V3 August 2015

NWG A' S PR EMIER FEATUR E MAG AZINE / AUGUST 2015

Proud team physicians for the Armuchee Indians, Berry Vikings, Darlington Tigers and Rome Wolves.

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When you’re in business, word of mouth is everything. It transcends advertising. It out-produces sales. It carries the kind of weight a chic storefront and fashionable agents hope for but never quite seem to attain.

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Ours is built around honesty, hard work, and a driven commitment for putting the right person into the right house. It’s the kind of attitude that sets a career apart from a job. And it’s the level of professionalism you should always expect from a company you’ve chosen to help you find a home.

How can we be nice guys and still finish first? Because we know what’s out there. We know how to get it. We know how to time it. And, quite simply, after a short conversation over a nice cup of coffee, we’ll know you.

Reputation. Reputation. Reputation.

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AUGUST 2015 opinions 12 The only thing hotter than our recent weather forecast, is J. BRYANT STEELE’S rundown of recent events in the news.

features 16 22 26

LOCAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANATICS give us the rundown on how to turn the parking lot into the best place to catch a game.

Matt Davis sits down with new ROME HIGH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, JOHN REID, to find out how he will get his wolves in the hunt for a championship.

Faculty, alumni and currently attending Vikings tell us why the addition of BERRY’S NEW VALHALLA FOOTBALL STADIUM will certainly help rally the troops on game day.

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Fall is on the horizon, which means it is once again time for V3’s Ian Griffin to stare into his crystal ball and give us his take on this year’s SEC FOOTBALL field of talent.

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I

can’t speak for every college football fan out there but, for me, the season makes everything better. Even on a Monday following a loss for my team, the promise of redemption that next Saturday puts an extra pep in my step as I navigate my work week. Thursday nights provide a little appetizer; Fridays, I can catch a local high school game; and then the all-you-can-eat buffet that is a Saturday in the fall arrives to provide the main course. Sundays, the NFL provides an excellent dessert, but nothing beats a Saturday during football season.

publisher’s note

And so the season begins! Pardon my schoolgirl enthusiasm, but I just can’t help it. This marks our 5th Annual SEC Football Preview, and I truly hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy putting it together.

This season will be sure to deliver the unexpected. But fans of every team are on equal footing at this point, so let optimism reign supreme on all fronts for now … it will be crushed soon enough for most of us. Only one team can win it all, but satisfaction can be achieved in this sport by simply beating the team you hate the most – and that’s why we tune in each week.

On the local pigskin scene, you might have noticed a new structure being erected on the Berry College campus while driving up Hwy. 27 North. Valhalla, as it will be appropriately named, will be open for the 2015 Viking football season. For the past two seasons, the Vikes have played their home games at Barron Stadium and Darlington School, so the move to an on-campus facility is a big step for the program. I, for one, will be in line to grab my tickets to see the first game played at the new home of Berry Vikings Football.

You can learn more about Valhalla in V3 staffer Louis Spivak’s feature on page 26.

Hone your tailgating skills with tips from some of Rome’s most avid fans on page 16. as Erin DeMesquita delivers a day-in-the-life perspective on how our local fanatics do it right. After all, in the South, you can’t just go to the game; you have to go in style.

We try to cover all the bases to prepare you for what promises to be another great season. So, I hope our little appetizer does the trick, and may the main course sit well with you all.

Ian Griffin

OWNER+CEO

Owner&CEO Ian Griffin

Mag Art & Design Ellie Borromeo

Editorial Manager Oliver Robbins

Contributing Editor Tannika Wester

Writers

J. Bryant Steele, Oliver Robbins, Erin deMesquita, Louis Spivak, Matt Davis

Executive Photographer Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407

Contributing Photographers

Christian David Turner Cameron Flaisch

Ad Sales & Client Relations

Chris Forino, Diana Morgan

Ad Design & Marketing Concepts Ellie Borromeo, Christian David Turner

Publisher

V3 Publications, LLC

Contact

One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com

Creator

Neal Howard

Ian Griffin, Owner

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It

has been a good summer for progressives, not so much for those who fear progress will upset their personal applecart.

In a span of just a few weeks: • The Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Affordable Care Act. • T he highest court also ruled same-sex-marriages are legal, state bans be damned.

• The Confederate battle flag was lowered, finally and for good, from the South Carolina state Capitol grounds.

Many are upset, no surprise, and are pushing back. The inevitable only seems to make them more entrenched in their views, more active in their futility. They apparently never studied the game of chess.

As for the high court’s upholding the

ACA, those who oppose affordable health care for Americans vow to find a new legal crevice to drive a wedge into. If only they would put as much energy into humanity as to ideology.

Republican governors, who have vowed to fight national health coverage within their own borders, didn’t pay attention in high school when the Constitution was taught.

They will wind up spending energy and public money in no-win legal tilts instead of on roads, public education, public safety, and so forth.

As for the establishment of gay marriage, I remember many years ago a rambling conversation with friends when the question was raised whether gay people should be allowed to marry. At that time, I couldn’t imagine the question would become a national debate, much less reach the Supreme

Court of the United States. Plus, at that time I was in an unhappy marriage.

So I gave a flippant answer: “Sure. Why shouldn’t they (gays) be as miserable as the rest of us?”

Now that gays can marry, and are marrying, it seems six Supreme Court justices, plus the majority of Americans who aren’t bothered by the ruling, will have to answer to God one day. That’s what I keep hearing anyway, on social media, as well as mainstream opinion pages and airwaves.

The acceptance of homosexuality in this country has reached a level I never expected. Admittedly, I never cared about the cause until right-wing moralists started lecturing the rest of us.

Same-sex marriage is now the law of the land. Don’t tell that to a certain Baptist religious group, which quickly and defiantly

A Change is Gonna Come

Cents& Sensibility with J. Bryant Steele 12

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issued a promise to defy the ruling. Here’s a memo to the Baptist ministers: Gay folks left your ranks a long time ago, and aren’t clamoring to be married by you.

David Ralston, Georgia’s Speaker of the House in the General Assembly, was quick to play the God card, too. He plans to introduce a “pastor protection” law in the General Assembly which would outlaw litigation against pastors who refuse to officiate at gay marriages. He says he’s been contacted by many constituents concerned over that very impossibility – impossible because those pastors are already protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Besides, who would insist on being married by someone who didn’t approve of their union?

My father was a Southern Baptist preacher and confided late in life that he wished he hadn’t married some couples because he knew they were just young, full of lust, and they would wind up divorced shortly.

But, he never knew that the choir director at his last church was gay, and that was the reason his bride divorced him after just three months.

Well, enough of irony, and the Baptist institution.

The United Methodist Church, with its motto, “Open Doors, Open Minds, Open Hearts,” just forced The Rev, Benjamin Hudson to resign in Cassopolis, Mich., for having a male partner. He was beloved by his congregation, but that wasn’t taken into account.

The Episcopal Church, by way of contrast, happened to be ensconced in its

triennial General Convention when the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage came down. The bishops and deputies then quickly approved gay marriages within its churches.

I might have been mulling over the Supreme Court rulings while I was out riding with my love on the Fourth of July, and she suddenly asked, “What’s with all the Confederate flags?” I looked up from checking my email. We were on Turner McCall Boulevard, and everywhere were pickup trucks with the Confederate battle flag flapping in the breeze. On the Fourth of July!

This, of course, was a reaction to renewed calls for the lowering of The Southern Cross, as the battle flag is properly known, following the premeditated slayings in Charleston, S.C., of nine black people by a crazed racist kid – who had not passed a background check before purchasing his murder weapon – while they were in worship.

I don’t understand why this particular atrocity, compared to numerous other gruesome ones in American history, would be the spark that lifted the cry against the Confederate flag to action. Maybe it was the murders combined with the incredible athleticism of a young woman named Bree Newsome, who scaled the 30-foot flag pole in front of the state capitol and removed the offending symbol.

Now even NASCAR has asked its all-things-Southern fans to leave their Confederate flags at home when attending races. I can guess the reaction to that will be much like that drive down Turner McCall on Independence Day.

We confuse our contemporary defiance with the freedom that our ancestors idealistically struggled to win.

Biz Bits

Weren’t those pictures of Pluto relayed back to us by the New Horizons spacecraft breathtaking? It is wondrous what humans can accomplish with a singleness of purpose. Sort of like when rich guys snuggle up to politicians – except when that happens, the little guy, the taxpayer, gets left out of the singleness of purpose.

That philosophical rant is just to point out that we got within snapshot distance of Pluto for some $240 million less than it is costing to build a deluxe new home for the Atlanta Falcons. But that’s OK, because fans will have a swell new place to watch football. Except the little guys won’t be able to afford tickets.

Did you follow the Tour de France this year? I didn’t think so. Americans didn’t much follow it until Lance Armstrong became Superman on two wheels. We lost interest when Lance Armstrong was exposed as a fraud. Cheating and lying turned out to be his Kryptonite. He wasn’t the first sports star, thou me, Henry Aaron is the real home run champion.

J. Bryant Steele has won awards for business reporting, feature writing and opinion columns, and is based 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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et the football games begin!

As we stand on the cusp of the 2015 season of one of America’s most prideful pastimes, devoted fans are no doubt gearing up for glory on the field and pregame parties in the parking lot.

Ages old, and most likely everlasting, the tailgating tradition is one that is not approached lightly. When the tents go up and the flags start flying, the die-hard supporters are easy to spot. And from the fall months into the winter, they eat, breathe, and sleep crimson red, coal black, blood orange, or royal blue (among others, of

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course). As these revved-up rooters plan their own personal season, their home away from home, the blueprints for the tailgating festivities are paramount to the experience. Whether a fan stands behind professional, college or high school football (or all three), there are certain aspects of a tailgating party that, for true (maybe even hardcore) fans, are never overlooked or under-adorned.

Parking lots become festivals of fanatic football foreplay. Pitched tents, stocked coolers and smoking grills are the basics as the parties begin, but setting the scene is an art. From the ground up, a consistent

flow of vivid team colors are flown in the form of anything and everything you can imagine. Party planners can pay a visit to Traditions of Rome Inc. (101 East Second Ave.), where owner Rudy Childs offers the most fervent fans a complete goldmine of team memorabilia – from car flags, decals, plateware, and coolers to body tattoos, coozies, clothing, and everything in between. Tailgating enthusiasts can even declare their team loyalty, ever so elegantly, with painted ceramic and polished silver serving pieces. When asked if fans really get that intricate, Childs lowers his chin and raises his eyebrows, “Are you kidding me?!”

Dust off your pull-behinds & pop-up tents, grab the charcoal, and get geared-up for the best tailgating in the South.

Are you ready for some football?

The food can range from fine cuisine to finger foods. While the traditional hotdogs and hamburgers will definitely find their place on the grill, a lot of fans take their party fare up a notch and bring out the smoker. For Roger Blakeney and his wife, Pam, celebrating the Georgia Bulldogs is a family affair, and barbecue is a game day staple, no questions asked. Their daughterin-law even has her own recipe for a dish the family calls Bulldog Beans.

“I’ve been a fan since the day I was born,” Roger smiles as he boasts that his love of Georgia football has passed on to his two sons, Matt and Mark.

While barbecue is the Blakeney staple for the belly, Roger and Pam bring an extra something special to the lot that appeals to all the senses. Their 1947 red and black Willys Jeep is decked out from the red-rimmed tires to the Georgia tags, flags, and decals.

“It’s a real conversation piece,” Roger smiles.

And don’t worry, it’s completely functional, all the way down to the Bulldogs fire extinguisher in the front console.

Whether the Blakeneys tailgate at the game, party at the house or trek to Savannah for “Gator Hater” parties with the family, the Jeep remains a focal point – displaying loyalty to Georgia with the booming sound of the Bulldogs fight song at the touch of a button. Roger says that of all the UGA games, there’s one in particular at which he makes it a point to park his prized piece of fandom, the Georgia vs. Auburn game.

But the Willys can ward off fans of the orange and blue in silence with a defeated plastic tiger hanging helplessly from the trailer hitch. Roger and Pam smile, pleased with their witty warning. “We like to aggravate them,” she says.

Roger and Pam remember a time when Sanford Stadium was not yet closed in and they could climb up on the bank and watch the game. There’s nothing like the rush of being in the midst of a game day celebration, he says. And whether you stay in the lot to view the game on your own TV or you sit between the hedges, the Blakeneys agree that the energy is indescribable.

While there may be an extra boost of team spirit along the main stretches of home games, tailgating is a tradition that travels. As a longtime season ticket holder, Alabama fan Ted Corwin of the Corwin Firm (414 East First Ave.) has met many people along the team trail, and they have all trekked together to attend games away from home – Pasadena, Calif., New Orleans, La., and Miami, Fla., are just a few of their destinations.

“We’re all members of Tide Pride (a ticket priority donor program) and our seats are together,” Corwin says. “We all sit in the same little area and, over time, we became friends and started traveling together.”

In Corwin’s past setup, Astro Turf laid the foundation for the crimson red roof of an Alabama tent towering a perimeter of tables set and spread with a banquet of home-cooked food. Family, friends and sometimes fellow fans helped themselves to the game day feast dished up from Bama-branded serveware; no cup, plate or tablecloth was spared the prided colors of the rolling Tide. Right there in the lot of the Hotel Capstone, less than a mile away from the stadium, Corwin and his family set up their satellite and TV in the back of the SUVs; they had their living room, kitchen and reunion hall all under the shared burgundy shade of proud Bama bannerol.

Although personal circumstance has

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paled Corwin’s pregame for a couple of seasons, he intends to get back in the game this year, full steam, in his newly rented home away from home – an apartment within walking distance of Bryant-Denny Stadium. In the complex, Corwin is surrounded by Romans, all with the same Bama-supporting agenda.

“When [the apartment] became available, I rented it – site unseen – because they go so fast,” he says. “It’s only five blocks from the stadium.”

Like Roger and Pam, Corwin finds it hard to describe what it’s like to be part of the sea of football fans on game day. “To give you an idea of the number of people there, there’s probably about 100,000 people that don’t even go into the game; they just tailgate and watch TV,” he says. “It’s just amazing to see.

Everywhere you walk, tents and flatscreens and people cooking out for miles.”

It’s a place where hatchbacks become entertainment centers; the trunk becomes a grill; and people transform into walking,

talking placards for their beloved band of athletes. From head to toe, fans cover themselves in their team’s prideful colors and, for one full season, they revel in good times, good people, and good spirit.

No matter the team, the mascot or the colors, tailgaters all have something in common; they are the sounds that suspend the stadium in a momentary rush of charged electricity. Their voices, in allegiance, ignite the spark of support that surges through the countless miles of a nationwide radius. The

players become conquerors on a quest for victory – the field their battleground. And as the war cries unite and echo on the streets and in the stands, colorful strands of hope suspend themselves at the mercy of their heroes’ clout.

For some, it’s a way of life. For others, it’s a celebration to anticipate. But any way you look at it, tailgating is all about solidarity and camaraderie. That is why it has become VV a tradition that will never die. V

For all of your tailgating needs visit Traditions of Rome, located at 101 East Second Ave., or call 706-232-1427

v3 magazine 19

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Matt Davis (MD):

To start us out, Coach, I want to ask you, how did your love for the sport of football begin?

John Reid (JR):

I think it started playing backyard football with the kids in the neighborhood and watching the NFL on Sundays. We were very fortunate to get one or two games a week back then. I remember seeing Dick Butkus play, and Chicago was my favorite team. So, that’s probably where it got started. Also, my uncle worked at Notre Dame. He was a professor and I became a big Notre Dame fan, so my love for the sport started with the Bears and Notre Dame.

MD: What made you decide to come here and be the head coach of Rome?

What sparked your interest in the Wolves?

JR:

Well, I think there’s a huge demand for successful football and championship football in this city and it excited me that they wanted that.

It was segmented at one time with West Rome and East Rome, and both had great football teams. Since then, I don’t think that we’ve had a championship kind of football. There’s been some good football teams and the challenge of bringing home a championship is really what brought me here. I’ve really had some good times in North Georgia. I was at East Paulding for seven years, so I like the area and it was exciting to have this opportunity.

MD: What can you tell the readers about yourself?

JR:

Let’s see, I’ve got three kids. I guess they’re not kids anymore because my oldest, Colton, played football at Air Force Academy and is an officer in the United States Air Force.

My daughter, Kirsten, is an assistant basketball coach at Columbus State. My other daughter, Courtney, attends Kennesaw State. I’ve been married for 28 years to my wife, Julie, and she’s been along all the way for this deal. We’ve lived in three states and coached football in three states. We’ve coached at a pretty high level in all of those states, so it’s been an exciting time for our family and a great career.

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MD: You’re known for having a knack for turning programs around, and that’s one of the reasons Rome High has cited as having hired you. So, how do you feel your previous experience has prepared you for the challenge of leading this program to success?

JR:

When you walk in, or even prior to taking the job, you know the symptoms of a program that has not been successful for whatever reason.

I think one of the biggest things you have to have is a team that is willing to defend something that is not there to defend. What I mean is, if that there is no championship to defend, why do we have to practice hard and why do we have to play hard? The first thing that you have to instill is that confidence – that swagger – in those kids so that they feel they are going to be successful. Those are things that have happened all along the way. Each place is going to be different, have its different quirks and things going on. You have to establish a parent group, a base group that is going to help you. In this particular situation, we had to purchase field equipment and most of the time that’s the case. We needed things so that we can practice the way we need to practice.

MD: When West Rome and East Rome combined to form Rome High, and this has been over two decades ago, the expectation was that this program would quickly become one of the state’s elite programs. The Rome Wolves have had some successes, as you mentioned, along the way, but not at the level that I think a lot of people expected. Do you think that it’s realistic for people to expect this program to become an elite program?

JR:

You have to take a look at what it takes to become an elite program, first. You must take a look at Buford, Calhoun and Moultrie, and in 6A some of the others that have been super successful. What you notice is their facilities and money. It takes facilities and finances to build and support this team at that level.

My expectation is that we’ll improve every year and achieve a level where when people speak of Rome Football, they talk about the highest level. I want them to look up to us and see what’s going on at Rome and ask, “What can we do to try and improve

I N T E R V I E W M AT T D AV I S PHOTOS DEREK BELL

our program?” So, we’ve got a ways to go. We’ve got great kids and we’re trying to get parents and the whole community involved. I mean, just the parent of the kid is not all we need to be great. We need the whole community, and I think that’s one of the positives of being here is that the community can get behind this program.

MD: Any time a new coaching staff comes in, changes are going to take place. When you guys get ready to take the field for your first game, I would imagine that the fans will expect to see some changes in terms of how you run your offense, defense, and so on and so forth. What do you think are the biggest

LEADER OF

THE PACK,

JOHN REID

changes that you’ve made getting your team prepared to go into this season?

JR:

One of them, and I don’t know if we’ll see it yet, is to be physical.

We want to be aggressive on offense, defense, and special teams, and we want to play hard. We want the fans to leave saying, “Man, we got beat by a better team tonight.” Whether we lose or we play great and win, we want to get the community behind us and be the type of program that they are really excited about. We want to put people in the stands. Offensively and defensively – I don’t know if it’s so much the scheme – could change from year to year based on talent. But, the overall appearance

is that we want to be aggressive. We want to be physical and we want to be exciting.

MD: When your players graduate and move on to whatever is next in their lives, when they look back on their experience here at Rome, what do you want them to take away from this program?

JR:

I think the most important thing is not that they’ve become a great football player. That is important – becoming a good football player and having success is all part of the process.

But, we will never have that success unless we teach these kids. Part of our program is a part of growing up and being responsible and having integrity in your life. Really, our core values will fit that. I want them to reflect

our core values in their lives, and those are family, toughness, being trustworthy. Being able to trust each other is important. Overall, integrity is very, very important. So, those are things that I want them to look back on.

Kids are already looking back and calling me and saying, “Coach, what you said meant a lot.” That’s what matters most to me.

Thanks, Coach, and good luck this season.

Look out for the 2015 High School Coaches Preview Show on WLAQ 1410 and follow your favorite teams all season long. Also, tune in to the ROC High School Football Scoreboard Show on 95.7 The Ridge. v3 magazine 23

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Defend this House

Berry’s vast campus will gather at Valhalla this fall to root for their Viking warriors and christen a brand new home.

T E X T L O U I S S P I VA K PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BER RY COLLEGE

G

ame day fills parking lots with pickup trucks toting portable restaurants. It dresses fans in displays of athletic apparel that vary based on their level of fanaticism.

And it unites current students, alumni and the local populace with every six points.

When the stadium is open, community happens. Whether seating is available for 90,000 or 2,500, every Saturday at home is an opportunity for the raving fan base to rave. Maybe you grill a burger or may-

be you paint up despite the protests of your well-meaning friends, but the team is home and the time for cautious fandom has passed. For the world’s largest contiguous campus, best known for the deerto-student ratio and the collegiate mob marching around Lavender Mountain in October, the culture of football game day will soon be an on-site experience.

No longer hosting their rivals at Rome’s downtown Barron Stadium or Darlington School, the Berry College Vikings will take possession of Valhalla at their first home event on Sept. 12. The construction of the nearly complete campus venue fur-

ther cements football into the foundation of the college’s culture. With nearly 100 student-athletes ranging from incoming freshmen to job-seeking seniors, the team now shares history with the entire student body, having grown together since the sport’s introduction at the college just two years ago.

A Grove City College graduate known for his leadership on the field and his commitment to academics as an athlete, a student, and now a coach, Viking head coach Tony Kunczewski believes the stadium is a catalyst for further program improvement and the continued integration of team and school.

“Having a stadium on campus creates a sense of ownership for the student body

v3 magazine 27

and the athletes,” he says. “Everyone knows that this is our place; this is Berry College’s turf and I hope it is worth 14 points a game.”

Since the first Vikings victory against Washington University (St. Louis) on Mountain Day of 2014 brought over 4,000 fans from the stands to the Barron Stadium field, Kunczewski has recognized the power of a home advantage. With even more clout than a contest in downtown Rome, for Kunczewski, having Valhalla within walking distance of the college dormitories, proximate to the timeless brickwork of the academic buildings, and inside the “Gate of Opportunity” ensures other teams will know the Vikings are all ready to row.

With student involvement central to the game day experience, both for audience enthusiasm and tradition propagation, the stadium’s location and resulting ease of attendance will foster a spirited fan base ready to attend the five home events.

Preparing to start her senior year, Ree Palmer, president of Berry’s Student Government Association, knows Valhalla will be a game-changer for the team and for the school. “The atmosphere has been excellent the last few years at Barron, but having them here on campus will increase the number of Saturday game-related activities and student life traditions,” she explains.

Along with the organic development of cheers, the “We All Row” motion, and

28

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the always-unexpected sight and sound of vuvuzelas, Palmer shares, “We are going start a game day event called the Viking Walk, where the team, students, pretty much everyone marches from Richards Gym over to the field.”

With an affinity for parading already ingrained into the Berry College community, this tradition should line up with existing ones.

Alumni also appreciate the soon-opening campus stadium and the community it will create within the Berry graduate popu-

lation. Even though a Valhalla event will not rival the attendance of a game “between the hedges,” David Elswick, a 1990 Berry grad and current member of the Alumni Council, will certainly be a regular foam finger user.

“When I was in college, I know my friends and I would have loved to have had a football program to support,” he says. “We would have so appreciated a starter stadium like Valhalla.”

With thousands of alumni and, as a result, thousands of potential jersey-wearing fans, the concrete bleachers already should

expect a weighty crowd come Sept. 12.

Not only a field for athletic competition, but also a venue for community, Valhalla can serve as a headquarters for the world of Berry College and as an incubator for increased patronage to the school.

“We have always had school pride, but it hasn’t always come across as school spirit,” says Palmer, who served on a student committee devoted to sparking game day enthusiasm. “I believe having this stadium will lead the transition from one to the other.”

Along with the volume of the shouting, the appetite of the crowd will be met by the increased capacity for tailgating.

“People will now be able to tailgate on the lawn in front of the Moon and Laughlin

Beyond the Berry bubble, Rome will now have two collegiate stadiums, Barron and Valhalla, to accompany the sizeable high school football machine in Floyd County as well as local fandom.

“It’s great having [so many] high schools in Rome because that is a hotbed for recruitment right here in our backyard,” Elswick says. “People, obviously, are passionate about high school athletics because their kid or their neighbor’s kid is on the team, but we would love Rome to own the Berry Vikings.”

Having every intention of creating a Division III program known locally and nationally for training their head in the classroom, having a heart for the school,

Having a stadium on campus creates a sense of ownership for the student body and the athletes. Everyone knows that this is our place; this is Berry College’s turf and I hope it is worth 14 points a game. buildings,” says Palmer, who hopes these campus-wide cookouts will increase organizational unity. “Our student organizations sometimes get siloed – with groups hosting different events, but not cooperating all that often. Tailgating would be a natural forum for collaboration, and we are hoping to see more of it in the fall.”

Kunczewski also understands that a football game involves more than 22 athletes, four quarters and whatever constitutes the halftime show. “There is a real happening tied to football,” he says. “There are only five home contests every season and they become all-day Saturday affairs. We don’t want to people to just show up for two hours, fill a seat and head home. We want to see this become an event.”

and with hands able to deliver on the field, Kunczewski concurs with this sentiment.

“No doubt, we also want to reach out to the Rome community, and we have been really thoughtful in establishing easy access on game days for tailgating, parking, and ticket information,” he says. “We want to provide a tremendous experience for the people in Floyd County. We don’t want to be just Berry’s team; we want to be Rome’s team.”

Although every collegiate athletic program primarily serves the college population, coaching staff, alumni, and students also hope the Rome-Berry connection will continue in the stands at Valhalla.

With the countdown on for the fall season, and with the construction crew ensuring the stadium is fan-worthy and

team-ready, all Berry College Vikings are about to embark on an adventure into uncharted seas. Beginning their third season, these student-athletes know expectations are up because the team now has a house.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate 7,000 people being there for our opening game,” says Kunczewski. “I expect it to continue, but I also believe we are obligated as the team to give everyone something to cheer about.”

From a school for undereducated mountain children in Floyd County to a widely respected liberal arts college affiliated with NCAA, the influence of Berry College grows with each graduating class. Now with a football program devoted to building students first, athletes second and a stadium designed to create community across classes, the school’s wake continues to expand, impacting students and alumni through a previously unreachable avenue.

Whether you are 1971 graduate now considering retirement or a high school senior at Darlington, the game is about to change for Rome and Floyd County’s Berry College Vikings.

To follow the progress at Valhalla, visit www.berry.edu/valhalla. To stay updated on athletics at Berry, visit www. berryvikings.com v3 magazine 29

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ince the final whistle blew in Pasadena, Calif., last January, college football fans have been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for their beloved sport to return. We cope in our own ways – following the Twitter accounts of potential recruits, watching old games on ESPN U or falling into a deep dark depression for the first part of the year. Whatever works for the individual is perfectly OK, but it’s time to get excited again. That indention on your sofa that has missed your Gluteus Maximus so much for the last six months is awaiting your return. Dust off your lucky towels, helmets and jerseys; the time to rejoice is here! And to the wives who feel like their husbands are about to check out for the next four months, my condolences.

So flip through the following pages and agree or disagree with the assessments of your team. Anything can and will happen as the season unfolds, but it sure is fun trying to figure it out beforehand. Though there was only one coaching change in Florida’s Jim McElwain, new coordinators have arrived at almost every school in the SEC, and their impact will shape the 2015 season. Good luck to you all and may the best team win.

TEXT IAN GRIFFIN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Tennessee Athletics, Auburn Athletics, LSU Athletics, MSU Athletic Media Relations, Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics, UAA Communications, UK Athletics, Alabama Athletics, Texas A&M Athletics, Vanderbilt Athletics, Missouri Athletics, Arkansas Athletics, Ted Mayer, Ben Walton, Sean Taylor, Philip Williams, John Kelley, Travis Bell, Juan Blas, Allen Sharpe, & Razorback Communications

v3 magazine 33

EASTBOUND

andDown Florida Gators

2014 Record (7-5, 4-4) 2015 Projection 7-5, 4-4 (SEC) 9/12 East Carolina 9/19 @Kentucky 9/26 Tennessee 10/3 Ole Miss 10/10 @Missouri 10/17 @LSU 10/24 OPEN DATE 10/31 Georgia 11/7 Vanderbilt 11/14 @South Carolina 11/21 Florida Atlantic 11/28 Florida State

The Swamp was once a place where touchdowns came in bunches and outscoring the mighty Gators was improbable at best. Then Urban Meyer lost his mojo, retired (twice) and handed over a troubled program to first-time head coach Will Muschamp.

While Muschamp’s defenses were some of the best in the country, his offenses were painful to watch more often than not; this resulted in the hiring of former Alabama Offensive Coordinator Jim McElwain as the new head coach. McElwain inherits a lot of talent on defense, led by two-time All-SEC cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, so the defense should once again keep the Gators in games. The question is: How much magic can the offensive-minded McElwain come up with when the Gators have the ball? Treon Harris and Will Grier will battle 34

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for the starting quarterback position, with Harris holding the edge in experience and Grier fitting the pocket-passer mold that McElwain’s system requires. Grier had a slight lead at the end of spring, but this one could go either way. Demarcus Robinson (WR) and Jake McGee (TE) will be the winner’s best options in the passing game, while Kelvin Taylor anchors a deep backfield with Adam Lane and incoming freshman Jordan Scarlett. So, while the Gators have potential at the skill positions, they will need a lot of help up front for any of these guys to step up as playmakers. That help may not come this season, as the Gators lack depth and experience on the offensive line. Without the help of a few true-freshmen and a lot of luck on the injury front, points could be hard to come by once again in Gainesville this season. If touchdowns are hard to come by, placekicker Austin Harden will need to improve on his 11-22 mark over the last two seasons, and the Gators will have to win a few close games to make this season a success.

WR Demarcus Robinson

Georgia Bulldogs

2014 Record 10-3, 6-2 2015 Projection 9-3, 5-3 (SEC) 9/5 UL Monroe 9/12 @Vanderbilt 9/19 South Carolina 9/26 Southern 10/3 Alabama 10/10 @Tennessee 10/17 Missouri 10/24 OPEN DATE 10/31 Florida 11/7 Kentucky 11/14 @Auburn 11/21 Georgia Southern 11/28 @GA Tech

For the second straight year, the Bulldogs will have a new starter under center, and all signs point to that being sophomore Brice Ramsey. For the first time since Mark Richt called the plays himself, someone other than Mike Bobo will assume that duty. So Ramsey (if he is indeed the starter) will have to gel quickly with new Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer if the Dawgs want to succeed in the passing game. Fortunately,

that’s about the only question mark for this team. Nick Chubb burst onto the scene last year, filling Todd Gurley’s mammoth-sized shoes with ease, and behind him are two lightning-in-a-bottle backs, Sony Michel and Keith Marshall. They will run behind arguably the best offensive line in the SEC that returns four starters and only allowed 12 sacks in 2014. On the other side of the ball, Georgia is stacked with talent. The trio of Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Carter will wreak havoc on offensive lines on the perimeter, while incoming freshman Trent Thompson should bolster the interior line enough to make them one of the elite front sevens in the nation. Placekicker Marshall Morgan anchors a usually strong special teams unit that features return man Isaiah McKenzie, who took two punts and one kickoff the distance last year; he could easily top that in 2015. The schedule is the Dawgs’ worst enemy this year as they host Alabama and travel to Auburn. The swing game will be in Knoxville, where a young and talented Tennessee team will help decide if this Georgia team will reach greatness or remain on the cusp.

Kentucky Wildcats

2014 Record (5-7, 2-6) 2015 Projection 6-6, 2-6 (SEC) 9/5 UL Lafayette 9/12 @South Carolina 9/19 Florida 9/26 Missouri 10/3 Eastern Kentucky 10/10 OPEN DATE 10/15 Auburn 10/24 @Mississippi State 10/31 Tennessee 11/7 @Georgia 11/14 @Vanderbilt 11/21 Charlotte 11/28 Louisville Year three in the Bob Stoops era looks a lot more promising than years one and two thanks, in large part, to three straight top-40 recruiting classes and a major financial investment by the school into facility upgrades and coaching salaries. The only downside to those investments is that the expectation to win sooner than later has increased. Patrick Towles and Drew Barker are battling for the quarterback job, but Towles is the clear favorite after starting every game and throwing for over 3,000 yards in 2014. The Cats have talent in the backfield with Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp both possessing serious play-making ability. The offensive line is experienced and though the receivers need to be more consistent, they are certainly talented, so the Cats should be able to put points on the board this season. On defense, the loss of star defensive ends Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith will be hard to overcome, but almost every other position will be much improved from last season’s squad. Special teams won’t be a problem for Kentucky as they have two of the most reliable kickers in the league. Bottom line: The Cats will be better – possibly even bowl eligible – but any hopes of a trip to Atlanta at season’s end are a little far fetched.

QB Maty Mauk

Missouri Tigers

2014 Record (11-3, 7-1) 2014 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) 9/5 SE Missouri State 9/12 @Arkansas State 9/19 Connecticut 9/26 @Kentucky 10/3 South Carolina 10/10 Florida 10/17 @Georgia 10/24 @Vanderbilt 10/31 OPEN DATE 11/5 Mississippi State 11/14 BYU 11/21 Tennessee 11/27 @Arkansas Back-to-back Eastern Division champions was not a term most people would have imagined using to describe the Missouri Tigers as they entered their fourth season in the SEC, but that’s exactly what they are. It wasn’t pretty on offense last year, but quarterback Maty Mauk improved as the season progressed, as did his offensive line. This allowed playmakers such as Marcus Murphy to terrorize opposing defenses; however, it is those playmakers that will be missing from this year’s line up. For the second straight season, the Tigers are replacing all of their starting wideouts, a tough obstacle to overcome and one that will force senior running back Russell Hansbrough to carry a heavy load if things don’t get going in the passing game. Defensively, the Tigers will count on developing their young talent quickly in order to continue shutting down SEC offenses. There are simply too many question marks to believe they can maintain that kind of dominance, though, so look for the defense to take a small step back in 2015. Missouri has earned the benefit of the doubt, so expect them to contend for the Eastern Crown. But contending and winning are two different things. v3 magazine 35

South Carolina

Gamecocks

2014 Record (7-6, 3-5) 2014 Projection 7-5, 4-4 (SEC) 9/3 @North Carolina 9/12 Kentucky 9/19 @Georgia 9/26 UCF 10/3 @Missouri 10/10 LSU 10/17 Vanderbilt 10/24 OPEN DATE 10/31 @Texas A&M 11/7 @Tennessee 11/14 Florida 11/21 Citadel 11/28 Clemson To say South Carolina was the biggest disappointment in the SEC last year would be an understatement. The Cocks entered the season as favorites to win the Eastern Division, but didn’t live up to the hype. After getting throttled in their home opener against Texas A&M, it was obvious there were problems on the defensive side of the ball. Even Dylan Thompson’s single-season school record for passing yards couldn’t help overcome them. Thompson is gone and blue-chip recruit Connor Mitch is the favorite to replace him. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal and a good bit of experience in front of him on the line, but for Carolina to improve, the defense must get better and get better fast. Spurrier turned to an old friend in former Florida Defensive Coordinator Jon Hoke to stop the bleeding and hopes he can do just that. He will need a few stars to emerge in order to pull it off, and that is what the success of Carolina’s season depends on.

For the first time in a long time, the Vols are a serious contender in the SEC East.

They have a quarterback they believe in with Joshua Dobbs, two talented running backs, and a group of receivers led by Marquez North that can strike fear in opposing secondary units. The offensive line now has a year of experience under their belts and has nowhere to go but up after finishing two spots out of last place in yardage lost due to sacks (304). Smokey has to be proud of the defensive unit as they really began to gel as the season progressed last year.

Middle Linebacker A.J. Johnson is gone and

LB Skai Moore

Tennessee Volunteers

2014 Record (7-6, 3-5) 2015 Projection 9-3, 6-2 (SEC) 9/5 Bowling Green 9/12 Oklahoma 9/19 Western Carolina 9/26 @Florida 10/3 Arkansas 10/10 Georgia 10/17 OPEN DATE 10/24 @Alabama 10/31 @Kentucky 11/7 South Carolina 11/14 North Texas 11/21 @Missouri 11/28 Vanderbilt 36 v3 magazine

QB Joshua Dobbs

will be missed, but virtually everyone else from a front seven that finished the season in dominant fashion will return. This will allow the Vols to create pressure by only rushing their front four, but someone will need to fill Johnson’s shoes quickly for them to effectively shut down running attacks like that of Eastern Division rival Georgia, for example. Those two teams clash on Oct. 10 in a game that could very well decide who wins the Eastern Crown. With a win in that game, this could be the year Tennessee becomes relevant again in the SEC.

Vanderbilt Commodores 2013 Record (3-9, 0-8) 2014 Projection 3-9, 0-8 (SEC) 9/3 Western Kentucky 9/12 Georgia 9/19 Austin Peay 9/26 @Ole Miss 10/3 @Middle Tennessee 10/10 OPEN DATE 10/17 @South Carolina 10/24 Missouri 10/31 @Houston 11/7 @Florida 11/14 Kentucky 11/21 Texas A&M 11/28 @Tennessee

Derek Mason was hired out of Stanford for his defensive mind and in his first season as the Chief Commodore, his defense struggled while his offense almost failed to function. Other than Ralph Webb’s play at running back, there wasn’t much to write home about when the Dores had the ball.

They couldn’t settle on a quarterback (and still haven’t); didn’t have any playmakers at wide receiver; and the offensive line, which was thought to be a strength entering 2014, was a disappointment. That group has the potential to bounce back and deliver on those expectations, but the question remains as to whether that will be enough to get Vandy out of the cellar in the SEC East. On defense, the Dores are talented in spots – the defensive line being their biggest strength and their secondary the biggest weakness. If they can fill holes at cornerback and safety, the linebackers are good enough to make this a solid unit. In the end, it just doesn’t seem like Vandy has the tools to make a jump from the bottom of an ever-improving Eastern Division.

PROJECTED

Final Standings

NO. 1 TENNESSEE 2. Georgia 3. Missouri 4. Florida 5. South Carolina 6. Kentucky 7. Vanderbilt

v3 magazine 37

Surviving THE WEST Alabama Crimson Tide

pulled it off, but something tells me this is the year the Tide will drop a few games they shouldn’t. Time will tell.

2014 Record (12-2, 7-1) 2015 Projection 10-2, 7-2 (SEC) 9/5 Wisconsin 9/12 Middle Tennessee 9/19 Ole Miss 9/26 UL Monroe 10/3 @Georgia 10/10 Arkansas 10/17 @Texas A&M 10/24 Tennessee 10/31 OPEN DATE 11/7 LSU 11/14 @Mississippi State 11/21 Charleston Southern 11/28 @Auburn

The Tide start their 2015 campaign in familiar territory – one of the favorites to win the league. Sure, there are question marks at quarterback and cornerback, but we all know by now that Nick Saban has recruited well enough to fill those voids and then some. I’m sure every corner on the roster has been well-adjusted after the embarrassing performances turned in against Auburn and Ohio State. So, expect more of the same from Bama – a strong running game led by Derrick Henry, athletic receivers, a great game-managing quarterback, and a hard-hitting defense. Jake Coker looks like he will finally get his shot to start after sitting behind Jameis Winston at FSU and Blake Sims last year, but redshirt freshman David Cornwell looked sharp in spring as well, so he will need to play well early to keep his job.

As usual, the Tide start out with a doozey, traveling to Arlington, Texas, to lock horns with Wisconsin. If they get past that game (they haven’t lost an opener since 2001), they just have to navigate the SEC West, an improved Tennessee team, and their first trip to Athens, Ga., in nearly a decade to be back in the picture for another run at a national title. I wouldn’t be surprised if they 38

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TE O.J. Howard

Arkansas Razorbacks

2014 Record (7-6, 2-6) 2015 Projection 7-5, 3-5 (SEC) 9/5 UTEP 9/12 Toledo 9/19 Texas Tech 9/26 Texas A&M 10/3 @Tennessee 10/10 @Alabama 10/17 OPEN DATE 10/24 Auburn 10/31 UT Martin 11/7 @Ole Miss 11/14 @LSU 11/21 Mississippi State 11/27 Missouri The Hogs might be the team that most resembles their mascot in the country. They are big, nasty and will run right over you. The duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams in the backfield combined for 2,290 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground in 2014, impressive numbers that they could easily surpass in 2015. Quarterback Brandon Allen will enter his third season as the starter and could make the leap from game manager to playmaker if an unproven receiving corps can give him a little help. The defense lost several key players from a unit that ranked in the top 10 nationally in yards allowed per game, but players like defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson gained enough experience to fill those holes capably. The Hogs are a tough team to predict and are one of a few western teams that would be favored to win the East if that were their division.

Unfortunately for them, they reside in the Western Division and, while they could surprise me, I don’t see them making it to Atlanta in 2015.

Auburn Tigers

2014 Record (10-2, 6-2) 2015 Projection 10-2, 6-2 (SEC) 9/5 Louisville 9/12 Jacksonville State 9/19 @LSU 9/26 Mississippi State 10/3 San Jose State 10/10 OPEN DATE 10/15 @Kentucky 10/24 @Arkansas 10/31 Ole Miss 11/7 @Texas A&M 11/14 Georgia 11/21 Idaho 11/28 Alabama

combination. Jeremy Johnson takes over for Nick Marshall at quarterback and his big arm, along with a talented group of receivers, should stretch defenses in the passing game.

While it is a bit deceiving, Auburn’s offense is run focused, and an exciting freshman, Roc Thomas, will be sharing carries with JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson in what will undoubtedly be a productive running back unit. Special teams always seem to be solid at Auburn and you can add Daniel Carson’s name to a long list of reliable place kickers, but the return game will be by committee unless a star emerges early in the season.

Muschamp recruited well on defense and some of those players could contribute immediately, but the Tigers’ championship hopes hang on how much he can get out of the experienced players on the roster.

With an offense that should be explosive, any improvement from last year’s defense will make Auburn a serious threat.

LSU Tigers

2014 Record (8-5, 5-3) 2015 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) QB Jeremy Johnson

Gus Malzahn’s boys can score. Sure, they lost six starters on offense, but it won’t matter thanks to his offensive genius and a mix of talented freshmen and experienced back ups. Points haven’t been the problem for Auburn, who hasn’t had a great defense since Will Muschamp was roaming the sidelines as coordinator. Oh that’s right, he’s back!

Muschamp has his work cut out for him, but the man has proven he knows how to run a defense, and the mixing of his mind and Malzahn’s makes for a scary coaching

9/5 McNeese State 9/12 @Mississippi State 9/19 Auburn 9/26 @Syracuse 10/3 Eastern Michigan 10/10 @South Carolina 10/17 Florida 10/24 Western Kentucky 10/31 OPEN DATE 11/7 @Alabama 11/14 Arkansas 11/21 @Ole Miss 11/28 Texas A&M

Quarterback play was the Achilles heel of the LSU Tigers in 2015, and the same two gentlemen who struggled with consistency last season, Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris, are neck and neck once again this year. Jennings is the front-runner at the moment and regardless of who takes snaps, Leonard Fournette will be waiting to carry the load at running back. Fournette is poised for a huge season but without production in the passing game, teams will stack the box and make him earn every yard. The receivers are young but talented, and the offensive line should be rock solid. So, once again, it all hangs on the quarterbacks if the Tigers want to make a run at winning the SEC West. Defensively, the secondary is stacked, as always, but question marks at defensive end and outside linebacker will need to be addressed if this unit is going to be dominant. The Tigers always have the talent to compete for championships, but a quarterback must emerge if they want to win one in 2015. v3 magazine 39

Ole Miss Rebels

punter Devon Bell. On the other side of the ball, the secondary loses three starters from a unit that allowed the most passing yards in the SEC last year, so perhaps that could be a good thing. It simply looks like there is far too much attrition to overcome if MSU wants to repeat the success of last season, but with a star like Dak Prescott on the roster, you never know.

2014 Record (9-3, 5-3) 2015 Projection 8-4, 5-3 (SEC) 9/5 UT Martin 9/12 Fresno State 9/19 @Alabama 9/26 Vanderbilt 10/3 @Florida 10/10 New Mexico State 10/17 @Memphis 10/24 Texas A&M 10/31 @Auburn 11/7 Arkansas 11/14 OPEN DATE 11/21 LSU 11/28 @Mississippi State

Hugh Freeze has accomplished a lot in his three years in Oxford – one of his greatest accomplishments being his 2013 recruiting class, of which DT Robert Nkemdiche, OT Laremy Tunsil, and WR Laquon Tredwell were members. All of those players should depart for the NFL after this season, so Freeze might not get another chance to win a championship with that group. Gone is quarterback Bo Wallace, who tied Eli Manning for the most career wins at Ole Miss with 24, and in comes the troubled Chad Kelly. Kelly was a blue chip recruit who was dismissed from Clemson for discipline issues and arrested again last winter for threatening to shoot people at a bar. His talent is abundant, but he has a track record of poor decision making off the field. Freeze is a no-nonsense coach, so Kelly’s leash will be short. But if he buys in, he could be a major upgrade over Wallace.

If the Rebels can get consistent play out their five returning starters on the offensive line and establish some kind of running game, the offense could improve by leaps and bounds. Defensively, the Rebels are rock solid. Led by Nkemdiche, they are long, fast and athletic, so opponents should expect points to be hard to come by. If the offense improves, there is no reason the Rebels can’t compete for the Western Crown.

40 v3 magazine

Mississippi State Bulldogs 2014 Record (10-3, 6-2) 2015 Projection 7-5, 3-5 (SEC) 9/5 @Southern Miss 9/12 LSU 9/19 Northwestern State 9/26 @Auburn 10/3 @Texas A&M 10/10 Troy 10/17 Louisiana Tech 10/24 Kentucky 10/31 OPEN DATE 11/5 @Missouri 11/14 Alabama 11/21 @Arkansas 11/28 Ole Miss Dan Mullen’s sixth year at Mississippi State was a breakthrough season, to say the very least. The Bulldogs ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the polls before losing three of their last four games in a disappointing finish, but a 10-3 season means a lot to the fans in Starkville, regardless.

To repeat that kind of season will be a tall task, considering they must replace seven starters on offense and eight on defense.

It does help that Dak Prescott returns for his senior season at quarterback, however, and his leadership alone should carry MSU to bowl eligibility. Competing for the West might not be in the cards, though. There are serious issues on the offensive line, but none more paramount than the center position; the three that were on the roster last year all graduated. The schedule doesn’t give them much of an opportunity for growth with LSU and Auburn waiting in the first four games, so if Prescott isn’t going to create everything for himself, that unit will need to gel quickly. Adding to the problems for the Bulldogs is the decision of placekicker Even Sobiesk to depart the team to pursue a career in dentistry, leaving them with only one kicker who has attempted a field goal,

Texas

A&M

2014 Record (8-4, 3-5) 2014 Projection 8-4, 4-4 (SEC) 9/5 Arizona State 9/12 Ball State 9/19 Nevada 9/26 @Arkansas 10/3 Mississippi State 10/10 OPEN DATE 10/17 Alabama 10/24 @Ole Miss 10/31 South Carolina 11/7 Auburn 11/14 Western Carolina 11/21 @Vanderbilt 11/28 @LSU

QB Kyle Allen

Much like the Auburn Tigers, the Aggies could score in bunches but struggled to stop their opponents from scoring. Kevin Sumlin addressed this issue by luring longtime LSU Defensive Coordinator John Chavis to College Station. Chavis inherits a lot of talent but very little experience on that side of the ball. Don’t feel too bad for Chavis, though, he does have one of the most talented defensive players in the country in defensive end Myles Garrett, who recorded 11.5 sacks as a freshman and will be looking to improve upon that number this year. Offensively, Kenny “Thrill” Hill started with a bang last year but his off-the-field issues gave freshman Kyle Allen a shot and he never gave the job back. Allen looked impressive as a freshman and should be one of the elite gunslingers in the SEC over the next few seasons. It would help his cause if the running game could produce more consistently, so guys like Tra Carson and Brandon Williams will have to get it going to put the Aggies into the next gear on offense.

The West is wild and the Aggies deserve to be in the conversation for a championship, but a young defense may be a year away from making that a reality. V ‌ VV

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Playoff Payoff he First Annual College Football Playoff cannot be described as anything less than a huge success. After seven straight national championships, SEC fans might be a little upset with how the last few years have ended, but if you are a fan of the game as a whole, this new system has a major upgrade over the BCS. The Ohio State Buckeyes hosted the trophy when all the dust settled, and it was a perfect example of a team that got hot at the right time making a run in the playoffs. Sure, it helped that

their third-string quarterback, Cardale Jones, looked like the football equivalent to the Terminator, but I don’t think many people gave Urban Meyer’s squad much of a chance when they squeaked into the playoff of TCU and Baylor. Those latter two teams had valid arguments for being selected as the fourth and final team, and even if the playoffs expand to eight teams, there will always be a team on the fringe that gets left out. I think most fans agree that this is a better alternative to the BCS.

A LEAGUE up for grabs hile the usual suspects are still in the mix, parody is at an all-time high in the Southeastern Conference.

Sure there are a few teams that you can count out before the season even starts, but both divisions – when looked at separately – are as “up for grabs” as they have ever been. In the East, Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri are the favorites, but you can never count out a team with Steve Spurrier at the reigns. In addition, Kentucky is on the rise and the Gators could go either way in Jim McElwain’s first season in Gainesville.

Sorry, Vandy, your return to mediocrity happened quicker than expected after Kevin Franklin’s departure, but you are officially back in the cellar.

On the western front, Alabama and Auburn are among the favorites, but there are very few chinks in the armor in what promises to be the toughest division in college football once again this season.

Mississippi State lost a ton of experience, but Dak Prescott will be under center again and is sure to wreak havoc on somebody’s season. Arkansas is physical enough to beat anyone in the division as well, and those are the two teams projected to finish near the bottom of the West. Texas A&M, Ole Miss and LSU could give the Alabama schools a run for the title if a few things fall into place, but if there was ever a year that the SEC could beat up on itself enough to get left out of the CFB Playoff, this is it.

Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

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Moving your employees over to us is a great move!

Rome’s oldest staffing service has moved to one of Rome’s oldest locations

“The #1 staffing service for 7 years” The Historic Sullivan-Hillyer House c. 1868 | 309 East 2nd Avenue | 706-235-3408 | www.etowahemployment.com v3 magazine 45

The South Rome Redevelopment Corporation Presents:

The Masquerade

Dinner and Dancing for a Great Cause A Non-Proot Beneet and Fundraiser

Silent Auction and Karaoke Contest The Palladium | Sept 19th 2015 | 7pm-11pm Tickets: $40 person | First 50 tickets purchased will be VIP Purchase: Community Development | 607 Broad St, Rome, GA 30161 Purchase: Online at http://www.southrome.org | Phone: 706-236-4477 46

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The Dish urlee s Fish House & Oyster Bar

Rome, GA Est. 2012

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, fresh 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

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

227 Broad Street Rome, Georgia 30161

PH: (706) 204-8173 www.curlees.com Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:00am-9:00pm Fri-Sat: 11:00am-10:00pm

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

Curlee’s offers casual dining, fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, chicken and more! It is located on Broad Street in the center of the city, and it has a family-friendly atmosphere!

mellow about it! (Draft and Bottled

Takes Reservations, Walk-Ins

Beers also offered) Famous for:

Welcome, Good For Kids, Take

Their Roast Beef Relief!

Out, Catering and Waiter Service

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

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.

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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. v3 magazine 47

67th Annual

COOSA VALLEY

FAIR O C TOBER 6 – O c tober 10, 2015

Family Fun at the Fair

Watch our website for contests COMING - WADE SHOW, INC. RIDES Like Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook www.coosavalleyfair.com SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME

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