It’s April and the first official football game of the 2012 season is still almost five months away.
However, David Wagner’s mind is already on the Aug. 31 date on the calendar. On that date, Wagner’s Bulldoggs will open the new season against Jackson County on the road. It will be one of two non-region games for the Bulldoggs, who will also play an old rival when they face Monroe Area the following week, also on the road.
For Wagner, who is entering his third season directing the program, this fall will be important for a variety of reasons. While the WBHS program has made marked improvements in several categories (the proof is there for anyone who cares to look at it), the coach wants those areas to begin including victories on the scoreboard.
“I’m eager for the new season,” Wagner told me recently at a Winder-Barrow track meet. “It’s been a solid offseason of conditioning and workouts in the weight room. The players are also ready to get back after it.”
Spring practice has been scheduled to start May 3. The players and coaches will be in full preseason gear on that date. In reality, however, the Bulldoggs have been working for the 2012 season since the 2011 campaign ended.
With a revamped schedule this fall, Wagner believes the hard work being put in by his players will pay dividends. He scheduled non-region games against opponents close in location to Winder-Barrow. While the team will once again scrimmage this preseason at South Forsyth, it’s the opener which Wagner already has on his mind. The Jackson County High School Panthers will feature a new head in Benji Harrison, who will be looking to have his team throw the football all over the field.
Harrison is the former offensive coordinator at Flowery Branch and the pass happy coach loves to use a pitch and catch approach made famous by Tony Franklin at the collegiate level.
“It will be something to see,” Wagner said. “Of course, we’ve seen it at Flowery Branch so we have some what of an idea of what he will try to do at Jackson County.”
The WBHS coach said he is eager to get back on the practice field when spring drills arrive.
“I’m always ready to get back out there,” the coach said. “We believe good things are in store this fall. We still have a good bit of work to do, but we are ready to begin showing progress in our number of wins.”
Wagner arrived at WBHS after several seasons at Apalachee. With some growing pains now behind them, look for the Bulldoggs to start benefiting from those hours in the weight room and constant work.
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Long-time boxing journalist Bert Sugar recently passed away after a storied career chronicling the business.
In my estimation, Sugar is one of the “big three” in terms of being a pioneer in boxing journalism along with Stanley Weston and Nat Fleischer. Sugar, who became a fixture on ESPN shows about boxing, was somewhat of a character himself with his vintage press hat and cigar.
Sugar published Boxing Illustrated for many years and is certainly a Hall of Famer. His character will be missed.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
