There are just 27 days left until the kickoff of the 2016 high school football season, but make no mistake, preparations for the 2016 season got underway months ago in weight rooms, sand pits and practice fields throughout the state. And teams from throughout northeast Georgia are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind we spent the last few days catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going and what coaches believe the fall will look like. We call the series "Two-a-Days" in honor of the grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall. And for the next few days, AccessWDUN will get you prepped for the start of gridiron action with responses from coaches throughout northeast Georgia. (Teams run in alphabetical order)...
TOWNS COUNTY
John Cornett knew he would one day be a head football coach -- but he did not journey to Towns County with the express intent of taking that position. Yet when the assistant coach and son of a longtime head coach was approached about taking the vacancy this offseason it was an opportunity he could not let slip.
Cornett has quickly set about putting his own touches on the Indians, along with some experienced help, and he recently told AccessWDUN sports editor Morgan Lee of his excitement and goals for Towns County football.
QUESTION: This is your first head coaching job, but it's a position you have been preparing yourself for. What has the experience been like taking over at Towns County?
ANSWER: Dr. (Connie) Hobbs, our principal, came to me at the end of January/beginning of February. Coach Barnhart had resigned by then, and I was waiting around to see what I could do to help. But he asked, 'what about you taking over as head coach?' I had always wanted to be a head coach, and I knew that's what was on course to be -- it just came a little earlier than I expected. I watched my dad for over 20 years be a head coach, and I have two former head coaches on staff with me here (offensive coordinator Clay Livingston and defensive coordinator Jeff Stowers), so I think it's a great situation. They're always mentioning little things to me to try and help me out, and I'm really enjoying it.
Q: Towns County has not been an easy place to win games (the last winning season came in 2008) -- not due to a lack of effort -- but what have you seen from your players that has made you optimistic, and what do y'all have to do to be successful?
A: We have as good as athletes as anyone else. We've competed in some passing leagues this summer with Gilmer, Fannin County and Hayesville (N.C.), and our best match-up well their best -- we just don't have a lot of depth. That's the biggest adjustment. Our guys have to stay healthy for us to compete at the highest levels.
Previously in Two-a-Days: STEPHENS COUNTY
Up Next in Two-a-Days: UNION COUNTY
