When players from the 10-under Scenic City Stars football team from East Ridge walk out of the tunnel at the Georgia Dome Saturday onto the playing surface their eyes will be open wide.
The Scenic City Stars will have the opportunity to play in the D.L. Scott Coalition Bowl against the East Metro Titans squad coached by event originator/sponsor Dr. David L. Scott at noon.
The Stars are coached by Jamey Jones and the players participate in the 80-plus team Scenic City Youth Football League that has teams from both Georgia and Tennessee participating.
The Scenic City Stars are made up of Chattanooga area players from both Tennessee and Georgia.
"As we were winding down the 2013 football season a lot of the kids were getting a little tired and looking forward to their next sports season whether it was basketball, wrestling or whatever," Jones said. "But when we got the invitation to play in the Dome and I announced it to the players we could see the excitement in their eyes to play a little bit longer."
Jones said the players immediately began to ask the coaches questions.
"They wanted to know if we were going to play on the same field as the Atlanta Falcons and isn't that where they play the SEC championship," he said. "Needless to say, the boys are very excited. As far as an opportunity for these young kids this might be the only chance some of them get to play on the big stage and hopefully it will inspire some of them to stay with football and play at the next levels."
Jones believes he has some players who have a chance to one day play college and maybe professional football if they continue to progress.
"We have some very talented kids and it's been an honor to be able to coach them and watch them grow," Jones said. "I know one day I will be watching football on Saturdays or Sundays and there will be a couple of them. I will be able to say that I coached him when he was in youth football."
Nevertheless, the players aren't the only ones excited about the Scenic City Stars playing in the Coalition Bowl.
"This opportunity is exciting for the coaches as well to be able to coach these boys on the sidelines of the Georgia Dome," Jones said. "It's going to be a new challenge not only to get them ready to play a game but to keep them focused on the game instead of the thousands of fans they will be playing in front of."
Jones is joined on the Stars coaching staff by Todd Mirabella, Ted Pritchett. Daniel Eaton and Chris Hedrick.
The Scenic City Stars players are CJ Robertson, Nic Mirabella, Bryce James, Denver Newman, Troy Williams, Jamir Eaton, Brody Cobb, Tyler Pritchett, Hunter Jones, Jacob Bridgeman, Zane Penney, Jake Davey, Wyatt Standridge, Cody Thomas, Carson Hedrick, Mathew Smith and Scott Clinton.
High School Senior All-star Games
Many of the Class of 2014 high school seniors from Georgia will participate in two All-star games in the Dome Saturday.
The North team, coached by North Murray's David "Goo" Gann, will play the Central Georgia stars at 1:30, with East Metro Atlanta graduating seniors and West Metro Atlanta playing at 7:45 p.m.
Coalition Bowl Youth Bowl &
Georgia Junior and Senior All-Star Games
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Dec. 21
Admission: $25.00 (for all day)
Fact: Only Georgia All-star Game played in the Dome
Information: www.dlscottcoalitionbowl.com
For more info: Stump Martin stumponsports@aol.com or 423-421-2595
Dome Schedule:
8:00 am - (6U) Atlanta Vikings vs Eastway Cherokees;
9:00 am - (12U) North Henry Tigers vs Athens Rams;
10:00 am - (8U) Sandtown Vikings vs Decatur Army;
11:00 am - (10U) Central DeKalb Jaguars vs Edgewood Red Devils;
12:00 pm - (10U) East Metro Titans vs the Scenic City Stars;
1:30 pm - North All Stars vs. Central All Stars
4:00 pm - Atlanta Junior All Stars vs the Augusta All Stars
6:30 pm - (12U) Welcome All Panthers vs Jonesboro Ducks
7:45 pm - East All Stars vs. West All Stars