New Staff Member

[VaPrepsRod]

I'm pleased to announce that VirginiaPreps.com has added a staff member to our team as we've brought on Randy Fannon recently.

Randy lives in Southwest Virginia and will be taking over coverage of the SWVA area providing weekly recaps, players of the week and predictions articles for subscribers on a weekly basis. Additionally, Randy plans on attending a number of games in the SWVA portion of the state.

Randy has previous writing and photography experience with The Post, a weekly newspaper in Big Stone Gap, and is a longtime resident and fan of high school football in SWVA.

We're very excited about having Randy join the staff to help cover an area of the state where, frankly, we have not been very good.

Here's an introductory note from Randy...

Growing up in Southwest Virginia, I grew up playing sports in the now removed Lonesome Pine District at Appalachia. I played sports under the shadow of Ed Clark, Tom Turner, Coach Riggs, and others that made Appalachia great. Football became a passion. After college and entering the workforce, I moved to several different states, but LPD football was always what I followed. Football in other states, do not compare to the hard hitting and rugged LPD. In 2005, I moved back to SWVA and settled in Abingdon. My oldest son became a Falcon and fell in love with football too. He was a two-way starter for the Falcons for three years and went on to start as a defensive lineman for the Emory and Henry Wasps. His career as a player is now over. But I have my youngest son now filling the hole on the football field. Justin is a hard hitting defensive lineman for the Falcons this season.

With all of the history and playing in my blood, football is not just a pastime, but a necessity in the Fannon household. It begins on Thursday night with the NFL game, Friday’s high school, Saturday’s at Emory or watching College football. Sunday and Monday is reserved for the pros of the sport. You would think that Tuesday and Wednesday are down days, but not at the Fannon’s home. I upload and edit the photos taken over the weekend and watch film on Hudl to see how my son is performing or preparing for the next game.

I am looking forward to contributing this passion to VA Preps and help get some of the best football out to the state of Virginia.

Randy's first article will run tomorrow as he predicts this week's games in SWVA

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Welcome aboard Randy. You live in a great town. I met a wonderful family from Abingdon a couple of weeks ago that were down my way for a wedding. Just reinforced my belief that people out your way are a special group. I spent a little time out there a few times years ago. Couldn't afford "The Martha" then, but did catch a terrific play at the Barter Theater.

On another note, I will regret the rest of my life that I did not get the chance to attend a football game at Haysi. I assume you may have played a game or two there?

 

[RichlandsRyan]

Welcome aboard Randy. You live in a great town. I met a wonderful family from Abingdon a couple of weeks ago that were down my way for a wedding. Just reinforced my belief that people out your way are a special group. I spent a little time out there a few times years ago. Couldn't afford "The Martha" then, but did catch a terrific play at the Barter Theater.

On another note, I will regret the rest of my life that I did not get the chance to attend a football game at Haysi. I assume you may have played a game or two there?

If they did it would have been way back in the day. Haysi was A under the new classification and Abingdon is AAA. Under the old system, Abingdon was AA D3 and Haysi was A D1.

Take that into account plus the probably 2 hour drive with the mountains, and I doubt they played.

Maybe back years and years ago, but I can't recall a recent game.

 

[uvacavs1]

Hey DinwiddieProud,

I was just commenting about this post on the 1A board and mentioned Haysi as well! Last year when Haysi came all the way to the Far East of King William (who kindly let Essex host there), something quite unusual happened. While of course most Northern Neckers and Middle Peninsula folks were pulling for the local team, many people felt for the great fans and players of Haysi who battled greatly in their last game of a storied football history.

A local pastor (and die hard Essex supporter) even made an awesome, touching video tribute for the good folks of Haysi. Nothing like sports can build bridges and new friendships.

 

[pizzzzza]

I second what DinwiddieProud says - Welcome Aboard!