Bet the bottom line for a lot of business in Perry was pretty good all last week.

          Except for Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night. A lot of folks were gone. And then for about three hours, a whole lot of locals weren’t going anywhere that didn’t have a TV and cable, or a good and clear wireless signal.

          Christmas shopping could wait. Perry was on the way to a state championship.

          And in front of the biggest Panther Nation gathering than at any home game in, well, the 70 years since football started.

          Perry showed up on the field, and showed up in the stands.

          Because so many places outright lie about “attendance” and/or people exaggerate what a crowd is, I’ve grown obsessed with trying to get an accurate estimate in some situations.

          And upon research, nosir, there was little or no exaggeration about Perry’s crowd.

          Looking at the number of seats and rows in the main middle five sections being full equals about 3,500 people, and breaking down seating charts for the other sections and doing math and then doing some estimating and looking at assorted video and pictures:

          The unofficial and unscientific but objective estimate from the home office here is that pretty close to 6,000 people were in the Perry sections for the Perry game.

          Yeah, that’s about 12 percent of the total attendance for the finals.

          As per www.census.gov, the estimated population of Perry is 23,538. So 6,000ish is about a quarter of the city’s population. That’s pretty strong. And it’s a whole lot stronger, a depressing amount stronger, a much stronger example of support than another county school that’s made championships a lot lately.

          Sure, the teevee folks are mandated by the Teevee Manual of Cliches, Puns, Tired Writing and Weak Yukkity Yuks to ask in nearly every game if anybody’s left in (fill in the town or municipality). Which is always absurd, since they don’t actually look at relevant info, like the size of a city/town/municipality.

          Coffee County has 43,00 people, and Douglas 11,700, and no, it wasn’t anwhere near “nobody left” status, but Coffee was among the top crowds, teevee hyperbole or not.

          And Perry folks sure got more than their money’s worth in a game loaded with hits, plays, answers, fumble recoveries, second-guessable strategy that was good strategy, clutch plays from the smallest players on the field, and composure.

          In a county of rivalries, of diverse head coaching personalities, of some snippiness, it’s a safe bet that more people in Houston County were happy for head coach Kevin Smith – who had been at Northside and Houston County - than they would be for anybody else.

          A very cool thing was a short “good luck” video posted on Dec. 1 before the semifinal by Warner Robins principal Chris McCook – a former coach – supporting Perry, with head coach Shane Sams, assistant LaBrandon Hudson, players Isaiah Gibson, Judd Anderson, Rasean Dinkins, and Matthew Plank,

          “It doesn’t matter if you’re from the north side, the south side, Kathleen, or Highway 96, it’s time to come together as one, show that Perry gold, support that Panther pride. Go get you one, big dawg.”

          Follow by barking. Absolutely outstanding and so classy. And mature.

          I go back to a conversation with a coach of another sport at another high school when Perry hired Smith, his thoughts based on Smith’s ability to coach different sports and different age groups, including that coach’s daughter in softball.

          The scouting report on the hire was simple:

          “They finally got it right.”

          Boy, did they.

 

Oh, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur 

          Nope, there will be no defense, no optimism from this seat regarding the Falcons.

          Almost none. They still have the talent to do something, but it’s mighty debatable if they have the coaching or game plan, or how much of the locker room Arthur Smith has lost.

          It’s increasingly clear that a young quarterback and fairly veteran playcaller struggle to handle weapons and make adjustments. Desmond Ridder is making too many decisions more in line with a first-year starter on any level, and not showing that he’s played the position for almost a decade.

          It’s increasingly clear that there are issues on the defensive side, especially in the fourth quarter the last several weeks.

          Shoot, even Younghoe Koo has the cooties and missed twice in a game, as opposed to twice in a month.

          That Carolina ran the ball five more times than Atlanta Sunday is absurd. That Carolina outgained Atlanta 129-52 on the ground deserves an apology.

          Smith should be fined every game Atlanta doesn’t run 35 times, minimum, and every game Atlanta doesn’t run more than the opposition.

          That’s simplifying it as it should be simplified, rather than overcomplicating it, which coaches are absolutely obsessed with doing. It’s as if they’d rather lose and make it difficult to explain – or be snotty about it – rather than simplify and win.

          Guys, you’re getting paid for the success, not for making it sound more scientific than it really is.

          Bless Smith for finally pulling the plug at QB on Tuesday.

          “But why …”

          1. You make the smart move when you realize it's the smart move, no matter when. Better late than never, no matter when. And show the ability to be smart, despite evidence to the contrary.

          2. Games are scheduled, your goal is to win every game. Your job is to try to win every game. (Needs explaining?) Carolina tried to win, didn't quit, like maybe some expected (and then whine  about no pride). Two wins is better than one. Three is better than two. Seven is better than six. Etc. All positives are positives. Big or small.

          3. Reality (sorry) is that they're still alive for the playoffs. Still. In spite of everything. They go 3-0, who knows? Nobody's any better, wouldn't bet on any of 'em in any game. But if alive, do whatever you can to stay alive. If not, work to win and improve for next year.

          Teams are supposed to quit cuz they're not great? Games are played, and people are paid. Job is to try to win, no matter the record. Period.

          But I’ve wondered if Taylor Heinecke’s injury was more serious than we were led to believe, because it was silly to come out of the bye week and name Ridder the starter for the year, when we knew that wasn’t deserved.

          “We” didn’t include Smith. Clearly. Unfortunately. Inexplicably.

          Certainly Smith has to be humbled by now. Right?

          Yes, they can still win the division, because nobody in the South is trustable, or is really any better, though New Orleans and Tampa Bay have momentum and some confidence and Atlanta has neither.

 

Loughdmouthings

          The Central Georgia coaching carousel has been a little lean in numbers but fairly notable.

          And goodness, some of the speculation – ranging between possible to are-you-out-yo-mind? – is fairly hysterical.

          Nope, no idea what’s next or when, either with impending openings or impending hirings. At least it should be quiet for a few weeks. …

          Example No. 312 that this recruiting “coverage” – aka stalking and hugging and toosh-kissing – is a farce:

          Suddenly, the latest Second Coming – as all but labeled by “media” and then furthered by fans and other fanboy media – at quarterback for Georgia, who moved to Buford – Dylan Raiola made Dawg fans who knew nothing of him until the read stuff – to be near Georgia is now dancing with Nebraska, officially flipping Monday.

          Countdown to the integrity- and objectivity-challenged “media” and “media/fanboys” to start with the subtle-at-first denigrating, moseying along with pathetic “fans”, who know nothing when they praise and nothing when they rip.

          “Well, he couldn’t win the big game at Buford, and we saw some major flaws in his game, and good grief, if he’s thinking about Nebraska, how good can he be?”

          Those who would rave about him writing a poem and being a well-round future legend had he not flipped, inspired some mocking of a poem.

          And somebody will drop a “star” from his “ranking” in a day or two for no apparent reason other than, eh, butt-hurtness.

          The process is absurd and often pathetic on so many levels. …

          Yes, breaking an attendance record is nice, but Georgia still draws nowhere near what is should, nowhere near. 50,000 for eight games is 6,250 a game.

          Nice to have the games in Atlanta so Atlanta fan bases can not show up. That 7A crowd – stretching the accuracy of “crowd” – was pretty absurd. As usual, the folks who had to plan and drive and take off work showed up better than anybody else.

          Unofficially, Perry, Thomas County Central, and Coffee led the way with Pierce County representing well. The reasons for the record? Closest one was about 110 miles away.

          Worth a thought. …

          Lining up properly at the line of scrimmage should not be that difficult. Really. …

          Speaking of The Farce, signing day is decreasing in importance and relevance, although not nearly as much as the almost embarrassing “commitment” self-marketing of players.

          Kids, don’t announce your commitment, announce your first commitment, since they’re irrelevant and don’t last.

          Signing day is now simply “Where I’ll start my college career”, and the knuckleheads who dive headfirst into like it means something need to realize that.

          “Oh, they signed, that’s nice. Now, let’s just skip hyperventilating and hyperbolizing and wait and see who lines up at the first kickoff and avoid the daily noise pollution until then.”

          Wishful thinking doesn’t change anything. Sniping doesn’t change anything. Listening to/reading people who don’t really know much – clickbait and verbal clickbait, little/no substance/accountability/objectivity - doesn’t change anything.

          Folks need to quit obsessing and stressing about the abstract and move on more. …

          More often than not, it seems the folks who grumble the most about participation trophies end up grumbling the most when they don’t get that trophy.

          And just what we need, people complaining about how horrible things are deciding that budgeting money and time to investigate the College Football Playoff process is a good bleepin’ idea. The level of butt-hurtness from those grumbling about butt-hurtness is remarkable.

          From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel:

          “Rather than wasting a bunch of time and money for clownish PR stunts like this, I’ve got a better idea for our state “leaders”: How about making our housing and property insurance more affordable?”

          That interrupts the construction of useless mountains from barely existent molehills. …

          Not surprised Carson Beck is staying. Gut feeling was he would stay because Georgia won’t repeat. If UGA had made the playoffs and lost, I could’ve seen him going.

          But not making it, I could see him wanting to come back and make another run.

          I don’t think Brock Bowers is as automatic an early departure, though he has rings and was a huge part. Beck not being QB1 on a title team will bring a person back. …

          Hysterical rant from New Mexico head coach Jerry Kill, accusing the AD at New Mexico State from shafting his team for bowl practice and use of the facilities.

          “… when he don't want us to do this and do that, that's chickens---. I don't care, that's my opinion, if I get in trouble, I don't give a s--- either. Because I can go down to Mexico tomorrow, drink margaritas and let you all enjoy your life, because I'll be enjoying mine.”

          Pause.

          “But I've got class. I've had class my whole life."