Is your football team free on August 29? Have I got a date for you!

WANTED: A FOOTBALL GAME

Thomson coach Luther Welsh has let his fingers do enough walking. He just can't get anyone talking about playing his team this fall.

"I can't get anybody to play me," Welsh said. "I've called all over Georgia. We need a football game for the 29th of August. I can't find nobody in Georgia that wants to play me. If anyone needs a game, please call."

That would be the first game of the Thomson season. This new region realignment has really done an end-around on his scheduling. He does not have any prospects as of today for Aug. 29 this fall.

"Maybe I can find somebody across the river," Welsh said. "I don't care what classification it is. I really don't care where it is. I just need the ball game."

Welsh's Bulldogs are easily one of the top five programs in the area. Their fans travel (READ: GATE RECEIPTS $$$) very well. His team is not terribly stacked next year. It's not like the Georgia teams are cowering in fear at the thought of lining up with a juggernaut.

He has a solid team returning next year, but not a potential state champion team by any means. Truth be told, every head coach in the area is having scheduling nightmares right now after the latest reclassification in Georgia.

"Everybody throughout Georgia won't play me or they have already got games," Welsh said. "I don't know what it is. I can't get anybody to call me back."

Thomson head coach Luther Welsh can be reached at (706) 986-4200. He'll be happy to take your call. You'll get the chance to face a well-coached team with discipline and a veteran coaching staff that knows the game and the right way to play the game.

Welsh holds the Georgia record for games coached. His first season was back at Warren County in 1957. Welsh won his 300th career game last year against Washington-Wilkes.

If they have the schedule flexibility, I'd say that games against Aiken, North Augusta, Silver Bluff, South Aiken and Strom Thurmond would be ideal suitors. Maybe even Allendale-Fairfax, Bamberg-Erhardt or Blackville-Hilda.

Hmm. I wonder if Byrnes High School is available?

So please, call the man. It's January. Pass the word to your school's AD or head football coach. Help a gentleman finish out his schedule.

 UPDATE ON MON. JAN 14: Well, Thomson found their game. They will play Buford. Wow. That's probably one of the top 10 programs in the state and in any classification. Easy. Buford is an AA school, but with the resources and players to fare quite well in Class AAAA or AAAAA. The team has made a habit of putting the sons of former Atlanta Falcons on the field in recent years.

Guys like Scott Case and T.J. Pridemore had sons and the apples fell right below the tree.

I'd have to say Thomson would be the underdog even if they faced the Wolves in The Brickyard. At least the Bulldogs got their opening filled.