The 2021 High School football season kicks off tomorrow night. Any one that knows me knows that I am always excited for another year, behind the mic, calling Wolves football games. However, this year, there will be something missing.
Since, I believe, 2005 Gary Jones has been to my right, in the analyst chair. We have seen the Wolves grow from a struggling program, to a contender. We have called games in monsoon type conditions, to dense fog, to games that were so hot, they would actually stop the game under today’s rules. We have been up and down the highway, the main roads, and the back roads. He has been there with me to celebrate things like the Wolves finally breaking through against Bolivar, and winning the last two Small COC championships. He has been there with me through tough times, like the first time behind the mic after losing my dad. But when I sign on from East Newton tomorrow Night, Gary will not be there. He has decided to step away.
While I will miss our banter on the air, what I am going to miss, more than anything are those trips. The talks on the way to the game or on the way home from the game. Most of the times the conversation had noting to do with the football game itself. Talks about life, that is what I will miss. Hearing the latest about his granddaughter Logan (she is committed to play Volleyball at Arkansas, by the way), and about fishing. Our talks about basketball and the community that we both love.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Gary is not going anywhere. He can’t get rid of me that easy, we live in the same neighborhood, go to the same church, heck, I am in “his” Sunday School Class. We will still have plenty of chances to talk, its just not going to be the same.
Next time you see him, give him the same hard time you always do… But, also thank him. He has been a huge part of bringing football to Wolves Nation for 15 years, and that’s not counting his time on the sideline.
THANKS GARY… LOVE YOU BUDDY.
