MEMORIAL DAY SCHOOL
BLUE THUNDER
2008 GISA AA STATE CHAMPIONS
2009 GISA AA STATE CHAMPIONS

Where do I begin ?  Who do I thank first ?  We have so much to be thankful for and yet again, this season has been so special.
There are the many parents who have supported us all season by first choosing Memorial Day School for thier child...and it is a choice.  We are thankful to them for all that they do and all that they have to put up with during a football season.
The season began for us last November 28th, that's 2008, following our first State Championship game.  When the celebrating stopped that Friday night - my coaching staff turned to me and told me that we would do this again this year.  Oh...I had my doubts, after all we were losing so many players like Antonio Proctor, C.J. Smith, and the best O-Line and D-Line in the state.  But they were confident that we had the players and the staff to have a historic season.
We had a good summer camp and our players committed themselves to a goal of winning it all again.  But during the ensuing season - it seemed that that goal would never be attained.  There were doubters.....but the coaching staff and players never lost their drive and their quest and the rest, as they say.... IS HISTORY !!.
We all went along for an incredible ride this football season and no ride was more heart-stopping than the championship game this Friday at Brentwood School in Sandersville.  If you were there - you have our sincere thanks and gratitude for making the trip and for being a part of our celebration.  You had to be there to understand that this game was one where you stopped breathing for a while, your heart stopped beating for a while as you rode the roller coaster of emotions.
A special "shout out" to some special folks.  First, Reid Oates, who has no child and never has had a child at Memorial Day.  Reid is the professional Physical Therapist from the Eisenhower Medical Associates (Dr. Paul Bradley / Dr. Steve Corse / Dr. David Gaskin)...who volunteered his time to keep our players in tip-top shape all season. 
And then there is the best group of volunteer parents - Dr. Becky Sanchez, our sideline physician and full-time Memorial supporter.  Mr. Robert Jarecki who kept us supplied with "Thunder Juice" and filled so many responsibilities along the sidelines at every game.  Mr. Chuck Sowell who packed his trailer and hitched it to his truck and followed the team carrying all of our equipment to our games.  Russ Barbor did whatever was asked whether it was to help carry equipment, give a pep talk and then you never saw him during the game because he did the terribly important job of filming all of our contests......a task that was of the highest importantance to our coaching staff.
Mrs. Cheryl Tootle who drove our cheerleaders to every game and took control of our big bus when we needed her to bring the team to a local game.
To all the Moms who cooked and served our pre-game meals and to Juanita Thompson and NeeCee Wright for making sure we were fed and ate correctly.
And there are others who wish to remain "anonymous"....we thank you.
Thank You to the hard working team of young ladies...our Varsity Cheerleaders - who traveled every mile with us and stood in the cold and the rain cheering on the Blue Thunder to another State Championship.
But I can't end here without thanking 5 guys who spent too many hours away from home.  Who spent days reviewing game film and making game plans.  Who spent their Friday nights coaching our team, motivating our team, encouraging our team....and keeping them focused "on the dream".  Head Coach Michael Thompson - he and I rode every Saturday morning to some far off destination to exchange game tapes.  He came home and watched hours of film making a game plan for his Blue Thunder. As the defensive coach - well, you saw what he did this season and at no time was that more evident than in the final seconds of the state championship game.  Offensive genius Tony Welch, that knew we had many tools in the tool box to win it all and kept me calmed down on the sidelines when I thought we had lost it.  Then the three who receive no compensation other than our heartfelt and sincere thanks....Bo Dudley, Darien Thompson and Adam Kellam.  These are unsung heroes of the game.
I am sure that I have left someone off the list - but you will have to excuse me because my mind is still somewhere between Savannah and Sandersville.
This has been a great ride.  It has been a roller coaster at times and no worse than last night with under a minute to play.
To our many fans, parents, coaches, and players....savor the moment.  This is a time that you will remember for the rest of your lifes.  This is a team that can stand tall and say that they are THE BEST AA FOOTBALL TEAM IN GISA.  That we are Memorial Day School....proud to be a part of our family.
You all have a lot to be proud of and I am so very proud of you all.

MARK SUSSMAN