Countdown to football

Football season is just around the corner and I'm not going to lie, I'm scared. I have never gone through a football season at the Athens Banner-Herald with only 3 photographers on staff. We lost our boss and an open position during layoffs in January. High School football alone is enough to keep us busy, but the juggernaut that is University of Georgia football is enough to make us crazy. We staff 3 photographers and a videographer at every home game and send 2 photographers to away games. When you also add high school games and 5 or so football related sportraits per week to our magazine and daily assignments... things are going to get ugly.

Last weekend I shot the annual Countdown to Kickoff event at the University of Georgia football practice fields. Everywhere I looked I saw and heard zealous fans literally counting down the minutes until the first kickoff at Sanford Stadium. I myself love football. There is little more exciting than working the sidelines just inches from the action, adrenaline pumping, as the game unfolds. So, I am scared of being overworked and burning out, but I'm counting on getting caught up in the excitement to carry me through.


Autographed helmets sit on a table during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.

Georgia football players sign a large decorate "G" for Wayne Parker of Jackson during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.

James Hilliard, 6, of Auburn waves to Georgia quarterback Joe Cox as he signs a football helmet for him during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.



Justin Johnson, 11, of Colbert, left, and Jack Holder, 12, of Atlanta battle it out during a blow-up jousting game at the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.


Jacob Jones, 2, of Tifton poses for a picture with Georgia cheerleaders during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields

Georgia tailback Caleb King, right, laughs while signing autographs during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.
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Tyler Courson, 3, of Hull climbs under a giant Bulldog statue during the annual Countdown to Kickoff event Saturday July 18, 2009, at the Woodruff Practice Fields.