This week our “4 Questions” guest is Fitzgerald head football coach Tucker Pruitt, who led his team to the Georgia Class 2A state championship in 2021 and has the Purple Hurricanes looking every bit like a repeat contender this season.
Q: Coach, your Purple Hurricanes visited Worth County in what was promoted as a much-anticipated game just two nights before this interview. This Fitzgerald football team really flexed its muscle against the Rams, running away with the game in the end. What was that atmosphere like?
A: The atmosphere was awesome! It was packed. Obviously the Worth County community is really excited right now and for good reason, and our fan base always travels well. The weather was perfect. It was a great night for a high school football game.
Q: This game was a perfect example of how other opponents and their fans use the games against your team as the ultimate test. What are your thoughts about this? True?
A: I think every game is a test. In any region, regardless of classification, you better come ready to play every Friday night. We know that we are going to get everybody’s best shot, and as a competitor that is what you want. Every week is a new challenge. We just try to focus on our mindset and our preparation and do the things to ensure that whoever we are playing gets our best shot, too.
Q: Coach, your Fitzgerald football team is now 6-0, and it isn’t like you’ve had a cake walk of opponents. You guys have faced the likes of Madison County, Florida, Irwin County, and Northeast Macon. How pleased are you with the play of your team so far?
A: I am pleased with the effort that we have competed with, and the toughness and resiliency that we have shown during times of adversity. All three of the teams you mentioned were beating us in the second half of the game, but our kids stayed together, kept believing in each other, and found a way to win, and that’s what championship teams do. As far as the play of the team, we still have a lot of room for improvement and our focus moving forward is to continue to grow and progress and get better each and every week.
Q: Last question: After losing some key guys last year, many thought this may be a rebuilding season, but it hasn’t been that way at all. How does this group of Fitzgerald football players compare with your championship team from last season?
A: We have a lot of key pieces and players back from the team last year. We also lost many of the cornerstones from that team. Our formula is pretty much the same. This year’s team has worked really hard, and we have had some young kids step up. We are still a work in progress, but even though we lose kids to graduation every year, the goals and the standards and the expectations never really change, and I think our kids have done a great job of embracing that.
