Northwestern football coach Jimmy Wallace is good for two or three original quotes a season. Often, he seems to be reading the same notes and changing only the name of the opposing team.
But Wallace threw out a good one Thursday concerning the nationally televised doubleheader today at District Three Stadium in Rock Hill.
"It's been full tilt," Wallace said, and he wasn't talking about poker. "This is our season opener, couldn't be much bigger, and we hope everything has been covered. It's time to tee the ball up and kick off. It's time to play football."
Today's double-dipper has a little something for everyone. Hoover of Alabama was featured for two seasons in an MTV television series; South Pointe has the nation's top player in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney; Byrnes has been the Class AAAA team to beat in South Carolina since the early 2000s; and Wallace's Trojans have one of the nation's most prolific offenses.
Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley, who committed to Tennessee, has passed for 8,007 yards and 92 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Before this one is over, he might own every state passing record. He already holds several.
Byrnes and Hoover play in the opener at noon, which will be telecast nationally by ESPN. Northwestern and South Pointe hook up at 4 p.m. in a game televised nationally by ESPNU.
"You try not to talk about the game being on TV, but you know your kids are talking about it," South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll said. "Our kids are excited and have the jitters because they are young. We have some seniors and juniors who were on the varsity when we won the state championship in 2008, and they know all about big events.
"Getting to play on national TV against Northwestern, then again at Spartanburg next month, is quite an honor. It's a tribute to our players and coaches. Like our principal, Al Leonard, likes to say, things are falling right for us."
Playing on TV is nothing new for Hoover, which played in possibly the most-watched nationally televised high school game on ESPN. The all-sports network broadcast a 2005 game between Hoover and Nease from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Nease's quarterback was a highly touted prospect named Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman Trophy and helped lead the Florida Gators to two national titles. The Hoover-Nease game was viewed by nearly 1 million U.S. households, giving it one of the highest ratings for a high school football game. Hoover won 59-29.
The Buccaneers have become the poster child for televised high school games. Their coach for the last two years is Josh Niblett, who played fullback and tight end for Gene Stallings at Alabama.
The Bucs were 13-2 two years ago and lost in the championship game. They were 14-1 last year and won the title.
"Our kids are used to playing on TV and I see it as an honor to all schools in the country that we are able to do it," Niblett said. "A lot of schools, a lot of kids, never get the opportunities we've had. We feel blessed, and every time we play on TV, it's for all of those who will never get the chance."
Niblett is very regimented and expects his players to fall in line. Practices are scripted to the minute, and the daily schedules are handed to the players in a format they understand.
And all of the Bucs' clothing have to match when they play. Niblett said no player touches the field without white shoestrings in his cleats.
Braxton Lowe, a senior linebacker, said when the Bucs are on the road, either in Alabama or not, they are seen as the bad guys.
"We understand that because of our tradition of winning," he said. "But when you look at it, we have been blessed and are the same as the players on the teams we play. But we love going on the road; going out of Alabama. We meet a lot of new people who become our friends."
And when the Bucs hit the road, their fans follow. Hoover brought nine chartered buses to Rock Hill: Three for the players, three for the band and cheerleaders and three packed with students.
"And that's not counting the parents and fans who drive their cars," Hoover athletics director Myra Myles said. "This is a trip I've looked forward to. All the folks I've dealt with have been very nice. You can almost feel the hospitality over the phone."
Starting quarterback Ryan Carter said playing on TV is always special for him. But this trip has taken on extra meaning, said Carter, a senior.
"Lots of people have wanted to see us play Byrnes and it's finally happening," he said.
"They have a great program. We have a great program. We have this opportunity while knowing it will be a challenge."
