VALDOSTA — The 2007 Lowndes Vikings overcame a disappointing season opener and worked to regain their place as state champions.
The hard work culminated as Lowndes held its annual football banquet Thursday night. Following a dinner reception, coach Randy McPherson introduced guests such as Lowndes County Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith and Lowndes High Principal Wes Taylor, before quarterback coach William Davis brought up the banquet’s guest speaker Jay Ratliff.
Ratliff wore the crimson and silver from 1996-1999, starring as an All-State tight end as part of the ’99 state championship team.
Since Lowndes, Ratliff has gone on to Auburn where he switched positions to defensive end, and was then drafted in the seventh round, No. 224 overall in 2005, by the Dallas Cowboys.
After two years of hard work, moving up from not dressing every game, to being a back up defensive lineman to being a starter last season, Ratliff recently signed a five-year extension worth $20.5 million.
Being just three years removed from college, Ratliff is just as much a stranger to speaking at assemblies as he is familiar with the gridiron.
In his first speech in front of a large crowd Ratliff looked straight into the eyes of the 2007 Vikings seated directly in front of him and told them what coach Randy Hill emphasizes to all his players, do right and work hard.
“I was going to out-work everybody,” Ratliff said in his speech. “That was my mentality.”
Ratliff did just that on the turf of Martin Stadium, but also brought up the fact that he didn’t put his best effort on the rest of the grounds of Lowndes High.
“I’ll be honest,” Ratliff said. “I didn’t graduate from Lowndes High. It was one of the most humiliating experiences ever.”
Ratliff had to complete his education at Hargrove Academy military school, where his academic attitude changed.
“I said I want to be the bright student I know I am,” Ratliff said.
At Hargrove, Ratliff’s excellence continued on the football field and even reached the classroom where he was named to the Dean’s list.
From there he earned entrance to Auburn and the rest is history.
He pleaded with the young Vikings’ that they continued to work hard no matter how much success they reached.
“I wanted to talk to them, I didn’t want to god a speech,” Ratliff said following the banquet. “I was thinking, if I was sitting in those seats and somebody came out and just read a speech to me, I wouldn’t take what he said serious. I wouldn’t believe a word he said. I thought I would share my experience, and tell them exactly how it is.”
The eyes looking back at the third-year pro told him that it might have hit home.
“Some of these guys have been through the same thing,” Ratliff said. “I’m just trying to prevent other guys form going the same route.”
Following the evening a large line gathered to shake hands and receive autographs from the ’99 state champion, but during the event it was all about the ’07 state champs.
After Ratliff’s speech McPherson handed out the only individual awards of the evening to Paul Johnson, Daniel Swain, Jamie Cornelius and Thomas Weekly for the top grade point average in their respective classes.
Each varsity position coach then acknowledged the players they coached, followed by the presentation of the championship rings.
Each player, coach, cheerleader and support staff, including each coach’s significant other was given a ring, which was funded by Pinnacle Prime.
“It was a good banquet,” McPherson said. “It was a really close-knit team. They gave it their all. They played as a team, that’s how we won it.”
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Jay Ratliff of the Dallas Cowboys stressed the importance of academic success as well as athletic success Thursday.
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