MACON, Ga. — On Monday, one football season will end when the LSU Tigers take on the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Here in Macon, another season is just getting started for Macon's resident semi-pro team, the Georgia Noles.
"We're giving them a second chance to fulfill their dream to actually play football," said Corey Flagg, owner and head coach of the Noles.
Flagg was a former semi-pro football player himself and started the team last year after the disbanding of the Georgia Crush. The team is made up of players from Macon and other surrounding counties, many of whom played their high school ball in the area.
Flagg wants to give his players a shot at playing at a higher level of football after high school.
"Like trying to get them film to go to school, maybe it's arena football or go to Canada because the league that we're in, the APDFL is associated with Canada Football."
The Amateur to Professional Developmental League provides a talent pipeline for Junior College, NCAA, the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football league. Players want to find their way onto a solid roster.
One such player is Torry Johnson, a receiver formerly of Jones County High School. Johnson's four uncles all played in the NFL. He joined the team after a few of his friends told him they were joining and said it's been a great shot at a second chance.
"Once high school ends, you don't know where you're gonna end up at. It's not always bad where you end up at, but sometimes it leaves you stuck and trying to figure out 'what's my next move.'"
Another is quarterback Kentel Kendrick, a former Peach County Trojan, who just wants a chance to play football again.
"You know it takes my mind off a lot. I just like the game. [I] love the game really," Kendrick said.
The team takes the game seriously and is wary of anyone joining who thinks they may just get to goof off.
"It's a tough league, it's not a play play league. You got to take it serious. It ain't no just you can talk about it. You have to live it," said captain and runningback Eric Williams.
Players do have to pay for their own equipment to play.
The Noles play on Saturdays this spring at the Highway 49 Recreation Complex near the Macon and Jones County border. The first game is February 29.