BRUNSWICK, Ga. – On an overcast morning, the Co-Lin Blue WaveShow Band put their best foot forward for the Brunswick ChristmasParade. Besides local residents, the band was greeted by a largegroup of Co-Lin faithful who made the 700-mile journey forSaturday’s Golden Isles Bowl Classic.

The parade watchers included three van loads of Japanesevisitors who had a film fest with their cameras. Most of them tookturns posing with the Co-Lin Wolf mascot as the procession made itsway down Glouchester Street.

Give the Co-Lin band credit for hard work and dedication. Theyarrived at the Days Inn located on Jekyll Island Friday night andimmediately departed for Glynn County Stadium for a round ofpractice under the direction of R. Shaw Furlow, Chris Warren,Shelly Huskey and Stanley Stewart. The Colette/Color Guard alsodrilled in the damp sea air.

The band’s Hawaiian-theme halftime show received a standingovation.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, was Grand Marshallfor the parade. He is a Glynn County native and a graduate of GlynnAcademy. He was the No. 1 draft choice out of high school by theAtlanta Braves.

The Co-Lin Wolfpack football team arrived Thursday morning afteran all-night ride following Wednesday’s final practice in StoneStadium. They also were headquartered at the lovely Days Innlocated on Jekyll Island, a quiet resort area where the AtlanticOcean laps at the back door of the Inn. Jekyll Island includes4,500 acres of land, complimented by three golf courses, abeautiful convention center and seven miles of beach. It hosts 250conventions a year.

Connecting the island to Brunswick is a picturesque 1.5-milebridge which arches high above the bay.

Co-Lin and its opponent, Georgia Military College, were honoredwith a Friday night banquet at the Jekyll Island Convention Center.They were treated to a delicious buffet dinner. Each team memberand coach was presented with wrist watches.

Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis and his staff have been busypreparing their team for the GMC Bulldogs. Obviously, the Wolfpackappreciates the opportunity to showcase their skills and representCo-Lin.

After GMC head coach Bert Williams introduced his team at thebanquet, Coach Davis took his turn at the podium. He complimentedthe host Sea Island Company and their staff of representatives. TheCo-Lin team buses received police escorts to each practice and eachevent, complete with sirens and blue lights.

Davis coached the Wolfpack to the South Division championshipthis season. He recognized the wife of each assistant coach andthanked them for their patience while their husbands were away fromhome coaching the football team. He also thanked his wife, Minta,for her support.

Certainly, it has been a long season. Preseason practice beganin August. Of course there’s never a slow time for college coaches.When they’re not practicing, they are out recruiting.

Co-Lin will lose a talented group of sophomores, including theentire starting offensive backfield in quarterback Cedric Johnson,voted MACJC Most Valuable Player; fullback Matt Delaughter andrunning back Aaron Johns. Also graduated will be two wide receiversin Anthony Chambliss and Thomas Hinton, Jr. plus four linemen inZach Ray, Kyle Tutor and D’Angelo Johnson, plus place-kicker NickGunter.

Graduation will make a heavy impact on defense, too. Sophomoresinclude end Kentario Hardy, tackles Jessie Bowman and Steven King,linebackers Blake Spiers and Michael Bibbs, cornerback JasperO’Quinn, and free safety Dorsett Pendleton. Gunter also punts.

Spiers (6-2, 200) has announced his intentions to sign withSouthern Miss. Certainly, USM head coach Jeff Bower has landed agood one in Spiers, a Brandon (Northwest Rankin) product.

For sure, Coach Davis needs another good recruiting year to keepthe Wolves in the upper echelon of the South Division. It’s arugged division from top to bottom.

The Co-Lin Spirit Bus departed the Wesson campus Friday morningat 5 a.m. Co-Lin president Dr. Howell Garner was a gracious host.He provided three coffee-filled thermoses and served the earlyarrivals. The cheerleaders were the last sleep-eyed passengers toarrive. The trip went well and the group of fans arrived inBrunswick after an 11-hour pull. The bus stopped in Tallahassee,Fla. for a quick lunch.

Oops. Garner’s wife accidentally left her purse at theMcDonald’s Restaurant. He quickly jumped off the bus, made ahalf-mile jog back to the restaurant and retrieved her purse. Whilethe bus idled next to the busy highway, Garner jogged back to thebus, with the purse tucked under his arm. He’s in good physicalcondition.