V3 August 2019

NWGA's Premier Feature Magazine / AUGUST 2019

9TH ANNUAL READV3.COM | AUGUST 2019

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WE CARE COMPLETELY FOR

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Powering Our Communities The Northwest region is home to some of the state’s most vibrant communities.

In our continued efforts to help it thrive, we’ve partnered with local chambers, development authorities and elected officials across the state to stimulate growth and invest in its future. Our commitment to the communities we’ve served for more than 90 years has contributed to strategic partnerships that led to the addition of nearly 140,000 jobs and $30 billion in capital over the past decade alone.

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SEC

PREVIEW 2019

COLUMNS

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Moms keep the wheels in motion, especially for our gridiron heroes. MONICA SHEPPARD sits down with a superwoman who always puts the team first.

FEATURES

6

18

Two SEC BAND MEMBERS recall a few of their memories in stadiums across the Southeast, and tell us all why they will never look at game day the same again.

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Andrew Wardlaw, owner of A.C.W. LANDSCAPES, embraces new products in lighting and masonry to make the landscape design process easier and less expensive for customers.

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HARDY REALTY is offering a listing that features acres of countryside and the centerpiece is a home fit for a king.

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The family of a Cartersville hero, who is now a Clemson Tiger and a 2018 COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPION, tells us why TREVOR LAWRENCE'S story is deeper than his passes.

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Our sports gurus, Ian Griffin and Jim Alred, do their dead level best to give us all a good look at this year's SEC TEAMS and their chances to bring home the glory.

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"My heart is filled with joy because it is with our residents. I wake up and look forward to coming to work because of the smiles they put on my face."

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publishers note MOVE OVER MEN. It's time to make room on Mars and on our couches this fall. The 2019 College Football season is upon us, and the ladies are tired of sitting the bench.

Do you want to see sports fans who ride or die with their teams, and break down a defensive strategy better than your buddy who claims to be die-hard? Gentlemen, look no further than the better half sitting next to you. Armed with a mean set of lungs and their favorite beverage, the ladies are getting their stats together and really starting to follow the game.

Gone are the days of girl-time huddles in the kitchen around a bowl of smashed avocados and lime juice. Now, couples are finding more ways to connect. And what better way Oliver Robbins, Jr. to show unity than rocking your squad's jersey & McKenzie Todd and getting rowdy over bad calls.

If I'm being honest, think it is refreshing.

I enjoy nothing more than seeing my wife, Beth, completely fall apart when a lineman misses a block. Kirk Herbstreit? He's alright. The number one fan at my house lays out a game plan every time UGA takes the field and she yells at the television like she is calling plays from the sideline. And if she isn't fanatical enough, I work with two ladies who will cut you for comments slighting the Dawgs or the Dirty Birds.

Maybe they won't cut you, but would probably rather take your chances with the business end of a knife.

Don't believe me? I happened to convince our assistant editor , McKenzie Todd, to offer you a look inside the psyche of football's most invested fans.

Put on your aprons fellas and grab a fresh bag of chips.

MCKENZIE TODD, HERE. AND HERE'S YOUR APRON. College football has led to me strategically planning birthday parties and even my own wedding; I have always made sure that any important events did not interfere with Georgia football games.

Why, you may ask?

Maybe it’s the camaraderie between random strangers; like when you are visiting New York City and someone yells across Times Square, “GO DAWGS!” I wear my red and black with pride.

This feeling I have isn’t just specific to me or my love of the Dawgs. Everyone who calls themselves a fan of college football emits the same vibe, spawned from the love of their chosen university; I have seen it in Volunteers or worse… Gators (sorry, Ian).

I cannot remember a time where the sound of whistles blowing on the television did not keep me captivated beside my mom and dad, all while we repeatedly scream “run the ball!!” to a person 148 miles away from our living room couch.

I want you to notice that I said mom and dad, because not only is my dad the biggest football fan, but so is my mom. And my aunt. And my sisters.

I've watched former running back Knowshon Moreno (my favorite Dawg) hurdle over a defensive player during the 2008 Central Michigan game in Sanford Stadium, and sat front row at the 2012 SEC Championship game against Alabama when the clock struck 0:00 and we finally had to give up hope for that season. The moment crimson and red confetti rained on my parade is burned into my memory, along with a fierce disdain for the Tide.

I have sat through monsoons in Jacksonville, hiked 36 flights of stairs in 100 degree weather in Columbia and left with frostbite on my toes in Athens.

For all of these moments, I was hunkered down, right beside my family. Enjoying college football, to us, has never been off-limits because we are women. In fact, it was encouraged.

Good luck University of Georgia Football fans. May this be the year we finally finish the drill and everyone else runs out of gas.

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OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin EDITORIAL MANAGER Oliver Robbins, Jr. MAG DESIGN Laura Allshouse WRITERS Oliver Robbins, Jr., Jim Alred, McKenzie Todd, Ian Griffin, DeMarcus Daniel, Monica Sheppard, Elizabeth Childers, Cassie LaJeunesse EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER Cameron Flaisch CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Huynh AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS Chris Forino AD DESIGN Elizabeth Blount Ellie Borromeo PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com CREATOR Neal Howard

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I

“ ” There is no

in TAMMY

Tiger Lily with Monica Sheppard When I texted Tammy Gaines to ask if I could interview her for this month’s column, the first thing she said was, “I’d be honored to talk with you. I have to tell you, though, it wasn’t all me.”

I wanted to discuss the support she and her husband Phillip have shared with the Rome High Football team. She was quick to point out that team support involves lots of folks, but I know that she and Phillip have gone above and beyond the snacks and waters and carpools that many parents contribute.

Her humble response and intention of putting others first is at the heart of what makes Tammy someone who has made a tremendous impression on me, and a clear choice to feature.

Tammy has been cheering her son Aidan to success in football since he was small enough to weigh in for the Pee Wee league as a boy, and he and his parents have been passionate about the sport ever since. Now a rising senior at Rome High School, Aidan has committed to play for Army at West Point next fall, and you can hear the pride in Tammy’s voice when she talks about his plans. “We are so excited for him! It truly is a great fit for him,” she says.

Football has been an important part of their family’s life, and the story of how they ended up at Rome High is a true testament to the way they commit to the things that are important to them.

Aidan was a student at Darlington Schools through his elementary years and that is where they figured they would stay for all of his schooling. The winter of his fifth grade year Coach Charles Smith approached Aidan and invited him to come meet the Rome Middle School team and get to know the guys. He had played in the Pee Wees with a lot of the boys on the team, so they remembered him and were happy to welcome him.

“Aidan loved it and there was an instant bond with these boys,” Tammy recalls.

Aidan practiced with the team for a while and, when the time came to decide whether to stay at Darlington or transfer to Rome, he was concerned about losing touch with these boys to whom he had grown so attached. He told his mom, “I feel like God is leading us to go to Rome so that I can go to school 14

V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM

with them, so that I can do sports with them, and so that I can do life with them.” Tammy told him they should pray about it and think about it and see what happens, but the rest is history.

They had all already found their calling.

There was not a lot of parental support for the football team at the middle school level, and Tammy and Phillip started to notice things like kids showing up for the bus trip to a game that hadn’t gone to sleep the night before. They noticed that some of the kids didn’t have the proper equipment and uniforms ready for each game, and that often many of them hadn’t had any breakfast.

“We knew that we had to do something about this!” she recalls. “These kids can’t be expected to play football and be gone all day from home if they don’t have food and the other things they need to play. We paid attention and were aware of our surroundings and whenever we saw someone that we could help, we did.”

One day before they had even decided to transfer to Rome, Phillip called Tammy and said, “We’re on the way home. Aidan is bringing home one of his teammates tonight. He just needs a place to go and he needs some dinner.”

“I immediately ran upstairs and started getting the guest bedroom ready and preparing for him to stay as long as he wanted,” Tammy remembers. When they arrived, dinner was waiting and Tammy went about making sure he felt at home.

“He had some laundry he needed me to do and I noticed he could use some socks and other basic things, so I ran out to the store,” Tammy says. She didn’t stop to even think about the situation, she just went into nurturing mode.

“It was so funny the way that it happened,” Tammy recalls. “That very morning I had prayed and asked God to show me my purpose. I was going through a transitional period, wondering where I should be focusing my attention,” she shares. “When Phillip called I realized that God was putting someone who needed my help right in my lap, in our family’s lap! I knew that I was being shown my purpose.”

It was easy for Tammy to embrace this boy; he was a sweet kid who just needed some support and guidance. She could see that all he needed was someone to take some time with him and to genuinely care about him, and Tammy knew how to do that in her sleep. Like many significant events in life, the relationships with these boys happened organically over time. But before it was over, there was a core group of boys who were coming to their home most evenings after practice to enjoy the caring support that comes so naturally for Tammy and her family.

Some of the kids were struggling with reading so the group would sit around the table and read together. Aidan would help them with their homework if they needed it. They would all study together in the evenings and the results of that simple activity started to show. Their grades began to get better.

While some of the boys were failing their classes in the beginning, they began to improve and their success in the classroom began to grow. This core group has continued to be a part of their family ever since.

I asked Tammy if she thinks their involvement has contributed to the boys' success on the field, too.

The Rome High Wolves have enjoyed unprecedented success through their tenure of involvement, winning two state championships, and I couldn’t help but wonder.

Tammy laughs, “We love those boys, especially that core group of kids that have been coming to our house since the fifth grade. I don’t know that we have been a part of the team’s success, but we are just trying to do what is right.” While she may have a hard time saying it, I am pretty confident that the love that she has poured into this team certainly hasn’t hurt.

Tammy knows that it takes a village to support a team such as the Rome Wolves, and she is quick to sing the praises of all the others, from the coaches’ wives to the other parents who jump in and do what needs to be done. She points out that Coach Reid’s wife, Julie, and the rest of the coaches’ wives are at the school early most days to make sure that the boys have breakfast, or sandwiches after practice, or whatever they may need. The support is far-reaching, year-round, and it doesn’t take holidays, but it is critical to ensuring these boys are successful well beyond football and high school. It is the kind of teamwork that turns boys into men, and that influence will follow these boys throughout their lives.

“Now that the boys are in high school they don’t come over as much as they used to because they have jobs and girlfriends and other things going on,” Tammy says. “But, when we can, we will invite some of them to go on vacation with us. It was heartwarming to see some of them experience the beach for the first time, or their first flight or their first time out of Rome, and we have really enjoyed being there for that.”

While Tammy and Phillip will travel to watch Aidan play for Army after he graduates, they plan to continue to work with the Rome team and support the kids as much as they can. “We will continue to

help with anything that Coach Reid needs us to do,” she says.

“This is our heart, as a family. These kids are a part of our family. Our door is always open for them if they need a place to stay, a quiet place to study, or a meal,” Tammy commits. “They might just need someone to talk to about a struggle or a question, and we want to be available for them for whatever they need.”

Tammy is uncomfortable with talking about how she and her family have helped these boys over the years, but she hopes it will inspire someone to reach out and help someone else. “We are all human beings, no matter where you start out in the world or end up in the world,” she points out. “We are all in need of help sometimes, and at other times we are the ones able to offer it.”

“If every family that can would take on helping at least one family that might need some help, that would solve so many problems,” Tammy notes. “Maybe they are connected through school or sports, but maybe not. It would mean so much if we could all take an opportunity to be helpful to those around us.”

Tammy is a perfect example of how a little bit of investment in others can result in unexpected blessings. We are all a part of the team that is humankind, and there is no “I” in team. *The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine.

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S

o

ELISE TALLENT 18 V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM

SOUNDTRACK

of SATURDAYS

The love of College Football runs deep among fans, especially for those who are tasked with giving their stadium the will to fight and a song.

TEXT ELISE TALLENT (UGA) COLLIN LINDREW (LSU) LSU PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY THE LSU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY UGA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

ELISE TALLENT, UGA: here was only one occasion in my time with the University of Georgia Redcoat Band that I didn’t play “Glory” after a game. It was following the 2018 Rose Bowl – and between shedding tears, jumping up and down and embracing every friend and stranger sitting around me, I physically couldn’t play my trumpet (believe me, I tried).

I was not alone. Our directors would admit that the “Glory” played after the Rose Bowl was one of the worst, if not the worst, one in recent Georgia history. We were all too overcome with emotion to play our horns at that moment. Sony Michel’s run into the endzone in double overtime was like something out of a movie that we could’ve never imagined would happen to us.

Though the Rose Bowl win is at the top of my list of incredible moments I was lucky enough to experience while in the Redcoat Band, the special thing about being in an SEC band is that there are many of these moments. Each week I was awestruck by something new. When I walked into the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at UGA as an 18-year-old straight out of Rome High School, and for the very first time as a Redcoat, I had no idea what was in store for me.

Each Saturday we were treated like celebrities within our fan base. People would ask for pictures with us and their children, and they would high-five

T

every one of us just for being one of their own. Larry Munson said it best when he described the Redcoat Band as the “heartbeat of the Bulldog Nation,” and we sometimes felt like we were a part of the team because of it. Coach Kirby Smart even surprised us with a visit at one of our practices to express the team’s unwavering appreciation for us.

Though what was most memorable wasn’t always the wins, or even the inevitable camaraderie between us “band nerds” and our fellow football fans, but experiencing other schools’ traditions too.

The 2015 Georgia-Auburn game at Jordan-Hare Stadium was the first time I experienced Nova, or War Eagle VII, flying from the upper deck in a pregame tradition, and it sent chills down my spine. I still think about the atmosphere in Lexington, Kentucky, where the fans, all decked in blue, went absolutely wild when their team ran out to a hype video of a horse in the Kentucky Derby leading the football team. Another moment took place in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the sold-out crowd of Volunteer faithful checkered out Neyland Stadium– only to be beat 41-0 by Georgia in the end. In a more humbling experience, I’ll never forget the crowd in Death Valley chanting “Neck” to us as LSU gave us a beat-down on their home turf. And as always, the intense rivalry that takes place each year in Jacksonville, Florida at the annual Georgia-Florida game (Florida-Georgia Line is a band, y’all).

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THE 2015 GEORGIAAUBURN GAME AT JORDAN-HARE STADIUM WAS THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED NOVA, OR WAR EAGLE VII, FLYING FROM THE UPPER DECK IN A PRE-GAME TRADITION, AND IT SENT CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE.

ABOVE: LEFT TO RIGHT - LSU GAME, COLLIN LINDREW OF LSU BELOW: LEFT TO RIGHT - ELISE TALLENT WITH FRIENDS, LSU BAND

However, one of my favorite experiences took place in South Bend, Indiana. The ringing sound of the bagpipes in “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys overtook Notre Dame stadium when the Fighting Irish took the field to play us on their turf for only the second time in history. We watched a four-quarter fight to the end from the upper deck with Touchdown Jesus looking over us beyond the far endzone.

Each week, we felt all the same emotions as everyone else. The overwhelming joy when we beat a team we weren’t supposed to, the grieving sadness that comes with a loss – and then playing those teams that make your blood boil just by looking at them. The college band experience – especially that of an SEC band – creates an unconditional love for not only your team, but also your school, that will last a lifetime.

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COLLIN LINDREW, LSU: The college marching band experience is special for any band member, but it means something more in the SEC. When prospective freshmen ask me why they should audition for Tiger Band, I like to set the scene for them.

Imagine you’re on the field on a cool October night. The biggest game of the year is about to begin, and the entire country is tuned in. You get in formation in front of the tunnel, and after a few seconds of exhilarating silence, you check up and play your school’s beloved fight song as the team runs past you and fireworks stream upwards in your periphery.

100,000 fans envelop you for three hours as you will your team to victory.

Goosebumps then set in as the incoming freshman is convinced the marching life is for them.

This experience is a small fraction of the incredible experiences one gains in an SEC marching band.

The grueling fall practices make way for lifelong memories made during the coveted SEC away trips.

Some of my fondest memories come from the away trips that bring us to parts of the country we’ve never experienced before. A weekend with some of my closest friends in the outskirts of an SEC town is a weekend well spent.

Bowl game trips are another cherished memory most SEC bands get to experience. With the best conference in football comes the exclusive privilege of traveling to more games than most bands in any other conference. The privilege of likely traveling to a bowl game for at least one of your undergraduate years makes for a common thread amongst SEC band members. Not to mention the camaraderie that SEC band members develop through free time on away trips. The experience of being in an SEC band is something members should never take for granted, because it’s an experience unlike any other in the country.

BELOW: LEFT TO RIGHT - ELISE TALLENT, COLLIN LINDREW

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R Se ABOVE: ANDREW WARDLAW 24 V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM

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A.C.W. Landscapes

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“The answer is never ‘no’ to anything anyone ever asks us to do,” he says. “If someone wants a patio, we build a patio.”

Recently, A.C.W. has implemented new services that Wardlaw is excited to promote. The first is a brand of landscape lighting systems called FX Luminaire, which Wardlaw calls “the Cadillac of landscape lighting.”

A.C.W. offers three tiers of lighting systems, and FX Luminaire is the one Wardlaw considers the highest.

As a homeowner, you can control these lights using a smartphone; you can even control each light individually or group lights into zones. For example, Wardlaw says up lights on trees or pathway lights can be their own zone, allowing you to control a group of lights all at once.

“You really can get very creative in the design of landscape lighting,” Wardlaw says.

Another interesting feature of the FX Luminaire lights is their ability to change color. According to Wardlaw, each individual light fixture has the capability to change into 30,000 different colors. Using a smartphone, you can choose the light or group to control, pick a color and edit it using a color wheel. You can even manipulate the hue and opacity of the color to perfectly fine-tune to the shade.

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In addition to custom lighting, A.C.W. is now certified to install ClifRock panel masonry. In Wardlaw’s eyes, this new product will cut both costs and installation times for landscape features such as outdoor kitchens and fireplaces.

“With this new product, we can really save customers a ton of money,” he says.

ClifRock manufactures molds that look like real stone but are much easier and less expensive to install.

There are 10 molds to choose from, so customers have a lot of say in the look of their new outdoor features.

A.C.W. crews pour the molds in their shop and then bring the pieces to the customer’s house for assembly and staining. This means that the only disruption to the home or yard is the installation crew – installation requires no heavy equipment or trucks. Traditionally, construction equipment would cause damage to the yard and be intrusive to the homeowners for several weeks. With ClifRock, Wardlaw and his team can install an entire outdoor kitchen (that might normally take a month) in four days.

Choosing ClifRock can also save customers a significant amount of money, Wardlaw says. One outdoor fireplace that he installed took two days and cost $4,000-$6,000 less than a traditional stone fireplace. ClifRock isn’t just for kitchens and fireplaces, either. Wardlaw says it can be used for water features, skirting on a deck or foundation, columns or stairs, as well.

So why should someone in need of landscaping choose A.C.W.?

For Wardlaw, that answer lies in the name of the company. A.C.W., which originally stood for the names of Andrew and his former business partner, took on a new meaning when Andrew began running

“If you hire A.C.W. Landscapes to do a job for you, it will be done in the best way possible, and you’ll be satisfied.”

-Andrew Wardlaw the company solo. The acronym now stands for A Christ-Centered Workplace, an ideal that Wardlaw and his team strive to uphold in every job.

Wardlaw says that the company’s mission statement is based on Colossians 3:23, which says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” It is important to him that everyone on his team works to the best of his ability with integrity, honesty and transparency.

“If we make a mistake, we own up to mistakes we make and we do what we can to fix them,” Wardlaw says. “Quality of service and customer satisfaction are our top priorities.”

He encourages potential customers to contact A.C.W. Landscapes for a free quote and design.

A.C.W. also offers a free lighting demonstration for landscape lighting, in which they allow customers to test the lights for a day or two before presenting a design proposal.

“If you hire A.C.W. Landscapes to do a job for you, it will be done in the best way possible, and you’ll be satisfied,” Wardlaw says.

If you are interested in giving your outdoor space a makeover, schedule a consultation with A.C.W. Landscapes by calling 706-314-8141 or visit their website, acwlandscapes.com.

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. (c)2019 River City Bank. Transactions typically occur in minutes when the recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile number is already enrolled with Zelle. Must have a bank account in the U.S. to use Zelle.

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Peace of the Land

If you choose to make this property your home, you can rest easy knowing that everything nature has to offer is just outside your front door. text ELIZABETH CHILDERS

T

photos CAMERON FLAISCH

ucked down a scenic mountain road, 1059 Radio Springs Road offers all of the peace and beauty of country living while still only being minutes from Downtown Rome.

The home is surrounded by 43 acres of rolling land, and from the moment you travel down the private gravel driveway, you get a sense of the serenity that the property offers. From first look, a trio of wood-beam gables rise to greet you and are reflected in the spring-fed pond nestled in the front yard. The home’s owner, Steve Billings, purchased the land in 2002 and later built the home in 2008.

During the time in between, Billings would spend his time at the property enjoying the hundreds of blueberry bushes and he would even allow visitors to come and pick their own blueberries. Standing in front of the home, Billings motions towards a wooden table beside the driveway that used to house the cashbox visitors would use to pay for their berries. He thought it would be fitting to use the honor system as payment for the fruit, and he could not eat them all himself.

“It kind of surprised me at how many blueberry connoisseurs there are, they were coming from Chattanooga, Powder Springs, all over,” he recalls. To further his visitors' enjoyment, Billings tells about inviting kids to join his family fishing at the pond, and then watching as they reel in their first five or seven pound catfish, “they’d be hanging on, eyes as big as half dollars, so we created a lot of memories.”

When the time came to start designing both the footprint and the features of the home, Billings describes the process like a puzzle. “It is one of those things like when you sit down with an architect, you share what you want and as you begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together of everything that you want in a home, the inevitable is that it just keeps growing,” he says. Although Billings had originally planned on building a 2,500 square foot home, the final dwelling features a little over 4,000 square feet.

30 | HARDY REALTY | HOME FEATURE

Once they began building, Billings put his years of experience in the cabinetry business to work, crafting custom pieces throughout. His eye for craftsmanship is instantly displayed in the foyer, where a wide-planked staircase is met with a custom one-inch cast iron railing, with twisted spindles that give a taste of the refined details yet to come.

Just to the right of the foyer is the kitchen, with custom cabinets stretching to the ceiling and offering all the storage space one could need, with a stunning copper range hood and a marble-topped island complete with an inset sink. When designing the kitchen, Billings was intentional when including plenty of space and decided against a formal dining room. “Every house I’ve ever had, this is where people want to be, in the kitchen, right in your way. So I thought, what better way to fix that than to have a nice big table where people can gather and mingle and be a part of what’s going on but not right in your work triangle,” says Billings.

That same level of thoughtfulness continues through the home into the mudroom located just

off of the garage, where dirty shoes or jackets are no match for the travertine marble flooring and the custom heart-pine cabinets made with wood from the local Lindale Mill. Adjacent to the mudroom is a small office and the laundry room, with ample folding room. There is also space for a washer and dryer built into additional cabinetry.

Back down the hall, the living room features a soaring cathedral ceiling with exposed beams and tongue and groove panels that Billings crafted and installed himself, a masonry fireplace, and plenty of natural light that makes the room feel both grand and warm at the same time. “I’m a real fireplace kind of guy, I want to hear the logs cracking and feel the warmth of the fire,” Billings says.

Located just off of the living room, the master bedroom is a perfect example of a space where no detail is forgotten. The double doors leading into the bedroom are topped with a generous transom window, allowing for ample light to flow between the two rooms while still ensuring privacy. Down a short hallway is a walk in closet with all of the

shelving, drawers and storage space that one could dream of in a closet. The master bathroom offers many thoughtful touches including custom cabinetry with a rolling garage door to keep toiletries out of sight and off of the counter.

The home offers two porches, one on the front corner and affectionately called “the sleeping porch,” and a back porch that spans about half of the width of the home. From here, captivating views of the surrounding acreage can be enjoyed from either location. The front porch looks out over the springfed pond, and from the back porch owners can gaze onto the terraced backyard leading to endless woods.

Out beyond the tree line is a handcrafted outhouse that Billings built for blueberry picking visitors prior to the house being built, he shares with a laugh.

Upstairs, the home features three spacious bedrooms and a full bathroom with a marble countertop and custom shelving for toiletries and décor alike. These bedrooms can be blank slates for endless possibilities, as one is already being used as a craft room. One of the most useful touches of

HARDY REALTY | HOME FEATURE | 31

convenience that the home offers upstairs is ample attic space located just through the door in the third bedroom. Lovers of Christmas decorations and storage alike will adore the many built-in shelves that require no trips up a ladder to access.

The last room upstairs is the spacious family room, which truly feels like the heart of the home.

From here, views of both the front and back yards can be seen through the generous windows. “It would be awful to have a place like this and not be able to see out,� says Billings. While he considers himself and his family to be very outdoorsy, he describes plenty of evenings curled up in the family room enjoying The Andy Griffith Show.

Whether you are an avid outdoorsman looking for a place to roam free or enjoy soaking up the peace and quiet that nature has to offer, 1059 Radio Springs Road is sure to satisfy.

For additional information about the property or to schedule a showing, please contact Hardy Realty at 706-291-4321.

LAWRENCE FAMILY VALUES

Everyone should know there is more than locks of gold under the helmet of one of College Football's most prolific players.

TEXT ASHLEE BAGNELL PHOTOS JASON HUYNH

W

hen entering the Lawrence family home, you’re greeted by an open family room with sprinkles of Clemson University paraphernalia everywhere. You immediately know this is a Tiger house.

Until a few years ago, that wasn’t the case. Jeremy and Amanda Lawrence have lived in Cartersville, Georgia for a little over 14 years and have raised three kids. One of them is instantly recognized by sports fans, but all three of their children are insanely talented.

Oldest son, Chase is an accomplished artist at 24. The youngest and only girl, Olivia, is an eightyear-old Hurricane who, according to her father, is a “professional slime maker.”

Middle child, Trevor, is making waves in the world of football as one of the top collegiate quarterbacks in the country. But according to his parents, this wasn’t a surprise.

V3 had the opportunity to learn about Trevor’s childhood and how the Lawrence family has grown closer together since their son was signed and became the leader-under-center for the Clemson Tigers.

Amanda works for Harbin Clinic Ear, Nose and Throat as a nurse practitioner and Jeremy is the safety and environmental manager for Gerdau, a steel company. They both grew up playing sports and you can imagine the shock they had when their first born, Chase, wanted nothing to do with sports.

They recognized early on that Chase wasn’t

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interested and have supported him in every step of his path to becoming a very successful artist. But when the second of the Lawrence children came along and wanted to play all the sports, they were in far more familiar territory.

According to Jeremy, “Trevor played everything.

But mainly basketball and baseball and one year of soccer before he was old enough to play football.”

Trevor was five when he started playing sports.

“He played soccer that first year for Trinity,” his mother recalls. Jeremy adds, “He started football at six for Parks and Recreation. He played there a couple of years and then we took him to Acworth until he was in middle school.” Trevor attended Euharlee Elementary school until the fourth grade. In fifth grade, his parents moved him to Cartersville Middle School and thus began the chain of events that led Trevor to where he is today.

As a child, he was wild... in a good and boyish way.

“Until he was about five," Jeremy says, "he was just a ball of energy, just wild and all boy. He was either wide open or asleep. There was no in between.

Then when he was about six or seven he kind of calmed down.”

Sports helped to tame the horses in his motor, for sure. "He was always intense in every sporting event

that he played," his mother said as she thought back to his time as a youngster. "He was always very focused and intense. But he wasn’t just bouncing off the walls anymore. He gives everything to whatever sport he plays, and he has always been that way.”

With all of that focus for such a young kid, it is easy to wonder if Trevor’s parents could pinpoint when they knew that he had the potential to become one of the most talented athletes this area has had the pleasure of watching.

“You know, you never know where it’s going to go," Jeremy admits, "but probably around eight is when we started seeing that he was going to do well. At that age you never know what they are going to do,but he was very athletic. He could do a lot of things that kids his age shouldn’t have been able to do.” Jeremy’s friends began to take notice of his son’s talent and, with his suspicions confirmed, the involved father dove into educating himself on the steps he needed to take to help his son succeed.

Dad played football growing up, but this was new territory for everyone. “I started taking him to camps when he was eight. We sent him to instructional camps and competitive camps. And when he reached 11 or 12, they had invite-only camps that he was going to and it grew from there.”

Jeremy, according to Amanda, did a ton of research to find the best camps for Trevor and even though it was overwhelming at times, his goal was always the same: find what was best for his son. “It

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BELOW: AMANDA, OLIVIA, TREVOR AND JEREMY LAWRENCE

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is a fine line, and I made some mistakes along the way.They still have to be kids and have fun. Once the workouts become all work and no fun, that’s when it’s not worth it anymore.”

By the time Trevor had reached the eighth grade, he was leaving the middle school to join the high school team in their spring workouts. Joey King and Michael Bail led the team and the Lawrences felt very lucky to have such a strong team. “We are very fortunate," Jeremy says," because we had a quarterback coach in our high school program. Michael is very good and it is rare for even an elite high school program to have a quarterback coach.”

His years at Cartersville High School have paid off in a major way. Whether it was the training, the coaches, the support of an entire community or a

combination of all of it, it is hard to be sure. But soon, it became very clear to the fans of Cartersville Football, that they weren’t the only folks with eyes on Trevor.

It was a big day in Cartersville when Trevor announced his choice of school. But that wasn’t an easy decision to make.

And how could it be?

The pressure must have been unbearable. Amanda and Jeremy, as always, wanted to be sure that they encouraged Trevor in whatever decision he made.

Amanda says that first and foremost, they “wanted it to be his decision, because he was the one who was going to have to live it.” Jeremy adds that, “We wanted him to feel comfortable at the school, with the coach and with the staff. And my biggest thing was that if he can’t play football anymore, it needs to be a school that he would still want to go to. So, when he made up his mind, we had some questions as to why he chose Clemson. This was, academically, athletically and geography, where he felt most comfortable.”

Trevor is majoring in marketing with a minor in sports management. Every school wanted him, and that time was very reminiscent of a montage scene in the hit feature film "The Blind Side" when Michael Oher had to choose a school.

Including the small sibling with big opinions, Olivia won’t hesitate to share her opinions on schools other than Clemson. According to her parents, “Olivia is a very big Clemson fan and she is not very polite to other high-profile college teams.” She supports her big brother in his decision all the way. But not everyone was so willing to get on board.

Living in the middle of Northwest Georgia, it is hard to turn a corner without seeing the UGA flag flying from porches or a Bulldog statue in the front lawn. So, for Trevor to choose Clemson over Georgia, some people weren’t happy. But the one thing that the Lawrence family stresses is that the Cartersville community has always supported Trevor in ways their family couldn’t imagine.

“The local folks have always been great to him.

There’s never been any friction here,” his father says.

There has been an outpouring of love, pride and support for this hometown hero. Amanda explains, “I guess because people do like Trevor, they are willing to pull for Clemson.”

Anyone who lives in the Cartersville area can tell you that there has never been a time when so many Clemson games have been watched from this part of the world since Trevor joined the team. UGA diehards will watch just to see Trevor dominate. But with all the newfound fame, family life has changed drastically.

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Fortunately, that change has been mostly for the better. As a family, life is very different. Getting together is next to impossible but despite all of that, Jeremy says, “I think it has brought us closer together in many ways. It’s been very challenging and stressful at times and it definitely cuts into the amount of family time. But as far as going to games and travelling, it brings a lot of our family and friends together. He and Chase are no doubt closer than they ever were growing up.”

There is also something to be said about how grounded Trevor has remained during his time on the gridiron and his parents give all the credit to the people in the Cartersville community. “He’s never been an attention seeker type of person,” Jeremy smiles. “But you know, we have had a lot of help in the community.

Help from some of his coaches during his time playing little league, and from folks like Coach King at the high school. They have all been great influences on Trevor.” Amanda adds that there are a great deal of Christ influences surrounding Trevor. “Good Godly men, from his hairdresser Scott Holder to Joey King to Michael Bail to Richard Brown and his dad, help make him a man we are all extremely proud of.”

Overall, the Lawrence Family has confidence moving into this next year at Clemson. They know what to expect from the school and they know that they have an entire community supporting them.

They know that Trevor is where he is meant to be and they know that no matter what happens, their family has been made stronger through this experience.

Olivia speaks for all of Trevor’s supporters when she says, “Go Tigers!”

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SEC 2019

PREVIEW

EAST & INTRO TEXT IAN GRIFFIN WEST TEXT JIM ALRED

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE SEC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS

THE ACC MAY HAVE THE CHAMPS, BUT THE SEC IS STILL THE BEST CONFERENCE IN THE LAND. AS I LOOKED BACK ON MY FRIEND, Jim Alred, and my picks last season, things in the Southeastern Conference played out like just about every fan thought they would.

Georgia and Alabama won their respective divisions, with both looking like freight trains in route to a rematch of their 2018 National Championship thriller at Mercedes Benz Stadium…this time with the SEC title on the line.

The outcome was similarly heartbreaking for the Dawgs, but the heroes were reversed in fairy tale fashion with Jalen Hurts coming off the bench to replace a struggling Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts went on to lead a ferocious 35-28 comeback win. The loss knocked Georgia out of playoff contention and the Tide went on to the championship where they were embarrassed by Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers 44-16.

With the Dawgs and Tide both returning the majority of their starting lineups, it is hard to bet against those two teams locking horns again on the first weekend of December, but there are a few teams that could have something to say about that. The depth of this conference from top to bottom is as good as it has ever been, and two second-year coaches in Dan Mullen with Florida and Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fischer lead the programs that are best poised to shake things up and challenge the aforementioned front-runners.

Both coaches helped resurrect their programs in year-one, but would need herculean efforts to knock the kings from their thrones. A&M will get a crack at both Bama and Georgia, as will Auburn, while Florida will have their annual clash with the Dawgs in Jacksonville the first weekend of November and must play both Western Division Tigers (LSU and Auburn) in their cross divisional matchups.

Nobody’s road will be easy and no team can be taken lightly…not even the Commodores of Vanderbilt, whose salty defense under Derek Mason can catch a napping titan by surprise if they don’t show up ready to play.

Can the Gators or Aggies ascend? Will a dark horse emerge from the shadows? Or will it be red and black versus crimson and white at The Benz once again?

Time will tell, but we are guaranteed an entertaining ride on the way to finding out.

RISING IN THE EAST 2018 RESULTS: 10-3, 5-3 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 10-2, 6-2 SEC

FLORIDA GATORS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.24

Miami (Orlando, Fla.)

9.07

UT Martin

9.14

@ Kentucky

9.21

Tennessee

9.28

Towson

10.05

Auburn

10.12

@ LSU

10.19

@ South Carolina

11.02

UGA (Jacksonville, Fla.)

11.09

Vanderbilt

11.16

@ Missouri

11.30

Florida State

FELIPE FRANKS

After a 4-7 season and the firing of Jim McElwain, Florida's athletic director, Scott Strickland, turned to an old friend when he hired Dan Mullen away from Mississippi State. Mullen’s ties to the Gators' glory days fired up the fan base, but no one expected the results he saw in year one.

After finishing with four straight wins, including blowouts of rivals Florida State and Big 10 powerhouse Michigan, expectations are sky-high going into the 2019 season. Mullen’s acumen for getting the most out of his quarterbacks proved true in the progression of Felipe Franks who struggled at times but closed strong as he gained command of his coach’s offensive scheme.

Along with Franks, the skill positions are as deep and talented as they have been since the Meyer era, but in order to match or better their offensive production from 2018, a young offensive line will have to mature and gel quickly. Only center Nick Buchanan returns from last year’s starters, but his experience should play a crucial role in how soon he and his fellow linemen begin to play as one unit.

If that happens, expect the Gators to put up piles of points with playmakers like Kadarius Toney, Trevon Grimes, Van Jefferson, Lemical Perine and so many more.

Defensively, this year’s squad should be improved from 2018’s already stingy unit. Anchored by middle linebacker David Reese, the Gators are stacked on the front seven and have the depth needed to stay fresh for the blitz-heavy 3-4 scheme Todd Grantham likes to execute. The secondary is loaded as usual, and bolstered by the return of Marco Wilson, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Kentucky last season. Wilson will line up on the opposite side from C.J. Henderson and those two potential firstround draft picks give the Gators two true shut-down corners to go along with Trey Dean, Donovan Stiner and Brad Steward at the nickel/safety positions.

Passing touchdowns should come at a premium cost against the school that claims the name DBU. The specialists on this team are about as solid as any

EMORY JONES

in the nation. Punter Johnny Towsend has a huge leg and impressive athleticism, while placekicker Evan McPherson was 17-19 on field goals and perfect on PAT’s.

The Gators are likely still a year or two from knocking Georgia from their pedestal as Beast of the East, but if the ball bounces their way and the Dawgs slip up, a trip to Atlanta is in the realm of possibility.

They open with a must win against Miami, but the four-game stretch in October against Auburn, LSU, South Carolina and Georgia will make or break any championship aspirations in year two under Mullen.

JAKE FROMM

2018 RESULTS: 11-3, 7-1 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 11-1, 7-1 SEC

GEORGIA BULLDOGS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

@ Vanderbilt

9.07

Murray State

9.14

Arkansas State

9.21

Notre Dame

10.05

@ Tennessee

10.12

South Carolina

10.19

Kentucky

11.02

Florida (Jacksonville, FL)

11.09

Missouri

11.16

@ Auburn

11.23

Texas A&M

11.30

@ Georgia Tech

CALVIN RIDLEY AND D'ANDRE SWIFT (7)

While Dabo Sweeney has two wins over Nick Saban and two out of the last three national championship trophies, he may be the only coach with a hotter hand than Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Georgia has always attracted blue-chip talent, but the recruiting in Athens has seen a meteoric rise under Kirby. While that hasn’t yielded a win against the mighty Crimson Tide yet, it certainly seems inevitable.

2019 could be the year it finally happens as the Dawgs' top-tier recruiting class joins a veteran lineup led by junior quarterback Jake Fromm. Fromm’s decision making and leadership abilities make him one of the elite signal callers in the game, but he will need to gain chemistry with an unproven core of receivers after losing Riley Ridley, Mecole Hartman, and Isaac Nauta to the draft and then the dismissal of Jeremiah Holloman in June. The hope is the former five-star recruit and California Golden Bear, Demetris Robertson will be that guy, and this will be his chance to prove he can play up to his potential. The backfield is stocked with explosiveness and the offensive line is massive and experienced. So even if that chemistry between Fromm and a new group of receivers takes time, the Dawgs can lean on their running game to score points.

Defensively, this team still has some growing up to do.

After leaning on an elite unit two years ago, they lost a little ground in 2018, but were still good enough to win it all. I expect this year’s squad to be improved but not impenetrable, which will be more than enough to win the East and get a rematch all Bulldog fans want but must be wary of after the heartbreak of the past two seasons.

On special teams, Rodrigo Blankenship and his glasses return for his senior campaign after considering turning pro. The kid is good enough and will kick in the NFL, but it is not often that kickers reach Rockstar status. He has in Athens, so he wisely decided to enjoy it for another year. At punter, Jake Camarda, is perfectly serviceable.

It is hard to imagine fans getting restless in Athens but with success comes expectations, and Dawg Nation already had those when they weren’t overwhelmed with five-star recruits. The expectation is getting back to Atlanta, which will be decided in the month of November when they play Florida in Jacksonville, Missouri in Athens, Auburn on the Pains and Texas A&M Between the Hedges. I only see them losing one of those games if any all season, which will be good enough to win the East. It’s hard to imagine anyone else other than Alabama waiting for them in Atlanta.

2018 RESULTS: 10-3, 5-3 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 6-6, 3-5 SEC

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

games and a Citrus Bowl Championship behind a stingy defense and the hard-nosed running of their all-time leading rusher, Benny Snell.

So, now the question is will there be an encore? Gone are Snell (and most of the offensive production he created) and National Defensive Player of the year Josh Allen. Both starting tackles on the offensive line are gone, along with several other senior leaders who helped the Cats win ten games. These absences make it hard to see them achieving that level of success again in 2019.

If they are going to come close, quarterback Terry Wilson will have to come into his own. He showed flashes of the skill he will need to win in games against Florida and Missouri, and played his part in many of the close wins they had last season, but his production (145 passing yards per game with 15 TDs versus 12 turnovers) leaves a lot to be desired.

Then there is replacing Benny Snell, which they will attempt to do by a committee led by junior A.J. Rose.

He is speedy, but lacks the power Snell possessed, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player with more heart. I know that is not a physical attribute, but he willed his way to so many yards that you have to factor it in.

Their defense lost key pieces on the front seven and secondary that will be hard to replace. Stoops, however, has recruited historically well to Lexington, and if that talent can come together the Cats could exceed expectations in 2019.

Winning is contagious and I expect Kentucky to carry a lot of confidence coming into the season, but the losses of Snell and Allen, along with other key contributors, could be too much to overcome.

The Cats will play hard, as they always have for coach Stoops, but a bowl eligibility season will be an achievement considering what they have lost.

2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

University of Toledo

9.07

Eastern Michigan University

9.14

Florida

9.21

@ Mississippi State

9.28

@ South Carolina

10.12

Arkansas

10.19

@ Georgia

10.26

Missouri

11.09

Tennessee

11.16

@ Vanderbilt

11.23

University of Tennessee at Martin

11.30

Louisville

2018 was a long time coming for Mark Stoops' Kentucky Wildcats. Lexington is a basketball town, but Cat fans had a reason to believe after a historic 31-game losing streak against Florida was snapped…at the Swamp. The Cats won ten

TERRY WILSON

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LARRY ROUNTREE III

2018 RESULTS: 8-5, 4-4 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 8-4, 5-3 SEC

MISSOURI TIGERS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

@ Wyoming

9.07

West Virginia

9.14

SE Missouri State

9.21

South Carolina

10.05

Troy University

10.12

Ole Miss

10.19

@ Vanderbilt

10.26

@ Kentucky

11.09

@ Georgia

11.16

Florida

11.23

Tennessee

11.30

@ Arkansas (Little Rock, ARK)

It is never easy to replace a four-year starter at quarterback, but with the transfer portal serving as the NCAA’s free agency market, there are usually a few savvy veterans available if you can offer the right situation. Drew Locke helped navigate the Missouri program through a coaching change that, thanks in large part to his talents, went from disaster to success.

Barry Odom used that momentum to court former Clemson starter Kelly Bryant, who left the Tigers after he lost his job to phenom, Trevor Lawrence.

Bryant is a true dual-threat quarterback. While his passing statistics weren’t eye-popping, his willingness to run and decision making, along with his accuracy, give Missouri a dependable starter who won’t lose the game with bone-headed mistakes. The players around him should make his transition into a new system easier. The offensive line is experienced and massive (averaging 6’5”, 325 lbs), the receivers are solid, and the back field features an every down back in Larry Roundtree III, with enough depth on the bench to spell him when needed.

Defensively, this squad is stingy but struggles getting

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after the quarterback. Ranking 108th in sack rate during 2018 was a far cry from the defenses fans had grown accustomed to for just about their entire time in the Southeastern Conference, but they worked around that deficiency quite well. The secondary struggled at times, but some of that has to be placed on the lack of a pass rush.

Most of that cast from 2018 return this season, led by linebacker Cale Garrett, who is absolute beast in every aspect of the game. That should lead to an improved defense, so points shouldn’t come cheap against the Tigers in 2019.

Four-year starting punter Corey Fatony exits and will be replaced by Tucker McCann, who will handle place kicking and punting duties going forward.

If Bryant acclimates quickly and produces like he did for his former squad, the offense should be solid but not explosive. That will require the defense to create a short field if they want to be considered a true dark horse in the East. With the ridiculous sanctions (2019 Bowl Ban and loss of scholarships) set forth for self-reporting a few minor violations, this team will be motivated to give it their all; I still think that yields a max of eight or nine wins.

2018 RESULTS: 7-6, 4-4 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 7-5, 4-4 SEC

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

North Carolina (Charlotte, NC)

9.07

Charleston Southern

9.14

Alabama

9.21

@ Missouri

9.28

Kentucky

10.12

@ Georgia

10.19

Florida

10.26

@ Tennessee

11.02

Vanderbilt

11.09

Appalachian State

11.16

@ Texas A&M

11.30

Clemson

Will Muschamp’s Gamecocks were the preseason dark-horse darlings entering the 2018 campaign. They were fresh off of a shocking bowl win against Michigan, Jake Bentley was entering his third season as the starting quarterback and the schedule set up well for them to compete in the East. Reality came crashing in fast with losses to Georgia and Kentucky in September with the final result landing in fourth place in their fast-improving division.

They ended the year with a confounding 28-0 loss to Virginia in the Belk Bowl where they looked like a team that wanted to be anywhere but the Belk Bowl.

That kind of defeat can certainly serve as motivation in the offseason, but one thing that has plagued Muschamps' teams at Florida and South Carolina are turnovers and penalties. If that general sloppiness is cleaned up, and they can find a running game, things could take a turn for the better on offense.

They will have to achieve their goals without wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who will be the toughest player on the roster to replace thanks to his versatile playmaking ability. Lucky for them, Bentley has fellow senior Bryan Edwards as a reliable target. Both guys fall into the, “Seriously! That guy hasn’t graduated yet?” category. And while Edwards doesn’t possess Samuels' speed or shiftiness, he has proven he can go up and get the 50-50 balls, time and time again.

As for the Gamecocks defense, there is a lot of head scratching considering Muschamps' acumen, recruiting success and scheming ability on that side of the ball. They looked pedestrian at best in 2018 and will have to improve on that effort to make any noise at all in conference play. They get instant help with incoming five-star defensive linemen Zacch Pickens and return just about everyone else in the front seven.

They have two young lock-down corners in Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu who both now have a season of experience under their belts and should only improve with each game played.

The special teams will be serviceable with both placekicker Parker White and punter Joseph Charlton returning. But the loss of Deebo Samuel bites twice, as he was electrifying in the return game.

All in all, this is a South Carolina team that should be better than the 2018 version, but the schedule is brutal with Texas A&M and Alabama out of the West, along with their divisional slate. I also think Jake Bentley is who he is…a gunslinger who will have games where he looks like an All-American, followed by those where you wonder how he ever made it on a Power 5 roster.

JAKE BENTLEY

JARRETT GUARANTANO

2018 RESULTS: 5-7, 2-6 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 6-6, 2-6 SEC

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

Georgia State University

9.07

BYU

9.14

UT CHattanooga

9.21

@ Florida

10.05

Georgia

10.12

Mississippi State

10.19

@ Alabama

10.26

South Carolina

11.02

UAB

11.09

@ Kentucky

11.23

@ Missouri

11.30

Vanderbilt

Considering the disaster they were on the field for the majority of the 2018 season, the vibe around Jeremy Pruitt’s Vols program is extremely positive. The new head man has recruited well and addressed team needs mainly along the offensive line, but that talent needs time to develop. Those young stars won’t be ready for the spotlight this year and that means more growing pains are in store for the Tennessee faithful.

Returning signal caller, Jarrett Guarantano, will need to be smart in the pocket and on the run this season, as depth at quarterback is razor thin. Guarantano has a lot of moxie, so that will be easier said than done.

That’s to his credit, as his fearlessness is a virtue. But if Tennessee is going to break through and make it back to a bowl, they will need him on the field. He will have to try and limit how many hits he takes.

The offensive line could have a lot to say about that, but it will require a little baptism under fire that could end up being necessary if junior Trey Smith continues to struggle with the blood clots in his lungs that have plagued him throughout his UT career. If they can find their way up front, the running backs and receivers are talented enough to thrive and Guar-

antano could come into his own given the time he needs in the pocket.

When looking over the D, the secondary is the strength of this unit. They are young, but gained valuable experience last season. The line backing corps is deep and talented and led by returning starters Daniel Bituli and Darrell Taylor, but the defensive line lacks depth and this should be a huge cause for concern for a team that struggled against the run in 2018.

The Vols are rock-solid on special teams where last season's duo of placekicker Brent Cimaglia and punter Joe Doyle return after standout seasons.

In the end this is a team that is still rebuilding. If the fan base and administration are patient, Pruitt might very well get them back in the conversation when it comes to teams capable of winning the East.

With a brutal stretch from late September through October, this does not look like the year that finish comes to fruition.

2018 RESULTS: 6-7, 3-5 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: 4-8, 1-7 SEC

VANDERBILT COMMODORES 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

Georgia

9.07

@ Purdue

9.21

LSU

9.28

Norhtern Illinois

10.05

@ Ole Miss

10.12

UNLV

10.19

Missouri

11.02

@ South Carolina

11.09

@ Florida

11.16

Kentucky

11.23

East Tennessee State

11.30

@ Tennessee

While Derek Mason has not been able to reach the heights of the James Franklin era at Vanderbilt, he has established a gritty, blue-collar mentality that makes their SEC counterparts take them seriously.

One feather in the Commodores' hat is the three-game winning streak over in-state rival Tennessee, that they would surely like to extend to four, so it is not like Vandy is not overachieving by Vandy standards.

The Dores managed to get to a bowl game last year, but in order to repeat that success, they must find a replacement for their boom or bust four-year starting quarterback, Kyle Shurmer. The candidates to take his spot are Ball State transfer Riley Neal and Deuce Wallace, who is coming off a year-long suspension.

Both are dual-threat quarterbacks with enormous potential and whoever gets the nod gets to line up next to or in front of the most underrated tailback in the SEC and perhaps the country, Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

Vaughn rushed for 1244 yards and 12 scores in 2018 and has a knack for yielding explosive plays in the running game. His ability to take the ball to the house every time he touches it, along with two quarterbacks that can make plays with their legs, creates opportunities for the passing game to thrive in the RPO game. None of this will matter much if the offensive line can’t protect and create running lanes, and with three starters gone from last year’s unit, that is a major cause for concern.

On defense, Mason concentrated his recruiting efforts on getting bigger up front, but it is rare that a freshman (no matter how large) can come in and make an impact. So, I would expect them to struggle at the point of attack again in 2019. They have young impact players at linebacker in Dimitri Moore and JUCO-transfer Brandon Maddox, while boasting plenty of unproven depth in the secondary. All signs point to this defense being really good in 2020, while they find their footing in 2019.

Overall, the schedule is tougher this year than last as they trade Arkansas for LSU in their cross division rotational match up and a trip to Purdue in week two won’t be a gimmie in non-conference play. There is a chance Ke’Shawn Vaughn just goes nuts and Vandy gets back to a bowl game, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

KALIJA LIPSCOMB

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WILD, WILD

WEST SECWEST 2018 RESULTS: 14-1, 8-0 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: ALABAMA 12-0, 8-0 SEC

ALABAMA CRIMSONTIDE 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

Duke (Atlanta, GA)

9.07

New Mexico State

9.14

@ South Carolina

9.21

Southern Miss

9.28

Ole Miss

10.12

@ Texas A&M

10.19

Tennessee

10.26

Arkansas

11.09

LSU

11.16

@ Mississippi State

11.23

Western Carolina

11.30

@ Auburn

When last we saw Alabama, Clemson was in the process of hanging 44 points on them and running them out of the College Football Championship game. The Tigers’ mauling of the Tide was one of the worst defeats in coach Nick Saban’s tenure.

The question looming for Alabama in 2019 is can it rebound from the beating and get back to the playoffs and possibly the national title game? All-universe quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returns, as do several key playmakers, giving Alabama plenty of firepower on what was already a record-setting offense in 2018. The Tide will have to shore up a few positions on the offensive front, however.

The defense also lost more than half of the starters, meaning the Tide will have to reload on that side of the ball, as well. Along with those departures, five assistant coaches also left the Capstone.

But as most pundits will point out, Alabama under 46

V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM

Saban just reloads and continues winning with his process. It doesn’t hurt that Alabama’s out-of-conference schedule looks less daunting than most seasons, giving the team plenty of time to get ready for a possible tough road test at Texas A&M in early October.

One thing that Alabama won’t boast this year is a solid backup in case the injury bug bites Tagovailoa again, because former quarterback Jalen Hurts transferred to Oklahoma in the offseason.

Alabama hasn’t lost more than one game in a season since 2014 and the 2019 slate looks prime for the streak to continue. LSU might be the only team that could be favored against Alabama, but the game is in Tuscaloosa this season.

Odds are Alabama will reach the playoffs for a sixth-consecutive season and could possibly end up meeting Clemson in the finals for a third straight year. However, the other side of the coin says that someday all those losses of players going early to the draft and coaches to other schools might catch up with the Tide.

KEILAN ROBINSON

DERRICK BROWN

2018 RESULTS: 8-5, 3-5 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: AUBURN 8-4, 5-3 SEC

AUBURN TIGERS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

Oregon (Arlington, TX)

9.07

Tulane

9.14

Kent State

9.21

@ Texas A&M

9.28

Mississippi State

10.05

@ Florida

10.19

@ Arkansas

10.26

@ LSU

11.02

Ole Miss

11.16

Georgia

11.23

Samford

11.30

Alabama

RAEKWON DAVIS

2018 RESULTS: 10-3, 5-3 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: LSU 10-2, 7-1 SEC

LSU TIGERS 2019 SCHEDULE

What to make of the Auburn football program? Gus Malzahn seemed to be the savior when he started, but other than his first season and 2017, his teams have underperformed, averaging eight wins and taking multiple losses to Alabama, Georgia and LSU. This season opens with redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood and true freshman Bo Nix battling for the quarterback spot behind what has to be a better offensive line than last year. The Tigers return several good receivers but have questions at tailback after a lackluster running game in 2018.

The defensive line might be one of the best in the country after several starters including Derrick Brown spurned NFL dollars to play one final season at Auburn. The linebacking corps is thin on depth but the defensive secondary should be another strong suit for Auburn.

Something that won’t be in their favor is a daunting schedule which sees the Tigers play a slew of top-notch teams, including road trips to Florida, LSU (where they haven’t won since 1999) and Texas A&M. Throw in home games against Georgia and Alabama and the season-opener against PAC-12 title contender Oregon, and Auburn might be lucky to win eight games this season.

Malzahn shuffled some staff around bringing in Kenny Dillingham as the offensive coordinator, but Malzahn plans to take over play-calling duties, something most pundits believe he’s already been doing the past few years.

The big question for Auburn will be the offense. If the Tigers can settle on a quarterback, get the running game back on track and return to their fast-paced style, they could turn some heads.

However, if the offense can’t get going and the Tigers tumble to yet another eight-win season, not even the massive payout on Malzahn's contract may be enough to keep him as the coach.

8.31

Georgia Southern

9.07

@ Texas

9.14

@ Northwestern State

9.21

@ Vanderbilt

10.05

Utah State

10.12

Florida

10.19

@ Mississippi State

10.26

Auburn

11.09

@ Alabama

11.16

@ Ole Miss

11.23

Arkansas

11.30

Texas A&M (Baton Rouge, LA)

What a difference a year makes. Last season, LSU had far more questions than answers, but transfer quarterback Joe Burrow along with a tenacious defense and solid season from a slew of offensive playmakers helped get the Tigers to the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2013.

Burrow returns as do several key receivers and most of the offensive line, giving LSU a chance to build on the solid 2018 campaign. Running back will be a question, but LSU tends to find a solid back capable of rushing for 1,000-plus yards almost every season.

Although the Tigers did lose some talent to the NFL Draft on defense, they still have the core group intact with seven starters returning, although the defensive backfield may need some time to gel.

LSU’s schedule doesn’t look as daunting as 2018. If LSU can grab a win at Texas on Sept. 7, the Bayou Bengals should be undefeated when Florida comes calling on Oct. 12. LSU also gets home games with Auburn and Texas A&M and a bye week before travelling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Nov. 9.

With a favorable schedule plus a slew of starters on both sides of the ball returning to Baton Rouge, LSU could be the sleeper team in the SEC West. If Burrow can improve and LSU’s offense keeps clicking, the Tigers might find themselves in the college football playoff discussion and chasing another 10-win season.

JOE BURROW

2018 RESULTS: 5-7, 1-7 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: OLE MISS 6-6, 3-5 SEC

OLE MISS REBELS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

@ Memphis

9.07

Arkansas

9.14

SE Louisiana

9.21

California

9.28

@ Alabama

10.05

Vanderbilt

10.12

@ Missouri

10.19

Texas A&M

11.02

@ Auburn

11.09

New Mexico State

11.16

LSU

11.28

@ Mississippi State

ED ORGERON, HEAD COACH READV3.COM | AUGUST 2019

V3 MAGAZINE

47

Sitting with a 5-2 record in mid October 2018, Ole Miss looked like a team capable of not only recording a winning record but possibly finishing with eight or nine wins. Instead, the squad closed the year with five consecutive losses, including an overtime heartbreaker to Vanderbilt to finish with a 5-7 record.

New offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez knows how to coach teams that can score points and now gets a chance to show he can get the Rebels’ offense clicking again. Matt Corral looks like the starting quarterback after the spring game and he’ll have the luxury of being able to hand the ball off to tailback Scottie Phillips, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in 10 games last year.

Wide receiver and offensive line both have some depth issues and will be places of concern for Ole Miss in 2019. The Rebels’ defense does return a lot of talent although several key players were injured and weren’t able to participate in spring practice.

Those injuries should be clear before the season starts and with such a young offense, Ole Miss will lean heavily on the defense early in the season.

The Rebels open the season with three winnable games against Memphis, Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana before playing host to Cal on Sept. 21. The Rebels also face daunting road games against Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State.

Although the Rebels probably won’t play a role in the SEC West race, if Rodriguez can get the offense going and the youth movement grows up quickly, Ole Miss could flirt with six or seven wins again in 2019. That and they can hope they can finish this season stronger than they did in 2018.

2017 RESULTS: 9-4 (4-4 SEC) PROJECTION: 8-5

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS 2019 SCHEDULE 8.31

Oregon (Arlington, TX)

9.07

Tulane

9.14

Kent State

9.21

@ Texas A&M

9.28

Mississippi State

10.05

@ Florida

10.19

@ Arkansas

10.26

@ LSU

11.02

Ole Miss

11.16

Georgia

11.23

Samford

11.30

Alabama

Mississippi State's fans expected to

though and helped Mississippi State to an 8-5 record with big wins against both Auburn and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs lost several key players on the defense and the offense, and Moorhead has brought in five new assistant coaches to help. Perhaps the biggest question is who replaces Nick Fitzgerald at quarterback. Although Fitzgerald had some injuries and didn’t have a great senior campaign, he still helped carry the offensive load for the Bulldogs.

Junior Kenton Thompson finished spring as the likely number one quarterback with redshirt freshman, Jalen Mayden, still in the competition for the starting role.

The Bulldogs will have to shuffle the offensive line as well as find some playmakers.

On defense, the Bulldogs suffered heavy losses on the defensive front but have a solid group of linebackers and several good cornerbacks, although the depth chart is thin in the secondary.

If the Bulldogs can get things going early, they could rack up some wins. The telling games for the Bulldogs could come in late September at Auburn and in early October at Tennessee. If they can win one or both of those games, they should be able to get into a bowl game. Lose both, and it might be a struggle for the Bulldogs to do better than 6-6.

see the Bulldogs’ offense take off and possibly lead State to contention in the SEC West in 2018. It didn’t happen. Joe Moorhead, who replaced long-time coach Dan Mullen, came in with a fancy offensive pedigree.

However, injuries hurt the Bulldogs’ offense and it stumbled, averaging 28.5 points per game. It wasn’t terrible but ranked State in the middle of the nation as far as offenses go. The defense had a solid year

TONY THE LANDSHARK

2018 RESULTS: 9-4, 5-3 SEC 2019 PROJECTION: TEXAS A&M 8-4, 6-2 SEC

TEXAS A&M 2019 SCHEDULE 8.29

Texas State

9.07

@ Clemson

9.14

Lamar

9.21

Auburn

9.28

Arkansas (Arlington, TX)

10.12

Alabama

10.19

@ Ole Miss

10.26

Mississippi State

11.02

UTSA

11.16

South Carolina

11.23

@ Georgia

11.30

@ LSU

2017 RESULTS: 4-8 (1-7 SEC) PROJECTION: 4-8

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2019 SCHEDULE

CONNOR BLUMRICK

Year two at Texas A&M for head coach Jimbo Fisher could come down to how quickly the Aggies can get ready for what is a tough opening six games.

A year after going 9-4, which included a thrashing of N.C. State in the Gator Bowl, the Aggies face a daunting early slate and end the season with two tough opponents.

The Aggies travel to defending national champion Clemson on Sept. 7 and play host to SEC West rivals Auburn on Sept. 21 and Alabama on Oct. 12. All three games loom large for A&M, if the Aggies hope to be in contention for the SEC West or a playoff spot come November.

Quarterback Kellen Mond appears to be the man for the Aggies but will need to improve his accuracy.

The Aggies also lost key talent along the offensive line at tailback and wide receiver. Texas A&M also has to replace talent on the defensive line and get much better in the secondary.

Fisher did land a much-ballyhooed recruiting class and many of those players will be looked on to step in and possibly contribute early for the Aggies. If Texas A&M’s offense can replace the playmakers and Mond continues to improve, the Aggies offense should be fine.

Texas A&M brought Fisher to College Station not just to compete but to win championships. Fisher took five years at FSU to deliver a national title to the Seminoles. If the Aggies keep improving, they might be able to challenge Alabama and LSU for the SEC West title.

8.29

Texas State

9.07

@ Clemson

9.14

Lamar

9.21

Auburn

9.28

Arkansas (Arlington, TX)

10.12

Alabama

10.19

@ Ole Miss

10.26

Mississippi State

11.02

UTSA

11.16

South Carolina

11.23

@ Georgia

11.30

@ LSU

The Hogs will need to find some playmakers at tailback and wide receiver to help whoever wins the starting quarterback job. Arkansas’ defense looked solid in the spring game, but then again that might have been more because of the competition it faced from the Hogs’ offense.

The question coming into the season along with the offense is can Arkansas find six wins to get them bowl eligible? If the Razorbacks can grab an early-season win against Ole Miss and win the non-conference games, they might be able to grab one more upset victory and get back to a bowl.

Arkansas head coach, Chad Morris, was supposed to bring an up-tempo, high-scoring offense to Fayetteville. The Hogs stumbled in year one under the new coach, falling to a 2-10 record and failing to record an SEC win.

The Razorbacks did have some moments and close games, losing by a touchdown or less to Ole Miss, LSU and Texas A&M. However, the offense sputtered, stumbled and bumbled along the way, averaging a scant 21.7 points per game while ranking last in the SEC and among the worst in the nation.

Arkansas has to replace three starting offensive linemen off a unit that was less-than-stellar. Quarterback is also an interesting position as two graduate transfers could be battling for the starting job. Ben Hicks, who came from SMU, and Nick Starkel from Texas A&M both have chances to win the starting job.

CHAD MORRIS, HEAD COACH

KELLEN MOND READV3.COM | AUGUST 2019

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51

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS IN THE EAST IAN 1

GEORGIA 11-1, 7-1 SEC

2

FLORIDA 10-2, 6-2 SEC

3

SOUTH CAROLINA 7-5, 4-4 SEC

4

MISSOURI 8-4, 5-3 SEC

5

KENTUCKY 6-6, 3-5 SEC

6

TENNESSEE 6-6, 2-6 SEC

7

VANDERBILT 4-8, 1-7 SEC

JA'MARR CHASE

MUST WATCH MATCHUPS If you’re like the team at V3, any college football is worth the screen time and sometimes you need several screens at the same time to soak it all in. Below we highlight our choices for matchups you just can’t miss throughout what promises to be an unbelievable season of SEC football.

AUGUST

24th

Florida vs. Miami (Camping World Kickoff game-Orlando, FL)

AUGUST 31st

Auburn vs. Oregon (Arlington, TX) Georgia @ Vanderbilt

SEPT 7th LSU @ Texas

Texas A&M @ Clemson

NOV. 2nd

Florida vs. Georgia

NOV. 9th

LSU @ Alabama

NOV. 16th

NOV. 23rd

Texas A&M @ Georgia

1

ALABAMA 12-0, 8-0 SEC

2

LSU 10-2, 7-1 SEC

3

TEXAS A&M 8-4, 6-2 SEC

4

AUBURN 8-4, 5-3 SEC

5

MISS. STATE 7-5, 4-4 SEC

6

OLE MISS 6-6, 3-5 SEC

7

ARKANSAS 4-8, 2-6 SEC

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP IAN'S & JIM'S PREDICTION

NOV 30th

Alabama @ Auburn Texas A&M @ LSU

Notre Dame @ Georgia Tennessee @ Florida

OCT. 5th

Auburn @ Florida

OCT: 12th

Alabama @ Texas A&M JIMBO FISHER, HEAD COACH AT TEXAS A&M V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM

JIM

Georgia @ Auburn

SEPT 21st

52

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS IN THE WEST

ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA WINNER: ALABAMA

HOT CHEEKS? Every season a few coaches' butts are warmer than others, and that is certainly true for a few SEC coaches in 2019. In the East, however, there is security for all. Will Muschamp and Barry Odom have the support of their AD’s, Jeremy Pruitt and Dan Mullen are only in year two, Derek Mason is keeping Vandy, well…Vandy, Mark Stoops is coming off a banner year at Kentucky, and Kirby Smart may as well run for mayor in Athens. In the West you have to wonder about Malzahn at Auburn, and while Ed Orgeron has over-achieved, I could see the LSU faithful turning on him quickly if things go south. The rest of the West should be just fine. So, if Ed and Gus get it done we may be looking at the same group in charge in 2020.

We shall see.

KIRBY SMART (UGA HEAD COACH) AND NICK SABAN (ALABAMA HEAD COACH)

ZERO TURNOVER For the first time in a long time, there isn’t a new coach at the helm of an SEC team. With five of the 14 teams' coaches entering year two, which happens to be when programs traditionally show the most improvement under a new coach, it will be interesting to see which of those five delivers on that cliché. We expect all five will either be on par or take a step back this season for one reason or the other, but Dan Mullen’s only falls in that category are due to over achieving in year one.

ED ORGERON

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706-234-4613

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm Sun: 11:30am-3pm

Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town... and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone! (Draft and Bottled Beers & Wine also offered) Famous for: Their Roast Beef Relief!

www.hardees.com

1204 Turner McCall Blvd • Rome, GA 30161 2300 Shorter Ave • Rome, GA 30165 3110 Cedartown Hwy • Rome, GA 30161 104 S Tennessee St • Cartersville, GA 30120

We’re known as the place to go for juicy, delicious charbroiled burgers & made from scratch biscuits. Because if you’re gonna eat, you should Eat Like You Mean It!

www.fuddruckers.com/rome 706-233-9960

Hours: Monday: 11am-3pm Tues-Sat: 8am-3pm

706-314-9544

Jamwich - Serving distinctive sandwiches, salads, and soups. Sandwiches built with the finest ingredients: Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, Zelma’s Blue Ribbon Jams and Jellies, fresh sourdough bread, premium Boars Head thick cut bacon and farm-to-table produce.

www.moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161

706-622-2977

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am - 2am

Moe’s Original BBQ is a Southern soul food revival where great food is served in an atmosphere that is relaxed, spontaneous, yet civilized….well, sometimes.

www.swheatmarketdeli.com Hours: Mon-Sat: 5am-10pm Sun: 6am-10pm

706.291.2021

595 Riverside Parkway Rome, GA 30161

510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

5 E Main St Cartersville, GA 30120

770-607-0067

Hours: Mon and Tue 11-4 Wed and Thur 11-4 Fri and Sat 11-8 Sun 11-3

Casual counter serve offering sandwiches, salads & American comfort food, now serving breakfast Wed through Sat 7-10am

www.maineonmain.com Hours: Sun -Thu: 11am-9pm Fri - Sat: 11am-10pm

Fuddruckers catering can help you feed just about any size group, anytime, anywhere. Our menu will please the most discerning tastes and meet the high standards you require. We know how to make your event spectacular with the WORLD’S GREATEST CATERING.

24 W Main St Cartersville, GA 30120

770-334-3813

Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun: 11am - 8pm

At Maine Street Coastal Cuisine, in the heart of historic downtown Cartersville, we pride ourselves on sourcing seafood from sustainable fisheries. Our passion is to provide a restaurant free of artificial flavors and ingredients.

Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia.

READV3.COM | AUGUST 2019

V3 MAGAZINE

55

Family Fun At The

71ST ANNUAL

Oct 1st - 5th 2019 Enter our photo contest (Aug 1 - Aug 18) to win FREE ADMISSION and ARMBANDS FOR 4!

Like Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook and enter your photo that best represents our 2019 theme, Family Fun at the 71st Coosa Valley Fair! The winning entry will receive admission and Unlimited Ride armbands for 4 valid any night of the Fair, and the picture will be featured in the September issue of V3 Magazine! Visit Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook or our website for contest details, rules and restrictions.

Check our website for information on discounted armbands in September.

www.CoosaValleyFair.com Like us on Facebook Watch our website for contests

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME, GA

SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME WADE SHOWS INC. RIDES 56

V3 MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 | READV3.COM