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Tally
Johnson not used to losing
season at Central Gwinnett High
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
NOV. 13, 2001 - - Tally Johnson isn't used to losing. His record
as football coach since 1974 at Central Gwinnett (181-97-8) shows
it. His success at coaching football has led all the way to the
North Georgia football championship, back in 1980.
But this year, Tally's having a rough time. His Black Knights have
a miserable 1-8 record, and will be playing their final game of
the season Friday night. Their opponent will be Meadowcreek, itself
having a so-so season with a 3-5 record.
So, what has happened to Central Gwinnett this year?
"It's a combination of things," Tally told us. It includes
having a bunch of guys who had never played much before, not making
key plays, losing confidence, et al. "You know, football often
comes down to a mental game. Some three games into the season, our
team missed making several plays, and this started the doubt, and
then we began lacking the self confidence."
Other Gwinnett schools have not seen Central Gwinnett play much
this year. A change in the region--Central is now in 8-AAAA--means
that Central is the only Gwinnett team in this region. (The other
Gwinnett teams are either in higher or lower classifications.)
Tally notes: "Most of the teams in our region, except Oconee
County, are having a rough year."
The 58 year old Central Gwinnett coach and grandfather admits that
his team started going down hill a couple of years ago. His record
for the past two seasons has been a losing 4-6. Part of the reason
for the team's decline may be attributed to a lower enrollment at
Central Gwinnett, with the opening of other schools, and shifting
students from Central Gwinnett. His team this year also relies heavily
on sophomores, which could point to better years to come.
The smaller enrollment at Central Gwinnett has seen the football
squad size greatly reduced. "We used to dress out 85 or 90
players," Tally says, "But this year we have only 51 on
the team. "We've seen a drop off in sports participation with
other sports teams."
"You figure we had 1,300 or 1,400 students for a while, and
were going up against schools with 2,800 to 3,500. Right now our
enrollment is 1,800.
"We have also lost some borderline players. And the changing
demographics of our student body means that some of the students
do not have a national background of playing football."
Through it all, even though in a losing season, Tally still "looks
forward to coaching and working with the kids. It's still enjoyable,
though I will have to tell you that it takes a toll when you are
losing.
"It seems that our team gets better each week, but instead
of finding ways to win, like we used to do, we seem to find ways
to lose. But this is a good group of kids that I have this year,
and they are working hard.
"In athletics in general, and particularly football, is one
of the few places you still find discipline and hard work pays off
for students."
Tally, remembering Mark Twain, has been quoted as saying the rumors
of his resignation from coaching "were highly exaggerated."
We hope so. It's good to see him molding and inspiring kids on the
sidelines and on the practice field at Central Gwinnett High.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
County government offering job fair on Saturday, Nov. 17
Gwinnett County will hold a Public Safety Job Fair from 9 a.m.
to noon. on Saturday, November 17, 2001. The job fair will take
place at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center located
at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Participants will find the
job fair on the first floor in the auditorium breezeway.
Representatives from all public safety departments - the Fire and
Emergency Services, Police Services, Corrections, and Sheriff's
Departments - will be on hand at the job fair to answer questions
regarding their departmental vacancies. Fire and Emergency Services
will be recruiting to fill Paramedic/Firefighter positions; Police
Services for Police Officer I and II, and Communications Officer
I; Corrections for Correctional Officer I; and the Sheriff's Department
for Deputy Sheriff I and II.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
On occupational hazards of being governor
"There are mornings when I wake up and don't enjoy reading
the newspaper. It's an occupational hazard."
-- Roy Barnes, Georgia governor, 2000.
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