『The Town Square Podcast』のカバーアート

The Town Square Podcast

The Town Square Podcast

著者： Trey Bailey Gabriel Stovall
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Not just another podcast, but a place to meet in the messy middle and have difficult discussions with transparency and diplomacy where the outcome is unity, not uniformity.

The primary topics will be the local interests of Newton County, Georgia residents and those in the surrounding community.

All rights reserved. スピリチュアリティ マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ 人間関係 個人的成功 政治・政府 政治学 社会科学 科学 経済学 自己啓発
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  • Coach Josh Skelton: Outwork Everybody – Building Newton Rams Football Culture and Chasing Championships – Episode 53

    Coach Josh Skelton: Outwork Everybody – Building Newton Rams Football Culture and Chasing Championships – Episode 53
    2025/08/13
    In Episode 53 of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey sit down with Newton High School Head Football Coach Josh Skelton for a deep dive into what it takes to lead a high school football powerhouse in Georgia’s toughest region. Skelton, now entering his third season as head coach, shares stories of his journey from volunteer to leader, his vision for the Rams’ culture, and how Newton High is preparing for a big 2025 season.This episode is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and community connection. Whether you’re a Newton County local, a Georgia high school football fan, or simply someone who values the role sports play in shaping young lives, this conversation delivers insights, inspiration, and a whole lot of Rams pride.From Volunteer to Head RamCoach Skelton’s journey began in 2012 when he volunteered a few days a week for Newton High’s football program. Originally from DeKalb County and a graduate of Stevenson High School, Skelton moved to the area after college at Jacksonville State. His early years at Newton were spent learning the ropes, building relationships, and eventually serving as weight room coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and defensive coordinator.By the time he was named head coach, Skelton had already invested years into the program and the community. Now entering his third season at the helm, he’s guiding the Rams with the same values that got him here: hard work, accountability, and an unwavering belief in his players.The Changing Face of High School SportsHigh school sports in 2025 look very different from a decade ago. Skelton points to the rise of year-round specialization, elite travel teams, and the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules as major shifts in the landscape. Gone are the days when three-sport athletes were the norm—now, families are making strategic decisions about where their children play, sometimes relocating for better athletic opportunities.For Skelton, adaptation is key. He’s proactive about bringing in speakers to educate players and parents on NIL, contracts, and financial literacy. While NIL hasn’t yet transformed high school sports at the same scale as college, he knows it’s coming and wants Newton athletes prepared for the opportunities—and pitfalls—ahead.Roster Breakdown: Young Talent, Veteran LeadershipThe 2025 Newton Rams are a young team, but they’re far from inexperienced.Quarterback: Four-year starter Deron Benson returns as a leader both on and off the field. An AP student with a sharp football mind, Benson is like a coach on the field—trusted to read defenses and make adjustments in real time.Running Back Corps: This might be Newton’s deepest position group. Headlined by Kevin Hartsfield—a nationally ranked RB with offers from Ohio State and Georgia—this room also includes senior Kaden Hambright, sophomore Tabian Thomas, and freshman Karter Lumpkin, son of NFL alum Kregg Lumpkin.Offensive Line: Anchored by veterans Corde Marks and DeMario Morgan, the line is one of the most experienced in recent years and should be a strength for the Rams’ offense.Defense: While the D-line lost key players, leaders like George Bell are stepping up. The secondary is loaded with juniors, including top-rated corner Omarion Wallace and all-state safety Braylon Miller.Skelton believes chemistry in the locker room—especially in the backfield—is the team’s secret weapon.Culture: #OutworkEverybodyIf there’s one phrase that defines Newton Rams football, it’s #OutworkEverybody. This isn’t just about lifting more weight or running more sprints—it’s about consistency in the classroom, respect in the community, and preparation for life after football.“We want to outwork people in the classroom, in the community, and in everything we do,” Skelton says. “When we approach game day, we want to feel like we’ve done absolutely everything possible to prepare.”Facilities and the Home Field AdvantageNewton High is on the verge of opening its own stadium—a long-awaited upgrade that will give the Rams their own home turf for the first time in decades. Skelton and his players drive past the construction site daily, watching the progress. While seniors won’t get to play in the new facility, the anticipation is energizing the program.The new stadium won’t match the size of Georgia’s most lavish high school venues, but for Skelton, the value is in ownership and pride. “When you can call it yours, that’s special,” he says.Rivalries and CommunityFew games in Georgia high school football rival the atmosphere of Newton vs. Eastside. Skelton describes it as a true rivalry where records don’t matter—just pride, preparation, and bragging rights. Players on both sides often grew up together, only to face off under the Friday night lights with the whole community watching.The tradition is so strong that it draws comparisons to South Georgia football towns...
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    43 分
  • Coach Spencer Fortson: Building Belief and a Winning Culture at Alcovy High School – Episode 51

    Coach Spencer Fortson: Building Belief and a Winning Culture at Alcovy High School – Episode 51
    2025/08/13
    In Episode 51 of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey sit down with Coach Spencer Fortson, head football coach of the Alcovy High School Tigers, for an in-depth, energetic, and inspiring conversation about building a winning football culture in South Newton County. From summer practices that were anything but easy, to a brand-new motto that’s shaping the entire Alcovy football community, Coach Fortson pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to lead a high school football program.Whether you’re a diehard Tiger fan, a Newton County football follower, or just someone who loves hearing about leadership, culture-building, and community, this episode delivers a game plan worth studying.From Newton to Alcovy: Coach Fortson’s JourneyCoach Spencer Fortson has been coaching for over 17 years, with experience at multiple levels, including time on staff at Newton High School before becoming Alcovy’s head coach. This year marks his fourth season leading the Tigers—a role that comes with both big challenges and big opportunities.Since stepping into the program, Fortson has made academic achievement, player accountability, and culture-building his top priorities. One of his proudest stats? Last year’s senior class graduated with an overall 3.12 GPA, up from around 2.2 when he first arrived.A Challenging Summer of PreparationThe Tigers’ summer was far from routine.Due to ongoing construction of new facilities at all three Newton County high schools, Alcovy was displaced from its home practice field all summer long. The team practiced at Indian Creek Middle School and Sharp Stadium, constantly adjusting to rain delays and field access challenges.Coach Fortson’s response? Stay positive, stay moving, and keep building the team’s chemistry. He introduced “Tiger Days” in July—extended practice days with extra team-building activities to reinforce camaraderie and belief.A Home Field Advantage, FinallyOne of the biggest developments for Alcovy—and Newton County football in general—is that each high school will soon have its own home stadium. For Alcovy, which is located 20–25 minutes from Sharp Stadium, this is huge.“When your home games are a 25-minute drive away, it’s hard to truly feel like it’s your home,” Fortson explains. “Now, with a stadium right in our backyard, our student body can go straight from class to the game. That’s going to change everything.”This move promises to boost community engagement, create a stronger home-field advantage, and deepen school spirit.The 2025 Motto: Believe!Every season, Coach Fortson picks a theme based on the previous year’s lessons. For 2025, the word is BELIEVE.The idea?Believe in each other.Believe in the process.Believe in the success they can achieve together.From the players to the coaching staff, student body, and community, Fortson wants everyone to share that belief and live it out every day.Key Players to WatchThis year’s Tigers bring a mix of seasoned seniors and promising underclassmen:Kaeden Booker – Senior leader and starter since his freshman year.Kendrick Henderson – Sophomore standout who plays both receiver and safety.Kavion Sutton – Senior with versatility at QB, receiver, and DB.Ayden Goddard – Former starting QB, now a utility player across multiple positions.Kenneth Trey Bryant – Junior QB stepping into a leadership role.Up front, the trenches are being rebuilt, but names like Jevontae Jones, Isaiah Clennon, and Justin Heywood will be critical to the team’s success.Building Beyond the FieldFor Coach Fortson, success isn’t just about wins and losses. His program focuses on producing positive young men who will go on to contribute to their community. That means:Year-round weight training and conditioning.Academic monitoring and accountability.In-house recruitment of students who should be playing football.Involving alumni and community leaders to grow the program’s reach.The Road AheadThe Tigers open the season on Thursday at 6 p.m. against Arabia Mountain High School, coached by Fortson’s longtime friend Kenneth Miller. The early part of the schedule is no cakewalk—Alcovy faces Newton, Eastside, and Rockdale before region play begins. But Fortson sees the tough non-region games as the perfect preparation for Region 8-5A competition.The long-term goal? Make the playoffs, but do it by focusing on one play at a time.Alcovy Tigers Schedule:Aug 14 - @ Arabia MountainAug 22 - NewtonAug 29 - @ EastsideSep 5 - RockdaleSep 19 - @ Winder Barrow*Sep 25 - Jackson Co*Oct 10 - @ Habersham Central*Oct 17 - Apalachee*Oct 24 - Clark Central*Oct 31 - @ Loganville*Follow Alcovy Tigers FootballTwitter: @AlcovyFootballInstagram: @AlcovyHighSchoolFBFacebook: Alcovy High SchoolImportant Links from This EpisodeThe Town Square Podcast: www.TheTownSquarePodcast.comListen to All Episodes: Podcast EpisodesDonate to Support the Show: Click HereSCB Construction ...
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    37 分
  • Coach Jay Cawthon: Bleeding Green and Building Culture at Eastside High School – Episode 52

    Coach Jay Cawthon: Bleeding Green and Building Culture at Eastside High School – Episode 52
    2025/08/13
    Welcome back to The Town Square Podcast, where local advocates for a better Newton County bring their different perspectives to the messy middle—a space where our aim is unity, not uniformity. I’m Trey Bailey, alongside my co-host Gabriel Stovall, and this week we’re talking high school football, team culture, and the power of tradition with a Newton County legend—Coach Jay Cawthon, head football coach of the Eastside High School Eagles.In this extended conversation, Coach Cawthon gives us an inside look at the upcoming season, the players to watch, the lessons learned from last year’s playoff run, and how Eastside football has built a standard that’s about much more than the scoreboard. Whether you’re a diehard Eagle fan, a Newton County sports follower, or just someone who loves hearing how leaders shape young lives, this episode is full of insights, laughs, and that small-town pride we love to celebrate.Summer Work, Year-Round CommitmentIf you think high school football is just a fall sport, Coach Cawthon will set the record straight. In Newton County—and especially at Eastside—football is a year-round commitment. After last season’s Elite Eight appearance, his players only got about a month off before workouts resumed on January 6th.But it’s not just about grinding every day. In fact, one of Coach Cawthon’s deliberate changes over the past few years has been balancing work with rest. June practices run just three days a week, allowing players time for family, summer jobs, and other sports. July ramps up to four days a week, and once the season starts, it’s full throttle. The approach keeps players fresh and focused for the long haul.Battling the Georgia Heat (and the Rain)This summer threw everything at the Eagles—40+ straight days of 90°+ heat, followed by over a week of nonstop rain. Add in Georgia’s infamous humidity, and the challenge isn’t just about perfecting plays—it’s about keeping players safe.That’s where the wet bulb temperature reading comes in. For those unfamiliar, it’s a safety metric that combines temperature and humidity to determine how dangerous outdoor activity might be. Coach Cawthon takes readings starting 90 minutes before practice and follows strict guidelines—if the wet bulb hits a certain level, practice moves indoors. It’s all about player safety first. As Cawthon puts it, “I don’t think losing one day outside is going to win or lose you a championship.”The 2025 Eastside Eagles – Players to WatchWhile Eastside lost several key players from last year’s roster, the cupboard is far from bare. Cawthon is excited to see young, homegrown players step up under the Friday night lights.Key Returning Players:Xavier Joseph – Star defensive end, App State commit, two-way player, early enrollee candidate.Payton Shaw – Three-year starting quarterback who got his first snaps as a freshman.Myles Mims & Tyler Solomon – Talented running backs in a deep rotation.Chase Jordan – Shifty wide receiver with experience and sure hands.Decorey Crumbley – Havoc-wreaking defensive lineman.Jameel McMichael – Returning linebacker ready to step into a leadership role.Rising Talents:Garrett Brooks – Promising wide receiver with a strong summer.Adrian Bird – Offensive tackle stepping into a big role.Cameron Griffith – Young talent with potential to surprise.Jonathan Gomez – Kicker who led the state in touchbacks last season.Haseen Camacho – Sophomore punter ready to prove himself.Coaching Staff Continuity and CultureOne of Eastside’s secrets to success? Stability on the coaching staff. Cawthon has been at the school for 21 years, with many assistants having decades of combined experience. Several are former Eastside players who’ve returned to give back to the program that shaped them.Cawthon credits this longevity to:Family-first scheduling (efficient use of time, no unnecessary late nights at the office).Opportunities for professional growth.A shared commitment to “The Standard.”The Standard – More Than FootballAt Eastside, “The Standard” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a way of life. It applies to the field, the classroom, and the community. From day one, players are taught that there’s a right way to do things, and that way doesn’t change for anyone. It’s about accountability, respect, and pride in wearing the green and white.And while “The Standard” is the official mantra, another unofficial nickname has fueled the team’s underdog mentality for years—“Little Old Eastside.” As the smallest high school in Newton County, Eastside often faces larger programs, but their track record of sending athletes to college (and even the NFL) proves that size isn’t everything.Looking Ahead – The 2025 SeasonThe Eagles’ schedule is no cupcake run. Non-region games include Newton, Hiram, Alcovy, and Archer, along with Flowery Branch and Madison County for homecoming. Region 6...
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    36 分
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