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SPORTS REPORT
This season is looking like one of the most exciting in college and prep football the state of Alabama has seen in a long time. Up in Tuscaloosa, the Tide's new field general Nick Saban is turning heads left and right. Every move the new coach makes is treated as a major development and printed in every paper as well as on every television station. This is before he has even coached a game at the Capstone. You think the infatuation will stop once the Tide suits up against Western Carolina on Sept. 1 at Bryant Denny Stadium. Not a chance. Alabama has an All-SEC caliber quarterback returning in John Parker Wilson and two possible All-SEC receivers in D.J. Hall and Keith Brown. If Bama can fix some glaring holes on the defensive line and at linebacker the Tide could be a sleeper team this season. If not then the Tide is in trouble. Over on the Plains Auburn is quietly sitting back like a Tiger on the hunt. The Tigers are trying to storm out of the shadows that the hiring of Nick Saban at Alabama has cast over Lee County. Once football season starts the Tigers will try to see the light again with several key starters, including quarterback Brandon Cox returning to lead the 2007 team. With another loaded backfield that includes Brad Lester, Carl Stewart and Ben Tate and a talented defense the Tigers should once again be strong. Although a tough schedule will probably result in 3-4 losses including an early set-back against South Florida on Sept. 9. If you are wondering what about LSU, don't worry. Les Miles is going to have too hard of a time removing his foot from his mouth to accomplish anything major. Believe it or not, but this year in the high school ranks could prove to be more successful than last year's campaign for Southwest Alabama that witnessed Leroy win the 2A championship, Sweet Water bring home the 1A crown and Thomasville finish up second in Birmingham. Leroy, Thomasville and Sweet Water all have great shots of heading back to Birmingham in '07 as all three teams return the bulk of last year's impressive teams. The Jackson Aggies are looking as if they will have their strongest squad in years as they try to improve on last season's 5-5 record. If the Aggies have success replacing quarterback Kent Meyer, who gave up the pigskin to focus on baseball, they could be a team to watch out for this fall. In Chatom, the Bulldogs have a new head man in Brian Jones. WCHS lost a ton of players from last years team and it will be interesting to see what kind of team the new staff will put on the field in August. At Jackson Academy, the Eagles will be replacing Coach Wright with Mike Garrett. Garrett knows what it takes to win at the high school level and should have the Eagles flying high come time to suit up for the 2007 season. Maybe the most interesting situation of all is going to be what will happen in McIntosh. The Demons now have one of the most proven coaches in Southwest Alabama in Larry Boykin from Southern Choctaw. Add in the fact the Demons are coming of an 8-3 season and a Region 1 Championship and we may be talking about championship football in McIntosh.
Imagine that. I hope all of you are as ready as I am for this upcoming football season. Looks like it will be one to remember.
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