Annual KFOA Media Day event ‘kicks off’ the season
By Steve Williams
Thirty-nine high school football teams, including 19 from The Knoxville Focus’ coverage area, attended the 18th annual KFOA Media Day Friday. The event was held at the Three Ridges Golf Course pavilion from around 8 in the morning to noon.
Some consider it “the kick off” to the season.
Head coaches bring their top two to three players and are interviewed by local TV and radio stations, newspaper sports reporters and other digital media outlets.
Forty teams were on the list, but The King’s Academy did not attend as the Lions’ head coach stepped down this summer and Phillip Troutman reportedly had just come on as an acting head coach in late June.
Two 2024 state champions though – Alcoa and Sevier County – were on the scene and the Smoky Bears’ junior quarterback, Cooper Newman, was among those to meet the press.
On a dark note, new Seymour coach Caleb Olive said running back Ryan Gibson, who set a new single-season rushing record as a junior for Seymour in 2024, accumulating 1,554 yards in 10 games, would not be playing for the Eagles this year.
FOUR SCHOOLS in the Focus’ coverage area have new head coaches this season – Brad Taylor at Bearden, Barron Chandler at West, Olive at Seymour and currently Troutman as the acting head coach at TKA.
Former Carter Head Coach Heath Woods has returned to a head coaching position at Pigeon Forge, replacing Scott Meadows, who announced early in the 2024 season he would be stepping down.
HAROLD DENTON, the KFOA Media Day Chairman and TSSAA Officials Supervisor in the Knox area, noted there always is a need for new officials and to contact him if you’re interested at 865-256-1948 or at TNRef4e@icloud.com.
Denton also pointed out the association continues to raise funds for KFOA Scholarships with its Scholarship Golf tournament that was held Friday at the Three Ridges course. Thus far the KFOA has awarded 94 scholarships for $203,000 to 28 of the schools the association serves.
Twenty-two teams competed in this year’s golf tournament.
