…it’s knocking heads and talking trash
It’s slinging mud and dirt and grass
It’s I got your number, I got your back
when your backs against the wall.
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall
The words from the hit song by Kenny Chesney are appropriate when describing the efforts of Gavin Blue, a senior at Coalgate High School. The 6-0,175-pound leader of the Wildcats is a game changer on both sides of the football. “Gavin does everything for us. He plays quarterback or running back on offense then stays on the field as a mainstay in our defense at linebacker or safety,” explained head coach Nathan Hill. “He never quits. Gavin is a young man who plays with purpose exemplified through his efforts and leadership abilities.”
What fuels the fire of the multi-purpose player is evident in what Blue says matters most to him, both on and off the field. “The most important thing to me is to be a hard worker,” explained Blue. “Hard work can give you almost anything you want in life. My dad has told me this since I was young and it is something I’ve lived by since I was a kid. You have to be willing to put in the time.”
And, according to coach Hill, the two-way standout takes his commitment to the team to a higher level. “Gavin is a great leader. He takes the extra time to help our younger kids during workouts and teaches them what to do on certain plays in practice and on the sidelines during games,” said Hill. “Gavin also gives up his time to read to the elementary classes and took the lead in delivering gifts at Christmas to the nursing home. You could call Gavin our first responder. I wish we had 11 more just like Gavin.”
Blue, who owns a 3.95 GPA, enjoys the outdoors spending his free time hunting and fishing. His service to others lifestyle also explains the future plans for the Wildcats number 22. “I’m planning on a career as a firefighter,” explained Blue whose father is the fire chief in Coalgate. “What you do, not what you say defines who you really are. For me, that’s hard work and helping others any way I can.”
And by his efforts, Gavin Blue of Coalgate continues to prove that Character Counts.
Photo by Sherry Loudermilk Photography
