A Special Team To Play For It All

Only a few minutes remained before kickoff last Friday night when Piedmont Academy football coach Wes Tanner addressed his team in the locker room.

Tanner told his players to remember everything they had been through during the season, going all the way back to last summer.

“When we first got started, we made a trip for a passing league game when it was 105 degrees,” the coach said. “Now we are playing a game where the weather will be freezing. You have shown true character in making it this far. Don’t be satisfied yet. We still have plenty to play for.”

The Piedmont players left the locker room and made the trek to the playing field. It would be a long battle that night as the Cougars held off upstart Monsignor Donovan 37-28. It wasn’t easy, but then playoff wins in football aren’t supposed to be.

The music was loud in the locker room following Friday’s win. Yet each player and each coach knew there was even more work to be done. The final step won’t be any easier than any of the previous ones taken this season, but all involved know what’s in front of them.

From a personal standpoint, it has been rewarding to see Tanner enjoy the success this fall with the 2014 Cougars. Tanner was the program’s defensive coordinator during its first two state championships in 2010 and 2011 and ventured out away from Piedmont in 2013 to coach the Covenant Academy football program in Macon.

A series of events presented an opening for Tanner to return to Piedmont. When former head coach Rhett Farmer left to work at Westfield, there was really no doubt that Tanner will be the new head coach for the Cougars.

Tanner, in his first season as head coach at Piedmont, has pushed the right buttons in making the team successful. He’s changed a few things although it certainly has not been a complete overhaul. Some players are at new positions and some new players joined the program prior to the season.

The bulk of the coaching staff returned, including Alvin Hawkes, Bubba Nelson, Keith Mason and Michael Wilson. Jeff Beggs came in as defensive coordinator, bringing head coaching experience at large schools such as Winder-Barrow and Rockdale County with him. Beggs also was part of coaching staffs at Clarke Central High School that played for state championships.

Walt Nelson has joined his father, Bubba Nelson, as part of the coaching staff this season as well.

The coaches and players have become a tight group and that has helped them be successful.

It has been a memorable stretch for the Piedmont Academy program.

It wasn’t until 2010 that the Cougars won a state football title. While Piedmont had competed in several championship games before then, the Cougars had never been able to take that final step prior to 2010.

Tanner was part of those two state title series. And now he is directing the program with the necessary enthusiasm and energy it takes.

In some ways, I still think state championship games should be played on a participant’s campus. However, it will be a different experience for the Cougars to play on a college field as they will this Saturday.

It’s already been a memorable season for the Piedmont Academy football program. One more win will give the season the ultimate amount of satisfaction. It should be fun to watch. See you in Macon.

Monticello native Chris Bridges covers Piedmont Academy athletics for The Monticello News. He welcomes feedback at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.