For my final column capping off the 2014 football season, I wanted to introduce you to a couple of people.
There are champions...and there were seven named in the Georgia Dome: Mount Paran Christian, Hawkinsville, Benedictine, Calhoun, Buford, Northside, and Colquitt County. First, I want to congratulate them and all their fans about having titles taken to your homes, hometowns, and fan bases.

Having been introduced to Mitch Jordan and David Daniell and having been caught up with Danny Britt, Hal Lamb, Jess Simpson, Kevin Kinsler, and Rush Propst on the field and at the meetings leading up to it it’s good to see titles go to places like Kennesaw, Savannah, Warner Robins, and Moultrie. It’s equally good to see it return to Pulaski County, Buford, and Warner Robins. I know the pride couldn’t be any greater right now. Enjoy the end of the ride… the defense starts now.

But, in one game in particular, it was about who was missing just as much as who was there. In the Quad-A game, the reffing crew had someone else on their minds. Brockey Brock and Josh Salter…

The crew was wearing wrist bands in support of Brock who has been fighting cancer while they were at work taking care of the action between Buford and St Pius.

Let me introduce you:

Foy Shemwell on Brockey…Brockey was thought about an awful lot this past weekend.  If it was not fellow officials or coaches inquiring about his condition, it was the simple fact that exactly one year ago, he was getting ready to work a state championship game as we were.  Now, he is battling to find a little comfort,  100 lbs below his "fighting weight".  He is not concerned about laughing or eating (two of his favorite things to do), just the simple things that he has not experienced since September.

It has been my pleasure to be on the field with Brock every time he has worked a varsity game since 2006 including the 2012 & 2013 AAAAAA state championship games.  He has the uncanny ability to always lighten the mood no matter the circumstance.  Brockey is the best game manager I have ever worked a football game with.  From his position, Umpire, he is in the trenches and knows what is being said and done at the line of scrimmage.  No matter how high emotions are running, Brockey can always find the right words to diffuse situations, usually through humor. 

Brockey has the biggest heart of any individual I have ever met.  For such a big statured man, he is extremely tender hearted and compassionate.

What calling the 4A championship game meant to...

Line judge Charlie Godwin:

1. A sense of pride for accomplishing one of my goals when I started officiating
2. The knowledge I gained from the other officials on our crew
3. The opportunity to call a game of this importance for 2 of the finest teams in the state
4. This experience I'll cherish and always remember being on the big stage with the finest group of gentlemen and the love and camaraderie we shared with each other.
It was an honor and pleasure working with this group.

Tim Carter:

It was very humbling to me to be there with a great group of officials.  There was a lot going through my mind, don’t mess up, stay calm (stay calm took about 10 minutes in to the game to settle in). It seemed a little strange to finally get there to do a game.  I was happy that my wife got to come.  As much or more than anything, I was very glad that you and Phil were doing a championship game, because you deserved to be there.  I also thought about things Max has trained me to do , he has invested a lot of time in me.  Also, I just wanted to do a good ball game , and do my job, be in the right places , have good judgment and be professional.

Umpire Mike Gammons:

It was very emotional as I stepped on the field with my crew to officiate our last game.  The presents of Josh Salter and Brockey Brock were with me and it was time to fulfill my commitment to our associate and to GHSA.  As the game came to an end, my goals were obtained but with bittersweet memories.

And, to add to their thoughts of Brockey, Phil Salter also had someone else on his mind: his son, Josh, who passed earlier this year at the age of 28.

In Phil’s own words as the head ref of the game:

Our crew had dedicated the whole playoff season to Josh Salter a 28-year-old official with 7 years of GHSA officiating experience. Josh was killed in a car accident on October the 30th of this year. Josh was the oldest son of Phil and Debbie Salter of Tifton, Georgia. Josh worked on his Dad's crew as the Side Judge. Josh was not only a great young official he also was a great musician who graduated from ABAC College with his Associates degree and Middle Tennessee State with his Bachelor's Degree in Business Music in 2012. The Championship game was a blast! We had four first-time guys who had never worked a championship game.

And, that’s your introduction…The reason I decided to tell you?

Sometimes, we need to be reminded that inasmuch as the game is a game there are a lot of other reasons to pay attention to all the moving parts that make a game a game and there are deeper stories than just the boxscore, the touchdowns, and trophies at the end of the day. Keep all those who may be hurting or have their thoughts elsewhere this holiday season in your thoughts, actions, and deeds just as much as you’re thinking about your families. It might be someone you know. It might be someone new in your life. It might be someone you don’t immediately know. But they’re just as important to those close to you as everyone else. And you never know how something simple could mean a lot more to the next person...like Phil and the rest of the crew who followed Buford and St. Pius around last Saturday afternoon.

Play it safe, everyone. I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are ringing in a wonderful new year! We’ll be back as soon as you think…