GREENE COUNTY
Greene County head wrestling coach and assistant football coach, Aubrey Fortson, is helping his players give back to the local community while summer workouts loom right around the corner.
A few months ago, Fortson took a group of 23 football players to the Hancock State Prison in Sparta, and not only used the trip as a learning experience but as an opportunity for the kids to be introduced to new job opportunities as well.
Fortson, who’s going into his second year with the football program, told the Lake Oconee News that it was really beneficial for everyone who was able to attend.
“It was a learning experience on both sides, and what I mean by that is they were able to tour the facility and learn about the day-to-day operations, and that was treated as a potential career opportunity for them,” Fortson said. “Aside from that, they were able to talk with six to seven inmates about their life choices and what led to them being in there. It wasn’t like a ‘Scared Straight’ trip or anything like that, but more of a learning experience for the kids.”
Part of Greene County’s recent success between the pylons has stemmed from the overall culture change second-year head coach Terrance Banks has brought to the program.
Winning the day and having a consistent work ethic are preached in the Tigers’ locker room and on the practice field, but Fortson has now taken that outside the field.
On top of their last trip, Fortson already has other events over the course of June that will help broaden the players’ community service outreach.
“It’ll be mostly seniors, but we’re going to the nursing home in the Greensboro area on June 6 to visit with some of the patients and help out with anything around the facility until we leave later in the day,” Fortson said. “Also, on June 22 we will be going to City Hall to visit with [Greensboro Police] Chief [Rodricus] Monford, who will provide some activities and give us a tour to help the kids learn about that career path.”
Additionally, Fortson believes that visiting different places in the community helps the team’s image along with the players’ character.
“There are a few different purposes behind having our guys do some community service, but one of them is really just to have our football team be shed in a different light,” Fortson said. “We’re also trying to give back to our community in Greensboro so that we can show everybody that we’re not just over here playing football, but being active in our community as well. We want them to know that we appreciate them while trying to build up strong, young men.”
With a full slate of summer workouts, camps and practices to attend on top of the additional community service, the Tigers will have their plates full, but all in the interest of getting better on- and off the field.