High School Media Days
BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION —
High School Media Days will be hosted by iHeartMedia’s local radio station, FOX Sports the Game 910-1310, on July 23-24. The two-day event is sponsored by The Orthopaedic Clinic and hosted at the Bottling Plant Event Center. Twenty-four local high school football head coaches and a few players from their teams will take center stage in front of 40+ media representatives from TV, print, digital and sports sites from around Alabama.
High School Media Days will air live on iHeartRadio’s FOX Sports the Game 910AM-1310AM, the iHeartRadio app, foxsportsthegame.com and on WOTM TV (Channel 80 on Charter Spectrum). Fans can hear a preview of their favorite local football team and other local teams over a two day period. Coverage begins each morning at 6 a.m. with a special edition of “On the Mark” on location prior to coverage of Media Days. During the two-hour preview show each morning, you will hear new AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon; former coach, superintendent and head of AHSAA Dan Washburn; AISA Athletic Director Roddie Beck.
The staff at iHeartRadio Auburn-Opelika station works with The Observer to provide the best coverage for our listeners and readers. The Observer staff will provide summaries of the 24 schools after media days concludes.
Here is the schedule for High School Media Days:
Tuesday, July 23
- 8-8:15 a.m.: AHSAA Director Heath Harmon
- 8:15-8:30 a.m.: Valley High School (Adam Hunter)
- 8:35-8:50 a.m.: Reeltown High School (Matt Johnson)
- 8:55-9:10 a.m.: LaFayette High School (Juan Williams)
- 9:15-9:30 a.m.: Springwood School (Joey Burch)
- 9:35-9:50 a.m.: Loachapoka High School (Brandon Hall)
- 9:55-10:10 a.m.: Booker T. Washington High School (Deandre Austin)
- 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Russell County High School (Dillon Griggs)
- 10:35-10:50 a.m.: Beulah High School (Matthew Johnson)
- 10:55-11:10 a.m.: Beauregard High School (Justin Jones)
- 11:15-11:30 a.m.: Handley High School (Larry Strain)
- 11:35-11:50 a.m.: Elmore County High School (Kyle Caldwell)
- 11:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m.: Auburn High School (Keith Etheredge)
Wednesday, July 24
- 8-8:15 a.m.: AISA Director Roddie Beck
- 8:15-8:30 a.m.: Chambers Academy (Jason Allen)
- 8:35-8:50 a.m.: Southern Prep (Roland Bell)
- 8:55-9:10 a.m.: Lee-Scott Academy (Buster Daniel)
- 9:15-9:30 a.m.: Notasulga High School (Anthony Jones)
- 9:35-9:50 a.m.: Lanett High School (R.J. McDonald)
- 9:55-10:10 a.m.: Glenwood School (Ryan Nelson)
- 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Benjamin Russell High School (Smitty Grider)
- 10:35-10:50 a.m.: Dadeville High School (Chad McKelvey)
- 10:55-11:10 a.m.: Smiths Station High School (Bryant Garrison)
- 11:15-11:30 a.m.: Tallassee High School (Lawrence O’Neal)
- 11:35-11:50 a.m.: Horseshoe Bend High School (Jeremy Phillips)
- 11:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m.: Opelika High School (Bryan Moore)
OPELIKA ATHLETICS
Opelika High Athletic Department is preparing for fall sports as July arrives and August looms. Student-athletes will be practicing for football, volleyball, cheerleading, cross county and band in extreme heat. It is important to keep hydrated and wear light and loose clothes to help with temperatures.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.
