It was another packed house as coaches, players, and fans representing 19 Southeast Georgia schools joined staffers and sponsors at the Seventh Annual In The Game (SEGA) Football Awards Banquet, held December 2nd at the historic Waycross City Auditorium.
Rennie Curran, a former Georgia Bulldogs great who achieved All-SEC and All-American accolades in a collegiate career that spanned from 2007-2009, spoke about a number of virtues, including an individual’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Despite being only 5’11’’, Curran was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 3rd round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent several seasons in pro football, including both the NFL and the CFL. His has been a journey that started in Liberia, from which his parents emigrated.
“I owe my parents everything for the opportunities they gave me,” said Curran. “But I was almost too afraid to ask them for what I really wanted, which was to pursue music.”
The hard-hitting linebacker learned how to play the piano, drums, and viola, all before he was 13 years old. It is among the topics discussed in his book, Free Agent – The Perspectives of a Young African-American athlete. He later went on to star at Brookwood High in Snellville, before attending UGA. Curran passed on his senior season with the Bulldogs to enter the NFL Draft early. Though not officially retired from football, these days he is active on the lecture circuit. He has also been featured on a number of college football-related broadcasts.
“After I got cut from the Titans, I was riding back to Georgia with my dad behind me in a U-Haul, and I was thinking, ‘What do I do now?’” said Curran. “Enjoy the journey, because one day you will take that uniform off one last time.”
The awards banquet was sponsored by Coastal Pines Technical College, Farah & Farah, Gibson Animal Clinic, Mayo Clinic Health System, PrimeSouth Bank, Robbie Robertson Ford, The Strike Zone, and Walker Jones.
Several marquee awards were handed out in addition to each school recognizing its respective offensive and defensive players of the year. McIntosh County Academy head coach Robby Robinson, who led his Buccaneers to the state championship tilt, was named the Robbie Roberson Ford Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, the Pierce County High School competition cheerleaders, champions of Class AAA, were named winners of the Mayo Clinic Health System Spirit Award.
Other sponsored awards were as follows: Michael Mincey, Waycross Middle School – Strikezone Middle School Player of the Year; Bryant Sloan, Charlton County High School – Coastal Pines Technical College Academic Player of the Year;
Richard LeCounte, Liberty County High School – Gibson Animal Clinic Defensive Player of the Year; Stetson Bennett, Pierce County High School – PrimeSouth Bank Offensive Player of the Year; Deejay Dallas, Glynn Academy – Walker Jones Player Spotlight MVP Award; and Ha’Keem Dillard, Ware County High School – Farah & Farah Forward Progress Award.
“For every former and future Georgia Bulldog in the room tonight, it stirred our heartstrings to see Rennie Curran up on the podium, and we relived all of his heroic exploits through the years, said In the Game (SEGA) publisher Shawn Smoak. “Rennie is living proof that heart – not height – is what matters most in this game.”
“We especially appreciate all of the sponsors who put awards into the hands of winners tonight,” continued Smoak. “Some of these kids and coaches have come so close to winning that ultimate prize, and by this time next year, we look forward to recognizing at least one of these schools as a state champion.”
Schools represented included Appling County, Bacon County, Bradwell Institute, Brantley County, Brunswick High, Camden County, Charlton County, Frederica Academy, Glynn Academy, Jeff Davis, Liberty County, Long County, McIntosh County Academy, Pierce County, Richmond Hill, Toombs County, Vidalia, Ware County, and Wayne County.
Bonus /Southeast/January 2017
Written by John DuPont
Photos by Jennifer Carter Johnson
SEGA Honors Finest at Annual Football Awards Banquet
