V3 August 2014

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We Care Completely for TOUGH TEAMS

HEARTLESS HECKLERS

DARING DEFENDERS

CLASSIC CONCESSIONS

HASTY HAND-OFFS

POWERFUL PUNTS

CLASSIC CONCESSIONS

HAIL MARY HEAVERS

DRAMATIC DRUM MAJORS BULLDOZING BACKS

LUMBERING LINEBACKERS

CLASSIC CONCESSIONS

TERRIFIC TACKLES

DARING DEFENDERS

AMBITIOUS ATHLETES

COURAGEOUS CAPTAINS

FRENZIED FANS

ROWDY ROOKIES

RESPECTFUL RIVALRIES

MOTIVATING MASCOTS

SENSATIONAL SAFETIES

BLEACHERS HOPEFUL HUDDLES

TOUGH TEAMS

SUCCESSFUL SEASONS

ARTICULATE ANNOUNCERS

RESPECTFUL RIVALRIES

ARTICULATE ANNOUNCERS

CHARISMATIC COACHES

TIMELY TOUCHDOWNS

POCKET PASSERS

COIN TOSS CALLERSDAZZLING DANCE TEAMS BUSTLING POWERFUL PUNTS

TURF

ROUTE-RUNNING FRENZIED RECEIVERSFANS

HEARTLESS HECKLERS

OUTSTANDING OFFENSE

FLAWLESS FORMATIONS

BENEFICIAL BOOSTERS

BENEFICIAL BOOSTERS

ROWDY ATHLETES ROOKIES

CHANTS

BULLDOZING BACKS

BOISTEROUS BANDS ELUSIVE END ZONES

BLINDING BLITZES

CHARISMATIC COACHES AMBITIOUS ATHLETES

POCKET PASSERS

& CHEERS

SPECTACULAR STRATEGIES

BLINDING BLITZES

HAMMERING HELMETS

TORN TURF HASTY HAND-OFFS

DAZZLING DANCE TEAMS

PROUD PARENTS TERRIFIC TACKLES SOARING SPIRITS BULLDOZING BACKS SENSATIONAL SAFETIES TORN

DARING HAIL DEFENDERS MARY HEAVERS

ATHLETES

RECEIVERS

BUSTLING BLEACHERS BOISTEROUS BANDS

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AMBITIOUS

PROUD PARENTS VISUALLY-IMPAIRED REFEREES

TIMELY TOUCHDOWNS

POWERFUL PUNTS

MASCOTS

TIMELY TOUCHDOWNS

TOUGH TEAMS DAZZLING DANCE TEAMS AMBITIOUS

CHANTS & CHEERS

BLINDING BLITZES

COURAGEOUS CAPTAINS

LUMBERING LINEBACKERS

HEARTLESS HECKLERS ROUTE-RUNNING RECEIVERS

COIN TOSS CALLERS ROUTE-RUNNING

HOPEFUL HUDDLES

HOPEFUL HUDDLES

DRAMATIC DRUM MAJORS

ARTICULATE ANNOUNCERS

SUCCESSFUL SEASONS

FLAWLESS FORMATIONS

CHANTS & CHEERS

OUTSTANDING OFFENSE

POCKET PASSERS

VISUALLY-IMPAIRED REFEREES

HAMMERING HELMETS MOTIVATING

OUTSTANDING OFFENSE

SPECTACULAR STRATEGIES

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

SOARING SPIRITS

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I

f I had to match a song to the month of August, my choice would be Glenn Frey’s ’80s classic “The Heat is On.” It’s hot, it’s humid and it’s officially ok for my obsession with college football to reach a fever pitch.

To be perfectly honest, I start obsessing over the next season as soon as the last seconds melt off the clock in the national championship game. Recruiting season provides an immediate fix, followed by spring practice, which helps wean me from my addiction, but the summer months are brutal.

My salvation the last three years has been this V3 SEC Preview Edition. It allows me to dive into the possibilities the upcoming season holds a solid month before my personal countdown to kickoff officially begins on August 1st.

The fact of the matter is that I’ve had a love affair with college football previews since I was a little boy. My mother likes to tell the story about the day her son woke up and loved football, splitting my focus from He-man, Thundercats and Voltron with a fierce passion for everything pigskin instantaneously. Each year, I would commandeer her Southern Living Magazine that included a small preview with every team in the SEC’s schedules.

I would highlight the matchups I anticipated most, OWNER+CEO study the statistics and play the games out in my head while getting lost in the pages. Needless to say, to put together my own version is a bit of a dream come true.

This season promises to be one of change, with the introduction of the College Football Playoff and the movement for player compensation at the forefront. One change will certainly be better for the game, while the other is a hot-button topic among those who follow the game.

Ian Griffin

Publisher’s Note Since we highlight the Playoff in the preview section of the magazine, I’d like to throw my two cents in on the payment of college athletes. I don’t consider myself an expert on this topic by any stretch of the imagination, but if this isn’t handled properly, it could jeopardize the sport. Some argue that these players receive an education, room and board for their services on the football field, and I believe that argument is valid. Others say the universities make millions of dollars by marketing these student-athletes and the kids should get their cut – yet another valid argument.

My concern is that if some players receive more than others, or certain schools are allowed to offer higher compensation, it will disrupt the spirit of the college game by creating a sense of entitlement among elite players. I’m not blind to the corruption that already exists in the sport, but if this “pay for performance” model is put into place, college football will never be the same.

Unlike basketball or baseball, football players who strive to reach the NFL need the college game to showcase their skills as they develop to reach the next level. For those who aren’t cut out for the NFL, why should the blood, sweat and tears they leave on the field be worth less? Furthermore, you must consider paying all student-athletes, as paying only football players wouldn’t seem fair.

In most cases, athletes complain about not being able to grab a slice of pizza with friends during the few days of downtime they receive, and I think that should be an option. A small, monthly stipend – equal among all student-athletes – seems to be the only option that would keep the integrity of the game intact.

With the unionization of Northwestern University’s football players, this issue isn’t going away; it will eventually be addressed. For myself and the millions of others who love this game, let’s hope the NCAA gets this decision right or opens the discussion to another governing body that will.

So with that, I hope you enjoy reading our preview. And to any youngsters who may pick up the book, feel free to grab a marker and make it your own. Enjoy the season and may the best team win.

Ian Griffin, Owner

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OWNER + CEO Ian Griffin MAG ART & DESIGN ELLIE BORROMEO EDITORIAL MANAGER OLIVER ROBBINS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Tannika Wester WRITERS J. Bryant Steele, Holly Lynch, Oliver Robbins, Erin deMesquita, Matt Pulford, Dan Tompkins PHOTOGRAPHER Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407 AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS Shadae Yancey-Warren, Chris Forino, Arion Bass AD DESIGN + MARKETING CONCEPTS Ellie Borromeo, Christian Turner PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 Email>v3publications @gmail.com CO-FOUNDER Neal Howard PHOTOGRAPHY

UGA Athletic Association Florida: University Athletic Association UK Athletics LSU Athletics Alabama Athletics Arkansas Athletics Tennessee Athletics Texas A&M Athletics Missouri Athletics Vanderbilt Athletics Ole Miss Athletics & Joshua McCoy MSU Media Athletic Relations South Carolina: Travis Bell, Alan Sharp Auburn: Wade Rackley Berry Athletics Shorter University Athletics

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The cup runneth over O, Say, Can you see …

The Founding Fathers on Harleys … and beating Germany in the World Cup?

W

elcome back from your World Cup endurance test. Here’s what you missed: Michelle Wie won the U.S. (you remember the U.S.; it had a team in the World Cup for a

couple of days) Women’s Open. Incidentally, she looked good doing it.

A nice, young woman named Eugenie Bouchard reached the finals at Wimbledon. It’s about time we had an appealing female tennis player without a prissy name. Eugenie is a name that could be right out of Dogpatch. Close enough – she’s from Canada.

LeBron James is now Cleveland’s headache.

Rosie O’Donnell is returning to “The View” – wait. Who cares?

Hobby Lobby and the Supreme Court.

Actually, all you missed was the day the high

court ruled Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based, arts-and-crafts chain, can deny coverage for certain types of contraception mandated by Obamacare, based on the owners’ religious beliefs. Commentators are still going on and on about the ruling’s ramifications, so maybe you’ve caught up to the rest of us enough to understand that the court’s decision is a) the greatest affirmation for religious freedom in this country since Thomas Jefferson cut up his Bible, b) the end of individual liberty in this country, c) step 1 in dismantling The Affordable Care Act, d) the furthest thing from the mind of Brazil’s World Cup coach.

Some things do get lost in all the shouting: • This was a statutory case, not a constitutional one, and that will make a difference in which cases the high court decides to hear in the future or how, for example, Congress might address the decision through legislation.

• The Hobby Lobby family won’t deny contraception coverage outright, just four particular contraceptives it thinks amount to abortion.

• The ruling applies only to “closely held” companies, those whose shares are held by only a few, usually like-minded, individuals. It doesn’t mean a corporate behemoth publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange will be able to dictate morality to employees.

• It’s not news that the SCOTUS thinks “corporations are people.” The Roberts court has been down that road before, such as when it ruled that money is “speech” and, therefore, limits on campaign contributions are unconstitutional, opening the door like never before for corporate-backed Super PACs to dictate election outcomes. That’s more troubling than Hobby Lobby.

It is, though, a very intriguing ruling, worthy of all the commentary. But the outcomes waiting down the road are unpredictable.

Biz Bits

I saw a classified ad the other day – monkey grass for sale. Listen, if you have to pay for monkey grass, you don’t have enough friends.

I just received a tote bag for renewing my membership to the Smithsonian. I think every American ought to belong. I especially love Smithsonian magazine, which comes with the membership. Every month, it’s like a museum put to words and in pictures arriving in my mailbox and chronicling the great events in American history, the forgotten minutiae, the heroes and the oddballs. The Smithsonian is America. The tote bag, though, was made in China.

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Some far-right extremists on the national scene are distancing themselves from U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, of all people. Dole is very conservative, ran for president twice and served his country in war. Once, he was the GOP’s designated attack dog on Democratic Party proposals. But he would go back to Capitol Hill, quietly wrangle concessions from Democrats, and get things done. Dole is anathema to the tea party-fueled rightists, who prefer noise over reason, rhetoric over discourse, stagnation over achievement.

Those types have shot themselves in the foot twice on the national scene lately, in dif-

to ousting its incumbent U.S. senator, Thad Cochran, who’s known for bringing home the bacon, in favor of another paint-by-numbers type who vowed to slash federal spending. The hitch, you see, is that Mississippi receives far more from federal programs than it sends to Washington. It would be an even poorer state without D.C. So Ol’ Thad made an appeal to sensible independents, who typically don’t vote in primaries, and even Democrats to “cross over” and vote in the GOP primary. Turns out Mississippi voters aren’t stupid after all. They knew the GOP candidate, whoever it might be, would win the general election in November. They knew

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ferent ways. House Minority Leader Eric Cantor of Pennsylvania, who is about as intransient a conservative as one can be, lost a runoff, in a major upset, to a novice Republican who has trouble with compound sentences. Those voting in that GOP runoff traded away experience and seniority. Have fun at the shallow end of the pool, fellas.

Mississippi politics are quite different from Pennsylvania’s. The Magnolia State was close

their only real say in choosing their next U.S. senator would be the GOP primary, and they chose Cochran.

An early test of Georgia’s new gun-carry law could have turned out worse. A man with a sidearm walked into a convenience store in Valdosta. He noticed another man at the counter also with a sidearm. First man asks to see the other’s permit; second man tells the first to shove it. Hands on their guns, a few feet apart, a

hot-headed verbal exchange ensues. The police (who I’m sure had better things to do) arrive and defuse the situation.

This is one of the quirks everyone needs to get used to. You see, no one, not even a police officer, has the right under the new Georgia law to ask to see someone’s gun-carry permit. So we now see the new law actually encourages such confrontations. The next one might end badly.

I want to hear what our state lawmakers have to say then.

Finally, this: Harley Davidson has come out with an electric bike. The climate-change deniers may as well throw in the towel. True, if every biker in the world traded in his gas bike for an electric ride, it wouldn’t be a drop in the tide environmentalists are trying to turn. But the symbolism is huge. Harleys are machismo mechanized, beer guzzling romanticized, long gray hair lionized. Harleys are magnets to biker chicks (who, on close examination, are not as sexy as the models in the ads).

Point being, can you imagine Marlon Brando, James Dean or Steve McQueen on a bike that’s tethered, like a blender, to a wall socket?

Of course not. Alan Alda, maybe. But Alan Alda never got the hot chicks, either.

J. Bryant Steele is an award-winning journalist and feature writer based in Rome, Georgia.

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T

he remarkable journey of Shorter’s burgeoning football program can be summed up in two important words – relationships and foundation.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Shorter University Football as well as its first year competing in NCAA Division II football.

Formerly a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Hawks now prepare to enter the Gulf South Conference. After a three-year process of switching to Division II, the team is now eligible for post-season play as well as individual honors for players. Their season will kick off against Paine College Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Barron Stadium. A highlight of this year’s schedule will be their on-the-road match up with West Texas A&M on Sept. 20 at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington.

V3 Magazine sat down with Athletic Director Bill Peterson and Head Coach Phil Jones to get some insight on how a football program that started from scratch just 10 short years ago has managed to see such a tremendous amount of growth and success.

With 40 years of experience working with athletes, Coach Jones has been the steady hand leading the program through an amazing transformation that has included its launch in 2004, an NAIA conference championship four years later, and the recent transition to a full Division II schedule. His extensive resume includes coaching stints at the University of Georgia; Southern Methodist University; and Gardner-Webb (N.C.), where he helped lead the team to two Big South conference championships.

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Peterson, who was hired by Shorter in 2007, has also been instrumental in the direction of the program and in helping to position Rome as a NAIA college football haven. The former head coach for Kennesaw’s Mount Paran Christian School, Peterson comes from a strong coaching lineage and was recognized by the Atlanta

Journal-Constitution as the 2005 High School Coach of the Year. His father, Bill Sr., was head football coach of the Florida State Seminoles from 1960-1970 and of NFL’s Houston Oilers in the early ’70s.

Peterson strongly believes in the Hawks’ athletic programs, and is proud that two of his sons played football for Coach Jones. Passionate about working in collegiate sports, Peterson focuses on making student-athletes’ time at Shorter both special and life altering. He was invaluable in attracting the 2008 NAIA National Football Championship game to our city, where it remained for six years.

Back in 2004, Shorter began its inaugural season in an unusual manor, playing a full schedule their first year using nothing but true freshmen. Normally, schools ease into a new conference, allowing their students to mature and grow as athletes and football players before they take on a full schedule. The Hawks, however, played their first year

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CALL OR VISIT US TODAY! with 18-year-olds who were fresh out of high school. Despite the challenges, Shorter earned three wins that year – a remarkable achievement.

“I didn’t know what to do, or how in the world this was going to happen,” Jones says.

“So, I went home and prayed about it. I knew a football program has to have a foundation. You don’t have anything that lasts without a foundation. To me, the foundation of this program is relationships. We bring kids in with their parents, one-on-one in my office, and tell them that relationships are our foundation; relationships both with the Lord and with our school.”

706-766-3472

249 N. 5th Ave. Rome

than you, and the way you feel about those guys in the huddle is what relationships are about. If there are three guys in the huddle that don’t buy into what we are trying to accomplish, then we will never be as good as we can be.”

By ensuring that all students understand the importance of building strong relationships and faith, Shorter University is preparing young athletes for more than just a game. Like all football programs, coaches, players and staff members strive to be successful on the field. But,

“When you are in the huddle, there are 11 people, 10 more than you, and the way you feel about those guys in the huddle is what relationships are about.”

Jones takes little credit for the development of the football program, instead attributing the Hawks’ remarkable rise to his faith in God. He shares this faith with his players every day.

“We pray before each practice and discuss it daily,” Jones says. “Relationships, how they make you feel and give of yourself, are our foundation. It’s a very simple thing. When you are in the huddle, there are 11 people, 10 more

achieving wins is not the only goal. The deeper mission is to help young players maximize their potential and become good men.

In 2013, for example, the Hawks suffered a rash of injuries that impacted their season.

“These kids never took a back seat last year and I am proud of how they handled themselves,” Jones says. “How they handled adversity is

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going to serve them very well in their lives, in whatever they may do.

“You hope to teach them not only from a physical standpoint, but a mental one as well,” he continues. “There are going to be tough times in life, and hopefully they will have learned enough to know that they can come back from those tough times and be stronger than they were before.”

And although the team did not enjoy the success they are accustomed to last year, Jones remains optimistic that 2014 will see the program return to its winning ways.

With Coach Jones and AD Peterson at the helm, the Hawks are practicing for much more than just tackling and blocking. Shorter strives for success in its mission to prepare student-athletes not only for battles at the line of scrimmage, but also for the spiritual battles they will face in life. V VV

shorter University is located in rome, georgia. su.shorter.edu vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 21

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p l ay o f f p r e d i c ta m e n t

T

he BCS era in college football is officially over. After 16 years of delivering the closest thing to a “true” national champion the sport has ever seen, it’s time for a better, but still flawed, system to take over. Instead of focusing on who’s No. 1 and 2, fans will be focused on the 4, 5 and 6 spots, as the four best teams in the land will battle it out for the ultimate prize. These four teams will be chosen by a selection committee, much like the NCAA Tournament, so expect a whole new brand of controversy when the first four are chosen. Rarely in the BCS era were there two undefeated teams left standing, leaving one or two teams with a single blemish on their records asking, “Why not us?” In this new system, those cries will grow louder as it’s pretty clear cut which two teams are the top two in the country. But those last two spots will likely be debatable every season.

So the new system won’t be perfect.

Who cares? It’s going to be great for the fans. The bowl games surrounding the

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Playoff will be better – bringing back bigtime games to New Year’s Day – and the playoff itself is going to be a Titan among sporting events. As the BCS ended, so did the SEC streak of seven straight national champions when Auburn lost 34-31 in an instant classic to the Florida State Seminoles. There is no cause for alarm, however.

The SEC should have a representative or two in the Playoff every year and, if anything, this will provide the conference with an opportunity to prove that they are indeed the finest conference in college football.

Can Gus Malzahn continue the magic at Auburn? Can Alabama find the right man to put under center? Does Les Miles have a few tricks under that mad hat of his? These are just a few questions that can only be answered when teams take the field at the end of the month. It’s sure to be a season full of surprises, but we tried our best again this year to project where your favorite team will finish.

FLORIDa G AT O R S 2013 Record (4-8, 3-5) 2014 Projection 7-5, 4-4 (SEC) 8/30 Idaho 9/6 Eastern Michigan 9/13 Kentucky 9/20 @Alabama 10/4 @Tennessee 10/11 LSU 10/18 Missouri 11/1 vs. Georgia* 11/8 @Vanderbilt 11/15 South Carolina 11/22 Eastern Kentucky 11/29 @Florida State

*Jacksonville, Fla.

2013 is a season Gator fans wish they could erase from the record books. Anything and everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and they stumbled to their first losing season since 1979. Even the special teams, a usual strength for the Gators, were terrible last year. Will Muschamp has proven his teams can get stops on defense, but putting points on the scoreboard has been a huge problem.

Muschamp’s solution to the lack of offensive firepower was to hire Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who has installed a spread attack that is the polar opposite of the 3-yardsand-a-cloud-of-dust system fans have endured the last three seasons. With a deep and talented backfield that includes Kelvin Taylor, Mack Brown, Matt Jones and a few freshmen that could burst onto the scene, the Gators have the talent and experience to get things done on the ground. The X-factor lies in the passing game. Can Jeff Driskel emerge as the star he was expected to be when he first arrived on campus? A few receivers will have to surface as consistent playmakers for that to happen and, if they do, the Gators could exceedexpectations in 2014.

Georgia BULLDOGS 2013 Record 8-5, 5-3 2014 Projection 10-2, 6-2 (SEC) 8/30 Clemson 9/13 @South Carolina 9/20 Troy 9/27 Tennessee 10/4 Vanderbilt 10/11 @Missouri 10/18 Arkansas# 11/1 vs. Florida* 11/8 @Kentucky 11/15 Auburn 11/22 Charleston Southern 11/29 Georgia Tech

# Little Rock, Ark.

*Jacksonville, Fla.

OLB Leonard Floyd

RELEASE THE EAST

CB Vernon Hargreaves

The Georgia Bulldogs had the talent and experience on the roster last year to win it all.

But by the time the Clemson game ended, they had lost their best playmaker at receiver in Malcolm Mitchell for the season, and the injuries just kept coming. Todd Gurley missed several games; Keith Marshall blew his ACL and was lost for the season; and as more and more playmakers went down, the offensive production decreased. Defensively, the Dawgs underachieved again under Todd Grantham and he left town, before he was asked to leave, after his unit allowed a program record for points in a season and the most yards per game (375.5) in Mark Richt’s tenure at Georgia. His replacement, Jeremy Pruitt – fresh off of a national championship season as Florida State’s defensive coordinator – will take on the task of trying to get the talent Richt has recruited to shut down opposing offenses on game day. Aaron Murray may be gone, but Hutson Mason has the talent around him to make Georgia’s offense dynamic enough to be the favorite to win the Eastern Division. But they will need the defense to catch up if they want to make this season really special in Athens.

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 27

concluded. With four solid running backs and all five starters returning at the wide receiver position, improvement should be expected when the Wildcats have the ball. The defense is anchored by two top-tier defensive ends in 6’6”, 264-pound Za’Darius Smith and 6’4”, 267-pound Bud Dupree. The duo combined for 13 sacks last year and ought to improve on that number this season. The talent still isn’t there for the Cats to have a breakthrough season, but they should double their win total from 2013.

missouri tigerS 2013 Record (12-2, 7-1) 2014 Projection 9-3, 5-3 (SEC)

WR Javess Blue

kentucky w i l d c at s 2013 Record (2-10, 0-8) 2014 Projection 4-8, 1-7 (SEC) 8/30 Tennessee Martin 9/6 Ohio 9/13 @Florida 9/27 Vanderbilt 10/4 South Carolina 10/11 ULM 10/18 @LSU 10/25 Mississippi State 11/1 @Missouri 11/8 Georgia 11/15 @Tennessee 11/29 @Louisville Things got off to a slow start in the Mark Stoops era at Kentucky, but the good news for Stoops is you won’t encounter a much more patient fan base in the SEC than Lexington’s faithful. Time is exactly what he needs to turn around a program that is in the cellar of the conference and, through strong recruiting efforts, he seems to be bringing in the talent capable of doing just that. On the offensive side, three new quarterbacks are fighting for the job with sophomore Patrick Towles holding a slight edge for the starting job after spring practice

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8/30 South Dakota State 9/6 @Toledo 9/13 UCF 9/20 Indiana 9/27 @South Carolina 10/11 Georgia 10/18 @Florida 10/25 Vanderbilt 11/1 Kentucky 11/15 @Texas A&M 11/22 @Tennessee 11/29 Arkansas

The Tigers shut the mouths of all the doubters last year with a bust-out 11-2 season that included an Eastern Division Championship. Gone is quarterback James Franklin and running back Henry Josey, but sophomore QB Maty Mauk still has plenty of talent around him with three starters returning on an athletic offensive line. The defense will be without dynamic pass-rushers Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, but the defensive line should still be the biggest strength of that unit. The depth enjoyed in Columbia last season won’t be at Gary Pinkel’s disposal, so staying healthy is paramount to the Tigers making a run at another Eastern Division title.

s o u t h ca ro l i n a GAmecocks 2013 Record (11-2, 6-2) 2014 Projection 10-2, 7-1 (SEC) 8/28 Texas A&M 9/6 East Carolina 9/13 Georgia 9/20 @Vanderbilt 9/27 Missouri 10/4 @Kentucky 10/18 Furman 10/25 @Auburn 11/1 Tennessee 11/15 @Florida 11/22 South Alabama 11/29 @Clemson

Steve Spurriers Gamecocks have won 11 games in each of the last three seasons and while most of that credit is given to No. 1 draft pick Jadaveon Clowney, Conner Shaw deserves a lot of praise as well. Both their offensive and defensive leaders are no longer on the team, leaving Dylan Thompson to take the reins of the offense and a committee of unproven defenders responsible for

filling the massive void Clowney leaves behind. Thompson has plenty of experience and a workhorse that will line up behind him at running back in Mike Davis, who will undoubtedly alleviate the pressure on the new, full-time gunslinger. The receivers have a chance to be a special unit and the offensive line could be the best Spurrier has ever put on the field at Carolina. The defense will be the question mark and with Texas A&M and Georgia awaiting them in the first three games, they will need to gel quickly or hopes of a fourth-straight 11-win season could fade fast.

WR Marquez North

Butch Jones had his work cut out for him when he accepted the job at Tennessee and – while he has made vast improvements on the recruiting scene – the young talent will have to grow up in a hurry to change the Vols fortunes in 2014. Marlon Lane returns at running back but all five starting offensive linemen from last season have departed, so the running lanes won’t likely be as generous this year. The receivers will be improved, led by standout Marquez North, but the burning question is who will be getting the ball to North and a new batch of potential playmakers? Justin Worley was steady last year but unimpressive, while true freshmen Riley Ferguson is talented, but a gamble Jones might not be willing to take. On defense, the Vols have plenty of room for improvement – the biggest concern being a need for speed.

This lack of speed caused them to look completely overmatched against teams like Oregon and Auburn. Look for Jones to roll the dice on some younger, faster players in order to get his defense over the hump. 6-6 will be tough to reach, but if the Vols can split back-to-back games against Georgia and Florida, they can get there and back to a bowl game in 2014.

va n d e r b i lt commodores

Tennessee volunteers

2013 Record (9-4, 4-4) 2014 Projection 6-6, 2-6 (SEC)

2013 Record (5-7, 2-6) 2014 Projection 5-7, 3-5 (SEC)

8/28 Temple 9/6 Ole Miss 9/13 Massachusetts 9/20 South Carolina 9/27 @Kentucky 10/4 @Georgia 10/11 Charleston Southern 10/25 @Missouri 11/1 Old Dominion 11/8 Florida 11/22 @Mississippi State 11/29 Tennessee

8/31 Utah State 9/6 Arkansas State 9/13 @Oklahoma 9/27 @Georgia 10/4 Florida 10/11 Chattanooga 10/18 @Ole Miss 10/25 Alabama 11/1 @South Carolina 11/15 Kentucky 11/22 Missouri 11/30 @Vanderbilt

If you win nine games in back-toback seasons at Vanderbilt, the suitors

will start calling, and when Penn State called James Franklin, he said yes. It’s a huge loss for a Vanderbilt program that was moving in the right direction, but first-year coach and the only newcomer to the SEC coaching ranks this season, Derek Mason, is ready to take on the challenge. Unlike most new skippers at Vanderbilt, Mason inherits an experienced team that knows how to win. His biggest challenge is finding playmakers at wide receiver and settling in on a quarterback.

Patton Robbinette played well last year, but will be challenged by redshirt-freshman Johnny McCrary and LSU transfer Stephen Rivers. Mason is changing the scheme on defense to the 3-4 systems he implemented at Stanford, so expect the Dores to be a disciplined and hard hitting squad. Reaching a fourth-straight bowl game is a realistic expectation for Vandy, but they must find playmakers that can stretch the field if they want to top a .500 overall record.

projected

final s ta n d i n g s sec eastern division

1

South Carolina

2 . Georgia 3. Missouri 4. Florida 5. Vanderbilt 6. Tennessee 7. Kentucky

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western

11/22 Ole Miss 11/29 @Missouri

*Little Rock, Ark.

state of mind

WR Amari Cooper

a l a ba m a crimson tide 2013 Record (11-2, 7-1) 2014 Projection 11-1, 7-1 (SEC) 8/30 vs. West Virginia* 9/6 Florida Atlantic 9/13 Southern Miss 9/20 Florida 10/4 @Ole Miss 10/11 @Arkansas 10/18 Texas A&M 10/25 @Tennessee 11/8 @LSU 11/15 Mississippi State 11/22 Western Carolina 11/30 Auburn

*Atlanta, GA. You couldn’t ask for a much more dramatic ending to Alabama’s championship run than the kick-six that occurred on the plains of Auburn last season. It was an image that either made you rejoice or lose your lunch, depending on

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your allegiances, but one that will live on in what is already a storied rivalry.

The Iron Bowl could, once again, decide the SEC West, but other contenders lurk in the shadows. Alabama doesn’t rebuild; they reload. But this year, there will be a new quarterback under center and, while the competition is fierce, there will be little to no experience with A.J. McCarron’s backup, Blake Sims, or the highly touted Florida State transfer, Jacob Coker, under center. Fortunately, regardless of who wins the job, talented skill players and experience will surround them up front. This should allow either player to get acclimated quickly, but look for the Tide to rely on the running game in the opener against West Virginia. On defense, you simply can’t replace a player like C.J. Mosely at linebacker, but when you recruit like Nick Saban, you can fill Superman’s shoes with three lesser superheroes and that’s just what he’ll do. This defense might not be as dominate as those of years past, but it will still be elite, and it is hard to imagine a playoff without Alabama involved.

a r k a n sas razorbacks 2013 Record (3-9, 0-8) 2014 Projection 3-9, 0-8 (SEC) 8/30 @ Auburn 9/6 Nicholls State 9/13 @Texas Tech 9/20 Northern Illinois 9/27 vs. Texas A&M* 10/11 Alabama 10/18 vs. Georgia* 10/25 UAB 11/1 @Mississippi State 11/15 LSU

Many among college football’s disciples are still scratching their heads over Bret Bielema’s decision to leave Wisconsin for Arkansas last offseason. After a winless season in conference play and a 3-9 overall record in 2013, the Hogs will continue the rebuilding process this season in a stacked Western Division of the SEC. Their offensive success will depend largely on the development of quarterback Brandon Allen, who played injured most of last season and struggled to develop consistency with his receivers.

Running back Alex Collins returns after a stellar freshman campaign in which he racked up 1,026 yards on the ground, but he will need the passing game to develop in order to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box to stop him. On the other side of the ball, Robb Smith takes over as defensive coordinator, making him the fourth person to hold that position in the past four years. With a talented defensive line, experienced linebackers, and depth at the cornerback position, the Hogs should be improved on defense and improved overall. Even with those improvements, another winless season in conference play is still highly probable.

au b u r n tigers 2013 Record (12-2, 7-1) 2014 Projection 10-2, 6-2 (SEC) 8/30 Arkansas 9/6 San Jose State 9/18 @Kansas State 9/27 Louisiana Tech 10/4 LSU 10/11 @Mississippi State 10/25 South Carolina 11/1 @Ole Miss 11/8 Texas A&M 11/15 @Georgia 11/22 Samford 11/29 @Alabama

a big year rushing quarterbacks with a little help from his friends Montravious Adams and Gabe Wright causing problems in the middle.

Auburn won’t have the element of surprise this year, but they could be a better football team and are certainly contenders for a spot in the first College Football Playoff.

11/22 @Arkansas 11/29 Mississippi State

*Atlanta, Ga.

LSU T I G E R s In one year, Gus Malzahn revived a program that looked lost in 2012, taking his players all the way to the BCS National Championship game against Florida State. Nick Marshall returns at quarterback and will be one of the conferences elite signal callers this season. Dynamic running back Tre Mason is gone, but experience and talent are abundant in the Tigers’ backfield with seniors Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant back for

2013 Record (10-3, 5-3) 2014 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) 8/30 Wisconsin* 9/6 Sam Houston State 9/13 ULM 9/20 Mississippi State 9/27 New Mexico State 10/4 @Auburn 10/11 @Florida 10/18 Kentucky 10/25 Ole Miss 11/8 Alabama 11/15 @Arkansas 11/27 @Texas A&M

*Houston, Texas Les Miles certainly has the Bayou Bengals in a reload – not rebuild – position in Baton Rouge, but this year could be a real struggle for the Tigers on offense. They will be replacing every starter at the skill positions with talented-yet-inexperienced players. The quarterback battle could linger into the regular season with sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris still neck and neck at the end of spring practice, so look for Miles to lean on the running game while his young quarterbacks and receivers develop. This should allow Leonard Fournette to burst onto the scene at running back, but the outcome of LSU’s season will depend on its stingy defense. That defense will keep them in the hunt for the SEC West, but too much inexperience will cost the Tigers enough games to keep them out of the SEC Championship game.

Hugh Freeze enters his third season in Oxford with more depth and experience than he has ever fielded at Ole Miss. The Rebels have playmakers on offense and a senior quarterback, Bo Wallace, who has with the ability to make them a factor in the SEC West. They are strong upfront with future NFL lineman Laremy Tunsil leading the way at left tackle and, though wide-receiver Donte Moncrief left a year early for the pro’s, sophomore Laquon Treadwell is poised to fill his shoes and then some. On defense, Robert Nkemdiche leads a defensive line that should be able to make SEC quarterbacks shiver. The defense will be improved and the playmakers are on campus, but just as last season, Bo Wallace is the X-factor.

His career has been plagued by bad decisions and costly turnovers. If he shines in 2014, Ole Miss can go as far as he can take them.

ole miss r e b e l s their senior seasons. Battling them for playing time will be redshirt-freshman Peyton Barber and five-star recruit Roc Thomas. With a dynamic receiving unit led by Sammie Coates and an offensive line returning four starters, Auburn will once again score points at will. The scary thing to consider is that Auburn’s defense was one of the worst in the nation last year, and they stand to be much improved in their second year under Ellis Johnson.

Look for sophomore Carl Lawson to have

2013 Record (8-5, 3-5) 2014 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) 8/28 vs. Boise State* 9/6 @Vanderbilt 9/13 UL Lafayette 9/27 Memphis 10/4 Alabama 10/11 @Texas A&M 10/18 Tennessee 10/25 @LSU 11/1 Auburn 11/8 Presbyterian vini vidi vici / v3 WR magazine 31 Laquon Treadwell

mississippi s tat e b u l l d o g s 2013 Record (7-6, 3-5) 2014 Projection 9-3, 5-3 (SEC) 8/30 Southern Miss 9/6 UAB 9/13 @South Alabama 9/20 @LSU 10/4 Texas A&M 10/11 Auburn 10/25 @Kentucky 11/1 Arkansas 11/8 Tennessee-Martin 11/15 @Alabama 11/22 Vanderbilt 11/24 @Ole Miss WR Malcome Kennedy

T e x as A& M ag g i e s 2013 Record (9-4, 4-4) 2014 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) 8/28 @South Carolina 9/6 Lamar 9/13 Rice 9/20 @SMU 9/27 vs. Arkansas* 10/4 @Mississippi State 10/11 Ole Miss 10/18 @Alabama 11/1 UL Monroe 11/8 @Auburn 11/15 Missouri 11/27 LSU Dan Mullen enters his sixth season in Starkville with high expectations surrounding his Bulldogs. Led by duel threat quarterback Dak Prescott, the MSU offense is bursting with playmakers at wide receiver and running back that will make Mullen’s spread option attack tough to stop. Defensively, this could be one of the best units in the SEC. With eight returning defensive linemen who played in at least 10 games last year, three returning starters at linebacker and even more depth in the secondary, this could be the year the Bulldogs breakthrough in the West. With a light draw (Kentucky and Vanderbilt) on their cross-divisional conference games, the schedule is also set up for success, but road games against LSU, Alabama and rival Ole Miss should put at least a few marks in the loss column.

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Life after Johnny Football begins on the road in Columbia, S.C., for the Aggie Nation and Head Coach Kevin Sumlin. In many ways, surely it’s a relief for everyone involved in the program. The media circus is gone, but so are the dazzling results Manziel created on the field. Sumlin is confident, however, that whoever takes the reins of his “air raid” offense will be capable of winning a lot of football games. Inexperience is unavoidable, whether Kenny Hill or Kyle Allen are under center, but solid recruiting classes will provide stability up front and all around the man who wins the job. Recruiting has been kind to the defense as well and – with one of the most highly touted groups of linemen in the nation now on campus – the Aggies have the meat and potatoes needed to generate a fierce pass rush. Don’t be surprised if A&M is in the hunt for the West, but the schedule and inexperience suggest it will be at least another year before they are once again front-runners.

projected

final s ta n d i n g s sec western division

1 alabama 2. Auburn 3. Mississippi State 4. Mississippi 5. LSU 6. Texas A&M 7. Arkansas

projected sec championship:

alabama vs.south carolina winner:

alabama

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I

n honor of the annual football issue, my sweet editors have requested a tailgating party-themed column. Having only been to one (yes, one) tailgate party in my entire life, I’m definitely at a loss here. Like any good journalist and party planner, I knew some research was in order. Since it’s not football season and attending a tailgate or three was not going to work out (and still come within a month of my deadline), I did the next best thing – asked a lot of questions of people who do tailgate.

As it turns out, hosting a tailgate party pregame is pretty much like any other party. You have your basic requirements of location, food, entertainment, guest list and attire.

Location is fairly easy – the best parking space you can find near the stadium. Some stadiums plan for this and some season tick-

easy to come by, and you can even get them with sides on them for cold or wet game days (a logo for your favorite team is a nice addition).

If you have guests meeting you, it might be nice to distinguish your spot from everyone else‘s with something unique, like a balloon in some random color (but not the opposing team’s, of course) so that your friends can see your location from across the parking lot.

As part of the location section, seating is also necessary. Folding chairs and coolers that can double as a seat are key. Providing a seat for everyone in your group isn’t totally necessary, and your friends may very well bring their own.

Planning your meal is a great way to get creative. Many tailgate celebrations begin early in the day and stretch to game time, somewhere in the mid-afternoon or even into the evening.

Trends& Traditions with Holly Lynch

et holders may even have a designated spot.

I know when I attended a pre-game celebration at UGA once (in another life), we had a designated patch of lawn. The next element is, of course, the canopy. A 10 x 10 tent is pretty

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So, pace yourself. Most foods should be handheld and in smaller portions. My husband, who has been to a few more tailgate events than I have, will disagree. He and his friends always grill steaks. But for every weekend, it would

probably work best to think in terms of sliders, wings, skewers and other foods that are easily eaten with the fingers. High-quality disposable plates and flatware are good ideas (sturdy, yet disposable) but easy-to-stack-and-pack reusable items are great, too. Keep everything in your team’s colors wherever possible, or at least neutral. The last thing you should do is pull out an orange plate when you’re sitting in Athens.

pop-up

perfection

With decorations, you can certainly go crazy with pom-poms, colored blankets and tablecloths; chairs in your team colors; and mascots and logos galore. But don’t forget to keep it classy by not going so far overboard you appear to be the mascot yourself.

In my business, we do a lot of signature drinks. I would definitely suggest spending some time finding a beverage you can make in a batch quantity to share with your friends.

Make sure to have some non-alcoholic options as well so that the designated driver(s) in your group have something to enjoy. Pacing oneself is also recommended here. If you have all day to enjoy your tailgate party before getting into the stadium, make sure you’re sober enough to find your seat and cheer for the correct team once you sit down.

As far as entertainment, the game is supposed to be the focal event of the day. But when you have hours to kill prior to game time, your guests might enjoy something other than a deck of cards. Corn hole is a lot of fun, along with other lawn games. Be sure not to interfere with other guests’ tailgate areas. If the weather

is rough, bring along some sports-related trivia games or good, ol’ fashioned checkers. Music is also a great idea or some other high-tech device for watching other games and getting the pre-game information.

A note about technology – if you’re at a football game to watch football, stop watching your phone. It’s one thing to tweet a fun photo of yourselves or a short comment cheering on your team during halftime (using the correct hashtag, of course), but try not to stay glued to your device.

For your guest list, obviously the friends you share seats with or your fellow alumni are definitely people to include. A tailgate event is the place to make new friends as well, and to share your resources. So be prepared that you may have some folks stopping by to say hello and see what you’ve been doing under your canopy. You may also get some ideas from other fans about how to make your tailgate area the best it can possibly be.

For your attire, this is the best part of tailgating in the South. A T-shirt with the team mascot is just not good enough. It’s time to

trot out a cute dress or a dress shirt and tie in team colors. Make sure to dress for the weather, knowing that by game time, it could be hotter or colder than when you start your day. Layers are key, and a little team flair is the way to go. Again, you don’t want to compete with the team mascot.

Overall, with a tailgate party, keep things fun and easy going. There’s no sense fussing over a tailgate event as you would a wedding or birthday party. After all, you’re going to have a chance to do something different (better?) next week! V VV

Holly Lynch is the owner of The Season Events, a full service catering, event planning, and design company located at 250 Broad Street in Rome. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 35

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T

he a.m. - p.m. routine of preparing ourselves after waking and then again for sleep is one of intense focus on personal hygiene that always includes a thorough, one-on-one session between brush and tooth.

No matter how tired, rushed or reluctant we might be, twice a day we give our chompers a little TLC. We brush circles over the top and bottom, scrub the molars, and sometimes some of us even floss. Any dentist would commend such consistent care for pearly whites, but every dentist knows that there is a lot more to it; brushing is only superficial.

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Would we dare to dive below the gum and attempt to understand the anatomy and the mechanics of our own little, calcified food-crushers? From enamel to root, keeping teeth and gums healthy is essential to our whole-body health.

Braving the periodontal depths of countless smiles are unsung dental heroes like Dr. Robert Lee Fletcher III, DMD, and his fourpiece periodontal team at Northwest Georgia Periodontics & Implant Dentistry (1951 J.L. Todd Dr.) As a periodontist, Dr. Fletcher specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of

periodontal (gum) disease. This area of dental expertise includes extensive training and three additional years of education beyond dental school.

Dr. Fletcher’s journey to Northwest Georgia began in June of 2004, directly out of residency from The Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. Although his biological roots were in Orlando, Fla., he searched high and low for the perfect place to replant his life with his sons, Jack and Grant, and to establish his periodontal practice. He fell in love with the close-knit comforts and community-driven energy he found in our City of Rome, and he wasn’t the only one on the move. His parents and grandmother quickly uprooted and followed.

Along with the discovery of his ideal community, Dr. Fletcher also found and joined a more-than-ideal, 30-year-established periodontal practice, one he would call his own by 2005. “[The practice] ended up being exactly what I wanted and so I bought it,” he recalls.

In June of 2011, new bones awaited NWGA Periodontics in Riverside Professional Park. “It was either invest a lot into redoing [the practice] at that [previous] location or join with the other specialists right here … and I couldn’t pass that up,” Dr. Fletcher smiles. He smiles because in his current location, his periodontal practice is part of a communal goal to better the oral and periodontal health of Northwest Georgians by offering them ease of access and efficiency.

So, J.L. Todd Drive became home.

A newly constructed office was just the beginning of things to revamp for Dr. Fletch-

er and his team; 30 years of operation meant it was time to refine the treatment process and incorporate new methods.

“We had to bring it back up to the ideal way to practice,” he recalls, describing the technology he incorporated into the new site.

Upgrades included new computer systems for sched-

duced radiation levels for patients by 80%.

While Dr. Fletcher knew the upgrade would be costly, he definitely saw the worth.

“It’s an immediate thing,” he says. “We don’t have to process all the chemicals; you don’t have all that pollution. You don’t have, as a business owner, all that expense to try to keep those processing machines running. You have an immediate picture on the screen, which is already digitized so you can email it to [the patient’s] dentist or to their insurance company.”

With the new site for his proactive palisade against periodontal disease standing strong, Dr. Fletcher didn’t skip a beat in his goal of saving smiles, one patient at a time.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 50% of Americans ages 30 and older have an advanced form of periodontal disease, and Dr. Fletcher says that some of them aren’t even aware that they have it. Fueled by this fact, he and his crew at NWGA Periodontics pour their energies into educating their patients about this silent disease lurking in the depths of toothy smiles.

Dr. Fletcher’s Treatment Coordinator and right hand, Tina Rolan, emphasizes that NWGA Periodontics’ biggest battles take place in the neighboring fields of medicine. There’s a vicious cycle that Dr. Fletcher is attuned to between the treatment of medical health problems and the maintenance of oral/periodontal health.

Putting this into perspective, he says, “One person is not different from the other, per se. We all have filthy mouths, but if you start looking at what affects [the patient’s] immune system, a

“One person is not different from the other, per se. We all have filthy mouths, but if you start looking at what affects

[the patient’s] immune system, a lot of it nowadays is medications.”

Dr. Robert Lee Fletcher III, DMD

uling, insurance filing and emails, as well as one of the most valuable upgrades, digital x-rays.

Making the upgrade from conventional to digital x-rays has eliminated the time-consuming chemical processing of traditional film and has re-

lot of it nowadays is medications.”

Medicines for blood pressure, cardiac problems, diabetes and seizure disorders, to name a few, all have something in common: the suppression of the immune system. This weakening of our body’s defenses poses a very fearful vulnerability in our mouths – making it the perfect target for foreign bacteria to penetrate.

Another medical concern for Dr. Fletcher is a

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 41

class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis and similar bone-related diseases. “Medical specialists are increasingly prescribing bisphosphonates, which change the entire metabolism of bone,” he says. “And there are many side effects. Patients have a much higher risk for periodontal disease or fracturing and losing teeth.”

Even medical treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and arthritis therapy cause suppression of the body’s immune system and contribute to periodontal problems.

Dr. Fletcher, Rolan and the rest of the team have made it their mission to educate not only their patients, but their patient’s physicians and oncologists as well about the harmful effects of medications on periodontal health. There is a constant flow of communication between NWGA Periodontics and any dentist or medical specialist who sees a mutual patient. Dr. Fletcher makes sure that letters, emails, phone calls and updates are exchanged in order to provide the best care possible for each patient. And he hopes that those needing care will be referred to him first so that he can help prevent further tissue, bone and tooth loss. “Each day and each year, it’s getting better and more collaborative with medicine,” he says.

The thorough, highly dedicated approach Dr. Fletcher instills in his practice has resulted in a loyal patient base that spans counties and

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even travels across state lines. Rolan says they take care of patients from all over Floyd and Polk counties as well as from Villa Rica, Dalton and LaGrange. A visit to Dr. Fletcher’s office might even mean a road trip for some – whether it be a short, 45-minute ride from Centre, Ala., or an all-day drive for his Floridian followers.

While Dr. Fletcher’s main practice is here in Rome, he and his team also operate a satellite office in Cartersville (13 Bowens Ct.) one day a week. His offices function on a referral basis, usually by a patient’s general dentist. However, for special attention to infected, red-flag areas; regular periodontal disease maintenance; and sometimes for special care and attention, other physicians often call upon him to help.

“Medically and mentally disabled patients are a challenge for general dentists to treat, so we have quite a few hygiene maintenance patients that aren’t so much periodontal patients, but they just need more TLC as far as sedation for cleanings,” says Dr. Fletcher, who is licensed by the State of Georgia in IV Conscious Sedation and is current in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

When he found his ideal Roman root-planting soil, Dr. Fletcher also found an unmatched dental community of which he is proud to be part. Licensed dentists are required, by law, in

the State of Georgia to complete at least of 40 hours of continuing education (CE) during each biennium. This includes coursework or study courses sponsored by recognized dental organizations or accredited dental colleges and universities. Thankfully, there are numerous opportunities for general dentists, hygienists and specialists to exchange experiences and gain new knowledge and advice from one another right here in the City of Rome. On occasion, Dr. Fletcher even presents at the Rome Dental Hygiene Study Club, providing CE credits for participants.

Dr. Fletcher leads a small ensemble with a big agenda and, on his end, open lines of communication stay in step with the passion and energy to preserve oral and periodontal health.

Patients need only to resound the rhythm of that cadence to be a gum line closer to total-body health. VVV

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ootball practices don’t get hot; they start that way. At 9 a.m., it’s humid and warm. At 12:30 p.m., it’s still humid but now scorching. And at 5 p.m., the afternoon sun moves the mercury high in the thermometers. You won’t find any shade by the 50yard line. Players fight against weariness and the sultry air. Offenses are run nonstop – five, six times or maybe even more. Every step, turn, and movement the quarterback and linemen take is planned. It’s a dance, not a car wreck.

Defenses are fine-tuned into choreographed finesse and practice makes permanent. All while the Georgia August heat drums on.

Berry College’s football program is to undergo its sophomore year. Soon, 42 freshmen will mix with last year’s green Vikings – who now have a collegiate season under their belts – to face the summer swelter. This recruitment class comes to Berry knowing that no athletic scholarship or financial kickback awaits their schooling budget; yet they still play, balancing

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“ If athletes are looking for a great experience in the classroom and in the playing fields, I feel like we have the opportunity to give them the best of both worlds.” a demanding practice regimen with an even more demanding academic commitment. It’s all for the love of the game.

Division III athletes are not paying for an education by signing on to suit up for their respected college of choice. Division III football is about students who played Pee Wee, Pop Warner, JV and varsity as children in the sport.

Somewhere along the way, they got something out of it that mattered more than the score.

Sophomore quarterback Adam Sandin, a pre-medical student, epitomizes this. “I play because I have loved football my entire life,” he says. “I think Division III football is pure in the

sense that most players have the same mindset. They are all extremely passionate about the game, and hope to combine collegiate athletics with a great education.”

To many DIII athletes, football is not a means for education; it’s a supplement to the awaiting challenges of college.

“There are a multitude of things I will like to take away from my Division III football experience,” Sandin says. “I’m hoping that football will help me implement a strong worth ethic, solid time management skills, leadership ability and great people skills.”

The Jacksonville, Fla., native finished his

ucation. To him, academics are at the pinnacle of the priority list. “The vast majority of the guys, not only at Berry and Division III, but Division II and Division I are not going pro,” Kunczewski notes. “So, what is really important? Is it getting your degree, moving on and getting a job, or going to grad school? Academics are first and foremost.”

Football players at Berry and other Division III schools are students first and athletes second, with an eye on a prize larger than 100 yards. To reach for this, many of these student-athletes take on more than just football and a class schedule. While most college coaches become giddy when asked to recant his leading rusher’s 200-yard game last week, Kunczewski’s face relaxes into a smile as he brags on some of his athletes’ collegiate accomplishments outside the gridiron – like a proud father.

According to Kunczewski, the 2014 roster will be comprised of five Gate of Opportunity Scholars, four Presidential Ambassadors, a Fellows Scholar, two Bonner Scholars, four WinShape Scholars, two S.O.A.R. leaders and two resident assistants. Twenty-two were named to the SAA Academic Team, and seven were named to the All-Conference team.

Several aim for med-school; one is interning with a $500 million, multi-national telecommunications company; and countless others have volunteered their time in the local Rome

freshman year strong with a 3.97 GPA, and when he’s not on the field, he partitions his time between Campus Outreach, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, local volunteerism and 10 hours per week with Berry’s intramural department.

Sandin says his life dream is to become a pediatrician and use medicine as a means to serve those in need. He hopes to take what he will learn as a practicing physician to Africa one day, namely to Kenya or the Congo. But first, he must make it to medical school. “I’m hoping that by combining collegiate athletics with a strong liberal arts education that my resume will stick out among the competition,” he says. Becoming a doctor is his end goal, and he knows that it’s his education that will get him there, not football – but it doesn’t hurt to be schooled by the game in the process.

Berry College Head Football Coach Tony Kunczewski, who played Division III at Grove City College, too, puts a big emphasis on ed-

community – in one instance, participating in an event that helped raise $25,000 to fight multiple sclerosis. There is not enough space in this magazine to sum up every noteworthy accolade.

One student-athlete, Adam Hubert, is working his way through school as a Gate Scholar.

In exchange for 20 hours of work during the academic year and full-time hours during the summers, this sophomore history major and corner back will graduate debt-free from Berry College. He works 47 of the 52 weeks as the lead sound tech and ministry coordinator for Mount Berry Church, the campus’ ecumenical student ministry.

In trendy clothes and rocking a ’90s flat top, Hubert is often spotted in the chaplain’s office working on projects from social media to tinkering with the church’s website, and running the soundboard during services and events.

He wears his grin and friendly disposition like his Vikings jersey. This summer, his smile welcomed 590 incoming students and thousands of parents as a Student Orientation Advising and Registration (S.O.A.R.) leader. Needless to say, Hubert is busy, very busy. Yet, he still commits 20 hours a week to football.

Hubert has been playing since he was young in Ooltewah, Tenn. – not too far from Chattanooga. Starting in Pee Wee, he played safety and advanced up the levels, eventually playing from 2008-2012 for Ootlewah High

Coach Tony Kunczewski

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School. While the opportunity for professional football is slim, he’s still thankful to have the chance to play in college, he says.

To Hubert, the emphasis on his education

at the collegiate level was the main pull for him to continue playing. “The focus on academics and the college experience, mixed with competitive athletics, was very attractive to me,” he says. “Through my academics, work, athletics and religious life, I hope to get a unique experience I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

Since the National Football League might be a long shot, Hubert hopes his focus on work and school, coupled with lessons learned on

the playing field, will afford him opportunities to make the most of his life and, in the process, give to others. He hopes to become an educator and minister to inner-city kids. “I know athletics can be a bridge between students and adults,” he says with a smile. “So not only do I love playing [football], I also hope to gain more knowledge of the game and tools I could use to someday be a coach and mentor to students.” The 100-degree weather, hard hits and disciplined schedule are his tutors.

And to him, passing the test means being able to pay forward what he’s learned on the field to the next generation.

Coach Kunczewski’s boys practice hard, work hard and study hard.

All of his student-athletes participate in mandatory study hours, and most take advantage of Berry’s premier student work program. And when he recruits, he says he tries to find students “that are Berry” in ethic and life focus. “If athletes are looking for a great experience in the classroom and on the playing field, I feel like we have the opportunity to give them the best of both worlds,” he says. “Some of our best players are guys who have turned down ath-

letic scholarships at other places, but they see everything Berry has to offer educationally, and they invest a little bit more financially in Berry.”

This goes back to the focus of a college’s Division III football program – a student’s life achievements after university. As Kunczewski says, it’s all about the investment for the future. “Are we after success or significance,” he asks. “Success is often times measured in wins and losses. That is important to us, but we want to be significant. That deals with far more than what we do on the field. Being significant means making an impact in the classroom, on campus and in the community.”

While 108 students run formations in the August heat, Kunczewski’s main pursuit is to cultivate their lifelong purpose and consequence – though winning, also, isn’t shabby.

To him, Berry College and Division III athletics, football isn’t the main course; it’s the garnish.

And the Georgia August heat drums on. VVV

berry college is located in Rome, georgia. www.berry.edu

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ShopRome for sm

Back-to-School Use the mobile Business Directory to find local businesses and ShopRomesm! www.romega.com

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The Dish 100 Covered Bridge Road Euharlee, GA

PH: 700-383-3383 www.johnnymitchells.com Open everyday from 11am-9pm Johnny Mitchell’s has hand-cut steaks, fesh seafood selections and authentic barbecue slow-smoked over cherry and hickory wood. Come experience the fusion of Southern hospitality and fine dining.

Whatever you are in the mood for, you’ll find a homemade meal at our Smokehouse that will bring you back again!

www.wowcafe.com/rome

2817 Martha Berry Highway Rome, GA 30165

PH: 706.291.8969

Hours: Mon -Thu: 11:00am- 10:00pm Fri - Sat: 11:00am-11:00pm Sun: 11:00am-9:00pm

WOW strives to serve the highest quality of food with the freshest ingredients. You will leave saying “WOW! What a Place!” Famous for: Wings and over 17 signature sauces to choose from!

www.schroedersnewdeli.com 406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

300 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-234-4613

PH: 706-235-0030 www.partridgerestaurant.com

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11:00am-10:00pm

Hours: Mon-Sat: 11:00am-8:30pm

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

Sun: 11:00am-4:30pm

It’s the best in town... Ain’t nothin’

The Partridge Restaurant is like stepping back in time when families gathered at the table with real plates and silverware. Each group of patrons are seated at their individual table and served family-style.

mellow about it! (Draft and Bottled

With our variety of meats and

Beers also offered) Famous for:

vegetables, you are bound to find a delicious dining experience with every visit!

Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza!

Their Roast Beef Relief!

www.getjamwiched.com 510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-314-9544

Like us on FACEBOOK Mon-Fri 11:00am-3:00pm

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.

595 Riverside Parkway Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-233-9960 Hours: Sun -Thu: 11:00am-9:00pm

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

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.

www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-238-9000 Hours: Mon - Sat: 6:00pm-10:00pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4:00pm-1:30am Live music each weekend.

La Scala offers both first-rate service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an upscale casual atmosphere.

50% off cafe menu from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

3401 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, GA 30165

PH: 706-291-1881 Hours: Sun -Thu: 11:00am-10:00pm

Fri - Sat: 11:00am-11:00pm Dine in, Take out, or delivery...

Authentic Italian is what we do! We have enjoyed great success by providing our guests with a casual, friendly atmosphere and excellent service. In addition to the healthy portions of our food, you will see our entrees range from homemade sandwiches, pizzas and calzones to pastas, chicken, veal and seafood dishes. www.romamiagrill.com

Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 53

Chieftains Museum - Major Ridge Home invites you to a

Low Country Boil & Barbeque Thursday, August 21, 2014

Rome Civic Center / Jackson Hill  Select Auction Items  Catered by “Two Can Do” & Open Bar Individual Ticket Reserved Table for 8 Reserved Table for 10

$ 75 $ 600 $ 750

RSVP by August 14 with the enclosed reply card

or by calling21, 706-291-9494.

Casual attire.

Thursday, August 2014

open at 6:00 pm • Dinner served at 7:15 pm Rome Civic CenterDoors / Jackson Hill Sponsored by the Junior Service League of Rome

Select Auction Items Catered by “Two Can Do” & Open Bar Individual Ticket Reserved Table for 8 Reserved Table for 10

$75 $600 $750

RSVP by August 14 by calling 706-291-9494. Casual attire.

Doors open at 6:00 pm • Dinner served at 7:15 pm Sponsored by the Junior Service League of Rome

66th Annual

COOSA VALLEY

FAIR September 30 – October 4, 2014

Share the Fun

win fRee admission and armbands for 4 with our

PHOTO CONTEST GOING ON NOW

*Contestants need to submit a photo that best represents this year’s CVF theme of “Share the Fun.” Winner will receive admission and armbands for four and see their picture in the September issue of V3. Visit our website for contest details. *Disclaimer: Contest dates: August 4-August 29, 2014. Contestants submitting photos must be 18 years of age. They must disclose name(s) and relationship of/to the person(s) featured in the picture and verify they have permission to use the picture. By submitting the picture on fb, contestant relinquishes all rights and gives permission to CVF and V3 to use the picture in all current and future publicity. Judges decision is final. All Exchange Club members, V3 employees and their immediate household are not eligible to participate in the contest.

Like Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook / www.coosavalleyfair.com 56

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Check our site for information on discounted armbands in September.

SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME