Your Mag Is Almost Here

The 2008 edition of Varsity Sports Media’s Tennessee Football magazine is dedicated for those who help make football special across the state.

A tremendous amount of effort goes into making football possible at every level.

The same type effort from many different people has gone into making this magazine the one you want to pick up off the shelves and take home.

The Tennessee Football magazine staff began planning for 2008 when the first edition was rolling on the presses in July of 2007.

The staff took the suggestions from the fans who read the 2007 magazine and from the players and coaches who play the game.

Then it was time to go to work.

Like football teams, injuries can make a difference. This year the Tennessee Football magazine team refused to allow injuries to stop us short of our goal.

Out of necessity, the team learned to play hurt.

One writer broke his leg. However, that allowed him to sit at home and write many of the high school previews.

A photographer broke both of his elbows in a softball game. Thankfully, he had his mishap after he had his picture day with the Vols.

Another photographer broke his arm.

Nevertheless, the Tennessee Football magazine team rallied together and played through pain to present another winning product.

This is the first year of “The Great Divide.” The staff split the state high school teams into East, Southeast, Middle and West Tennessee regions.

Each region is represented with a high school feature story.

In the staff’s travels across the Volunteer State, many stories were told.

In West Tennessee, the Memphis Melrose football team is featured in a story about “Legend of Orange Mound.”

In Middle Tennessee, “Third Time’s Charm” tells of likable David Lipscomb coach Glenn McCadams and how his Mustangs defeated Knoxville Fulton to capture the Tennessee Class 3A state crown after losing to the Falcons the previous two seasons.

The trip to Southeast Tennessee took the staff to South Pittsburg where the town folks claim to have the best cornbread in the world and the “top thoroughbreds” in the state when it comes to high school football players.

It’s hard to argue with the Pirates 15-0 record and a state 1A championship in 2007. But in South Pittsburg, the supporters expect another title this season.

Staff members enjoyed the trip so much that photographer Matt Ledger and writer Scott Herpst couldn’t resist returning to South Pittsburg a week later for the famous “Cornbread Festival. There, the two caught up with Pirates coach Vic Grider sprinkling hot sauce on a skillet of cornbread.

In East Tennessee, writer Marky Billson visited Kingsport to learn of the history of Dobyns-Bennett football.

The Indians have won more games than any team in the state by hitting the 700 mark last season.

John Brice is back again this year writing the University of Tennessee stories you won’t find anywhere else.

Tennessee Titans beat writer Terry McCormick again gets up close with Jeff Fisher and the state’s only professional football team.Meet the 2008 Reebok Phenoms, an all-classification team featuring the best prep offensive and defensive players in Tennessee by position.In addition, learn about the top prep high school football players in the state in the Power 279. And read about your favorite teams and their opponents in profiles of 326 Tennessee teams.Whether you’re a player, coach, fan, parent or business supporter the message is simple, it’s all for you.

For more of the same check daily at www.TennFB.com for everything football in Tennessee.

Stump Martin
Managing Editor
Varsity Sport Media’s Tennessee Football