PRESS PICKS (Opening Week): From Bowie, Aretha and Rick Ocasek, Happy Football Season! (Copy)
STAFF REPORT
Go ahead and repeat after David Bowie….
“Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes…
“Turn and face the strange, ch-ch-changes.”
Quite appropriate for both college and local high school football this season.
Yes, we finally have that 12-team playoff that everybody has been itching for. We have a version of “pick-up-stix” among conference realignment.
High school football in these parts have different classifications including the interesting move of Prattville to the 7A Birmingham region. Aretha Franklin might ask, “who’s zoomin’ who?”
It looks different. It feels different and it will act different when all is said and done.
But the hits will keep on comin’. (Sorry but that was necessary.)
You might like it now until your favorite team ends up left out of the playoffs with a 9-3 record. There will be a few of those in the SEC alone.
You may think the SEC will be rewarded for their success in the last two decades. Maybe. Maybe not.
It could be the beginning of the committee making the decision that inclusion is more important than picking the better teams. They’ve done it before (see TCU two years ago) and they will probably do it again.
Before you get comfortable with all of this, they will shake it up again (no that’s not a reference to the Cars, or maybe it is). And you can bet the big boys, aka SEC and Big 10, will not take a liking to what the other conferences have in mind. Chances are in two or three years they will take their ball and go elsewhere.
But let’s get to it. How about an upset overseas… Georgia Tech over the Florida State crybabies? Probably not but the way this season is set up, who knows?
As for local high schools, at the moment, it looks like Catholics’ world and everybody else is living in it. The Knights move to 5A but will probably be champs again. That’s not a prediction but a good possibility.
And as you watch high school football this season, remember one thing - NIL could be coming to your favorite team - sooner rather than later.
What a wonderful world that would be? Right, James Taylor? Or is it Sam Cooke?
2023 Final Standings (Bowls picks)
1. Graham Dunn 205-60 (16-14) .774
2. Doug Amos 202-63 (14-16) .762
3. Wesley Lyle 198-67 (14-16) .747
4. Tim Gayle 196-71 (16-14) .740
5. Mike Peacock 190-75 (12-18) .717
6. Michael Butler 189-76 (14-16) .713
7. Rosie Langello 182-84 (13-17) .687
8. Lindsey Bonner 181-84 (11-19) .683
9. Barry McKnight 170-95 (16-14) .642
10. Rick Hendrick 165-100 (13-17) .623
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - Montana St
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - North Alabama
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - T.R. Miller
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - P. Bryant
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - North Alabama
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Vestavia Hills
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - Montana St
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Vestavia Hills
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Julian
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - P. Bryant
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Beauregard
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Carver
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - P Bryant
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Tallassee
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Beauregard
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - Montana St
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - North Alabama
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Vestavia Hills
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - Reeltown
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - P Bryant
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy -Montgomery Academy
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - SMU
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - New Mexico
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - North Alabama
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Vestavia Hills at G.W. Carver (K/O Classic) - Vestavia Hills
Reeltown vs T.R. Miller (K/O Classic - Thursday) - T.R. Miller
Pike Road at Prattville (Thurs. - played at Wetumpka) - Pike Road
JAG at Hewitt-Trussville - Hewitt-Trussville
P. Julian at Paul Bryant - Paul Bryant
Tallassee at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Catholic at St. James - Catholic
Beauregard at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Trinity at Holtville - Trinity
Marbury at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
Florida St vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) - Florida St
SMU at Nevada - Nevada
Delaware St at Hawaii - Hawaii
Montana St at New Mexico - Montana St
North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri St (FCS Kickoff) - SEMO