Four Questions with Georgia Southern PA announcer Robbie Ross

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Today's interviewee is Robbie Ross, the public-address announcer for Georgia Southern and Saturday's three-game Erk Russell Classic at Paulson Stadium. Ross also is host for the Ware County and Savannah Country Day coaches shows on ESPN Coastal, for which he occasionally does play-by-play or color commentary for its Friday night game broadcasts.

Robbie Ross, Georgia Southern public-address announcer 

1. Tell folks about the Erk Russell Classic. What is the atmosphere like?"The Erk Russell Classic is unique in that it reminds me of the old day-night doubleheaders in baseball. Due to the heat we have here in South Georgia, the three games are at 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. so fans and players get to experience the beauty of Paulson Stadium in all day parts. The rich tradition and history of not only Coach Russell but also Georgia Southern football is displayed to fans from across the state that may not have the opportunity to normally get to Paulson Stadium for a Georgia Southern game. The atmosphere is fantastic for the student-athletes having the opportunity to play in a Division I football facility, as well as the matchups themselves have been phenomenal the past two years."

2. What's the most intriguing team in your part of the state this year, and why? "South Georgia is full of intriguing teams this year as it is every year. The most intriguing aspect this year to me are the many new coaches taking over traditionally strong programs. The two teams that I cover on a weekly basis fall into that category with Ware County and Savannah Country Day, traditionally strong programs having new coaches in Jason Strickland and Jim Collis. Strickland, leading Pierce County to a record-breaking season last year, is moving 15 miles down the road to take over for Franklin Stephens at Ware County. Another is Charlton County. How will that Class A perennial power fare with a new coach [Russ Murray] after Rich McWhorter has moved on to Jackson County?"

3. You've done reporting and broadcasting for college sports at Furman and Georgia State. What do you like about high school football? "High school football is unique to me because of the local communities. Entire towns basically shutting down between 7 and 11 on Friday nights to head to the stadium uniting an entire town or even county is what makes high school football special to me more so than college football. The players, coaches, cheerleaders, band members, students, teachers and all their parents and family members along with former players reliving their glory days under the lights is a tie that binds so many communities across the state of Georgia. College football these days is being played on practically every night of the week and during every day, but here in the state of Georgia everyone knows that Friday night is high school football night."

4. What's the best team and player that you've called as broadcaster or PA man? "I have been very fortunate over the years to have seen many great football teams and players from my time broadcasting/PA announcing in Gainesville, northeast Georgia, the Washington-Wilkes/Augusta area and now southeast Georgia. It would be hard to nail down just one. Mike Malone from Gainesville, Monte Williams from Commerce, Darius Walker from Buford, DeeJay Dallas from Glynn Academy, Buck Robinson and Jaylen Turner from Washington-Wilkes, Devin Wynn from Greene County and Trezmen Marshall from Clinch County. Team-wise, the 2002 Gainesville Red Elephant state semifinal team, the 2013 Washington-Wilkes second-round team that was upset by Bowdon, the 2015 Glynn Academy state runner-up team, the 2016 state runner-up McIntosh County Academy team and the 2018 ELCA state title team were some of the best teams that stand out in my mind."

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