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PAGE 2B BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 The Game Plan I’ve got no issue I never go way out of my way to watch preseason football. If I’m at home and there is a game on I might watch some of it, but there is usually nothing worth watching in the preseason. But this year was very different. There was actually something interesting that happened during a preseason game — well, technical ly it was before the game, but still significant! By now nearly everyone in the country has heard about the San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick who decided not to stand during the national anthem before a preseason game. And if for some reason you hav en’t heard about this, well there you go, enjoy! Kaepernick has since been criti cized and ridiculed by millions of people and on many different fronts. When I first heard about it I had one response: well that’s dumb. I consider it an honor to stand and sing the national anthem with other countrymen, especially at big sporting events. So at first glance I thought it was pretty foolish. But then I heard the reason behind Kaeper- nick’s protest. Here is what the quarterback said in defense of his position: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Okay, now this is getting interesting. Here’s what I want to say first and foremost. I’ve got no issue with Kaepernick choosing to do this. Really, I don’t have any problem with it. Standing for the national anthem is a choice, a right if you will. When I go to a game and the national anthem begins I make the conscious decision to stand up and join in — but at the end of the day it’s a choice I make and it’s my right to choose to do so or not. with Kaepernick Kaepernick has that same freedom and he chose not to stand. He has a conviction to stand up (or sit down) for something he believes in and wants to see changed, what’s wrong with that? It sounds like the man is trying to raise some awareness to something that has been tearing parts of our country up for awhile now. Ultimately, I’ve got no issue with this Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem. However, I will say this: I don’t personally think sitting during the national anthem is the best meth od of protest he could have cho sen. I am on board with seeing our country’s justice system reformed and seeing the same change that Kaepernick wants to see. I long for a day when my minority brothers and sisters don’t feel marginalized and oppressed - I long for that day. I just don’t think sitting during the national anthem will accomplish much to see that come to fruition. It’s a worthy gesture in the field of pro test. I’m just not sure how effective it will be in seeing any actual real change. I can’t imagine anyone seeing Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem and saying to themselves, “O.K., we really need to reform our country’s treatment of black people and people of color.” At the end of the day, I support Kaeper nick (and any American) choosing to stand (or, uh, sit) for something they believe in — I’m just curious to see how effective this will be. Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Bar row High School and Universi ty of West Georgia graduate. You can e-mail comments about this column to ty rollason @yahoo. com. Snapshots MAKING CONTACT Winder-Barrow High School’s Cathleen Nugue swings away during the Lady Bulldoggs’ home game against county and region rival Apalachee High School last week. Photo by Jessica Brown LOCAL STARS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL Kamm, Sullivan set for another collegiate season at VSU, GSU Players with Bar- row County ties are set for a new college football season. Mitchell Kamm is beginning his junior season with Valdosta State University, which begins the 2016 season Saturday against Albany State in a home game. Kamm played for Beth lehem Christian Academy his senior season where he rushed for a school record 1,690 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2013. Also during that season. Kamm had 112 tackles, including 24 for loss on the defensive side of the football while gain ing All State honors. Chandon Sullivan is entering his junior season at Geor gia State Univer sity. The Wind- er-Bar- KAMM row High School graduate was an honorable mention All- Sun Belt Conference per former in 2015 and was the Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for Nov. 16, 2015. His Athlete of the Week honors came fter he grabbed his second interception and broke up two other passes with six tackles in a strong defensive effort in win at Texas State. Also in 2015, Sullivan returned an inter ception 25 yards for a SULLIVAN touch down vs. Arkan sas State and the first pick-six in Georgia State history. He also had a third-down sack in the game. See College on Page 7B Considering buying or selling? 770-867-9026 www.maynardrealty.com 1 ★ Brock Landis WBHS Farm Bureau would like to congratulate the Players of the Week for their exceptional performances! 770-867-2188 High School Football: Scouting Reports Winder-Barrow High School @ Northview •The Game: Winder-Barrow High School @ Northview, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Northview Stadium •Records: WBHS 1-1, Northview 0-1 •Last Week: WBHS defeated Walnut Grove 41-7; Northview had a bye (lost to Lanier in season opener). •Last meeting between the teams: First meeting between the teams •Coaches: WBHS: Heath Webb, third season at Winder-Barrow High School, 12-12 record, 8th sea son overall as head coach, 30-34; season at Northview, 25-38 overall •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 •Listen In: Game will be broadcast on WJBB 107.1 FM. •Notes: The Winder-Barrow High School football team made a nice rebound last Friday with a 41-7 victory against visiting Walnut Grove at W. Clair Harris Stadium. The Bulldoggs had big performances from Brock Landis and Javonne Hughes on the offensive side of the football. Through two games this season, Landis has passed for 308 yards and four touch downs while Hughes is already at 243 yards on the ground. Teague Moore is having a big 2016 receiving as he has 126 yards and two scores through the first two games for WBHS. Hughes has also been a threat out of the backfield with 80 yards receiving and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Will Sorrells is 6-of-8 through the air for 67 yards. Northview is coming off a bye week. The Titans opened the season with a 34-13 loss to Lanier High School, which like Winder-Barrow, competes in Region 8-AAAAAA. Riverview, coached by Chad Davenport, is a member of Region 7-AAAAAA. WBHS head coach Heath Webb said the coaches were pleased with the team's play in the trenches last week. Sophomore defensive end Logan Cash played really well, Webb said, with five tackles, eight assists, two tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Offensive linemen Dylan Brown and Cameron Best were also standouts. •They Said It: WBHS head coach Heath Webb on last week's vic tory: "I always say you are going to go as far as your linemen take you. Our defensive front was dominant and our offensive linemen were road graders. Those guys took the brunt of the punishment after the first game. They accepted the challenge and stepped up.” — Scouting reports compiled by Chris Bridges/photos by Jessica Brown WHITE Riverview: Chad Davenport, seventh Apalachee High School @ Union Grove •The Game: Apalachee High School @ Union Grove High School, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Wolverine Stadium • Records: AHS 0-1; Union Grove 0-2 •Last meeting between the teams: First meeting • Last Week: Apalachee fell to River Ridge 27-13; Union Grove was defeated 60-28 to Whitewater •Coaches: AHS: Steve Sims, second season at Apalachee, 0-11 overall; Union Grove: Craig Melton, second season at Union Grove, 1-11 •Key Players: AHS: WR Ethan Morris, QB Ryan Miller, WR/DB Will Smith; TE/DE Jason Craig; RB Stephen Massillon; K Justin Pretel; FB/LB Coree Dunlap •Notes: The Apalachee High School football team had some bright spots in its 2016 season opener although the Wildcats eventually fell 27-13 to visiting River Ridge. A 96-yard touchdown run in the first half by senior Stephen Massillon set a new school record, breaking a march which had stood since the 2000 season (92-yard run against White County by Bobby Duncan.) Ethan Morris also caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Miller in the second half. Turnovers were costly for AHS including a fumble at the River Ridge two- yard line in the first half stopped what might have been a touchdown drive. The game was close throughout. River Ridge moved in front 13-0 and appeared set to perhaps lower the curtain on the Wildcats late in the first half. The Knights had recovered another fumble deep inside AHS territory but then fumbled the football back to the Wildcats. Despite being backed up deep in its own end of the field, AHS scored its first touchdown of 2016 on Massillon's run on second down. This Friday's game at Union Grove appears, on paper at least, for a chance for AHS to earn its first win in the Steve Sims era. Union Grove is 0-2 this season and has been outscored 105-34 in two games (55-6 loss to Woodland, Stockbridge and 60-28 to Whitewater High School. The Wolverines compete in Region 4-AAAAA. They Said It: AHS coach Steve Sims on Union Grove: "We'll see what happens when we get there. It's going to be about Apalachee and how well we block and tackle. If we do those things, we will have a chance to win.” SMITH WILLIAMSON 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.