My great-grandmother, Gertrude Ross, had a number of famous phrases and stories that have been passed down to us through the years.One that remains my favorite is the term “journey proud,” used to describe someone who couldn’t wait to start a long trip.
In college, when we’d have a long trip set for the weekend, you could always count on me to rouse myself long before everyone else, and be packed in time to leave long before the scheduled departure hour. Gertie — who I called “Bon” in the short time I knew her — would’ve have called me “journey proud.”
In a way, that’s how we’re all feeling in East Central Alabama right now. With football season kicking off for real this week, with major-league baseball heading for its home stretch, with even stock car racing giving us a new hero-villain combo to discuss for the remainder of its season, the destination seems a good ways away.
But the journey should be fun, and that’s what we’re here to celebrate in the third edition of the picks.
Quick notes from last season: we finished up the regular season here with a final record of 88-27, a winning percentage of nearly 78. Nick Saban and his charges should be so lucky.
That was just the beginning of things, as we rode Talladega County Central all the way to the state finals (sadly, our pick of TC over Sweet Water at Legion Field didn’t work out too well).
But with a number of programs around the area realigning, rejuvenated and reloading, this season already looks intriguing and we’re not even to Week 1 yet.
So let’s get to this week. As always, these picks are just for fun – we hold no personal grudges against any particular school. Also as always, no final score picks, with home teams in caps.
Without further adieu ...
Thursday
Childersburg over B.B. COMER: Flip a coin. These two teams are both virtual unknowns – Comer because of a new head coach, Childersburg because of the loss of some key personnel from last year and a complete system overhaul.
I went round and round with this one. Ultimately, I’m going with Childersburg because it seems safer – I can’t pick Comer until I’ve seen what they can do. It should be a very close, nasty, defensive struggle.
Like always.
Friday
FAYETTEVILLE over Vincent: Never underestimate the power of belief. The Wolves believe they can be great, and with a couple early victories could become 10 feet tall and bulletproof. There’s a solid chance they could be 2-0 entering a road game with Wadley in Week 3.
Sylacauga over CENTRAL-COOSA: After last year’s frustration, it feels like the Aggies are back on the upswing – they possess some dangerous offensive weapons as well as solid experience on both sides of the ball.
Central’s tougher than you think, but they’re bound to still be discombobulated with the upheaval there during the off-season. Look for the Aggies to pull this one out late.
CLAY CO. over Munford: Again, closer than you think. Munford looks like a major sleeper in that region this year.
LINCOLN over Etowah: Also a tough game to call. Maybe the Blue Devils aren’t the powerhouse they were in the late 1990s, but they can still play good football and should provide a good glimpse of exactly how good Lincoln can be this year. We’ll give the Bears the nod because of the homefield advantage factor.
Pell City over SHELBY CO.: Fun fact here that has virtually nothing to do with this game: Shelby County head coach Ryan Herring worked as an assistant coach at Dublin High School in Georgia – the local paper there employed me for two years before I came here. Not sure if that has any bearing on the outcome of this one Friday night.
Smiths Station over TALLADEGA: Like most major rebuilding efforts, progress in Year 2 of the Bill Granger era shouldn’t be measured in wins and losses (no matter how desperately the Talladega people are to see it). Are the Tigers — playing a tougher schedule in ’08 than ’07 – stronger? Are they more precise? Are they equipped to make the journey in 2008?
Step one is Friday at Mary Dumas.
Other games: Randolph Co. over WINTERBORO; VICTORY CHRISTIAN over Collinsville; TC Central over RANBURNE; RAGLAND over Westbrook; South Choctaw over COOSA VALLEY.
