you
know
that.
C
The
most
important
thing
is
understanding
what
your
purpose
is
like
if
you're
there
to
go,
be
a
head
coach
or
go
be
a
coordinator
or
represent
yourself
or
do
it
for
the
money.
I
have
no
interest
in
you,
I'm.
Looking
for
the
selfless
guy,
that's
going
to
sacrifice
all
his
time,
sacrifice
time
with
his
own
family,
to
support
our
young
men
and
there's
people
in
this
room
that
have
been
college
coaches.
The
demands
on
college
football
coaches
are
at
the
highest
ever
I
walked
off
a
field
on
Saturday
afternoon.
Didn't
get
home.
C
C
B
C
Stetson
Ben
is
a
special
guy
for
every
guy
out
there
dreaming
to
play
college
football
that
kid
was
sitting
in
the
same
seats.
You
were
with
about
two
offers
and
he
didn't
even
take
one
of
his
offers
and
look
where
he
is
now
and
people
told
him
he
couldn't
do
it
his
whole
life
and
he
defied
him
and
he
he
I
mean
we
told
him.
He
couldn't
do
it.
C
B
C
Bowers
selfless
the
first
thing,
I
think
about
toughness.
I
mean
this
guy
practices
is
hard
every
day.
We
have
to
actually
slow
him
down
because
we're
worried
he's
going
to
wear
himself
out.
You
know
he's
six
foot,
four
240
pounds
and
he
practices
every
day
like
his
last
practice
and
he
plays
the
game
the
right
way,
but
another
guy
that
was
probably
underrated
coming
out
and
is
a
phenomenal
athlete.
B
C
Carter,
just
incredible
football
player,
I
think
everybody
saw
him
when
he
picked
up
his
picked
up.
The
quarterback
and
I
was
holding
my
breath.
Man
I
was
like
oh
Jalen,
please
don't
do
it.
I
had
just
my
mind,
thought
3,
000
thoughts
within
one
Split,
Second
and
once
I
saw
him
hold
that
hand
up.
You
know.
I
went
over
and
asked
him
when
he
came
off
the
field.
I
said
what
were
you
doing?
Everybody
said
he
was
holding
up
number
one.
He
said
I
was
pointing
at
my
mama.
C
He
said:
I
was
pointing
my
mom
in
the
stands
and
I'm
like
it
looked
like
you
were,
holding
up
one,
but
whatever
you
did
I'm
just
glad
you
didn't
throw
him
down
and
what
an
incredible
kid
and
story
he
he
he
embodies
our
team,
because
people
don't
understand,
he
got
hurt
on
the
very
first
play
of
the
very
first
game
in
the
Mercedes-Benz
same
venue.
He
was
in
last
week
on
the
first
play.
C
He
got
ankle
injury
and
he
had
he
played
on
several
games
with
a
hurt
ankle
and
then
right
when
he
got
back
from
an
ankle
injury.
He
had
a
knee
injury,
and
this
is
a
guy
that
could
have
said
you
know
what
man
I'm
just
going
to
sit
this
one
out,
but
he
came
back
and
he's
worked
really
hard
to
get
back.
He
wanted
to
play
with
his
brothers.
He
wanted
to
play
with
his
friends.
He
loves
the
game
and
means
a
lot
to
Georgia
that
he
came
back.
B
Last
few
questions
coach,
obviously
bold,
prep
Bowl
week-
is
more
than
just
competing
for
the
opportunity
to
go
to
the
National
Championship.
But
you
get
an
opportunity
to
look
at
a
lot
of
players.
Explain
to
the
folks
out
there.
That
might
not
know
you
know
making
it
to
the
bowl
and
what
the
benefits
are.
C
Biggest
benefit
is
the
number
of
practices
you
have
so
the
NCAA
says
you
can
have
these
practices
to
prepare
for
the
bowl
game.
Well,
most
people
would
think
if
you're
going
to
have
you
know,
9
10,
12,
14
practices,
I
mean
you're
going
to
have
that
you're
gearing
everything
towards
Ohio
State.
We
look
at
it
as
a
chance
to
get
our
team
better
for
next
year
and
the
talk
has
all
been
about.
Well,
how
did
Georgia
have
these
guys
go
out
in
the
draft
15
players
in
the
draft
and
have
a
good
season
this
year?
C
Well,
a
lot
of
that
began
this
time
last
year,
because
the
people
you're
seeing
play
now
we
were
getting
them
extra
reps.
You
know
Jordan
Davis
in
in
in
James,
Cook
and
Samir
white.
They
didn't
need
tons
of
practice
last
year
during
this
time,
but
Kenny
McIntosh
and
all
these
other
kids
did.
You
know
the
beauty
of
it
is
Michael.
Williams
was
getting
practice
reps
at
this
time
last
year.
C
C
Well
again,
I've
watched
Ohio,
State
I've
gotten
to
be
on
the
road
I've
got
to
watch
several
of
their
games,
but
we're
focused
on
us
right
now
that
that's
far
enough
away
that
I'm
not
putting
expectations
on
our
players
or
our
team
I'm,
really
worried
about
our
guys.
They're
taking
final
exams
right
now
and
final
exams
at
Georgia
are
hard.
So
if
any
of
you
are
going
to
Georgia
out
there,
hard
is
what
school
is
anywhere.
C
C
Well,
I
I'm
not
here
to
sell
a
recruiting
piece
DJ
because
I
don't
think
that's
the
most
important
thing.
What
I
am
here
to
say
is
that
thank
the
people
that
have
gotten
you,
where
you
are
I
just
I,
I
I
have
too
much
respect
for
this
game
and
what
it's
meant
to
me
like
I,
would
not
be.
Who
I
am
today
without
a
game
of
football,
I
would
not
be
who
I
am
today
without
the
coaches
that
impacted
my
life.