Last Friday night the Avery County Quarterback Club hosted the first annual Avery Fan Frenzy at the outdoor amphitheater behind Avery Middle School in Newland. A crowd of over 100 fans, parents, players, cheerleaders, and coaches turned out for the event to usher in the beginning of the 2010 high school football season.The evening’s festivities began with a cookout hosted by the Club, complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, fixins, and a variety of side items and desserts fit that would satisfy the most ravenous of appetites.
After dinner everyone gathered at the amphitheater as Cale Smith and John Phillips, President and Vice President of the ACQC, respectively welcomed attendees and served as masters of ceremonies for the event.
“The mission statement of the Avery County Quarterback Club is that we are an organization designed to help the county’s schools and community football programs. We wish to assist with needs that may arise within the programs at the high school and middle school level, and intend to offer help with youth football in Avery County,” Phillips said to the gathering. “We want to be able to help with needs with the varsity and junior varsity football and cheerleading teams, and are working to raise funds to provide that assistance in those areas.”
The Quarterback Club welcomed new Avery County Director of Athletics David Wright onto the stage, and he shared his excitement about working with the athletic departments in the county middle schools and high school.
“I want you to know that I have spent 15 years as a principal, but spent 12 years before that at Avery High School, and I coached during that time,” Wright told the crowd. “Every time I go to a game I know that is where my heart is. I knew that all along. I am thrilled to be part of the athletic program at Avery High School and the two middle schools. “This group of players from everything I’m hearing was totally dedicated to the summer program, and it was hard to get some of the previous seasons’ teams to do that. Getting the players on board, as well as the support of you parents has been critical.”
Wright’s son Dixon, former player at Avery High, attends and plays football at James Madison University. Wright shared a story he heard at this year’s JMU football banquet about Arthur Moats, a former James Madison football player who played multiple sports and juggled a work schedule in high school. Moats was able to attend and excel in college as a student-athlete, and has recently signed a lucrative contract to play football for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.“I tell you players this story because I want to tell you it takes commitment, a tremendous amount of commitment, to be able to make your way to the top,” Wright said.
The athletic director also assured parents and fans that this year’s version of the Avery Vikings could achieve great things this football season.
“They’re ready and primed, and these coaches have done a tremendous job at getting these players prepared for the season. I’m coming in as the county athletic director at a great time in Avery sports,” Wright said. “Let’s do everything we can to support this team, and let’s do everything we can to fill that stadium every Friday night, home and away.”
Varsity and junior varsity football players introduced themselves to the group at the Frenzy, followed by the Avery cheerleaders with new head cheerleading coach Amy Fortune. The cheerleaders had recently returned from a camp at Appalachian State University in Boone, where the junior varsity team won the Most Improved award and the varsity team won a trophy for Best Cheer and second-place honors for Best Fight Song Cheer.
“We look forward to cheering at our first game against Robbinsville,” Coach Fortune said after team introductions. “We want to be doing a lot of push-ups this season after touchdowns from the football team.”
The Avery football coaching staff introduced themselves, concluded by Viking head coach Darrell Brewer who shared remarks about the work the team has accomplished over the summer and his expectations for a special 2010 campaign.
“I’m thrilled to be here and I’m very proud of how the summer went. In this day and time, you can’t roll in here on August 2nd and expect to win championships because it’s not going to happen. I tell the seniors that it’s their football team and that they can be as good as they want to be, and for these players right now, I think that’s going to be pretty darn good,” the head coach stated.
“Players,
you’ve worked your tails off and I’m proud of you. I also will say about the young kids that I’ve never seen the group of younger players come out and work out this summer as I have this past summer. To you parents of the younger players, my hat is off to you for bringing the kids to work out. You’re the ones who have to get them here. Mamas and Dads, thank you for running up and down the roads to allow them to be able to be here.”After introductions, the Quarterback Club drew tickets for several free items, including discount cards, Avery football t-shirts, and Avery hats. The ACQC also had additional pieces of apparel available for sale, and announced that the group would be selling items at Avery football games with proceeds assisting Avery County football programs.
Quarterback Club President Cale Smith and the newly-elected members of the group’s Board of Directors were introduced near the conclusion of the event, and Smith invited all attendees to be part of the meetings of the ACQC, who meet each second and fourth Tuesday of the month at The Ugly Mugg Coffee and Creamery in Newland.
Smith also announced the next meeting of the Avery Boosters Club, and emphasized that need for parents and fans to also back the Boosters in addition to the Quarterback Club’s efforts.
“As the Quarterback Club, we need all the support we can get, and any parents or anyone else is invited. Our Boosters Club supports every sport there is, and they need our help as well. We want to work beside the Boosters and don’t want to hurt them in any way,” Smith stated.
As darkness fell and the evening’s events concluded, the attitude of those gathered were best echoed by Avery head coach Darrell Brewer as he concluded his remarks when addressing the meeting.
"I'm proud to be here. This is home and this is where my heart is, and we're gonna get after it this season."
