Matt Stewart, GPB Sports play-by-play announcer
Today’s interviewee is Matt Stewart, the play-by-play announcer for GPB Sports’ Friday night games of the week. In his 28th consecutive year calling high school football, Stewart will be covering tonight’s North Gwinnett-Norcross game. Stewart also is a board member and host for the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will be Saturday night at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
1. What’s the best team, or player, or performance, you’ve seen this season? “Best team that I've seen this year is always a tough question because it always has to be measured relative to the team they were playing that night. With that in mind, I will say that I've seen seven teams that as I walked away from the broadcast booth that night, I could see that team winning a state championship. Just going in order of when I saw them – Hebron Christian; both Cartersville and Calhoun; Buford – as deep as ever, plays so many players, hard to truly gauge dominance, but talent is always there, and this year is no exception; Langston Hughes, stacked with talent, but 5A is deep; Gainesville; Milton, even though they lost that night, love their little gunslinger quarterback Ben Halevi, but injured quarterback Derrick Baker could be difference maker if he can come back 100%; McEachern, love what Kareem Reid has done with the program. Those are just the teams I've seen in person so far. I’ll see Carrollton in person next week.
“Player or performance, might surprise you, but North Paulding quarterback Tyler Niehr. Just trying to land a NAIA/D-III opportunity as a kicker, but that 5-foot-8 little stick of dynamite reminds me of Doug Flutie. We see some of the top prospects in the country every Friday night, but he plays his butt off. I hope he gets a shot at the next level."
2. Why did GPB pick North Gwinnett vs. Norcross? What are you looking forward to there? “When we get to the last two weeks of the regular season, we always want a region championship game, if possible. Bulldogs win, they are region champs. Blue Devils win, they control their own destiny. It's also a rivalry game. Both coaches agree for both it's probably their No. 1 rival. Norcross leads the series 15-14, including the 2013 state championship game victory, but the rivalry took off in 2006. The Bulldogs have won six straight in the series, but they always seem to go down to the fourth quarter. With their defense and the way the offense has grown this season, North Gwinnett is in the 6A state championship contender conversation. Love Bulldogs linebacker Jake Godfree. Old school Mike backer, he has his choice of college destinations. Wherever he goes he will make impact.”
3. The GHSA has passed a new playoff plan that will select and seed teams based on a points rating. You've been a proponent of that for a long time. What do you like about it, and what gives you pause? Some of the projections don't exactly correlate perfectly with human polls. “Anybody who has watched me the last 25 years knows I am a huge proponent. This is long overdue. Like Dr. Tim Scott said, it's not just about getting the best two in the finals, but also the best four in the semifinals, the best eight in the quarterfinals. The players deserve that. I had proposed seeding the region champs 1-8 and second place finishers 9-16 and then the next 16 based on ratings regardless of region finish. I think this would have been best compromise so as to maintain the importance of region schedules. I think the ratings will need to be tweaked. Don't think I agree that the PSR should be the only component. I would maybe include the GHSF Daily composite rankings as an additional component to bring a human element into it, like the BCS rankings. But overall I'm excited about the new format.”
4. Who are you most eager to see or talk with at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday? Who is the most intriguing inductee? “To me, easily the most intriguing inductee is Walt Frazier. I wish he could be there to share some stories about football back in 1963 playing at Howard High School in an era that thankfully is now a long way back in our rearview mirror. But so happy that the Hall has done a great job of honoring players from that time. The best ones are always the older players and their families who are just so touched and honored that they are remembered. Coleman and Jack Rudolph going in in the same year is really cool. Love it for Robert Edwards, Steve Wallace and Keith Brooking. Also ‘the young lefthander’ Kim King, who unfortunately is no longer with us, but I'm sure his family is honored. Good guy. Always kind to me.”
