Fannin County HS’s football team hits the field – From Facebook
Fannin County High School’s football team isn’t a contender for any sort of championship, but the Rebels might just be the best known, at least nationally, program in the state right now. Before last Friday’s game against Greater Atlanta Christian, the entire team took the field carrying U.S. flags, except for one player who carried the Georgia flag.
That brought the team national publicity across pretty much every medium. In turn, the school’s athletic director, Dr. Scott Ramsey, has fielded calls and received emails from admirers across the country. Ramsey is not on social media, but he knows if he was, the feedback likely would be even more overwhelming.
“I think it can shed a light on what a great community we have,” he said when asked what the national exposure meant to the mountain area around the town of Blue Ridge. According to Ramsey, the display was student driven
Specifically, players wanted to honor the men and women in the armed forces. Among those serving in the military are several former Fannin County students, and at least one current football player has committed to serve after graduation, Ramsey said.
Fannin County’s pre-game move is a clear contrast with anthem protests at NFL games, and those protests have spread to some high school games across the United States. If they spread to Georgia, the Georgia High School Association, the governing authority for high school sports in Georgia, does not plan to get involved.
Robin Hines, GHSA’s executive director, pointed out the association has no rules regarding the anthem or conduct during its playing. ”In accordance with the First Amendment, the GHSA doesn’t have a policy that restricts those rights,” Hines said in an email.
The GHSA has been under pressure by members of the Georgia General Assembly for a few years, but Hines seemed to paint a picture of improving relations when asked if the GHSA was worried this could become a political issue.” I have been very pleased with our relationship and appreciate the dialogue regarding our member schools and their constituents,” he said.
