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The hammer fell and fell hard on Penn State’s football program this week.

Most people, football fans and non-football fans alike, have cheered the move. It’s easy to be blinded by the events which have occurred at the university, but as is often the case one can’t help but wonder if the innocent are the ones paying the price.

Millions upon millions in terms of a fine was leveled on Penn State. That’s fine. However, a ban on postseason play as well as vacating wins were also ordered by the NCAA brass and while most have said it was the right move, let’s just for a moment speculate about it shall we? [Full Story »] 

Gary Compton’s life got a little more hectic recently.

The new varsity girls basketball coach at Apalachee High School was placed behind the 8-ball to a degree since he was not officially hired until the summer. However, Compton isn’t letting that stop him from jumping into his new job with both feet.

Compton arrives at AHS by way of Flowery Branch where he was an assistant coach for the boys basketball program. (He was set to begin working with the Lady Falcons during the upcoming season.) [Full Story »] 

Winder-Barrow High School has a storied history when it comes to its track program.

Even today, athletes qualify every spring for the state meets in Albany and Jefferson. Considering the program’s history, it’s great to see the track at W. Clair Harris Stadium receiving a makeover this summer.

“Getting a new track is something that WBHS was in desperate need of,” said Jennifer Blevins, who helps guide the school’s track program. “The track was worn down to the concrete in several places, the lines were difficult to see, the surface lost its cushioning and many runners were experiencing injuries due to running on such an awkward surface. The high jump area was slick and many jumpers would slip on their approach causing falls and scaring some athletes out of a strong performance.” [Full Story »] 

The recent arrival of All-Star photos to my email inbox has helped bring back a flood of memories for me.

Many moons ago now (more than I care to admit quite frankly) I spent a little time on the recreation baseball fields of my hometown. I was not a star. I was nowhere near the best player on my team. Yet, the fun times had during those five years I competed remain with me to this day.

After a season in our county recreation department’s “Pee Wee” League, I moved up to Little League where I would compete the next four years. [Full Story »] 

For die-hard football fans such as myself, the new season can never arrive fast enough.

For me, I’ve been counting down the days to the 2012 season since Alabama and LSU played in the mythical national title game for 2011.

Please note without a true playoff system similiar to the other levels of college play, there will never be a true national champion. [Full Story »] 

The temperature says summer, but there are indications of fall around Barrow County.

Currently, our high school football teams are working for the 2012 season, which is now just a little more than two months away.

Winder-Barrow High School and Apalachee High School both move to Region 8-AAAAA for the next two football seasons at least. There had been some concern the two would not be able to remain in the same region as the Georgia High School Association continues to struggle with how to handle its private school members. The end result was the addition of a sixth classification beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. [Full Story »] 

We very well could be sailing through waters during the calm before the storm.

Some painful and unpopular decisions will likely have to be made concerning extra curricular activities in the Barrow County School System in coming months.

While the sea is somewhat calm as we go into the 2012-13 school year, there is a fear that the waters will be very rocky next year at this time. [Full Story »] 

Magical. Memorable. Historic. Rewarding. Meaningful.

Those are just a few words that could be used to describe the 2012 baseball season for the Bethlehem Christian Academy Knights.

Playing a full varsity schedule for the first time, BCA steamrolled its way to a region title and did not lose to a Class A opponent until the GISA state semifinals.

That’s not bad for a team with no seniors and for a program in its infancy. In fact, I believe this baseball season may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Diamond Knights success for 2013 and beyond. [Full Story »] 

No doubt Brian Smith could have made it easier on his baseball team.

The Winder-Barrow High School coach could have scheduled some pushover opponents for non-region foes this spring. He could have scheduled contests which would have made his team’s overall record look more glamorous.

However, Smith knew taking that route really wouldn’t benefit the Diamond Doggs, especially once the brutal Region 8-AAAA schedule began. So the veteran WBHS coach penciled in foes such as Dacula, South Effingham, Evans and Buford. [Full Story »]