To the Editor:

On Friday night, I attended the football game between Morgan County and Gordon Central in the first round of the AAA state playoffs. Some of this team endured the 2009 season when the school moved up to AAA from AA and they went 1-9.
Those boys who went through that season as freshmen are to be commended for their dedication to the team, their school and their coaches.
I have seen both of Morgan's losses this year against North Oconee and Elbert County, and never did I witness any one of these young men relax or give up.
They are a team and there is no word "I" in the word team. Friday night's performance against Gordon Central was a perfect example of that.
The coaching staff has taught this team to respect the officials and to respect each other. They should be congratulated for their time and dedication to the team, to the school and to the football program.
I believe all of these young men will remember their high school football careers forever, and they will have gratitude for the hard work (and for the coaches chewing them out) that was asked of them. They will be able to lead and be successful in whatever they endeavor to do because of their experiences on this team.
I would like to say to Coach Malone, his staff and the athletes, this is a job well done. It's a pleasure to watch the Morgan County High School Bulldogs.

Ben Bellebuono
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the November 22, 2012 edition