Propst says Lowndes coach’s denial of stealing signs is ‘a blatant lie’; GHSA is investigating
Colquitt County head football coach Rush Propst says Lowndes coach Randy McPherson is lying if he denies a conspiracy to steal signs last week in a football game between the two Region 1-AAAAAA schools, the Moultrie Observer is reporting.
Lowndes won the game 17-14. The Georgia High School Association confirmed Thursday that it is investigating allegations that a coach that Propst fired two years ago was using binoculars to watch Colquitt’s sideline and relaying signals to Lowndes’ coaching staff in the press box.
A video shows a man standing in front of the visiting press box and watching the game with binoculars, then apparently communicating with Lowndes’ coaches in the press box. The man alleged to be stealing the signs is Buzz Payne, now part of Thomas County Central’s staff.
“It was a planned act between Lowndes, Buzz Payne and Thomas County Central,” Propst told the Moultrie Observer. “Anywhere, anytime, I will put my hand on a Bible, I know Lowndes and Randy McPherson and I know Thomas County Central, and their administration knew what Buzz Payne was doing.”
McPherson denied the charges earlier this week in an article in the Valdosta Daily Times.
“I have seen the video and I have never seen the man in the video,” McPherson told the Valdosta newspaper. “He is in no way associated with our program. I even asked my coaches if they could hear him — they couldn’t. I can’t help what some fan does in the stands.”
Propst told the newspaper that McPherson is not being truthful.
“What they have said is a blatant lie,” Propst said. “Randy said that he didn’t know Buzz Payne. He knows Buzz Payne as well as he knows me. That is a blatant lie.’’
The GHSA has said that the result of the game will not be overturned. Other penalties might arise if the allegations are proven true.
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71 comments Add your comment
o-me
October 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
Viking fan where did Tommy Trojan report it ?..It Must have been delected.
You may get a law suit over that without proof.
Reeze
October 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
Like or dislike Propst , after watching the video I think his accusations warrant an investigation .A former coach of the Pack ,most likely didn’t leave Colquitt on good terms, relaying some type of information to eagerly awaiting Lowndes coaches…It looks as if they didn’t try to hide what they were doing at all.
Paddy
October 5th, 2012
3:40 pm
o-me……..how do you get delected? Is that like being impeached? Don’t hold your breath about any lawsuits over statements made on a HS football blog!!!!!! LOL
Region8AAAAAA
October 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
This Grayson story is crap and Rush Propst is crazy. I never thought I’d cheer for Lowndes but I hope they crush the rest of the region and I would love to see Colquitt sitting at home whining about their losses!
Tom
October 5th, 2012
4:07 pm
Propst is not exactly the model for professionalism and integrity
Heisenberg
October 5th, 2012
4:14 pm
Tommy Trojan, check spelling of your QB last name. I believe it is Hutson with a ‘t’ not a ‘d’.
Heisenberg
October 5th, 2012
4:19 pm
Actually the first name is Hutson, and last is Mason. Currently redshirting at UGA and should take over when Murray goes pro.
eli
October 5th, 2012
5:11 pm
jj been involued in 1aaaaaa since 1957 knew jim hughes gene brodie,joe wilson,luther welch;bud willis ,,nick hyder,milt miller, well played golf@cards with SS, always blamed losing on us being lucky, Propst never lost unless someone cheated or officals. great role model for highschool kids
Rightfielder
October 5th, 2012
5:18 pm
What about all those kids that are too old to play in Alabama and mysteriously show up in Moultrie to play. They live with boosters during the week and go home to Alabama on weekends. In the GHSA eye’s , are they legitimate moves ?
Highschoolfootballfan
October 5th, 2012
5:34 pm
.I think Camden has been running the Wing T for years, everyone knows what they are going to do, it is up to the defense to stop it. Lowndes runs the wing t, everyone knows it, Colquitt could not stop it. This kind of madness is bad for high school football, makes for good reality TV though. I guess my question would be, why did none of Colquitt folks sitting around this guy contact the sideline at half time or the coaches in the booth with their concerns. Ok he had on a Lowndes colored shirt, I am sure someone around there found it odd for a Lowndes coach to be outside of the booth with binoculars relaying plays back to coaches in the booth.
86Vike
October 5th, 2012
5:38 pm
My conspiracy theory is that Buzz Payne acted alone! Watching the video (somewhat grainy), the Lowndes coaches never look down at Payne when he signals toward the booth. Looks like bad blood between Payne and Propst!
Rick in Warner Robins
October 5th, 2012
7:06 pm
The ones here who don’t see a problem with the other team stealing signs are the same people who think Obama is doing a fantastic job as President.
bayoupacker
October 5th, 2012
7:09 pm
Enter your comments here
bayoupacker
October 5th, 2012
7:16 pm
Just curious, how many of you fans would say forget about it, move on, stop your whining, if your team was the one being looked at through the binoculars. Not many, I”m sure. Say what you want about Probst, the players worked their butts off all year to get shafted by a jerk with binoculars.
black & gold24
October 5th, 2012
11:09 pm
The truth will come out one way or another………..Lowndes beat us hands down……..manhandled us…….but the difference in the score was 3 points. The truth will set you free……..let’s just hope it is found out.
1994 Packer
October 6th, 2012
4:29 am
He (Buzz) only knew the offensive plays. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, he did not know the defensive plays. So, if Lowdnes doesn’t score, then they don’t win! Plain and simple! Offense wins games, Defensive wins Championships!
Harry
October 6th, 2012
7:18 am
GHSA needs to investigate all those Alabama transfers that wind up in Moultrie
OLDPACKER1
October 6th, 2012
10:52 am
I’m not sure stealing signs is illegal…some form of it has been going on since football became a sport. If there was collusion involving Lowndes, Buzz, and TCC, then I would say their actions were unethical at best. As a Colquitt County fan and an ex Packer player, I am sick to death of the drama surrounding our coach. He is a prima donna that has made us the laughing stock of Georgia high school football. It is time for him to move on so that we can regain the respect we deserve.
Alesa Gilmore
October 7th, 2012
2:50 pm
I have done a great deal of thinking over the last two articles regarding this game and am still appalled. I believe that if the Vikings are found to have cheated that of coarse they should pay whatever penalty comes their way. On the same token, if they are found innocent and Propst has nothing to stand on that he should be fired and pay for the bad-mouthing he has put in the paper over the last couple of week. Propst should have handled this whole thing more discreetly.
Bobito
October 8th, 2012
5:26 am
If you good, it doesn’t matter if they know what’s about to hit em, because you just gonna roll over them.
stooge
October 8th, 2012
2:04 pm
Turn it in another direction. Take a coach who was fired from the Lowndes program and park him up below the Colquitt box with binoculars doing the same thing that Buzz appeared to be doing and Lowndes coaches and fans would be screaming for blood. Most of the remarks on here bear no substance other than a character assassination of Coach Propst.