Oakdale to play 'Beyond the Bricks' in '08

By BRIAN LANGLEY

Morgan County News

Georgia plays between the hedges. Starting this season, Oakdale will be playing beyond the brick.

With the hard work of several prominent members of the Oakdale Booster Club, volunteers, and several businesses, a brick retaining wall has been constructed behind the home side sidelines on Hollis Eble Field.

“It definitely looks good from a distance, but there is some rough edges. As time goes it will start to grow in and look permanent even more. By this time next year it will be really nice. All the sod will be fresh and it will look very good,” said OHS football coach J.R. Voyles.

The hill along home sidelines has also been leveled to make things more appealing and a lot easier for the Eagle football team to move around.

“A lot of positive stuff going has been going on here at Oakdale and it is really good to be able to do some good things for the kids here at Oakdale,” said Voyles.

A project that would have cost at least $20,000, was virtually free with lots of materials, equipment, and labor donated.

According to Voyles, Adams Products out of Rockwood donated almost 1,000 blocks for the retaining wall and also the cap blocks. Proffitt Trucking out of Crossville donated crush and run rock. Midton Turf Company out of Chattanooga donated the sod. Robert Giles Construction out of Knoxville donated equipment to remove the bank and the rock.

“It was really great to get the support from the different businesses to help in this project. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the donations and services we received from these companies. We truly are thankful for their help,” said Voyles.

Steve Mathis, J.R. Voyles, Robert McCoy, Jonathan Mathis, Wayne Leamon, Jim Turner and Korbin Turner did the bulk of the work on the wall and helped sod part of the field last week. They got help from L.G. Headden, Glen Powers, Ryan Powers, and Richard Johnson on Saturday to help complete the wall.

“These guys came out and helped build this wall and did a lot of good work to get it done,” Voyles said.

Oakdale football team to meet Friday

“We’re going to have a meeting this Friday, July 18th at 6 p.m. at Oakdale School with all the kids that are playing now or those that are interested in playing. Myself and Duan Henry will be acting as coaches until a permanent replacement is found. That process has already started. Fred Snow working side by side with us to trying help keep the program moving forward. Right now, we’re just looking for kids,” said Voyles.

Physicals for players Saturday

Free physicals will be at Dr. McMillan’s office in Harriman at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19th. Players entering 7th and 9th grade will have to have a wellchild physical on their own.