Coach Ricky Woods Leaving South Panola?

[webster]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/SPORTS/70119018

I had forgotten about Coach Woods also leading the Ackerman Indians (the hated rival of Eupora) to 2A State Titles in 1997 and 2001. Since he is an Ackerman, Miss native, I can't help but wonder why he wants to leave for Georgia now?

Does this mean the South Panola dynasty may be about to finally end and Oak Grove has a chance to win a title?

[Augustus McRae]

Wonder who'll get the University of South Panola job? That will start some dominoes to fall in Mississippi high school football. It will be interesting!

[Kitty]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/SPORTS/70119018

I had forgotten about Coach Woods also leading the Ackerman Indians (the hated rival of Eupora) to 2A State Titles in 1997 and 2001. Since he is an Ackerman, Miss native, I can't help but wonder why he wants to leave for Georgia now?

Try a WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY.

Coach Woods will be able to do the "double dip," which is draw his state of Mississippi retirement (50% of the average of his top four salary years) and start a new retirement in the Georgia system.

He really had nothing left to prove at South Panola. He is leaving Mississippi while still "at the top," and at age 47, is plenty young enough to tackle a new professional challenge in another state where he can work on building another football dynasty, as well as another state retirement plan.

[Augustus McRae]

Soooo....kitty, kitty, kitty.....who's going to be the next coach at the University of South Panola?




Coach Woods will be able to do the "double dip," which is draw his state of Mississippi retirement (50% of the average of his top four salary years) and start a new retirement in the Georgia system.

He really had nothing left to prove at South Panola. He is leaving Mississippi while still "at the top," and at age 47, is plenty young enough to tackle a new professional challenge in another state where he can work on building another football dynasty, as well as another state retirement plan.

[Kitty]

Soooo....kitty, kitty, kitty.....who's going to be the next coach at the University of South Panola?


No idea, but I will go out on a limb and say it will not be Nevil Barr. :)

[Augustus McRae]

:) :smt038


No idea, but I will go out on a limb and say it will not be Nevil Barr. :)

[Tommy9854]

Don't look for South Panola to lose too many games, if any next year. They have one of the nation's best OL, an up and coming RB that is only a Jr. maybe that already has offers from SEC schools, and a tradition that just scares other teams when they play them.

[webster]

South Panola was mediocre -- by their standards -- this year. They had several close games during the course of the season, rather than just slaughtering everyone. With Chris Strong and several others leaving for Ole Miss, I realize they will reload, but with a new coach I suspect they'll lose a couple of games -- at least -- next season. I don't believe South Panola will achieve a 5 peat.

I can understand wanting to build a second retirement...but if you have to teach 25 years in Georgia..like Mississippi....does Coach Woods want to pull a Bobby Bowden and roam the sidelines until he's in his 70s to collect it?

I can understand the logic

[Augustus McRae]

WDAM reported just a few minutes ago that Ricky Woods would be making close to $ 200,000 per year as Head Coach at Bainbridge (Georgia) High School. That's REALLY hard to believe, but I do know some guys, even in Mississippi, approaching the $ 100,000.00 mark. Guess that had a lot to do with him going, huh?

[Kitty]

I can understand wanting to build a second retirement...but if you have to teach 25 years in Georgia..like Mississippi....does Coach Woods want to pull a Bobby Bowden and roam the sidelines until he's in his 70s to collect it?

I'm not familiar with the Georgia state retirement system, but likely he would not have to teach 25 years in Georgia to earn a second state retirement.

I see Doc is quite familiar with the Georgia system. :)

[To The Topp]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/SPORTS/70119018

I had forgotten about Coach Woods also leading the Ackerman Indians (the hated rival of Eupora) to 2A State Titles in 1997 and 2001. Since he is an Ackerman, Miss native, I can't help but wonder why he wants to leave for Georgia now?

Does this mean the South Panola dynasty may be about to finally end and Oak Grove has a chance to win a title?
That depends on if USP can get someone with the recruiting skills that Woods has.

[Tommy9854]

South Panola was mediocre -- by their standards -- this year. They had several close games during the course of the season, rather than just slaughtering everyone. With Chris Strong and several others leaving for Ole Miss, I realize they will reload, but with a new coach I suspect they'll lose a couple of games -- at least -- next season. I don't believe South Panola will achieve a 5 peat.

I can understand wanting to build a second retirement...but if you have to teach 25 years in Georgia..like Mississippi....does Coach Woods want to pull a Bobby Bowden and roam the sidelines until he's in his 70s to collect it?

I can understand the logic

They were mediocre, but they still won every game. They had probably the least amount of talent since they started their run, but yet they had one of the best LB's in the country, and 3 players sign with an SEC school.

Like I said, they will proabably have more talent next year and they have had since Peagues was there.

[Kitty]

They were mediocre, but they still won every game. They had probably the least amount of talent since they started their run, but yet they had one of the best LB's in the country, and 3 players sign with an SEC school.

Like I said, they will proabably have more talent next year and they have had since Peagues was there.

It should be noted that South Panola hasn't just won state championships under Ricky Woods. Ed Stanley won a championship at SP, as did Willis Wright before him.

Unlike here in the Pine Belt, where we have schools that excel in multiple sports, football is IT at South Panola.

With that kind of tradition, my guess is there is immense pressure on the South Panola football team each year, with a "bad season" defined as anything less than achieving a state championship.

So they just keep winning.

[daisy]

They were mediocre, but they still won every game. They had probably the least amount of talent since they started their run, but yet they had one of the best LB's in the country, and 3 players sign with an SEC school.

Like I said, they will proabably have more talent next year and they have had since Peagues was there.

I'd hate to see something above mediocre. Winning every game in my book is pretty, darn good. Wish USM could get those guys. Is Auburn looking at them?

[Tommy9854]

I'd hate to see something above mediocre. Winning every game in my book is pretty, darn good. Wish USM could get those guys. Is Auburn looking at them?


They are going to Ole Miss.

[To The Topp]

I'd hate to see something above mediocre. Winning every game in my book is pretty, darn good. Wish USM could get those guys. Is Auburn looking at them?
Southern Miss does have one of them
From Southernmiss.com:
no 84 Rodney Gray WR
Lettered three years in football, two of them for Coach Ricky Woods at South Panola ... Was the primary receiver for a team that threw the ball 8- 10 times per game on average ... Finished his senior season with 39 receptions for 644 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Also had a punt return for a touchdown ... Played in the Mississippi/ Alabama All-Star football game ... As a junior, posted 45 catches for 860 yards and eight touch-downs ... Finished with 12 receptions for 195 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore ... An all-region selection ... Named Second-Team All-State by The Clarion Ledger... Also lettered one season at Natchez ... Won the state title in the Class 5A High Hurdles ... Team finished with a 15-0 record and won the state championship ... A two-star rating by rivals.com ... Also lettered for four years in basketball and track ... Named all-district in both basketball and track ... Played in the North/South All-Star Basketball game ... Competed in the National Junior Olympics in track in field ... Also recruited by Mississippi State and Ole Miss ... Son of Darlene Harris ... Born April 14, 1988

He played in 13 games, had 16 catches for 160 yards. He is the first, but you have to start somewhere.