2024 was a tough year for the South Forsyth High Football squad. But one bright light has emerged. Wide receiver and all region performer Harrison Spencer signed a letter of intent recently with Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, to play football for the Racers. Harrison is a member of the largest class ever signed by the school. During his Senior season, he was elected a Captain by his teammates, and brought to our broadcasts a family full of fans that had our games on every Friday night in towns across the country. Led by his Uncle Chuck in Louisville, this large assembly touched base with us during games through our game time chat. With names too numerous to mention, it was a weekly highlight. Harrison in this way achieved a sort of celebrity status, and helped bring us our largest audience yet.
Harrison’s Mom and Dad brought Uncle Chuck into the booth when he visited the weekend of the North Atlanta game. It was a terrific visit, a lot of fun and I went after Todd to share some facts about the kid’s prospects. Did he get a lot of mail and texts? Did he have a Top Five? Todd was non-commital, and said a lot was still up in the air. Then it was time for the second half. That game didn’t do much for the team’s prospects, but Harrison had a play that surely enhanced his recruiting prospects. Who remembers Jalen Camp’s terrific catch, I think it was against Norcross in that 2015 playoff game? It was in almost the same spot in the North end zone at War Eagle Stadium, where Camp climbed the ladder for the catch amidst a couple of defenders. Harrison split the dbacks, Will Watkins threw it out there and Harrison climbed the ladder for the score. And his mom caught it on her phone cam. Really! She texted it to me with a few other vids from the booth.
Here’s the play.
Flash forward to a couple of weeks ago. I received a text from Brigitte announcing Harrison’s inking with the Racers. My original thought was to get the family on the phone for a normal radio style interview. But the more we talked, and then Todd joined us, the story of Harrisons path to Murray State was shared with me. And it is absolutely fascinating.
It is from that conversation that I knew we needed more than an ordinary interview. We began to look at gathering somewhere and recording it, inviting the cast of characters involved and winding out the saga. Then Brigitte asked the pivotal question. Would this be recorded or would we do it live? Could we do it live? Absolutely! The set up would be just like a football game, with four mics and a play bill. So I called Brigitte back and told her if she and Todd wanted to assume the role of producers to help line up guests and get them on and off the set, we would do it live. And here we are.
The other day Doug Thomas, Mike Newsome and I rolled down to the Black Diamond Grill in the heart of SOFO Nation to propose our plan to the long time, and quite fabulous owner, Terry Handley. Terry has been a great supporter of South Forsyth sports from his location off Peachtree Parkway at Sharon Rd, and we felt he would never forgive us if we took this somewhere else. He has served thousands of SOFO Nation families and athletes of all genders and ages. We ordered lunch first because of course we did. I had their fabulous fried mushrooms and took some home to my wife Carol Rae, which definitely got me some Brownie Points. Then we asked our server if Terry was available. Unfortunately, she told us, Terry wasn’t in. But hang on a minute, she said, let me get Brandiwine. Brandiwine is the top shelf assistant to Terry. Calling her a manager does not do her justice. She is a shining example of what is right in our world. She listened to our pitch and promised she would let Terry know that we had inquired and he could get back to us. We gave her Doug’s number as he is an officer with the South Forsyth Touchdown Club, paid our bills and gathered ourselves to leave. But, in less than five minutes, Brandiwine returned and handed the phone to Doug. “It’s Terry”, she said.
The gracious Mr. Handley gave us everything we wanted and more, including a couple of tables near the power outlet where we can fire up the Mixlr app and interview our guests LIVE. CONFIRMED: The Spencers; A couple of Harrison’s teammates, little brother Gabriel, Will Watkins and Rhett Belue will be there. And if there’s a Belue in the house, could there be another? Hmmm…. South Forsyth’s new Head Football Coach James Thomson has accepted our invitation. And a Barber who was at the center of Harrison’s introduction to Murray State Head Football Coach Jody Wright and his staff. That’s right, a Barber. Of course, a Barber. Here’s a graphic featuring all our guests.
I’ll host the show, as usual, with Doug and Mike as my wingmen, and Brigitte will be our set producer, getting guests on and off the set. And we’ll give Todd plenty of time to tell his tale. In between guests I’ll talk about the Black Diamond Grill and check in on the chat, where Harrison Spencers Uncle, as he’s known there, will be ready to stir the pot.
Join us if you can. The date is Wednesday March 12 from. 7 til 9, but I anticipate we might go a little longer because we’ll have so much fun. We’ll also record the event, just like we do the ball games, so everybody can listen later, on their own time. It’s a lively bit of programming to hold us over to Spring Ball. And another exclusive of Forsyth Sports 365 dot com.