V3 August 2018

NWGA's Premier Feature Magazine / AUGUST 2018

BEING NICK In this year's SEC PREVIEW, we welcome gridiron hero, NICK CHUBB, who always gives back and exhibits perfect form on and off the field.

8TH ANNUAL SEC PREVIEW AUGUST 2018

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SEC PREVIEW 2018 COLUMNS 13

For those of us who have a hard time getting into touchdowns and pass rushes, Holly Lynch suggests that maybe pastels and color schemes will get you into the game.

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If you’ve ever wondered who leads stands full of rabid college football fans to all scream DEFENSE at the same time, then you must be blind.

SEC College cheerleaders explain why they are now ingrained in the sport for good.

Former SEC yard-gaining machine, Nick Chubb, stopped by his local high school to give the players a special gift and the roadmap to success.

The smell of hot wing sauce and guacamole is wafting through the air and that can only mean one thing: V3 Magazine’s SEC Football Preview is ripe for the picking and this year’s yield is sure to be good.

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The Residents and Staff of Renaissance Marquis would like to wish all of our area teams the best of luck in the upcoming season!

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OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin EDITORIAL MANAGER Oliver Robbins, Jr. MAG ART & DESIGN Ellie Borromeo

oliver robbins, jr. editorial manager

COUCHES WILL SEE extra use and fans will soon put the rubber to the road in route to cheer on their favorite team. Yes, it is time for the beginning of a sport that for some rivals Christmas morning, their last birthday party and—although I’m hesitant to say—a word on Sunday morning from the man inspired by the Good Lord. College football is here, and I try to use this space to offer a break from the pigskin pig-out that is this issue. This year is no different; however I do believe my Dawgs could learn a few things from the next few lines of commentary.

First, let me apologize for last year’s note to millennials. I find that as I continue to get old, I grow stubborn and resistant to new things.

A perfect example of this hard-headedness on my part is when Ellie Borromeo, our very talented lead graphic designer, introduced me to the Cash app. We had all decided to get ice cream near the end of a busy work day and she offered to “Cash” me the money for her order. I told her cash was fine. That’s when she laughed and informed me about a money transfer app that lets you move funds directly from your bank account and into another person’s Cash app. Once the money is moved, the phone makes the sound of coins jingling as they bounce off a hard surface.

Now to some, the sound my phone makes after being “Cashed” may seem like an unimportant detail.

After it took me two hours to accept that a bank was not the only way of transferring money and to learn how to install the app, I now Cash folks whenever I can. I just really get a kick out of the sound.

Cameron Flaisch has taught me to send large photo files without attaching two at a time to multiple emails. He did so after I squirmed with discomfort while thinking I had to learn about another piece of software past my beloved G-mail and Word. He single-fingeredly showed me the places on the keyboard to make the magic happen. Another millennial to the rescue, I’d say.

McKenzie Todd is the straw that broke the camel’s back, the one who has shown me the ways of the Force, the catalyst for my new-found infatuation with everything hip and simple, and she is also a very talented writer whose presence has been a Godsend at V3. We have tried for years to secure an interview with Nick Chubb using the good ole back channel method. We reached out to uncles who played backgammon with his pastor, friends who still played basketball with his cousin on Saturdays and even University of Georgia alumni who looked at me with “Are you serious?” eyes while processing my request to speak with Mr. Chubb.

McKenzie had the bright idea to email his publicist who she found on Instagram. Yep, I was bested by another app that I had not even tried to understand. My old behind thought that since everyone was likely using text, email, etc., we could beat them to the punch by going old school, you know, the way nobody does business anymore.

Turns out, McKenzie landed the interview and I wiped the pie from my face. I should have listened and trusted the young talent. They are invaluable teachers, co-workers, thinkers, creatives and, most importantly, friends.

Now, I embrace my millennial interaction. And last year, Saban trusted a young gun who had a better way to skin a Dawg. Kirbs, if Alabama’s quarterback shaves by slathering his face in leché and letting the cat lick the baby-fine hair from his chinny-chin-chin, for heaven’s sake, ask your young guys how they transfer cash.

WRITERS Oliver Robbins, Jr., Holly Lynch, Jim Alred, Lauren Jones-Hillman, Jennifer Luitwieler, McKenzie Todd, Rachel Reiff, Ian Griffin, J. Bryant Steele EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER Cameron Flaisch CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Calvert 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

V3MAGAZINE.COM Oliver Robbins, Editorial Manager

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The Color of Pigskin Trends&Traditions with Holly Lynch

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upon us, and this entire issue dedicated to the preview of college teams, I thought some of our readers might appreciate the perspective of an event planner and designer.

My mind is that of a creative person, but with enough Type A personality to make it as an entrepreneur with proper plans, budgets and accounting skills and make it all work (or so I think). And while I spent my high school days in the marching band, and therefore attended every high school football game. Football (and many other sports) is not my game – pun intended. If I were in charge of a football team, I would decline every penalty because I think the option to decline a penalty is hilarious.

“No officer, I don’t want a speeding ticket. I decline the penalty.”

I can follow baseball fairly well, and know how to swing a tennis racket, but that pretty much begins and ends my knowledge of sports. I did earn a letter in track in high school, but mostly because I could jump over the hurdles. I wasn’t fast.

So, when the topic turns to sports teams, I pretty much need to be told who to cheer for. If left to my

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own devices, I would cheer for the team with the best color scheme for their uniforms. I do love the Seattle Seahawks uniforms – you know how I feel about green!

But that’s not college football, now is it?

There are myriad of studies about the color of team uniforms and how they affect visibility on the field and less scientific studies of what colors yield more successful teams. In an article from Psychology Today circa 2016, in a random survey of non-sports fans, darker team uniforms (black) were associated with more aggressive and malevolent behaviors, while brighter colors were perceived as kind or (worse) timid.

Color, for most people, is perceived innately as good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. We choose favorite colors as young as toddler-age, and continue those feelings into our adult life. Color affects what we buy for our home, what we wear. Color affects more mindless decisions, like which bananas to buy (the greener the better for me) or what team to cheer for, if you’re not a sports fan. For those of us who love color, all my designer and photographer friends out there, we describe color as an event or a feeling.

Blue isn’t blue – its sky blue, or evening shadow or midnight. My favorite green would be a grass

green, which is slightly different than Kermit-green.

There’s an entire scene in “The Devil Wears Prada” a movie where Meryl Streep’s character discusses the evolution of Anne Hathaway’s cerulean sweater, from runway to Dress Barn.

Even pigskin is an actual color. It’s an option in one of my sample books for table linens. It’s not quite cognac or tobacco, but still a brown-ish color.

So, for all the non-football loving readers out there, the color of football is still something fun to watch.

Besides judging the teams on their choice of uniforms, and which team looks more kind and which appears more malevolent, you can also check out the cheerleader uniforms. Do they correspond to the football team? Could they have done a better job looking like a cohesive school? How about the mascot? Check out the stands – I always enjoy seeing the sea of red/yellow/orange/crimson on one side of the stadium vs. the other side.

And God help the poor soul in the wrong color on the right side (an Auburn fan in orange sitting in the UGA sea of red). GASP – is that a fashion faux pas or unsportsmanlike conduct?

So, if you’re going into football season more excited about the return of Victoria on Masterpiece, like myself (let’s talk about those uniforms!), have no fear. You’re in good company with many others who have no dislike for the game or the players or the schools they represent.

You just prefer the uniforms to the actual game itself.

Holly Lynch is the owner of The Season Events, a full service catering, event planning and design company located at 300 Glenn Milner Blvd. in Rome. *The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine.

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CROW

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SAMMY BRAMLETT

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This group of college athletes is a Saturday mainstay and the main line of communication between fans and their favorite football team.

TEXT MCKENZIE TODD

PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERON FLAISCH, ANDY CALVERT & PROVIDED BY OLE MISS

HAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT when you think about college football? There are the obvious objects, of course. But no matter whom you ask, somewhere down the line they mention cheerleaders. Why is that?

Many people don’t truly understand why cheerleading plays a part in football, especially college football. “They just do,” are most people’s answers when faced with this question. However, cheerleading’s roots are closely tied to American football in more ways than just one.

Just imagine for a second that you’re gearing up for a Saturday in Athens, an afternoon in the Swamp or a trek to T-Town, and you arrive at the stadium to silence. You see no band, no cheerlead-

ers and no one to help get you hyped for the day’s activities. You notice.

University of Mississippi Cheerleading Coach, Ryan O’Connor, realizes this and notes how important cheerleaders really are to gamedays in Oxford and all college towns alike. “If you took away the cheerleaders from gameday, it would definitely be noticed. Fans don’t realize all that we do, but they do notice it when we aren’t there to do those things.

That is the best way that I can describe it. If you took away cheerleading from the sport of football, it would be noticed,” says O’Connor.

This notion isn’t a current concept either according to Coosa High graduate and Floyd County native, as well as former University of Georgia

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Hines Ward played wide receiver and when UGA beat Florida for the first time in years.

These were the days that UGA needed moxie, and the cheerleaders were there to give it to them.

“The central job of cheerleaders is to lead the crowd and to keep everyone in the stands involved,” explains Stockton, “Momentum is a big thing in football, because whoever has momentum usually scores the points. Cheerleaders help generate momentum, and that’s pretty important.”

Stockton remembers helping to build the momentum in Sanford Stadium by closely interacting with the Spike Squad (a group of spirited fans who

JASON STOCKTON

Cheerleader (22 years removed), Jason Stockton.

The same was true years ago.

“My coach used to say often that you are ambassadors—you represent the school. We went everywhere. When UGA had an event, the cheerleaders would be there. When Hairy the Dawg would have an event, the cheerleaders would be there. We were basically there as liaisons between alumni, fans and the University,” explains Stockton.

The absence of the pep-squad during those events was substantial, as fans grew to recognize the cheerleaders as the faces of each respective university they represented.

Stockton cheered for the Dawgs during the Jim Donnan era in 1997 and 1998 when Mike Bobo was the quarterback, Kirby Smart was defensive back, 18

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“ My coach used to say often that you are ambassadors—you represent the school. We went everywhere. When UGA had an event, the cheerleaders would be there. When Hairy the Dawg would have an event, the cheerleaders would be there. We were basically there as liaisons between alumni, fans and the University.”

can be quickly pointed out in the stands by their use of face paint and spiked shoulder pads) and the student section. The University of Georgia cheerleaders also use big signs that spell out DEFENSE and LOUDER so that the fans in the upper sections know what to cheer for and when to cheer during specific times throughout the game. Nothing breaks a play like the quarterback not being able to communicate with his teammates.

The cheerleaders also help to get the football players hyped up, as they continually praise their actions, no matter the circumstances of the game.

As Stockton recounts, “there is nothing like running the Dawgs out of the tunnel in front of 91,000 people.”

However, he didn’t begin thinking this way when he first transferred to UGA in the spring of his sophomore year.

“I knew I wanted to be involved, I just didn’t know in what way,” says Stockton, “and I wanted to have memories from college by being a part of a team. One day, I was lifting weights in the weight room and was approached by two guys who were a part of the cheerleading team at UGA. Turns out they were recruiting for tryouts and they invited me to come to a practice for a day. I went to try it, and from the moment I started I was hooked. It was

SAMMY BRAMLETT

a challenge, but it was worth it,” smiles Stockton.

As cheerleaders are essentially the promoters of their schools and communities, the prep leading up to the events are a huge commitment. Stockton remembers rigorous practices every single day throughout the semesters, and even during the summer. These practices led into weekends where Stockton and the team spent all Saturday between the hedges, on the court cheering in Stegeman Coliseum and competing at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Collegiate National Cheerleading Championship.

“Cheering for the Dawgs was definitely some of the best highlights of my college experience,” Stockton says.

Current Ole Miss Cheerleader, Sammy Bramlett, happily concurs with Stockton as she spends her weekends cheering the Rebels to victory in

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium under the guidance of Coach O’Connor.

“I think I will forever be grateful for this opportunity in my life, and it still astonishes me that I can say that I am a cheerleader for the University of Mississippi,” says Bramlett.

Bramlett has been a cheerleader since she attended middle and high school in Calhoun, Georgia.

“Truthfully, I fell in love with the different aspects of cheerleading as the sport involved tumbling, stunting and dancing. It was just a lot of fun,” says Bramlett.

The tumbling, stunting and dancing Bramlett is referencing is an added bonus to the already captivating persona of college cheerleaders. When Bramlett and the Ole Miss cheerleaders help to lead the football team into their stadium, they start the run with tumbling passes. For example, a round off, back handspring, tuck and/ or layout. Some of

the athletes even add a full twisting layout to the end of their pass. This continues throughout the game as they add in standing tucks or toe touch tucks to their sideline routines.

The Rebel Cheerleaders catch the crowd’s eyes by throwing up stunts to band dances or even cheers of their own. This includes co-ed stunting where one of the male cheerleaders tosses a female cheerleader into an extension in the air, while catching their feet. All-girl teams create pyramids of multiple stunts connected together, while holding signs for the crowd to follow along with.

One of Bramlett’s most favorite memories of high school at Calhoun High is Friday night football and being on the sidelines. “I knew I wanted to continue the Friday night football feeling, which is why I was dead set on cheering for an SEC school with the same love of football as Calhoun had,” Bramlett smiles.

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The Rebels definitely don’t lack school spirit, as the pre-game process for the cheerleaders at Ole Miss could be considered a full-time job according to Bramlett and O’Connor.

“Since our job is to be focused on the events at hand, we usually arrive at the Vaught (Ole Miss’s stadium) around four hours prior to game day,” explains O’Connor. “This is where we warm-up and set our signs, flags, etc. and from there we split into three different groups to continue the day’s activities.”

The three groups of Ole Miss Cheerleaders split to the Grove (a dedicated tailgating area), the Alumni House and lastly the Fan Fest (a pre-game gathering right outside of the stadium), and this is essentially the athletes’ biggest time to shine.

“When we are off promoting the school during pre-game, we are interacting with the fans and alumni, cheering on the Rebels as they travel through the Walk of Champions, performing with the band on the Grove stage and more,” explains Bramlett.

“This is the most exciting part of game day because it is basically our time to shine—a moment where the fans are there to see you and not the football players. This is why gamedays are the most exciting part of cheering for the SEC,” says Bramlett.

“I definitely think that without cheerleaders, gamedays wouldn’t be as fun for some of the fans,” Bramlett continues. “A lot of people come out to simply enjoy the Grove atmosphere and see other people perform, and we are a part of the entire process. So, it leaves a big hole in the experience.

It just wouldn’t be as fun, and it is fun for us too!”

Establishing that cheerleaders play more of a role in college football than people realize is the core reason for advancement in the recognition of cheerleading as a sport. Currently, cheerleading is

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not recognized as a sport as it does not meet NCAA requirements. That doesn’t mean that cheerleading is not athletic, as O’Connor sees cheerleading as more than a sport.

“Not only are we required to be incredibly athletic, but we are public relations and marketing of the University, as well as the face of the university.

My athletes are not just athletes, but local celebrities on campus,” says O’Connor.

“Being a cheerleader can be a lot of pressure, as you are not only trying to be an athlete, but a good student as well. Coach always tells us ‘people will continue to know who you are,’ so we have to live each and every day that way,” says Bramlett.

Because cheerleading relies so heavily on promoting the university and all things related, it has to change with the times.

“I say that we have to change with what is going on around us because marketing has changed, and what fans want has changed. We have to adapt to what the fans want. For example, Ole Miss puts out a survey each year for fans regarding what they would like to see more of during next season’s football games. Recently, the use of more modern music instead of band music has been requested, which means that we have to change our tune and make dances and cheers based around music from the loud speakers to get fans interacting with each other,” explains O’Connor.

“This also means that our skill level has to elevate with our talent level. I know the things I was doing when I was a cheerleader at the University of Alabama are things new athletes come in already doing, and more. We have to be creative in order to keep up with the times,” says O’Connor.

As one can see, the behind the scenes work cheerleaders put in is unrivaled, and is a direct reflection of the programs they represent. For Ole Miss, practicing over the summer for several weeks from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., home workouts and practices, as well as traveling to the University of Alabama for the United Cheerleaders Association Camp, and practice during the fall every day is tough, and requires a deep love for the school.

“We are always in season, which is really demanding. We cheer football, volleyball, basketball and competition. You really have to be flexible to be a college cheerleader because of the dedication and time commitment that is required for it. It takes a special person to be a college cheerleader,” O’Connor says.

Most importantly, cheerleaders like O’Connor, Bramlett and Stockton prove they are tomorrow’s leaders who through the development of athletic skills, leadership, and teamwork will be vital members of the community in the future.

Cheer leader. It’s all in the name.

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Thank Goodness it’s finally football season!

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TEXT DEMARCUS DANIEL PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERON FLAISCH

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“IF I HAD A DAUGHTER, I’d want Nick Chubb to be my son-in-law” says Cedartown High head football coach, Doyle Kelly. Coach Kelly was not head coach when Chubb was scorching Doc Ayers Field for thousands of yards, but he did have the privilege of having the straight-A student in his class. “He’s just a great person, we can all learn from Nick Chubb,” Coach Doyle adds in what is a great day of praise for the Cedartown legend.

Past the on the field accolades, the theme of the day is, great person, great leader and great example with the common adjective being great. After watching Chubb pose for photos, go through interviews, shaking hand after hand, accepting numerous pats on the back, all with a smile on his face, you see why great is the word of choice when describing him.

His great love for his school, shown by the gesture chronicled in this sit-down with the young NFL star, speaks volumes about his character. A great love for family and for his hometown shines in a guy who is hesitant to discuss his own greatness. Chubb and Cedartown’s then head coach, Scott Hendrix, who is now the school’s principal announced the first recipient for a newly created award, all in honor of an ultimate example of sportsmanship.

Oh how high the bar has been set, to be someone so great, that a father would want you to be his son-in-law.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SEC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Do you know anyone from Cedartown, Georgia?

If so, you may know where this going. If you don’t, let’s get something straight. People from Cedartown love Cedartown and maybe a lot more than you love your hometown.

A Cedartownian will tell you “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog”, and they mean it, to the core of their hearts.

One of Cedartown’s biggest names is no exception to that love and pride in the city of Cedartown. The very reserved, normally quiet and laid back Mr. Nicholas “Nick” Jamaal Chubb, a Cedartown High School, University of Georgia, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) legend, will let you know right away about his hometown.

“Ask anyone in Athens. I let them know I’m from Cedartown, Georgia, and I boast and brag about the work ethic of my city,” says Chubb after filming a promotional video for the company who manufactures his favorite football helmet.

Chubb returned to the town he loved during the month of July to do something he does almost as good

as hitting the A-gap and reaching paydirt. Xenith, a company who has met the challenge of making football safer through their equipment design, has seen what many others see in Chubb. Now, this SEC standout and newly-signed Cleveland Brown wants to give back by offering a product to youngsters following his lead that has always kept him in the game.

Xenith Digital Content Manager, Matthew Rea, offers a few reasons why his company chose Chubb to represent the brand and why the local gridiron giant wanted to start at home.

“Nick has been wearing our helmet for a while. He actually started wearing it here at Cedartown High School, Rea says. “He said that he really fell in love with it and continued to wear the helmet while at Georgia. We have a good relationship with the equipment managers there, so we were able to make sure he had it during his time in Athens. Nick is such humble guy and is truly an athlete who represents what Xenith stands for; the pursuit of football.

Whether that be training, playing, or living.

“When he graduated,” Rea continues, “the opportunity to work together was presented to us and we decided that Nick would fit well as an advocate of the Xenith brand.”

What was born from a helmet instrumental in preventing head injuries for Chubb would now not only be a way for him to continue his success, but also a way for him to provide this same protection to his Bulldog brethren.

“Nick is donating 65 Epic helmets, which is our top-of-the-line model to Cedartown High School’s varsity football team. At Xenith, we design our products with the athlete’s safety and performance in mind.

We focus on their pursuit of playing, training and living. Nick really loves the sport. He has been here working out during the off season, at his local high school, and he is an NFL superstar. So, that quiet confidence is what makes him an attractive representative for our brand.”

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Walking the halls of the Cedartown High Athletic Fieldhouse, you’ll see a history and tradition worth being proud of. Chubb emphatically added his name to that history and the numbers are staggering.

He rushed for over 6,900 yards and a whopping 100-plus rushing touchdowns at Cedartown High School, including running for over 2,500 yards and 35-plus touchdowns in both his junior and senior seasons.

At the University of Georgia, he amassed 4,769 rushing yards, placing him second in UGA and Southeastern Conference history. He also had 44 rushing touchdowns. He surprised a lot of fans by returning to college for his senior season in 2017.

Chubb led his team to its first SEC Championship since 2005, and along with backfield mate Sony Michel, led the Bulldogs to a 54-48 Rose Bowl victory over the University of Oklahoma to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. UGA would go on to lose that game to Alabama in overtime by a score of 26-23, a game most Dawgs would rather not discuss, ever again.

The standout back was sitting in Buffalo Wild Wings, in Hiram, Georgia when his name was called

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in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft as the 35th overall selection by the Cleveland Browns.

“I feel good about it, and while I can’t tell anyone about my future, I’m just ready and excited to get up there and get to work, and take advantage of every opportunity I have,” Chubb says in true Chubb fashion.

The Browns recently held their rookie minicamp, which included a rookie dinner where the humble rookie sat beside and was introduced to a Cleveland Browns and NFL Legend, Jim Brown.

“It was an honor and privilege to sit beside such a great running back, to talk to him and see how he operates,” smiles Chubb.

“ It’s a combination of everyone who is a part of Cedartown, all of the Cedartown legends, the guys on the wall, just hearing their stories of how much they loved to play for Cedartown.

What that meant to them instilled in my heart to chase what they were chasing, and to achieve it.”

thought other people would have made it before I did. But, things happen for reason. I’m here and I’m excited about it.

“Coming home is a great feeling, and there’s so much tradition in Cedartown football,” Chubb continues. “Being the one to actually make it out, with everyone—including guys who came before me—pushing me to work hard to make it comes with some responsibility. Hopefully, the guys behind me can learn from everything I went through and see what happens when they do it the right way.

Follow these steps and you will make it too.”

Nick Chubb has gone from Cedartown Bulldog number 21, to Georgia Bulldog number 27, to the rabid fans of the Cleveland Browns’ Dawg Pound now sporting jersey number 31.

However, to hear stories from those who know him, the rise to greatness has not changed the man, only the number.

Not many people know a professional athlete, and one must assume their lives are not easy when they are out in public and sometimes even in their home towns. It’s a mixture of both for Chubb when he is in Cedartown, “From the people who don’t know me, yea, I kind of get the star treatment,” Chubb says. “But for family and friends, I’m still Nick and that’s all I’ll ever want to be.”

When speaking on whether his athletic dreams have come true, he lays it out plainly.

“As a kid, everyone wants to play a professional sport, but being realistic, I didn’t think I would be the one. After such great players have come before me in Cedartown history, I didn’t think I’d be the one. I

He says, while he can’t remember seeing some of the legends play, he’s heard so much about them and the great stories of their heroic feats on the field. His inspiration brews from these stories, his drive comes from all of it.

“It’s a combination of everyone who is a part of Cedartown, all of the Cedartown legends, the guys on the wall, just hearing their stories of how much they loved to play for Cedartown. What that meant to them instilled in my heart to chase what they were chasing, and to achieve it.”

The look on Chubb’s face whenever he speaks of Cedartown shows that his love for Cedartown is equaled by the emotions he can’t hide, no matter how hard he tries.

The event where he presents 65 Epic Xenith helmets to the team in front of family and friends also serves as the presentation of the Nick Chubb Career Achievement Award. The Cleveland rookie is again emotional when the subject matter turns to his beloved Cedartown and all of the people who supported him early on. “Everything I learned here, I’ve taken with me wherever I go. We have a work ethic here that is unmatched by other teams.”

And like a scene from a movie, the crowd cheers in unison, “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!”

The Xenith Helmet Giveaway is important to Chubb. Any way he is able to give back, he plans to.

“To me it’s important to give back. Through all of my stops, I’ve worn Xenith [helmets] and now the guys behind me can wear it also. It’s important to me to protect my guys. My city means a lot to me.

If I get any kind of break, I’m coming home, back

to where it started. Everyone sees me around. I’m really here as much as I can be. It’s just important, you know, where it all started.”

The Nick Chubb Career Achievement Award requires the recipient of this award to be a Cedartown football player who succeeds as much in class and in life as they do on the field. Following in the footsteps of a person unilaterally described as the most humble, kind, intelligent, grounded, giving, leading, hard-working man, all while being a great football player is quite the mountain to climb. This is an annual award that will be awarded to one outstanding player at the team’s football banquet each year.

Cedartown City Commissioner and Chairman Pro Temp Matt Foster presents Chubb with an official proclamation honoring his life’s achievements. Georgia State Representative Trey Kelly (R-Cedartown) reads resolutions written by the State House of Representatives in his honor. In return, Chubb provides the City of the Cedartown’s City Hall and the Georgia State House of Representatives each with a game worn jersey. “These are the real ones, not what you get in a sporting goods store,” Chubb laughs.

Foster jokes that he’s not sure if the one he has will make it to city hall.

There were a number of standing ovations for Mr. Nicholas ‘Nick’ Jamaal Chubb on this day, a humble man who just works hard, keeps his head down and grinds. He loves his city and his city definitely loves him. The emotion Chubb’s former Cedartown Head Coach Scott Hendrix (now the school’s principal) and current Head Coach Doyle Kelley display as they speak admirably of Chubb shows the impact he has on his hometown and his high school.

Coming home and giving back is what he loves, and what he loves definitely loves him back.

He also vows to give back to a town his family owned called Chubbtown located on the outskirts of Polk County. “I was born and raised in Cedartown, and my family owned Chubbtown years ago.

So, that place is important to me as well. I’m also going to do something for that area to give back.”

Do you know anyone from Cedartown?

Well, you can ask anyone who does and they’ll tell you, they love Cedartown. Maybe a lot more than you love your hometown.

Any Cedartownian, including NFL star running back Nick Chubb will tell you, “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog,” and they mean it, to the core of their hearts.

Let’s all be sure to follow the Cleveland Browns and their rookie running back in the number 31 jersey, Nick Chubb, from Cedartown, Georgia.

It’s rare that a real hero lets us see them without their cape.

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TEXT || IAN GRIFFIN-EAST & INTRO

JIM ALRED-WEST

PHOTOGRAPHY || COURTESY OF THE SEC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS

BABY, IT’S A BRAND NEW YEAR, but how much has really changed?

It didn’t take long for the SEC to flex its muscles once again and regain the throne as top conference in the land. Though many would argue they never gave that title up, the Clemson Tigers and the ACC entered the season with a bonafide claim after the last second victory Dabo Sweeney’s bunch pulled off against the Crimson Tide in 2017.

The Tide exacted their revenge in the playoff rubber match and derailed the ACC’s other prize fighter in Florida State in their season opener, leaving no doubt that the true king had returned to conference dominance. The cherry on top for the SEC came out of second year head coach Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. The Athens faithful were one broken coverage away from their first National Championship since 1980.

The Dawgs avenged their only regular season loss to Auburn in the SEC Championship game, and won a classic shoot out in the Rose Bowl to set up an All-SEC National Championship game with Alabama, putting the conference in a no-lose situation on the sport’s biggest stage.

Since 2003, the SEC has won 10 of 15 national championships (2003 was split between USC and LSU) and boast two favorites (Bama and Georgia with consideration to Auburn as a close third) to make it 11 of 16 at the close of this season.

For years, Alabama and the Western division of the conference have done most of the heavy lifting. Georgia couldn’t quite get over the hump, Florida lost its way offensively after the Urban Meyers departure/betrayal, Tennessee went belly up (though they are the champions of life), Spurrier left South Carolina to rebuild and Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt continued to be themselves.

It’s too soon to tell if Dan Mullen, Will Muschamp and Jeremy Pruitt will turn their programs into contenders again, but Georgia seems to have the pieces in place to sustain the quality football they displayed last season, and with the bar set high by the Dawgs, I foresee at least one of those programs rising to meet it soon.

Soon will not be this season, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to see the East’s cross divisional record improve by leaps and bounds in 2018.

If that happens, balance will be restored to a conference that touts itself as the best in the land, but has become top-heavy for much of the

past four seasons. Luckily those heavy hitters have delivered trophies, and at the end of the day, that keeps the SEC on top.

It’s hard to see a team derailing what would be an epic rematch at Mercedes Benz Stadium between the Tide and Dawgs, but as they say… that’s why they play the games.

In the pages that follow Jim Alred and I give you our best guess at how things will play out in the Eastern and Western Divisions. Feel free to give either of us hell if we get it wrong, but most importantly enjoy another season of the greatest sport the world has to offer.

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FELEIPE FRANKS

THE EASTY BOYS 2017 RESULTS: 4-7, 3-5 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 9-3, 6-2 SEC

FLORIDA G AT O R S 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Charleston Southern

9.08

Kentucky

9.15

Colorado State

9.22

@ Tennessee

9.29

@ Mississippi State

10.06

LSU

10.13

@Vanderbilt

10.20

Bye

10.27

Georgia

11.03

Missouri

11.10

South Carolina

11.17

Idaho

11.24

@ Florida State

12.01

SEC Championship

JORDAN SCARLETT

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IN ONE OF THE most bizarre endings to a coaching tenure ever witnessed, Jim McElwain’s tenure went from comfortable to dumpster fire in the matter of seconds it took him to utter the words death threats. Things went from bad to worse from that point on, but a torturous season for Gator fans yielded what should be a big win in the grand scheme with the hiring of former Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. The Gators offense has been pathetic since the coach they just hired was their offensive coordinator, so fans hope his return will lift the curse. Expect immediate improvement but not an overnight return to glory. Mullen knows offense and more specifically knows how to develop quarterbacks, which has been the Gators’ Achilles heel since Timmy Tebow left town. He will have to massage the ego of incumbent starter Felipe Franks if he is to be the man. Franks has a cannon for an arm and plenty of speed, but his ability to read defenses may be more than he can overcome.

That may open the door for true-freshman Emory Jones, who was the prize of Mullen’s first recruiting class at Florida. The Heard County prospect is a perfect fit for the spread option attack the Gators will use and had the same private quarterback coach as Houston Texans and former Clemson star Deshaun Watson. Even if Franks plays well, expect Jones to see the field in designed packages. And if they move the ball with him under center, it won’t be surprising if he eventually takes the job. Rounding out the offense is a loaded backfield, a wide receiver corps that will be boosted by transfers in Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes, and an experienced offensive line that has talent but has underachieved during their time in Gainesville. If the O-Line can live up to its potential, the points Gator fans long for

SECEAST may come quicker than expected. On defense the Gators had a down year in 2017. But to be fair, the standard was excellence. They fell well short of that but have the pieces to return to form in 2018, and that starts with middle linebacker David Reese. With blitz happy Todd Grantham taking over as defensive coordinator, Florida’s sack total will undoubtedly increase and that style puts a lot of pressure on the secondary to play man coverage. It would be a safe wager to say that Grantham’s never had the kind of talent and depth he will have at Florida. It could be the perfect fit. Special teams took a huge hit with the losses of All-American punter Johnny Townsend and Place Kicker Eddy Pineiro, but Townsend’s little brother Tommy looks as good as his brother. The nation’s top-rated kicker, Evan McPherson, was another huge get for Mullen’s first recruiting class. Expect the Gators to improve and with a little luck, possibly contend for the East. However, Gator fans should give Mullen the time he deserves to overhaul the mess he was left by McElwain.

D'ANDRE SWIFT

2017 RESULTS: 13-2, 7-1 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 12-0, 8-0 SEC

GEORGIA BULLDOGS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Austin Peay

9.08

@ South Carolina

9.15

Middle Tennessee State

9.22

@ Missouri

9.29

Tennessee

10.06

Vanderbilt

10.13

@ LSU

10.20

Bye

10.27

Florida (Jacksonville)

11.03

@Kentucky

11.10

Auburn

11.17

Massachusetts

11.24

Georgia Tech

SEC EAST KIRBY SMART CONTINUED the tradition of second-year success for new SEC coaches with a run that came one play away from a national championship. When the move was made to oust Mark Richt and bring in the unproven Smart, I was convinced the program would either rise to the top or crash and burn under his watch.

Dawgs fans were sick of almost getting there and that risk was one they were willing to take.

It paid off. Kirby put a shiny new conference championship trophy in the case last year, and has recruited so well that it’s hard to see the Dawgs as anything but a front-runner for the Eastern Division and conference championships for years to come. There has been a lot of talk about superstar recruit Justin Fields pushing Jake Fromm for the starting job at quarterback.

Fans thinking that should pump the brakes.

Other than the disaster on the Plains against Auburn, Fromm improved every week of the season and delivered dime after dime against Alabama when it mattered most. If Smart is indeed smart, he should give Fields the mop up time that will certainly help to develop his game under center and let Fromm run the show until the game is in hand. Fans will be fans, but I believe Smart will do just that. Surrounding Fromm is a stout offensive line that finally lived up to its potential last year and a stable of running backs full of potential super stars.

The loss of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel will be felt, but D’Andre Swift is a game-breaker, Elijah Holyfield is a bulldozer and a pair of five-star recruits in Zamir White and James Cook could contribute immediately. Fromm has plenty of weapons in his receiving unit, led by Senior Terry Godwin, but look for Isaac Nauta to emerge after a sophomore slump last season. Defensively the Dawgs have a lot to replace and that starts with last season glue man and intimidator Roquan Smith. All in all, they will have to replace six starters on that side of the ball and each of those starters were elite players. Smart has recruited well on both sides, but it is unrealistic to expect the level of dominance that they displayed last season. The JAKE FROMM

schedule sets up well for their development, however, and that will be critical if they want another crack at the SEC and NCAA National Champ ionships. On special teams Rodrigo Blankenship is as clutch as they come at the placekicker position, and you can expect to see some of the blue-chip talent that might not be ready for a roll on offense get a crack at the return game. In the end the schedule sets up really well for Georgia to run the table and get a shot at revenge against Alabama. As stated earlier, getting the job done will depend on how fast the defense develops, but I do think offensively Fromm and company will put up more points than they did in 2017.

2017 RESULTS: 7-6, 4-4 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 6-6, 2-6 SEC

KENTUCKY W I L D C AT S 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Central Michigan

9.08

@ Florida

9.15

Murray State

9.22

Mississippi State

9.29

South Carolina

10.06

@ Texas A&M

10.13

Bye

10.20

Vanderbilt

10.27

@ Missouri

11.03

Georgia

11.10

@ Tennessee

11.17

Middle Tennessee

11.24

@ Louisville

MARK STOOPS HAS laid the foundation he strived for at Kenvtucky with the Wildcats coming off of consecutive 7-6 seasons. They return eight starters from a stingy defense and lead back Benny Snell, who is poised to smash

MICHAEL NESBITT

most of the rushing records in Lexington by the end of his junior season. The question remains if mediocrity is the limit for the basketball-first school, and if that’s the case, is the fan base content with that? With all of the talent back on defense, there is one glaring deficiency that might leave that unit helpless. The Cats don’t have a quarterback on the roster whot has taken a snap at the D-1 level. Battling it out for the starting job are former Oregon Duck, Terry Wilson, and sophomore Gunnar Hoak. Wilson is a former number-one rated JUCO quarterback, while Hoak has been an understudy at UK and nothing more. Compounding the quarterback problem is the lack of playmakers at wide receiver. None of the returning players for that unit caught more than 30 passes last year and the departure of Garrett Johnson will be felt until someone else steps up. Snell however is a back capable of carrying the offense if he can remain healthy, and the offensive line is stout enough to allow him to do just that. In what will most-likely be his last season in Lexington, Snell should put up some serious numbers for an offense that needs him to excel to succeed.

As mentioned earlier the defense is loaded with experience and future NFL draft picks. From the line to the secondary, there isn’t a unit that doesn’t have talent and leadership. The only potential pitfall is how well the offense can move the ball and sustain drives. Even the best defenses break down if they spend the entire game on the field and that could be the case if Kentucky’s offense is one-dimensional.

The biggest loss, other than quarterback, is the departure of record holding placekicker Austin MacGinnis. Freshman Chance Poore will have the chance to fill those large shoes and the cats will need him to deliver if they want to make the jump from middle of the pack to contender.

The bottom line for this year’s UK squad will depend on the development of the quarterback position. Defenses will focus on shutting down Snell and the running game and making the inexperienced signal callers beat them in the passing game. The schedule is manageable by SEC standards, but anything more than another winning season doesn’t seem likely without leadership at the most important position in place.

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SEC EAST 2017 RESULTS: 7-6, 4-4 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 7-5, 3-5 SEC

MISSOURI TIGERS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

UT-Martin

9.08

Wyoming

9.15

@ Purdue

9.22

Georgia

9.29

Bye

10.06

@ South Carolina

10.13

@ Alabama

10.20

Memphis

10.27

Kentucky

11.03

@ Florida

11.10

Vanderbilt

11.17

@ Tennessee

11.24

Arkansas

They gave up an average of 42 points a game to the five teams they played in the regular season last year who made it to bowl games, a number that will have to improve to make a run at the division. The lack of a proven pass-rusher is in stark contrast to the tradition of getting after the quarterback , a defensive trait Missouri has established since joining the SEC. They are loaded with talent at defensive tackle, but it doesn’t look like any answers for an edge rush are currently on the roster.

The Tigers special teams improved dramatically from 2016 to 2017 and they return their starters at placekicker, punter and returners.

Winning shootouts is fun to watch, but in this conference there are a few defenses that simply won’t allow that to happen. If Missouri can’t find their mojo on that side of the ball they won’t be competing for anything more than a mid-major bowl game.

2017 RESULTS: 9-4, 5-3 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 8-4, 5-3 SEC

SOUTH CAROLINA CAMECOCKS 2018 SCHEDULE

ONE NAME THAT should be high on NFL draft boards in 2019 should be Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. The Senior is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,964 yards with 44 touchdowns to 13 interceptions and has a ton of weapons at his disposal again this season. He will have to adapt to new offensive coordinator Derek Dooley, but his offense is similar to the high-flying attack Lock is accustomed to. So, a drop off from those numbers would be surprising. Damarea Crocket rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and is backed up by several young but experienced backs, and though the receiving corps must replace last year’s leader J’Mon Morre, they have a ton of experience and production returning.

Lock’s targets will be plentiful in 2018. The offensive line returns all but one starter from a unit that scarcely allowed a negative play.

It’s safe to say that the Tigers will continue to put lots of points on the board this season.

What could keep the Tigers from competing for the East is their usually stingy defense.

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Coastal Carolina

9.08

Georgia

9.15

Marshall

9.22

@ Vanderbilt

9.29

@ Kentucky

10.06

Missouri

10.13

Texas A&M

10.20

Bye

10.27

Tennessee

11.03

@ Ole Miss

11.10

@ Florida

11.17

UT-Chattanooga

11.24

@ Clemson

WILL MUSCHAMP

DREW LOCK

9.01

JAKE BENTLEY

THE WILL MUSCHAMP project heads into year three in Columbia, following an over-achieving 2017 campaign that yielded nine wins. The Gamecocks were 2-0 against their cross-divisional matchups (Texas A&M and Arkansas) and capped the season off with a comeback win in the Outback Bowl against Michigan. Their plus-11 turnover margin certainly helped. But the defense lacks at every level and is especially suspect in the secondary, so they may have to depend on their experience on the offensive side of the ball to achieve the eight or nine win total that is always considered a success by Gamecock fans. That offense is led by the scrappy junior quarterback Jake Bentley, who has shown promise in his first two seasons under center, but has also been extremely streaky. His favorite target, Bryan Edwards, also happens to be a junior who hauled in 64 passes for nearly 800 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, so those two should be a deadly combination in the passing game. Also back is playmaker Deebo Samuel, who had six touchdowns in the first three games, including two 97 kickoff returns. Six other starters return on offense, giving new offensive coordinator, Bryan McClendon, a good base to work with his first year on the job. However, they will need to do better in the running game if they want to achieve the balance needed to compete in the East, so that will be the element that makes or breaks the Carolina offense in 2018.

SEC EAST Defensively, Muschamp will need to use his ability to scheme with the best of them to get his offense possession. Last year they forced turnovers in bunches, but leaders Skai Moore, Chris Lammons, Taylor Stallworth and D.J. Smith are all gone, leaving a void that must be filled by veterans like linebacker T.J. Brunson. If guys like that can step in and quarterback the defense, it will be a huge spark for a unit that looks like it will take a step or two back from recent seasons.

The kicking situation isn’t a great one. Three players will battle for the spot Parker White held for most of 2017, but his 14-25 (4-14 from 40 and beyond) stats far from guarantee him the job. The punting position is in steady hands with Joseph Charlton, while the return game should be explosive with the Samuel 100 percent recovered from last year’s season ending injury.

The schedule isn’t brutal by SEC standards so eight or nine wins is achievable. But with a secondary that is extremely questionable and lack of leadership overall on defense, they will need to score a slew of points to reach those aspirations.

MARQUEZ CALLAWAY

2017 RESULTS: 4-8, 0-8 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 4-8, 1-7 SEC

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

West Virginia

9.08

ETSU

9.15

UTEP

9.22

Florida

9.29

@ Georgia

10.06

Bye

10.13

@ Auburn

10.20

Alabama

10.27

@ South Carolina

11.03

Charlotte

11.10

Kentucky

11.17

Missouri

11.24

@ Vanderbilt

WITH THE BUTCH JONES and an embarrassing coaching search now in the rear view, Vols fans are hopeful that their team can get moving in the right direction in 2018. First time head coach Jeremy Pruitt takes over command of a team that doesn’t have any immediate answers on either side of the ball. There are questions from quarterback to special teams that will have to be answered quickly and the most brutal schedule in the SEC serving as the litmus test. The success of the offense hinges on quarterback play and Tennessee scored a victory in landing Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst. Chryst was 11-2 as a starter at Standford and the Cardinal ran a pro-style attack during his tenure, which happens to be the same attack new offensive coordinator Tyson Helton will implement this fall. The job isn’t Chryst’s automatically however, as he will have to battle 2018 signee JT Shrout, as well as sophomores Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride, but his experience running Helton’s style of offense certainly gives him an advantage. Helton wants to throw the ball deep, but establishing a running game will be crucial if that plan is going to keep opposing defenses honest.

Everything starts up front and the offensive line (along with the secondary) is the biggest concern entering the season. Lack of consistency from the starters and depth could sink the Tennessee’s battle ship when it comes to moving the ball.

Pruitt earned his new job by coaching some of the best defenses in the country for the past decade. He understands what it takes to have a shutdown unit in the SEC that is capable of keeping his team in games, but he will not have the horses he was accustomed to having at his

disposal in stints with Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and once again at Alabama. His philosophy revolves around stopping the run and he has a few seniors in Shy Tuttle and Alexis Johnson that have the potential to clog the middle of the line at the tackle position. Senior end Jonathan Kongbo is capable of pressuring off the edge, but depth is a huge concern behind those three and underclassmen will have to step up if they are to succeed in Pruitt’s mission. The secondary is anchored by UT legacy corner, Nigel Warrior and senior safety Micha Abernathy. Away from those two there isn’t anything to write home about and opposing offensive coordinators will undoubtedly pick on their teammates. Special teams at Tennessee are usually a strong point and could be again, but that will depend on Brent Cimaglia’s improvement on an 8-13 mark in his five starts of 2017. Paxton Brooks should be the man at punter and though he is a freshman, the Under Armour All-American has a chance to be solid from the start. The Vols have athletes who can be utilized in the return game if they can stay healthy. Pruitt has his work cut out for him in Knoxville. The fanbase is wounded and as apathetic as anyone can remember for such a passionate bunch. Wins solve everything so that can be fixed, but expecting it to happen this season against a schedule this tough is unrealistic. They open against West Virginia and Heisman Hopeful, Will Grier and have a stretch of 5 starting at home against Florida, on the road against Georgia and Auburn, back home for Alabama and finish up on the road against South Carolina. Brutal sums that up nicely.

AUGUST 2018

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SEC EAST

KHARI BLASINGAME

2017 RESULTS: 5-7, 1-7 SEC 2018 PROJECTION: 3-9, 0-8 SEC

VA N D E R B I LT COMMODORES

extremely stingy on defense this season. With the brothers Odeyingbo (Dare & Dayo) rushing off the edge from the defensive end position, pressuring the quarterback should be a regular occurrence. There is experience and leadership everywhere, so once again the defense should keep Vandy in games, which has become a trademark for the Dores under Mason’s watch. The special teams unit will be made up of fresh faces entirely. Javan Rice or Ryley Guay will handle placekicking duties, while Parker Thome will take care of punting, with returners still being auditioned entering fall camp. Aside from the Kevin Franklin years, it’s been tough for the Commodores to get over the hump and become bowl eligible. It’s hard to see that changing this season, but if the stars align, who knows.

MTSU

9.08

Nevada

9.15

@ Notre Dame

9.22

South Carolina

9.29

Tennessee State

10.06

@ Georgia

10.13

Florida

10.20

@ Kentucky

10.27

@ Arkansas

11.03

Bye

11.10

@ Missouri

11.17

Ole Miss

11.24

Tennessee

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2017 RESULTS: 13-1 (7-1 SEC) PROJECTION: 12-0

ALABAMA CRIMSONTIDE

JALEN HURTS

DEREK MASON STARTs his fifth season as Vandy’s head staring at familiar expectations. Everyone in the league knows the Commodores will show up to play and give every ounce of effort, but they lack the overall talent to consistently maintain middle of the pack status an Eastern Division that has been anything but strong the past eight seasons. Senior quarterback Kyle Shurmer returns coming off a 2017 campaign in which he threw for just shy of 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. When Shurmer is on, he looks as good as any signal caller in the conference. But he is as Jekyl and Hyde as they come, so his bad streaks bring balance to the force. He loses the programs all-time leading rusher in Ralph Webb, his top three receiving targets and three starting linemen from the 2017 squad, so Shurmer’s path to steadiness will be placed largely on his own shoulders. Senior RB Khari Blasingame is a hard guy to tackle and if the line can give him room to run, he could alleviate some of the pressure on his senior signal caller, but that is a big if. With seven seniors in the starting lineup, the Dores have a chance to be

SECWEST

WEST WORLD

2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

NICK SABAN

2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Louisville (Orlando, Fla.)

9.08

Arkansas State

9.15

@ Ole Miss

9.22

Texas A&M

9.29

Louisiana-Lafayette

10.06

@ Arkansas

10.13

Missouri

10.20

@ Tennessee

10.27

Bye

11.03

@ LSU

11.10

Mississippi State

11.17

The Citadel

11.24

Auburn

ALMOST EVERY SEASON, pundits across the country wonder if Alabama can withstand the losses. Not the ones on the field, because let’s be honest—those are few and far between. In this case, its losses from graduations, defections to the NFL and assistants leaving to take other positions. Watching 13 starters, the offensive and defensive coordinators as well as a couple of other assistants leave would be cause for most programs to weep. But Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide keep rolling. This season does offer one of the toughest questions the Tide has faced in several seasons – what to do at quarterback?

SEC WEST Normally, having an incumbent starter who has led the team to two national title games would be enough. But when Saban inserted freshman Tua Tagovailoa into the second half of the national title game against Georgia after Jalen Hurts had struggled against the Bulldogs everything changed. Tagovailoa led the Tide rally and his long touchdown pass in overtime sealed the national title victory.

Since then questions have abounded and will continue to do so until the season begins.

Rumors also swirl that the quarterback not named starter could transfer, providing even more fuel for speculation. Alabama does return a good bit of its offensive line, as well as tailback Damien Harris from a team that lost only once, although that loss came against archrival Auburn and cost the Tide a shot at the SEC Title. The Tide has to replace a lot on defense and both specialists, but Alabama’s cupboard is far from bare, as Saban and crew stockpile five star recruits.

There may be some fall off, but Alabama manages to keep it to a minimum, year in and year out. Remember that Saban and the Tide have won four national titles in the last seven years and are the only team to appear in all four years of the playoffs. Alabama’s schedule doesn’t stand as foreboding as most years. The season-opening tilt against Louisville lost some luster when Cardinals’ quarterback Lamar Jackson turned pro. The Tide does face road trips to Tennessee in Knoxville as well as Baton Rouge to face LSU, but gets Texas A&M with new coach and former Saban assistant Jimbo Fisher in Tuscaloosa. Auburn also makes the trip to Tuscaloosa to close out the season, and the Tide will be looking for revenge on their cross-state rivals. For Saban and Bama, it’s all part of the ride, because every year it seems the squad answers the questions and finds a way to get the big wins.

2017 RESULTS: 10-4 (7-1 SEC) PROJECTION: 10-2

AUBURN TIGERS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Washington (in Atlanta)

9.08

Alabama State

9.15

LSU

9.22

Arkansas

9.29

Southern Miss

10.06

@ Mississippi State

10.13

Tennessee

10.20

@ Ole Miss

10.27

Bye

11.03

Texas A&M

11.10

@ Georgia

11.17

Liberty

11.24

@ Alabama

PERHAPS NO TEAM experienced a bigger feast or famine season than the 2017 Auburn Tigers. The Tigers knocked off both Georgia and Alabama to win the SEC West and enter the national playoff picture. But a beat down by the same Bulldogs in the SEC title game, as well as getting humbled by Central Florida in the Peach Bowl left a good bit to be desired for T iger fans. The season brought a big, shiny contract for head coach Gus Malzahn, and the Tigers enter the 2018 season with many people projecting them as a top 15 team capable of possibly sneaking into the playoff picture. Jarrett Stidham returns as the starting quarterback after he authored one of the most prolific passing seasons statistically in Auburn history. But the offensive line loses four starters and SEC Offensive Player of the Year, tailback Kerryon Johnson, to the NFL. If Stidham can recover from offseason shoulder surgery and pick up where he left off in 2017, the Tiger’s offense could be even better. The defense proved strong when it was healthy in 2017, hampering Clemson, Bama and Georgia’s potent attacks. But it also allowed LSU to rally from a three-touchdown deficit early in the season. Several stalwarts return at linebacker and defensive line, but the secondary is a bit thin. Auburn’s 2018 schedule stacks up easier than the 2017 version where the Tigers faced three of the four national playoff participants.

But the season-opening game against Washington in Atlanta looms large. The Huskies have a lot of returners and a vicious defense, which could prove problematic for Auburn’s

JARRETT STIDHAM

young offensive line, much like Clemson did to the Tigers in 2017. Two weeks later, LSU comes calling in the SEC West opener for both squads. If the Tigers can weather those two early season tests, the team could well be undefeated when Texas A&M comes calling on Nov. 3. Facing both Georgia and Alabama on the road won’t be easy either. If the defense continues to impress and Auburn manages to find another tailback (remember the Tigers have a string of nine consecutive seasons with at least one running back tallying more than 1,000 yards) they could once again find themselves on the precipice of a playoff spot.

On the other hand, if the line fails to protect Stidham or the running game, the Tigers could be back to the eight or seven wins Malzahn’s team produced from 2014 to 2016.

2017 RESULTS: 9-4 (6-2 SEC) PROJECTION: 7-5

LSU TIGERS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Miami (Fla.) (in Arlington, TX)

9.08

Southeastern Louisiana

9.15

@ Auburn

9.22

Louisiana Tech

9.29

Ole Miss

10.06

@ Florida

10.13

Georgia

10.20

Mississippi State

10.27

Bye

11.03

Alabama

11.10

@ Arkansas

11.17

Rice

11.24

@ Texas A&M AUGUST 2018

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SEC WEST IN HIS FIRST full season on the Bayou, Ed Orgeron managed to rally the troops after a dismal loss to Mississippi State, helping his Tigers rally from 21 down to beat Auburn and finish the season with nine wins.

Last year produced more questions than answers for the program, and some of those questions linger and loom even larger as the 2018 season approaches. LSU returns several starters on defense and should be strong on that side of the ball. Most of the questions circle around the offense. The Tigers must find a new featured tailback, a new group of receivers and perhaps most importantly a quarterback. The signal caller position has been a bone of contention for LSU for a few years now, and the Tigers enter the summer with four players who will fight for the job.

The most recent addition, Joe Burrow, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, might be the man to beat for the job. However, none of the four quarterbacks has much on-field collegiate playing experience.

Two tough early-season opponents make the rebuilding offensive process a bit trickier.

The Tigers open the season on Sept. 2 in Arlington, Texas against Miami, which is much improved under former Georgia coach Mark Richt. After a rest game against Southeast Louisiana, LSU travels to Auburn to face the defending SEC West champion Tigers. Both sets of Tigers open with brutal opponents, so there is a possibility both squads could be fighting to not have the second notch in the loss column before October begins. The SEC cross-over schedule doesn’t get any easier for LSU as the squad travels to Gainesville to face the Gators and plays host to defending SEC Champion Georgia in early October. If things go south, LSU could have four losses before they play host to Alabama on the first Saturday in November. Orgeron moved Steve Ensminger back to offensive coordinator in the offseason in the hopes of helping jumpstart the Tigers’ offensive production in

V3 MAGAZINE

GREG LITTLE

2017 RESULTS: 6-6 (3-5 SEC) PROJECTION: 6-6

OLE MISS REBELS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Texas Tech (Houston)*

9.08

Southern Illinois

9.15

Alabama

9.22

Kent State

9.29

@ LSU

10.06

Louisiana-Monroe

10.13

@ Arkansas

10.20

Auburn

10.27

Bye

11.03

South Carolina

11.10

@ Texas A&M

11.17

@ Vanderbilt

11.22

Mississippi

LAST SUMMER, the bottom fell out for Ole Miss, as head coach Hugh Freeze, who had brought some great recruiting classes and some big wins but also NCAA sanctions, left the Rebels. Matt Luke stepped in as interim coach and helped steer the team to a 6-6 season. The NCAA hit the program with scholarship reductions and another year of bowl banishment, meaning Luke, who lost the interim part of his job title after the last season’s six-win season, and the Rebels will face some issues over the next few years. The emergence of quarterback Jordan Ta’amu late last season, after Shea Patterson suffered a season-ending injury, showed th e Rebels’

DEVIN WHITE 42

2018. The move is interesting as Ensminger’s offenses have been hit or miss in the past.

If LSU can get the right quarterback under center and get the offense on track they could be a player in the playoff picture, especially with the schedule they play. If not, the fans won’t be too happy with Orgeron and he will most likely found himself on a hot seat heading into 2019.

AUGUST 2018

offense was still quite good. Ta’amu threw for more than 1,600 yards over the latter half of the season and is one of several bright spots for the Rebels on offense this season along with all-world wideout A.J. Brown. Brown led the SEC with more than 1,200 receiving yards last season and is poised to try to better that mark this season. The offense sees seven starters return, including several along the offensive line, meaning Ole Miss should be able to score some points again in 2018. If Ta’amu happens to falter, Luke has four-star freshman signal caller Matt Corral waiting in the wings. The days of Ole Miss’ vaunted landshark defense might be gone however. Last season, the Rebels’ defense ranked near the bottom of the FBS allowing more than 450 yards per game, a number that has to improve if the Rebels hope to better their .500 mark from last season. Another issue facing the defense is a dearth of returning starters, as the Rebels feature just two starters from the 2017 squad. The Rebels receive three early-season tests, opening the year in Houston against Texas Tech before playing host to defending national champion Alabama in game three and travelling to Baton Rouge to face always-tough LSU in game five on Sept. 29. If Ole Miss can survive that stretch and even sneak away with a win in one of those contests, the Rebels might be able to flirt with seven wins in 2018. If the defense doesn’t improve, the Rebels could be hard pressed to equal their six-win mark from 2017 and with the scholarship sanctions, times could be lean in Oxford for a few years.

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

MISSISSIPPI S TAT E BULLDOGS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Stephen F. Austin

9.08

@ Kansas State

9.15

Louisiana-Lafayette

9.22

@ Kentucky

9.29

Florida

10.06

Auburn

10.13

Bye

10.20

@ LSU

10.27

Texas A&M

11.03

Louisiana Tech

11.10

@ Alabama

11.17

Arkansas

11.24

@ Ole Miss

SEC WEST A SLEW OF TALENT returns for the Mississippi State Bulldogs making them one of the more intriguing teams entering the 2018 season. Although the Bulldogs’ personnel looks great, the big missing piece is former coach Dan Mullen, who bolted Starkville to take the head coaching reigns in Gainesville. New coach Joe Moorhead has a wining pedigree from his time at Fordham and helped propel Penn State’s higher-powered offense the past two years as offensive coordinator.

If quarterback Nick Fitzgerald can recover from his ankle injury, opposing teams should be worried. Fitzgerald might be the most dynamic quarterback in the SEC although Bama fans might argue with it. If Fitzgerald returns to form, he presents a tough task for the league’s defensive coordinators. Tailback Aeris Williams returns as well after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2017, as do four out of five starters from the offensive line, giving the Bulldogs a wealth of experience on offense. The Bulldogs face an early test at Kansas State. If Mississippi State can win that game, the Bulldogs could be undefeated when Florida pays a visit on Sept. 29. No doubt the cowbells will ratchet up several notches, as the fans welcome their former coach back.

Road trips to both LSU and Alabama look daunting, but if the offense gets rolling and the defense can improve on their 2017 numbers, the Bulldogs could flirt with nine or possibly even 10 wins and maybe even play a factor in the SEC West race.

Don’t forget, the Bulldogs played Bama about as close as any team last year, dropping to the Tide 31-24. However, their quick 3-0 start, which included a 31-7 win over LSU lost its luster as Georgia and Auburn hammered the Bulldogs on back-to-back weekends last fall. If Mississippi State can recreate some of the magic from the LSU game and their bowl victory over Louisville, fans will be pleased with Moorhead. And while Mullen never took the Bulldogs to a conference championship contest his teams were competitive over his nine years and posted winning records in all but two of his seasons. Mullen had never been an FBS head coach when he took the reins in Starkville and did just fine. The question is whether Moorhead can do the same.

NICK FITZGERALD

TRAYVEON WILLIAMS

2017 RESULTS: 7-6 (4-4 SEC) PROJECTION: 8-4

TEXAS A&M 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Northwestern State

9.08

Clemson

9.15

Louisiana-Monroe

9.22

@ Alabama

9.29

Arkansas (Arlington)

10.06

Kentucky

10.13

@ South Carolina

10.20

Bye

10.27

@ Mississippi State

11.03

@ Auburn

11.10

Ole Miss

11.17

UAB

11.24

LSU

TEXAS A&M MADE arguably the biggest splash on the coaching hiring front when the Aggies managed to pry Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State. Fisher sits as one of just four active FBS football coaches with a national championship on his resume, something the Texas A&M faithful know well. Kevin Sumlin’s tenure at College Station had some great moments, including an 11-2 season in 2012, but his teams faltered down the stretch far too many times over the next five seasons finishing with nine, eight or seven wins and not competing for the SEC or national championship. Enter Fisher, who had grown tired of the Seminoles’ not spending enough money on facilities. Texas A&M has no issue spending money and has deep pockets to boot, but with the money and the first-rate facilities comes a major issues –

expectations. The Aggies return 14 starters with an even mix on both offense and defense but also face a daunting schedule, including a game against national semifinalist Clemson on Sept.

8 and playing at defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 22. The Aggies will also face tough road tests at South Carolina, Mississippi State and defending SEC West Champ, Auburn. It only took Fisher four seasons at Florida State before his Seminoles played for and won the national title. All but two of his teams won 10 or more games as well proving his pedigree. The big question facing Fisher is can he bring the same type of success to one of the toughest divisions in college football – the SEC West. Granted, Fisher’s teams had to compete with Clemson year in and out in the Atlantic Coast Conferences as well as Miami, although the Canes have been a watered-down version compared to their glory years. The question looms if Fisher can have similar success playing the SEC West gauntlet each year. Fisher has only faced his former mentor Nick Saban once before and lost that matchup, something that won’t sit well with the Aggies if it continues.

The Aggies should reach the eight to nine-win mark again this season. If they grab a win over either Clemson or Alabama, the faithful will celebrate. However, the same fans loved Kevin Sumlin’s first season and finally ran him out of town when couldn’t deliver another to match it. Only time will tell if Fisher can.

AUGUST 2018

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

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2018 SCHEDULE 9.01

Eastern Illinois

9.08

@ Colorado State

9.15

North Texas

9.22

@ Auburn

9.29

Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas)

10.06

Alabama

10.13

Ole Miss

10.20

Tulsa

10.27

Vanderbilt

11.03

Bye

11.10

LSU

11.17

@ Mississippi State

11.24

@ Missouri

THE BRET BIELEMA era, or some might say error, has ended at Arkansas. The idea to bring a solid Big 10 guy into the SEC West failed to pay dividends for the folks in Fayetteville as his teams compiled a 29-33 record over his tenure.

While many Arkansas fans and some alumni were rumored to be hoping to land current Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who was a high school football coaching legend in the state, the Razorbacks weren’t able to pry him from the Tigers. Instead, they landed former SMU coach Chad Morris, who also had tons of success in high school football before helping the Mustangs get back to a winning record in his three years there.

Morris switches the offense from Bielema’s prostyle attack to an up-tempo style. Last year’s squad managed to put points on the board, so this year’s edition could find some success there.

The defense looked deplorable last season al-

lowing just a bit more than 36 points per game.

New defensive coordinator John Chavis has his work cut out for him, but Chavis has proven to be a solid defensive coordinator over the years.

The Razorbacks do return a multitude of starters, especially on the offensive and defensive fronts.

While Arkansas posted a less-than-stellar 1-7 mark in the SEC, three of the losses against Texas A&M, Missouri and Mississippi State came by a combined 17 points. The Hogs get a couple of weeks to get accustomed to the new coaches and strategies, as they open with games against Eastern Illinois, Colorado State and North Texas before hitting a gauntlet of SEC West foes. The tough four-week span, beginning with the Sept.

22 date at defending SEC West champ Auburn, ending with a home game against Ole Miss on Oct. 13 and facing Texas A&M and defending national champion Alabama in the middle will determine the Hog’s conference fate. The schedule does appear to have at least six winnable games and seven home games to boot, which could allow the Razorbacks to get back to a bowl game. If Morris’ offense can score and Chavis can make big improvements on a defensive unit with six solid starters returning, the Razorback might be able to grab a surprise win or two along the way, giving the Hogs’ faithful something to cheer about. Tide 31-24. However, their quick 3-0 start, which included a 31-7 win over LSU lost its luster as Georgia and Auburn hammered the Bulldogs on back-to-back weekends last fall. If Mississippi State can recreate some of the magic from the LSU game and their bowl victory over Louisville, fans will be pleased with Moorhead.

And while Mullen never took the Bulldogs to a conference championship contest his teams were competitive over his nine years and posted winning records in all but two of his seasons.

Mullen had never been an FBS head coach when he took the reins in Starkville and did just fine.

The question is whether Moorhead can do the same.

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS IN THE EAST IAN'S 1 GA

JIM'S 1 GA

2

FL

2

SC

3

SC

3

MISSOURI

4

MISSOURI

4

FL

5

KY

5

KY

6

TN

6

TN

7

VB

7

VB

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS IN THE WEST IAN'S 1 AL

1

JIM'S AL

2

AU

2

AU

3

TXA&M

3

MISS STATE

4

MISS STATE

4

TXA&M

5

LSU

5

LSU

6

OLE MISS

6

OLE MISS

7

AK

7

AK

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP IAN'S & JIM'S PREDICTION

ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA WINNER: ALABAMA DE'JON HARRIS 44

V3 MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2018

SEC PREVIEW

COACHING CHANGES GALORE

DAN MULLEN

TEXAS A&M LANDED the biggest name among new coaches in the SEC when they managed to lure Jimbo Fisher from Florida State, but the Aggies aren’t the only SEC squad with a new head coach for 2018.

Dan Mullen jumps from Mississippi State to Florida, Mississippi State grabbed Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, Arkansas hired Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Tennessee nabbed Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and Ole Miss removed the interim tag on Matt Luke after he led the Rebels to a 6-6 season in 2017.

The Aggies getting Fisher didn’t shock the world but does give Texas A&M one of only four current coaches with an FBS national title on his resume. Fisher and the Seminoles topped Auburn in the 2012 BCS to win the title. While Fisher has proved a more than capable coach at FSU, he’s 0-1 against Nick Saban and now faces the daunting gauntlet known as the SEC West.

Florida tried hard to land a couple of big name hires, including attempting to lure former Oregon coach Chip Kelly to Gainesville, but the Gators couldn’t get it done. Instead, they turn to former Gator assistant Dan Mullen who had lots of success in Starkville. Mullen’s roots as on offensive coordinator and quarterback coach should help Florida, which has had an anemic offense of late.

Both Moorhead at Mississippi State and Morris at Arkansas bring lots of offensive experience to the positions. Moorhead will look to continue the positive trend Mullen established, while Morris will move Arkansas away from Bret Bielema’s pro-style offense to a more wide-open attack.

After Luke managed to lead the Rebels to a .500 season last season the decision to make him head coach seemed like a natural for the Rebels.

Luke should be given a few years to help weather

the NCAA sanctions that former coach Hugh Freeze got slapped against Ole Miss.

Tennessee, much like Florida, courted several possible big-name hires before picking Pruitt.

The defensive-minded coach has been a solid coordinator at several schools and now gets to try his hand at bringing the Vols back to relevance.

Of interest to fans is that the SEC now has four head coaches who served as assistants for Saban, including Fisher and Pruett to go along with Georgia’s Kirby Smart and South Carolina’s Will Muschamp. Of course Bama fans will point out Saban has yet to lose to one of his former assistants. Only time will tell if that trend changes in 2018.

JOE MOORHEAD

QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS THE SEC FEATURES several top-notch quarterbacks entering the 2018 season, but what seems even more interesting are the questions swirling about some of the teams and their signal callers.

Alabama incumbent starter Jalen Hurts has earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and has led the Tide to two national title games. But Hurts got replaced in the second half of last year’s title tilt against Georgia by Tua Tagovailoa, who rallied Alabama to an overtime victory over the Bulldogs.

No starter has been named yet by the Tide, and rumors have swirled from both quarterbacks that if they don’t get the starting nod, they may look to move to a different program.

Auburn’s Jarett Stidham posted one of the Tigers’ best statistical passing seasons in school history in 2017, while Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald proved to be a beast in both passing and on the ground. Both players suf-

fered injuries though and underwent off-season surgery - Fitzgerald for an ankle injury and Stidham for a shoulder injury. Neither player was fit enough to play in the spring game except for some limited seven-on-seven work.

Both quarterbacks are expected to be back in good shape and ready to go in the fall, but fans won’t breath easier until they see them looking good on the field.

While Georgia doesn’t have a true quarterback controversy like Alabama, the Bulldogs do have an interesting situation. Jake Fromm took over from Jacob Eason early in 2017 due to injury and never let the starting job go, helping led Georgia to an SEC crown and the national title game. Eason transferred to Washington in the offseason.

The Bulldogs also brought in five-star quarterback and the nation’s top rated recruit Justin Fields, who wowed everyone during UGA’s spring game; much like Fromm did

the year before. Fields offers the Bulldogs a different dynamic at quarterback. He can throw the ball but can also run and brings tons of athleticism to the role. While Fromm is the starter, Georgia fans will likely see Fields take the field for some plays utilizing his versatility.

LSU continues to have quarterback woes and the Tigers entered the summer with four different possible options including Joe Burrow, who is a graduate transfer from Ohio State. None of the four have significant collegiate playing experience, so expect this competition to continue until the season opener against Miami if not longer.

While questions linger around these other five programs and their quarterbacks, Missouri is happy to have Drew Locke back and ready to go. Locke threw for just shy of 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns last season for the Tigers and might be the best overall quarterback in the conference.

AUGUST 2018

V3 MAGAZINE

45

craft & cans Now filling 16oz cans with draft beer to-go!

30+ craft beers on tap BAR HOURS

Mon-Sat 10am to 12 midnight

KITCHEN HOURS

Tues-Sat 11am to 2pm for lunch Tue-Thu 4 to 10pm and Fri-Sat 4 to 11pm for dinner 706.528.4699 255 N 5th Ave, Rome, GA | thefoundrygrowlerstation.com Behind Barron Stadium

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WORKING TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY COMING TOGETHER FOR A MEAL

FOR TICKETS, EMAIL: INFO@ONECOMMUNITYUNITED.ORG & FACEBOOK: ONE COMMUNITY, UNITED (ROME, GA) INCLUDES 2 MEALS FOR THE DONOR AND A THIRD MEAL FOR A COMMUNITY GUEST INVITED BY ONE COMMUNITY UNITED

46

V3 MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2018

The Dish bistro

MEDITERRANEAN

bistro

101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-622-2977 moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 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.schroedersnewdeli.com

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www.thesteepteahouse.com

406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

198 North Street Canton, GA, 30114

PH: 706-238-9000

PH: 770-213-8890

Hours: Mon - Sat: 6:00pm-10:00pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4:00pm-1:30am

Hours: Tues - Fri: 11:00am-3:00pm

PH: 706-234-4613 Hours: Mon-Thur: 11:00am-9:00pm Fri-Sat: 11:00am-10:00pm Sun: 11:30am-3:00pm

Live music each weekend.

Schroeder’s menu includes sand-

La Scala offers both first-rate

wiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato

service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an

skins, nachos, wings, and more. And

upscale casual atmosphere.

We offer live music, heavy appetizers,

50% off cafe menu

tea infused cocktails, & beer and wine

from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

on weekend nights in addition to our

don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town... and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone! (Draft and

regular menu.

Bottled Beers & Wine also offered)

Book Your Private Event with Us!

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

PH: 706.291.2021

Hours: Mon-Sat: 5:00am-10:00pm Sun: 6:00am-10:00pm

www.getjamwiched.com

510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-314-9544 Like us on FACEBOOK Mon-Sat.: 11:00am-3:00pm

Buy one Bacon, Egg & Cheese

Jamwich - Serving distinctive sand-

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and get another one FREE

built with the finest ingredients: Boar’s

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Blvd only. Not valid with any other discounts. One coupon person per visit. Valid thru 9/1/18

Sat: 10:00am-3:00pm Sun-Mon: CLOSED Hours are extended: 9am - 9pm during First Friday Events

Ribbon Jams and Jellies, fresh sourdough bread, premium Boars Head thick cut bacon and farm-to-table produce.

595 Riverside Parkway Rome, GA 30161

Call or Text Your Order to:

PH: 706-233-9960

Lunches: Wed/Thurs/Fri in Downtown Rome

PH: 706-237-8320.

Hours: Sun -Thu: 11:00am-9:00pm

Food Truck Friday: 11am-2:00pm @ 2nd Ave. & 2nd Street

Fuddruckers catering can help you

Friday Nights @ River Dog Outpost

Fri - Sat: 11:00am-10:00pm

feed just about any size group,

Saturday Late Nights on Broad Street

anytime, anywhere. Our menu will

Delivery through Roman Food Delivery Check out our full weekly schedule & rotating menu at: eatspeakcheesey.com Contact us about booking, catering, and private events at : hillery@speakcheesey.com

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.

M U LT I P L E T R U C K S. G O O D E AT S

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

AUGUST 2018

V3 MAGAZINE

47

70th Annual

Oct 2 - Oct 6

CoosaValleyFair.com

Enter our photo contest (Aug 1-Aug 17) to win

FAIR Birthday Party

Wade Shows Inc. Rides

Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Rome 48

V3 MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2018

FREE ADMISSION and ARMBANDS FOR 4!

Like Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook and enter your photo that best represents our theme,

Happy Birthday Coosa Valley Fair!

The winning entry will receive admission and Unlimited Ride armbands for 4 good any night of the Fair, and the picture will be featured in the September issue of V3 Magazine! Visit our website for contest details, rules and restrictions.

Check our website for information on discounted armbands in September.