ROUGHING THE KICKER
by Rex Robinson
TEAM me…One More Time
Aug 28th
The motto TEAM me started with Coach Erskine Russell of course, but the meaning and attitude lives on in Roswell, Georgia. Two weeks ago I attended a fundraiser for Roswell Youth Football and Cheer Associations. Coach Vince Dooley spoke to the group of kids and their parents.
You may remember the names Matt McCormick and Heather Stepp McCormick. Both are DGD’s from way back. Matt played football and Heather a gymnast. Heather put the fundraiser together and was responsible for Coach Dooley being there. I don’t know how often Coach Dooley invokes the TEAM me as one of the catalysts for our 1980 success, but with Jim Broadway and I in attendance he referred to many of our fondest memories. TEAM me being one of the greatest.
The story was not lost on the 3rd grade Green Hornets and they called me to see if history could repeat itself. I delivered 22 TEAM me shirts in time for the first game today and the picture is below. By the way, the Green Hornets won 32-0!
What an awesome lesson in sports and in life…just one more time.
Thanks Coach Russell!
Come To Jesus Meetings
Aug 27th
On July 12, I participated in the Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament at The Georgia Club. This great event is supported by Coach Mark Richt and the team members themselves. What was unusual about this day was the golf being delayed by monsoon rains and the emphasis Coach Richt placed on all the players attending a mandatory 7:00 PM meeting that night. Based on this, most players did not finish their round of golf.
Said mandatory meeting was in response to the July 10th DUI arrest of Dontavious Jackson with Tavares King and Branden Smith in tow. This was supposed to be one for the ages, maybe a defining moment in the career of CMR. Or maybe not. Here it is, a little over six weeks since the meeting and one week away from the opening game and Waushaun Ealey shows us where his head is.
Let’s just say the sun doesn’t shine there and the smell rarely changes.
I am shocked and dismayed that this “situation” occurred at all much less at 5:22 AM. Staying out late is one thing, an allnight-er on a SUSPENDED LICENSE is inexcusable. Coach Richt seemed to be drawing a line in the sand on July 12th. That line was crossed this morning to the tune of, hey coach, screw you!
(REVISED)…UNBELIEVABLE!
For one thing,you have put Coach Richt in a bad, bad position. Two, for caring so little for your team. Third for not caring more about your own career. If Coach Richt plays this soft, he could lose all credibility with his team. If he plays it too hard, he might lose arguably his best running back. I know how I would vote.
UPDATE!
I rest my case.
God Bless The Teacher
Jul 31st
I just ran some errands with Mrs. RTK and one of the stops was The School Box. We’ve been there many times, but this time was different. You all probably know of the cuts in school budgets, furlough days and “reductions in force”. My wife was a victim of being “RIFFED” after having been a teacher for 32 years, but just one year in a new county. She went over 6 weeks without so much as a call for an interview, but has now landed back in the same county, just at a different school and position. We are thankful for that.
But, that’s not the reason for this blog post.
Something that has puzzled me in the eight plus years we’ve been married is how much of “our” money she spent on the kids. It was not always necessary, but if she thought it would help certain kids learn, she did it. What struck me today is that even in this teaching climate, the store was packed with some obviously veteran teachers and just as many new teachers full of ideas. All of them spending money they may not have, to be ready for the school year. It’s obvious to me that no matter what the situation is, the best teachers will find a way.
God bless those with the heart of a teacher.
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