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At times, the atmosphere might have seemed more like a church tent revival, but the sixth annual In The Game (SEGA) Football Awards Banquet proved once more to be a crowd-pleasing sports extravaganza without equal. Coaches, players, and fans representing 18 Southeast Georgia schools joined ITG staffers and sponsors at the yearly gala, held December 4 at the historic Waycross City Auditorium.
Former Georgia Bulldog All-American and NFL running back Tim Worley delivered a keynote address that often prompted a chorus of “amens” as he spoke passionately about the importance of personal character and integrity. Worley, assisted by his wife Dee, now works as a motivational speaker through their firm, Worley Global Enterprises, and drew from personal experiences in a candid take on how personal choices affect one’s life.
“I had always identified myself through sports…I didn’t go to school for an education; I went there to play ball,” Worley said. “All the things I said I would avoid, like alcohol and drugs, are what I fell victim to, and a lack of character led me to put cocaine up my nose.”
Worley rushed for 2,038 yards from 1985-88 at the University of Georgia. He also set the school record for the longest run from scrimmage, an 89-yard scoring jaunt to help beat top-ranked Florida in 1985. The Pittsburgh Steelers plucked Worley with the seventh pick of the first round in the 1989 NFL Draft. He rushed for 770 yards as rookie and was on his way to stardom when injuries sidetracked him. His career was further beset by drug usage, which led to a year-long suspension and salary forfeiture in 1992. After cutting ties with the Steelers, Worley moved onto Chicago, where he spent parts of two seasons. He was out of football altogether by 1994.
“I sabotaged my career and took a first-class ticket on the foolish plane,” he said. “I praise the Lord that I am here today to talk about it. There were a lot of people praying for me. Rock bottom for me was getting arrested and going to jail. I got down on my knees in a jail cell in 2008 and committed my life to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
The awards banquet was sponsored by Coastal Pines Technical College, PrimeSouth Bank, Walker Jones, Flash Foods, Crosby of Camden, Crosby Cadillac GMC Nissan, The Bone and Joint Institute of South Georgia, Farah & Farah, and Mayo Clinic.
Several marquee awards were handed out in addition to each school recognizing its respective offensive and defensive players of the year. Glynn Academy head coach Rocky Hidalgo, whose team played for the state championship less than 48 hours earlier, was named the Crosby Cadillac GMS Nissan Coach of the Year Award. Ed Flowers, the legendary PA voice of Ware County Gator athletics, received the Mayo Clinic Health System of Waycross Humanitarian Award.
Other sponsored awards were as follows: Dedrick Mills, Ware County – PrimeSouth Bank/Walker Jones/Flash Foods Offensive Player of the Year; Dexter Roberson, Glynn Academy – Coastal Pines Technical College Defensive Player of the Year; Caleb Martin, Wayne County – Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia Academic Player of the Year; Zeke Moore, Camden County – Crosby of Camden Special Teams Player of the Year; Hudson Spurlock, Waycross Middle School – In The Game Magazine Middle School Player of the Year; and
Jacquez Williams, Liberty County – Farah & Farah Forward Progress Award.
“We are beyond excited to have someone of Tim’s caliber to speak here tonight,” said In the Game (SEGA) publisher Shawn Smoak. “It is a much-needed message and a reminder to all about the importance of priorities, choices, and consequences. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing participation from our schools and for the support of our sponsors.”
Schools represented included Appling County, Bacon County, Bradwell Institute, Brantley County, Brunswick, Camden County, Charlton County, Frederica Academy, Glynn Academy, Jeff Davis, Liberty County, Long County, McIntosh County Academy, Pierce County, Toombs County, Vidalia, Ware County, and Wayne County.
Bonus/Southeast/January 2016
Story by John DuPont
Photography by Jennifer Carter Johnson
Worley Wows Crowd at Sixth Annual Football Awards Banquet
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