August 23, 2009

Here We Go Again…again

by Carey Meitzler

Okay. Let's get that All Sports Passes, the new reserved parking spot, and a new shirt with Maroon Tide plastered on it. Yep,

it's time for another season of Maroon Tide football.  Last year, I wrote about all the constants, but I don't plan to chew my

cabbage twice. If you forgot what they were, click here (Here We Go Again…2008)

The 2008 season produced a lot of excitement for the Maroon Tide Nation in spite of ending the season at Wayne County

once again. In fact, 3 of the last 4 seasons have ended in Waynesboro.  More on that in a minute.

First, I have to make note of a few of the “regulars” who are quite excited about the upcoming season.

Dwight Bond and I discussed how the new Region alignment for the Maroon Tide will produce a quality opponent each week

unlike the past few years where there were weeks when it was over when the doors of the locker room opened up. Dwight

said “as a fan I want to see us play the best teams out there. I get tired of blowouts.” I agree.

At the Meet the Tide event, I talked with long time, card-carrying Maroon Tide Nation member Richard Huber. Richard no

doubt had on his OU hat and a Maroon Tide shirt (see the picture below). Richard had scoop on just about every team on

the schedule.  He must have access to one of the Secret Service long distance, supped up listening devices mounted on a satellite

in the sky to eavesdrop on our opponents to have all the info he was reeling off to me as we talked.  Come to think of it, that

Smoothie he was holding was making some strange noises.  Maybe it wasn't a Smoothie. What if that straw was an antenna Richard

uses to uplink to a satellite to download conversations from Waynesboro, Soso, Brookhaven, McComb, and Wiggins. 

What if that cup has a hard drive inside and a built in Windows Media player?  Regardless of how he does, a true fan does his

homework and Richard gets an A+ to go with his OU.

Richard Huber….Boomer Sooner and Roll Tide in the same package.

Former Maroon Tide player and father of two former Tide players, Jeff Robbins had this insight. “Carey, you hear

me now son, this might be the toughest schedule the Maroon Tide has played since the 2003 season or maybe

longer than that. No slouches.”  Jeff also said there is some talent on this team that we may not see until near

the end of the season, meaning some younger players who Jeff thinks will play bigger and bigger roles as the season

progresses.

The “new” Touchdown Club is a very nice change of pace. This group consists of a good cross section of parents,

fans, business leaders, and former players. The membership is growing daily and some of their initiatives appear to

be well received thus far. Keep it going and growing. I look for great things from these folks this season and in the

years ahead.

The new alignment of the new 6A and a revamped 5A classification puts the Maroon Tide in the toughest region

of any class in the state in my opinion. West Jones (ranked #1 preseason poll for 5A) and Wayne County (#2)

await the Maroon Tide to close out the regular season. We have to go to SoSo (West Jones) and finally get

Wayne County in Picayune for the finale. At least we get 'em at home for a change.  By the way, Wayne County

installed the new spin turf (artificial turf) in the offseason. 

On Wayne County and West Jones, I will make this prediction. Picayune will have to play one and possibly both

of these teams twice to get out of the South and punch a ticket to Jackson in December. Brookhaven and Stone

will have something to say about the outcome of Region 3-5A as well. McComb, Forest Hill, and Pearl River

Central round out the region. The non- Region games of Moss Point, FCAHS, and Pascagoula will give the Tide

some good stiff competition to get ready for the Region.

The Maroon Tide team returns a lot of speed and a gutsy quarterback with nerves of steel.  Senior Jacob Kennedy

passed for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008.  He has the speedy Jonathan Moore back at receiver.

Junior running back Jamal “Bus No. 2” Hall is back after a stellar sophomore campaign last season. A couple of

other players to watch are seniors Jarrod Jones, DeAmbry Jackson, Brandon Lee, Chris Burton, and Wayne McMooain.

Juniors Joel Davis and Maurice Jones will play big roles on both sides of the line of scrimmage while Kresean

Bowens will join Jackson and Lee to give the Maroon Tide another solid offensive line. I believe this team will be

able to score enough points to play with anybody on the schedule. I know that Coach Dodd Lee and his staff will

have the troops ready to play as they do every year. Count on it. This team will be fun to watch.

Head Coach Dodd Lee's additions of assistant coaches Russell Mitchell and Cody Stogner the past two years

strengthened the staff.  Long time staff members Gen Breeland, Brian Edwards,Walt Esslinger, and John “The

Undertaker” Feaster are back as well. This is good group and I respect what they do every year with our team.

This season starts without Johnny Meyers (retired) and Seth Smith (now at Pearl River Central). I really liked

these guys and as a parent who had a son pass through the program, Meyers and Smith treated me and my family

extremely well. Best of luck to both of these two fine men in their daily endeavors.

Speaking of Feaster, he still looks like he could suit up and play.  He will always be one of my favorite players.

Additionally, what a fine man, a role model, and a class act Feaster is.  If you don't like John Feaster, you don't know

him.  If you don't know him, it's your loss.  My son still talks about how much he learned from John and because of that

and some hard-core conditioning, Dale will once again be in the starting line-up at linebacker at Mississippi College this fall. 

The Choctaws' schedule is much more favorable for traveling this year so I may not be in line to file my taxes in Texas this

time around.  Six home games in Clinton!!!!!

I will return for the WRJW 1320 AM broadcasts this season as well as Barry Harper and Donald Balch. Yes, I am back.

I honestly had hung it up when I signed off last year at Wayne County.  I had not told anyone of my decision at that

time and it caught Barry and Donald off guard.  When I looked back, I had the privilege to call so many good games

for so many good players that I was ready to take some time off.  Barry talked me out of it starting with this statement

at the McDonald's drive through in Waynesboro on the way home from the last game of the 2008 season. “You mean

you are going to miss Jacob Kennedy's senior year throwing to Jonathan Moore? What about Bus No 2 ? I think you

need to reconsider."  I did and I am now rejuvenated and ready to go for another season of late nights, long drives,

and great high school football.

So, get ready Maroon Tide Nation because in a few short days, Here We Go Again…again.

Roll Tide Roll.