Baker County, Baldwin opt to stick with ACD

Baker County, Baldwin opt to stick with ACD

By MELISSA BURNSED

Questions about the ACD financial future have been perplexing area coaches and even led to Bradford County dropping the Arlington Country Day Apaches from their schedule. (See related story)

Coaches are questioning the viability of ACD’s football program and whether staying committed for this fall’s games would leave them short one game opponent, in light of all the news coverage about the schools current crisis of ownership.

Coaches are questioning the viability of ACD’s football program and whether staying committed for this fall’s games would leave them short one game opponent, in light of all the news coverage about the schools current crisis of ownership.

Baker County Wildcat Head Coach Bobby Johns and Baldwin Indians’ Head Coach Andy Giddens are among the group of concerned varsity team leaders. Both have committed to sticking with the troubled school following assurances from Apaches Head Coach James Simms.

"He’s a real good guy and I am putting all my marbles in his basket. Coach Simms had the opportunity to go with another program but he chose to stay with ACD and I don’t think he would have done that if he didn’t feel they were going to play ball this season. I am trusting that his word is good," said Johns.

The Wildcats coach did have the option of picking up another opponent, when the Nease Panthers lost one of their scheduled games. But with the prospect of facing a top team like the Panthers, right before his squad would have faced district foe Raines in one of their biggest games of the season, it’s easy to understand why Coach Johns decided to stick with ACD.

The Cats are scheduled to host the Apaches in their third season game on September 19.

The possibility of losing the funding from a home game was the prime reason why Indians’ Head Coach Andy Giddens decided to honor his contract with ACD for his team’s first game on September 5.

"Coach Sims called me last week and said he was going to have a team. I am going to hold him to his word and stick with ACD," he said.

"I can’t afford to lose a home game from our schedule, but when I first heard about the situation I did call around and the closest school that had their first week of the season open was down near Winter Haven. It‘s hard to find a team to fill in this close to the start of the season," Giddens added.