It's that time of year again...

Not that it really ever left, if you think about it...

I have always maintained that there are four seasons in the south- not summer, fall, winter, and spring- but football, spring football, recruiting, and National Signing Day... the last being a national holiday that isn't yet recognized as such...

But it's where Gil, Mark, Niki, and (as Gil says) "Moi" telling you about things all season long on the #GreatGPB. We'll have some new faces this year, and we hope you welcome them into your homes and computers all season long...

The First Thing I Know...

I did the math...

We're doing 27 games this year in 17 weeks... starting with the Corky Kell Classic- all day Saturday.

(Starting at 9AM and going on until we're done- maybe, Tuesday the way that Colquitt's offense stays out on the field...)

I'll be the first to say that without the help of a lot of people here at GPB behind the scenes and our partners at Turner Productions, that we simply could not pull the Kell off as you see it on the air. I try to explain what live television events are and the best example I can give you is like watching a dog swim in a lake. What you, the viewer, see is the dog's head above water just doing his or her thing getting from point A to point B. Below the water line is the dog paddling with all four legs trying to make sure he or she gets back to the shoreline...

That's the behind-the-scenes help and the massive credits list of people you'll see when we're done... it could not be done without them and we're all grateful for their hard work that's essential to getting you these games.

Gil has a special preview up on Facebook at the moment...

Second Thing I Know...

There are 35 games this weekend that start the season- and there are some doozies that aren't even on our air...

Friday has games like Washington County-ELCA, Thomson and Burke in Waynesboro, and Cedar Grove and Tucker... Did you know that the Brickyard has had a makeover...??? Looks really cool...

Here's the story from our friends at WJBF-TV in Augusta...

Third Thing I Know...

Really sad news out of Warrenton, Screaming Devils head coach David Daniel has had to retire since he is still struggling with the injuries he suffered at last year's Warren County-Hancock Central game...

They're still set to play on September 28th, and the rivalry will be interesting to see come to the fore again...

Once again, Brent Buffington has the story on a very different Round 2

((HT: WJBF-TV))

Fourth Thing I Know...

The toughest region in the state will have a certain amount of debate...

Region 1-6A is the SEC, Region 1-2A will be a heavyweight battle, and Region 2-A should be a slobberknocker as well... all three regions could have a fifth team that won't make the playoffs that could, easily, make a playoff run on their own if they could get in the Third Season...

One of the teams in 2-A that will be on top making a run toward the Single-A Public crown is Wilcox County. Head coach Mark Ledford has one of the most talented QB's in the state in Mikhail Grace...

Our friends at WMAZ-TV in Macon caught up with the Patriots...

Fifth Thing I Know...

Don Patterson Field is back for football...

All of us at GPB Sports have been following what has happened in Ringgold ever since the tornadoes of April 27, 2011... the town has rebuilt and is in the process of recovery still. A lot has happened at Exit 348 and there's still a lot to do, but you have to give it to everyone in Catoosa County- what they've been able to do has been nothing short of amazing...

They're new home opener is tonight against Dalton on campus...

I caught up with Principal Sharon Vaughn to see what it's all been like and what it will be like to have a game against the Catamounts tonight...

REMINDER: This is raw tape and how the interview was shot is how you see it...

Good luck to the Tigers this year...

Coupla reminders...

Gil is starting his blog after next week's games- the doubleheader at McEachern (TS Isaac permitting)...

Mark and everyone else will not be too far behind...

Go to our Facebook page, GPB Sports, and do the "Like" thing to follow us all year long... and follow us on Twitter @GPBSports and download our App for your fancy phones to follow along with us and your favorite teams all season.

So, go enjoy a game... or five...

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