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BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
The Game Plan
Why I walked away
from fantasy football
I t’s always about this time of the
year where many of my friends
come up to me and ask me if I want to
join their fantasy football league.
I usually have anywhere from
8-12 people ask if I want to
play with them and every single
one of them gets the same exact
answer — a resounding ‘no.’
I guess it always comes as a
surprise to my friends because
I love football. I watch football
every weekend and spend a lot
of time discussing both the col
lege and the pro game. But to be
completely honest, I hate fantasy
football.
I know that I am the minority
here, but I haven’t played fantasy
football in five years and I can’t
imagine that changing anytime soon.
Hear me out, I have nothing against
those who play fantasy football, I see
how it can be enjoyable and I used to get
a lot of enjoyment out of it myself, but
my perspective on it has changed.
Let me give you a scenario to explain
the way I feel. I am a huge Pittsburgh
Steelers fan and in this scenario the
Steelers are playing the Cincinnati Ben-
gals. I have A.J. Green on my fantasy
team and he is having a big game against
my Steelers.
Here is my issue with fantasy foot
ball: In this scenario I am essentially
forced to cheer for a guy that is playing
my team and contributing to my team’s
potential loss of the football game. I
can’t do that!
I feel like fantasy football is nothing
more than a giant conflict of interest.
Now, I know there are a lot of people
that would say in the scenario I presented
that they play fantasy football because if
their team lost, if nothing else,
at least they would be getting
fantasy points from A.J. Green.
I get that point and it is fair, but
I don’t want anything to get
in the way of my love for my
team and I personally believe
that it causes a huge conflict
of interest that can eventually
lead to complacency in cheer
ing for my team.
I know, that’s way too deep
for the subject we are on, but I
feel like fantasy football would
ruin my love for my team and
would make me more prone
to just liking different players
or teams because of fantasy football.
Which is definitely happening, there are
a ton of people who don’t cheer for one
team any more they just cheer for their
fantasy players.
Don’t hate me for this, I just have a
strong personal opinion on fantasy foot
ball. Most of America loves it so I’m not
here to try and lead a tiny revolution, I
have just personally enjoyed football a
whole lot more since I stopped playing
fantasy football several years back.
But don’t mind me, go draft your team
and get busy if you are going to play. Let
the games begin!
Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Barrow
High School and University of West
Georgia graduate. You can e-mail
comments about this column to
tyrollason @yahoo. com.
Snapshots
SIDELINE ASSISTANCE
Jarod Hoch prepares to run footballs into the game for the Winder-
Barrow High School football team. Hoch is receiving guidance and train
ing from long-time WBHS game ball manager Mike Maxey. Hoch is the
son of WBHS defensive coordinator Paul Hoch. Photo by Jessica Brown
Wildcats continued from IB
Morris will certainly
be a player to watch for
the Wildcats on offense in
2016.
“We hope to set him up
on some big plays,” Sims
said. “He’s a threat on the
outside. We will throw to
him 8-10 times a game.
Ethan is simply a great
leader for our team.”
AHS DEFENSE
On the other side of
the football, the Wildcat
defense is hoping for a
In Loving §
Memory
of my
mother
HELEN
WILBANKS
Those we love
don’t go away,
They walk
beside us
every day.
Unseen and
unheard
but always near,
Still loved and
missed and
very dear.
step forward in 2016. Sec
ond-year coordinator Will
Peters said the learning has
gone a little smooth this
offseason.
“The kids know our sys
tem better.” Peters said.
“We have more confidence
in what we are doing. At
this point, we are ready to
play, ready to hit someone
else. We’ve been through
the grind of the offseason
so it will be good to play
against someone else.”
One area which has
been a plus for AHS has
been added strength in the
weight room.
Peters, who helps over
see the Wildcat strength
program, said the added
strength of his players
will help on the field.
Midway Christian Church
Sunday, August 28th
Chuck Cook, Guest Speaker
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Worship Service 11:00 AM
Covered Dish Lunch 12:00 PM
VBS Reunion 1:00-3:00
Midway Christian Church
1406 Hog Mountain Road
Winder, GA 30680
770-725-7639
www.midwaychristian.net
www.facebook.com/midwaychristian
High School Football: Scouting Reports
Walnut Grove @ Winder-Barrow High School
•The Game: Walnut Grove @ Winder-Barrow High School, Friday, 7:30
p.m., W. Clair Harris Stadium
•Records: WBHS 0-1, Walnut
Grove 0-0
•Last meeting between the
teams: First meeting between the
teams
• Coaches: WBHS: Heath Webb,
third season at Winder-Barrow
High School, 12-11 record, 8th sea
son overall as head coach, 29-34;
Walnut Grove: Ben Reaves, fourth
season at Walnut Grove, 11-19, WHITE BROWN
24th season overall, 102-134-1
• Key Players: WBHS: LB Mason White, DB/WR Deon Williams; C Dylan
Brown, WR Casey Thurmond, RB Javonne Hughes; LB Nate Millwood, QB
Brock Landis; Walnut Grove: QB Isaiah Clark, OL Dakota Cox
•Listen In: Game will be broadcast on WJBB 107.1 FM.
•Notes: The Winder-Barrow High School football team was stunned
31-0 by Clarke Central High School last Friday in the 2016 season opener
for the Bulldoggs. Coach Heath Webb said it was a “bad" performace in
all areas and that much work has to be done. The Bulldoggs had legiti
mate opportunities to score on their first three possessions in the season
opener but ended up with no points. That allowed Clarke Central to
remain in the game and the Gladiators then came to life offensively and
also made some big plays on the defensive side of the football as well as
on special teams.
Walnut Grove will visit W. Clair Harris Stadium this Friday in what will
be the home opener for WBHS and the first game of 2016 for the Warriors.
Walnut Grove is coached by Ben Reaves, who has been a successful head
coach dating back to 1993. After beginning his career as head coach at
Social Circle High School, Reaves coached for nine years at Newton High
School. That stint was followed by six seasons at Putnam County High
School before he took the reigns of the Walnut Grove program prior to
the 2013 season. Walnut Grove officials hope Reaves can provide the
stability the program needs after having changed head coaches twice
from 2009-2012. The Warriors compete in Region 8-AAAAA along with
Loganville, Johnson (Gainesville), Flowery Branch, Buford, Clarke Central
and Cedar Shoals. The game has taken on added importance for WBHS
as the Bulldoggs need to play better overall and to gain a win to erase
the memory of last week's disappointing season opener. Webb said his
players have done a good job of putting that game behind them and will
be focused on this Friday's opponent. "The players are helping the coaches
forget the Clarke Central game," Webb said.
•They Said It: WBHS head coach Heath Webb: "We brought in
everybody to watch film Sunday. We have the right collection of players
who are positive and upbeat. They will learn from losing a game like that.
Going into the tank is not something I'm worried about with this group
of players."
— Scouting reports compiled by Chris Bridges/photos by Jessica Brown
River Ridge @ Apalachee High School
• The Game: River Ridge High School at Apalachee High School, Friday,
7:30 p.m., R. Harold Harrison Stadium
•Records: AHS 0-0 in 2016;
River Ridge 1-0 in 2015
• Last meeting between the
teams: First meeting
• Coaches: AHS: Steve Sims, sec
ond season at Apalachee, 0-10;
River Ridge: Tyler Wynn, second
season at River Ridge, 2-9
•Key Players: AHS: WR Ethan
Morris, QB Ryan Miller, WR/DB
Will Smith; TE/DE Jason Craig
•Notes: The Apalachee High
School football team has a higher than normal level of confidence for a
program coming off a 0-10 season. With a revamped region and classifi
cation, the Wildcats will play five non-region contests to begin 2016. The
first region game does not take place until Sept. 30. AHS coach Steve Sims
said year two of his tenure with the Wildcat program has run smoother
and there is more depth on the roster. AHS is dealing with some injuries
that will test that depth factor early. Sims said some freshmen will likely
see playing time on the varsity this fall.
The Wildcats won their preseason scrimmage against North Oconee 7-0
on Aug. 12. While Sims does not want to put too much emphasis on a
scrimmage win, he noted when a program is struggling to win then any
success is important.
River Ridge is coming off a 1-9 campaign in 2015 but has already
matched that win total after one game in 2016. The Knights defeated
Woodland (Cartersville) 36-8 at home last week. Coach Tyler Wynn, simi
lar to Sims, is now in his second season leading his program. River Ridge is
still a relatively young program, with 2016 being the 8th season of varsity
football for the Woodstock-based team.
A win Friday would mean even more confidence for the Wildcats as the
program is 1-29 since 2013.
• They Said It: AHS coach Steve Sims: "We are excited to open the
season at home. We want to go out and see how we perform. River Ridge
is coming in with confidence and a game under their belts. Hopefully, we
can find a way to win the game."
CRAIG SIMS
Whisperin’ Bill Anderson
Is Coming Back to Commerce!
The Bill Anderson Performing Arts Center
At Commerce High School
September 6, 2016 - 6:00pm
Bill will be signing his new book, “Whisperin’ Bill Anderson,
An Unprecedented Life in Country Music,” and singing a few songs!
Admission is FREE. Books will be available for purchase at the event.