On Monday, May 15th, in the library at Farragut High School, Governor Bill Haslam and Knox County Schools Superintendent gathered to congratulate the 2016 Admirals football team for winning a Class 5A state championship.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, left in middle, is surrounded by Farragut High School football players in the school’s library after congratulating them for winning the 2016 Class 5A state championship Monday afternoon, May 15. Haslam and state Rep. Jason Zachary [R-District 14, including Farragut] read a proclamation on behalf of “the state of Tennessee” commending the team’s accomplishment. Alongside Haslam are Eddie Courtney, center, varsity head coach, and Ryan Siebe, right, FHS principal. In back is Donald Dodgen, Admirals athletic director. PHOTO CREDIT: Alan Sloan, Farragut PressState Rep. Jason Zachary [R-14th District that includes Farragut] joined Haslam to formally congratulate the football team, assembled alongside all coaches in the school’s library — doing so in the form of a proclamation, read by Zachary on behalf of “the state of Tennessee,” and in comments from both politicians.
“As a Knoxville boy who is living in Nashville because that’s where my job is, I get a little tired of hearing how good Middle Tennessee football is,” Haslam said. “And so you all, coming home with that gold ball [trophy] is kind of nice. Now I can say, ‘see, they play some serious football over there.’
“Secondly, I love not just that you won, but the way you did it,” Haslam added about FHS coming from 28 points behind twice to win during the playoffs. “… One thing that came out loud and clear was the character of this team. I’m not surprised knowing your coach [Eddie Courtney] and the other coaches.”
However, Haslam advised the student/athletes, “don’t let that be the highlight of your life. … Build on this, but don’t rest on it.”
“As a ’95 grad of Farragut, this is extra special for me to be here with you guys on behalf of Tennessee,” Zachary told the team before introducing Haslam.
“I think it was great,” FHS principal Ryan Siebe said about the visit. “The visit from the governor was obviously to highlight an incredible teacher, but he was also able to see the kind of well-rounded school we are as far as science and math and then athletics as well, so we’re really glad to have him.”
Special thanks to Alan Sloan and Carolyn Evans of the Farragut Press for covering this event.
This is a great opportunity to purchase Under Armour Farragut Football items at a discount, while helping raise money for our team to purchase jerseys, warm-ups, and other items for your son. The team shop will remain open until June 15th. Items will be delivered after we return from the dead period.
Coach Courtney center stage with region, area Coach of Year awards at FHS football state title ring ceremony.
Eddie Courtney defined, during the final celebration event of his football team’s Class 5A accomplishments in 2016, what it means to have earned a state championship ring.
“It’s a circular band worn as an ornament to be displayed by only those who share a special bond of accomplishment,” said Courtney, Admirals skipper since 1996 who has been a part of the FHS coaching staff all but two years since 1978, during a state championship ring ceremony in Vickie B. Wells Auditorium Tuesday evening, March 21.
While more than 100 rings were given out individually, the last to receive one was the most celebrated: Courtney himself.
Earning East Tennessee Chapter of National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Amateur Football awards after his team captured the Class 5A state title with a final 14-1 record, Courtney has been praised by coaches, administrators and players as both a sharp coach and a dedicated Christian man.
Courtney also earned Coach of the Year honors in Region 3-5A, KFL and PrepXtra.
State Championship Ring Ceremony at FHS Auditorium on 3/29/17.
“He’s a warrior, beating back cancer like he has, and now earning three different Coach of the Year awards. We’re so happy for coach Courtney and we’re proud of what he and his program have accomplished,” Donald Dodgen, FHS athletic director, said.
Adam Fulton, senior starting quarterback and one of the team’s four captains, said he remembers back to his elementary school years when Courtney went through his battle with cancer — Hodgkins disease.
The resulting treatments left Courtney almost too weak to put one foot in front of the other, losing his hair in the process. Yet the Admirals skipper, much more often than anyone could have expected, carried on with business as usual coaching and teaching.
Annual Eddie Courtney Courage Award, the recipient honored early each calendar year, is given to someone connected with Knox County youth or high school football displaying similar courage through adversity.
“It’s great to win [a state title] for coach Courtney; I think that’s literally half the reason why everybody wanted to win it,” Fulton said. “We know he’s been there for so long and that’s he put in so many hours.
“He’s the one who would wake up in the morning and cut the practice field and cut the game field when we had grass,” Fulton added. “He would be putting up the signs and making our locker room nice. Putting up sayings for us to look at. I feel like it always helps.
“He’s done a really good job.”
George Quarles, former Maryville High School football head coach who won 11 state championships in 17 years, knows Courtney well.
“I was certainly happy a guy like Eddie Courtney could win,” Quarles, now offensive coordinator at Furman, said. “Any good thing that comes his way, he deserves. You always like it when good things happen to good people, and you certainly put coach Courtney in that category.
“He’s a great man, throwing aside the football part of it,” Quarles added. “I think anyone would want to have their son around coach Courtney. The battles he’s been through, the perseverance he’s shown, the courage, the integrity, class, you name it.”
Brad Taylor and Courtney have locked horns 11 times as opposing head coaches since 2007, including three in the post season during Taylor’s seven seasons at rival Bearden, with Courtney winning nine.
Having been on the opposite sideline to Courtney as a former Bulldogs player, then as an assistant coach at BHS dating back to 2001, Taylor said, “He’s been at Farragut for a long time and I’ve always respected him as a person.
“He always treated me very well, very respectfully. …. I’ve always been appreciative of him for that,” Taylor, having finished his first season as Karns head coach last fall, added. “I’ve always held coach Courtney in high regards. I just think he’s a fantastic guy and I couldn’t be more happy for him to win the state championship and be honored as Coach of the Year and all the other honors. It’s very well deserved.
“He tries to do things the right way and does right by his players. And he’s respected by other coaches and treats other coaches with a lot of respect as well.”
Wednesday was National Signing Day for the Class of 2017. The Admirals saw four of their own commit to play at four different institutions.
WR/DB Jack DeVaultsigned to play at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, TN. Jack chose Carson Newman over ETSU and several other schools. Jack played a vital role in the 2016 state championship run, starting both at wide receiver and at cornerback. Jack caught 26 passes for 506 yards and 4 touchdowns, he also recorded 28 tackles and led the team with 5 interceptions.
RB/LB Cooper Hardin signed with Navy in Annapolis, MD. Cooper chose the Naval Academy over Furman, Air Force, Tennessee Tech and several other schools. Cooper started at both running back and linebacker for the Admirals, and was a leader at both positions. Offensively he rushed 196 times for 1,454 yards and 19 TDs, and caught 4 passes for 44 yards and 1 TD. On defense, Hardin led the team in sacks (10.5), minus yard tackles (21), forced fumbles (3), and fumble recoveries (3). He amassed 124.5 tackles in his senior campaign as well. His senior season ranks 3rd all-time in tackles for loss/sacks (21), and his 30 career tackles for loss/sacks ranks him 4th all-time. Cooper’s senior season also ranks 9th all-time in rushing yards, with 1,454 yards.
RB Amon Johnson signed with Maryville College in Maryville, TN. Amon chose Maryville among several other options. Amon amassed 649 yards rushing on 133 attempts while scoring 14 TDs. Amon, along with Cooper Hardin, combined for an unbelievable 33 touchdowns, making them one of the best running back duos in the state.
WR/DE Davis Simmons signed with Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. Davis chose Tennessee Tech over several other schools vying for his talents. While his senior season was cut short due to a knee injury in the 4th game of the year, Simmons got off to a blazing start, catching 14 balls for 288 yards and 4 TDs, in just over 3 games. Davis also saw limited reps at defensive end where he recorded 7 tackles and 1 minus yard tackle in 3 games.
Keep tuned to Farragut Football on twitter and website, as there will be several more players sign with their respective schools in the coming days.
The 2017 edition of the Farragut High School Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be this Saturday, February 4th, at 5:30 pm in the Commons. The football program will welcome two former players into this year’s class. Quarterback Chris Avans, class of 1995, will join the Hall of Fame’s fifth induction class along with punter/kicker, Aaron Doyle, class of 2004.
Avans rewrote the record book as the Admirals’ signal caller for the 1992-94 seasons. Avans’ 1993 squad captured the Region 2-5A championship and advanced to the Quarter-finals in the first year of the TSSAA expansion to five classifications. Avans was 24-5 as a starting QB and now ranks 6th all-time in career passing yards (3,071), 2nd in career TD passes (45), 7th in career total offense (3,831), and 2nd in career total TDs responsible for (67). Chris also lettered in baseball and basketball.
Aaron Doyle was named an All-American for his efforts on the Admirals’ soccer team that won back-to-back State titles in 2003 and 2004 along with being named National Champions in 2003. Doyle joined the football team prior to his senior year to handle all punting and placekicking duties. Aaron was able to finish the season with a 40.3 yard average on 46 punts as well as making 6 of 7 field goal attempts. Most notably, his first attempt of the year was a game-winning, 36-yard field goal to beat Bearden 10-7 on the game’s final drive. Aaron now ranks 12th in punting average all-time and converted a career long 47-yard field goal versus Ooltewah.
Other inductees into the 2017 Hall of Fame class include:
Donald Dodgen (coach, basketball)
Kelsey Benorden Baird (volleyball)
Jeff Glover (baseball, basketball)
Jessie Howard Baird (softball, swimming)
Alex Munday (basketball, track, volleyball)
Mandy Newman Watson (basketball, track)
Willie Parker (basketball, track)
Erika Thornton Scott (golf)
Justin Treadwell (basketball)
Tickets to the event are $30 and tables for eight can be purchased at $225. This year’s ceremony will be featured by former Tennessee and NFL standout kicker Fuad Reveiz as the keynote speaker. For tickets and information, contact Coach David Moore at 966-9775.
