If you know Georgia high school football then you are well familiar with the Corky Kell Classic. Each year the state’s top programs meet in this high school football showcase and the new football season is christened as state title hopefuls from across the Peach state are represented. I’ve been going to Corky Kell games for over a decade and there is nothing like witnessing a team come out of the gates and make a statement, especially when the stage is this big.
I dressed out for four Corky Kell Classics with Walton. In 2002 and 2003 we split games with McEachern and in 2004 we fell 20-3 to Starr’s Mill. My senior year we were crushed 45-14 by Camden County. Win, loss and even blowout, it was always a great memory. Playing in this event and in front of a crowd that big was something that kept me and my teammates motivated throughout each offseason.
I have been to the last four Corky Kell Classics since graduating from the University of Georgia and had a chance to work the event with Score Atlanta for the first time in 2012. I never knew just how much planning and work went into making the Corky Kell happen each year until I was a part of all five games and helped produce the content, coverage and event programs for it that first year.
The television side of the production alone takes months of preparation and so many different people with their own set of responsibilities. An event this big must involve Ad sales and business but that’s never been what it’s about. Georgia High School football is the best in the country and those responsible for planning the Corky Kell Classic each year firmly believe that and go above and beyond to make sure that the kids and programs are getting as much exposure as possible. The event represents Georgia high school football and that is why no matter what game you tune into, you can expect to see two teams leaving it all on the field.
This year was the first time Fox Sports South was televising the games and there were plenty of other firsts. McEachern had to step up to the plate and host two days worth of games for the first time.
As we scrambled to find accurate depth charts in the midst of position battles before the week of the games I was asked to do color commentary for the Valdosta-Brookwood and North Gwinnett-McEachern games. It was an honor and I had never anything like it before. I went into as well prepared as I could while we assembled a media guide for all 14 teams, knowing putting in the work was all I could do. I knew I was going to be busy trying to learn four rosters of new names and remember as many jersey numbers and pronunciations as possible but it didn’t matter. Broadcasting a game midway through the season is easier because you have plenty of plays and games to refer back to. A season opener with brand new starters in unpredictable and that is why we love it. When it comes to the media and covering high school sports we all have our roles and we know the first week is always going to be the craziest.
When it came to game day I was definitely ready to get on the air and see how everything worked with the headsets and communication from the booth to the truck. It was challenging trying to keep up with the action and relay the excitement you’re feeling with three voices in your head but it is something that gets easier with practice. Luckily I had an incredible team of veterans making my job easy.
It is impossible to know what to expect in sports and that is what makes broadcasts so memorable. We heard coach Hockman mention a sophomore by the name of Tyler Smith but we had no idea he’d catch two touchdown passes and emerge as one of the finale’s brightest stars. North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire talked about his senior quarterback before the game but no one knew John Urzua was going to toss seven touchdown passes including a fake-spike touchdown to win the game.
It is impossible to always be prepared for what unfolds. You set up the best possible matchups and you enjoy it. That is what the Corky Kell is all about and even with a 1:40 am ending this year, the energy and pride felt throughout the state of Georgia was at an all time high. Well done to this year’s 14 Corky Kell teams that battled through the heat and late into night to cap a remarkable kickoff weekend
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