First things firsts...

You notice the new podcast above all these written words...

IT'S THE RETURN OF JACKIE BRITTAIN!!!

We get to catch up with her and find out what it's like for the Eagles Landing High grad to be back with us... She talks Boston and her time with the Patriots and what she missed about Georgia (and high school football, naturally). We also find out what song is (not surprisingly) on her iPod. So, give it a listen...

Okay... now to the serious stuff...

FOOTBALL GAMES THAT COUNT IN WINS AND LOSSES!!!

There are a lot of questions that I like to bring to the fore every week: But last week's question brought a response that seems to be liked by a lot of people...

The game that people want to see most...???

Ben Willingham ‏(@utsportsfan2007) said it first so he gets the credit- Archer vs Colquitt in a rematch!

And a lot of people would tend to agree with him...

So, this week's question has two fronts to it: "Best athlete out there this season that no one knows about..." and "Best athlete you have ever seen play high school football..."

Go enter your responses on our GPB Sports Facebook page or let me know by contacting me on the GPB Sports page here or through my Twitter (or both) @OSGNelson. This, by the way, is your opportunity to download the GPB Sports App if you haven't already, follow us on Facebook, and follow all of us on all the various social media platforms out there...

I also notice that there are a lot of scrimmages that are good matchups to measure your teams against one another in the "countdown weeks..."

Last week, for instance, Lowndes shut down Norcross. Vikes fans have a reason to be really optimistic this season in a perennially tough Region 1-6A as does Norcross up north. And I am looking forward to seeing their new scoreboard when it's unveiled. Some Gwinnett County schools are going at it mid-week like Collins Hill-Parkview and Archer and Mill Creek. That should be fun in a controlled environment...

I will also be looking at Coffee and Colquitt, Calhoun and Rome, Cook and Brooks, Hawkinsville and Fitzgerald, Newnan and LaGrange, South Gwinnett and Buford, and WaCo and Dublin...

What about y'all...???

Also, one event this weekend that will be really cool is the unveiling of Lutzenkirchen Field at Lassiter High School. The school is having a 5K as part of a fundraiser day for someone who was lost to us way too soon...

Over the next few days. I will be on the road hitting (about) a dozen different schools in the next three days getting a lot of material for "Jon's Georgia" and "Backroads and Backfields" segments for "Football Fridays." I hope to see you when we hop out of the GPB van, talk to a coach and some players, hop back in the fan and start it all over again the next day. You'll see some surprises along the way as well involving "Georgia Traveler" and David Zelski.

He is promising good food... so, that's a good start...

All I know is one of the practices starts at 6AM- and THAT'S EARLY FOR ME!!!

There will be plenty of stories from the road and I can't wait to share them with you...

So, from the road... Play it safe, everyone... I'll talk to you next week!!!