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It's Friday... .which, this summer anyway, means two things...

Big city get-me-home traffic starts at 1:30 in the afternoon and it's gonna rain shortly thereafter...

Here's some things on my mind before I hit both...

First, in addition to our friends in Quitman and Sylvania, I'd like to add the thoughts of GPB heading to Apalachee as well after the shocking passing of Jordan Bracken-Howley of what was diagnosed as a brain tumor. Jordan was a rising senior who played on the line and died back on Monday.

His coach, Shane Davis, said: "We can all learn so much from him because of his attitude and work ethic. He wanted to be a part of what we were doing, and he was a part of it."

Number 50 was an AP student as well and I know how hard it is to balance the books and sports.
Here's to hoping everyone in Barrow County remembers Jordan for who he was and what he represents on and off the field...

Updating how things are in Sylvania- according to Chance Harkins' dad Shayne's Facebook page, his son Chance Harkins had a small bleed in head stopped, a fractured hip and pelvis, and had surgery mid-week to repair it. Chance is supposed to be off his feet for three months- at least. Here's hoping that the University of the Cumberlands will still be a key part of his academic and athletic futures when he's able to head to campus in January.

TJ Heinemeyer was still in a medical induced coma Thursday as doctors are waiting until swelling comes down to form some plan of action...

Keep then all in your thoughts as we move forward...

Thursday was the official start of football practice around the state. There have been some programs that have had conditioning and such in the off-season for the sake of continuity. But, NOW'S THE TIME FOR FOOTBALL TO BEGIN!!!

Here's the early look from Augusta on Thomson and Laney...
((HT: WJBF-TV))

WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports

Remember, there are only four season here in Georgia- football, spring football, recruiting, and National Signing Day...
None of this summer, fall, winter, and spring stuff...

Same applies in south Georgia for teams like Worth County and their first-year head coach Jason Tone...
((HT: WALB-TV))

WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Speaking of the Rams, Grace Olson and I will be hanging out with one of their alums tomorrow...

Mark Dykes and his folks at "In The Game Magazine" are hosting South Georgia Media Day at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Valdosta Saturday morning. A lot of the heavy-duty programs in the area are going to be represented (GHSA and GISA) and there's a lot of opportunity to ask questions and hang out with the teams that make south Georgia run like it does.

There's a lot of different entertainment on hand, so be there if you can make it... the fun starts at 10...

Grace will have recaps with some of the coaches starting next week...

And, just so you know, I'll be running a caravan with videographer Gary Peacock on the 5th through the 7th in south Georgia. Let me know where you are, and we might just stop by while we're down there...

Random stuff to wrap up my wrap up...

Feel for Braves starter Tim Hudson... I made it through watching the injury, and I know that he'll do his best to come back and rehab- even if it's just for one more start in the majors...

A good dude on all accounts...

Did you see where Dale Earnhardt, Junior is looking for sponsors for his ride...??? Is THAT where NASCAR is these days...???

Is it just me, or is the higher the contract Matt Ryan signs going to raise the expectations accordingly...???

And, not that this surprises me (sadly)... but ESPN's "Outside The Lines" may have discovered that Biogenesis- the group associated with the MLB PED case- may have had clientele that were high school baseball players from the Miami area.

Whistle-blower Porter Fischer discusses...
((HT: ESPN))

Someone, these days, is always looking for an edge...
Ugh...

Play it safe, everyone... I'll talk to you soon...