Tonight, is Gainesville High’s Homecoming game versus rival Jefferson High School. In honor of the Red Elephants homecoming and rivalry, we matched up the Red Elephant’s Jordan Williams, a Georgia Tech commit, versus the Dragon’s quarterback Colby Clark!
Gainesville and Jefferson have played three times and the Red Elephants have yet to come up with a win but tonight’s match up will feature the Red Elephant’s Williams and University of South Carolina commit Makius Scott, making for a marquee match up at City Park.
We want to thank Jordan and Colby for talking with us recently about their life and love of their high school and football.
Jordan Williams
Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High School senior Grady Vardeman
Meet Jordan Williams, a senior at Gainesville High School who has lived here all his life. He will be graduating early to play football at Georgia Tech where he plans to major in Civil Engineering. Jordan is excited about the rest of his high school football season.
Question: How long have you played football and what made you pick football over other sports?
Answer: “I’ve played football since I was 7, I started with Park and Rec on the Gainesville White team. The main reason I stuck with football was that I was better at it than other sports.”
Q: Did you ever think you’d play at the collegiate level?
A: “To be honest, no, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago I got any attention from schools. I never thought I’d make it this far.”
Q: Which schools contacted you and why did you choose Georgia Tech over the other schools?
A: “The first few were Duke and South Carolina, but I always wanted to go to Georgia Tech as a kid and the coaches and I got along very well and it just seemed like a perfect match for me.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “After practice, we’ll go to Zaxby’s and get wings. I get the hot honey mustard wings.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
A: “Dubai or Cancun.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “’2 Fast 2 Serious.’”
Q: What would be the motto for the football team?
A: “Kill or be killed and always give it your all, is something we preach on the team.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I’d like to have a whole basement full of shoes when I get older.”
Q: What is your favorite shoe you own?
A: “The Jordan 1 Retro’s.”
Q: What current/former local business makes you most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “J. Geyer.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “The square and my friends and I like to go to the top of the parking deck and you can see all of Gainesville.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Family, tradition, and culture.”
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had a choice of anyone to be your co-star, who you choose?
A: “Vin Diesel.”
Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A: “Chef.”
Q: Who would you like to see nominated for this project, The Faces of Hall County?
A: “My teammate Makius Scott, he’s a great leader and after high school is going to play at The University of South Carolina.”
Colby Clark
Interview by Jefferson High School business communication student Cheyenne Pendley
Meet Colby Clark! Colby is a senior at Jefferson High School and is the starting quarterback for the Varsity Dragon football team. He lives in Jefferson with his parents, Heather and Chad, and his brother Kyle. Other than playing football, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and watching football. Colby plans to pursue his football career in college and maybe even coach one day.
Question: What inspired you to play football?
Answer: “I’d say growing up in a family that loves football. My dad, he’s always coaching me, since 7th grade, and he still continues to coach me. He taught me, for the most part, everything I know about football.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Jackson County, and what do you love to eat there?
A: “Bojangles. My favorite thing there is the Cajun chicken and cheese biscuit.”
Q: Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
“Mrs. Beusse.”
Q: If you could pick any coach to help you on the field this season, who would it be?
A: “Coach Ray.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Jackson County?
A: “Tic because he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and he loves Jefferson football.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Colorado, so I could go ski.”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “’Transformers.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Live everyday like your last.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To own a monkey.”
Q: What are 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive) ?
A: “Nickleback, Metallica, Luke Combs”
Q: With whom would you love to have lunch? And where locally would you have this lunch?
A: “Ray Lewis, at Bojangles.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Jackson County?
A: “It’s a small county, and everyone knows each other.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Coaching football at a high school.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “Before games, I listen to slow instrumental music.”
Q: What three words mean home to you?
A: “Family, friends, and football”
Thank you so much for following this community project, The Faces of Hall County! If you have a positive member of our community that you would like to nominate please email Brad Abernathy at rbradabernathy@gmail.com.
