Tift County Touchdown Club looking for support

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, August 17, 2022

TIFTON — The Tift County Touchdown Club is looking for support. This was the message Monday, Aug. 15 at a meeting held at the Elks Lodge by head coach Noel Dean and Touchdown Club leader Spud Bowen.

Dean addressed those at the meeting about his plans for the football program. He said joining the squad as its head coach in January 2021 was “an intentional choice to be here.” Dean has a history of building and rebuilding programs in Michigan, with Bendle and Lowell.

“I wanted another challenge,” said Dean. “I wanted to build something special. We are going to build something special.”

His first year at Tift saw the team achieve its first winning record since 2018 and win its first region game since the same year. Younger squads blossomed as well, with both the 6th and 8th grade teams winning their championships. Even kids too young for those programs are getting into the act. More than 700 participated in youth football and a large crowd of youngsters were there for Farmers for Football.

“I was looking for a chance to build something special at a school that needs something special,” he said.

The Devils are a young squad, which Dean said was to be expected, as are the smaller numbers on the roster. Tift has 12 seniors, a low number for a large school, but part of the process of Dean establishing standards. “Trident True” are his core values, focusing on strength, commitment, academics and character. To play for Tift County, “You have to earn the privilege,” said Dean.

Bowen said the efforts are already evident. Lowndes scored almost at will in the May spring game between the two. On Aug. 5, the fall scrimmage rematch, Tift won, 8-7. The turnaround, said Bowen, “Spoke volumes.” The season is far from over, said Bowen, but he is confident of what is to come, not just on the field, but off. The goal is more than football. “It’s about teaching these folks to be young men,” said Bowen.

The Blue Devils’ new assistant coaches were at the Touchdown Club meet and each introduced themselves and listed their specialty. They and the returning staff members have “put in a lot of effort,” Dean said.

Bowen said he knows the Touchdown Club dues may be too steep for some supporters. Money, however, is not a requirement to support football in the county. Bowen said the Touchdown Club appreciates time from volunteers just as much.

Money, of course, is necessary for supporting high school athletics. Bowen mentioned numbers from Valdosta and Colquitt County. “It takes a community effort,” he said.

And football is more than Friday nights. The Touchdown Club reported that more than $3,000 was raised for the Pink Cup Foundation through Walk With the Blue Devils. High school players have been involved with community service projects outside of school.

More is to come. The turf practice field is nearly complete, quite useful as Tift County is one of a minority of large schools in Georgia playing their home games on natural grass.

Touchdown Club base packages run from $100 to $5,000. The $100 base includes general season tickets, a decal and license plate. More is added in each package, with opportunities from everything from reserved season tickets and VIP parking to scoreboard ads, golf tournament entries and Coach Dean making a guest appearance at a business.

Beyond the standard packages are add-ons for radio commercials and promos on Tift County football radio broadcasts. The Touchdown Club is also open to those wanting to be sponsors for shows and events.

For the players, the Touchdown Club provides equipment and uniform accessories, as well as team dinners, transportation and youth camps.

For more information, visit tiftfootball.com. Bowen said anyone interested can reach out to him at (229) 392-4249.