NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Robbie Norris, head football coach of Sullivan North High School in Kingsport, Tenn. has been named Titans High School Football Coach of the Week. Norris' Raiders were underdogs on the road but defeated the eighth-ranked Elizabethton Cyclones 41-20 with a dominating performance. With this victory, the Raiders handed Elizabethton their first Three Rivers conference loss since joining the conference three years ago.
"We played extremely well and it was a big win for our school & community and we were thrilled to death," said Richard Carroll, Sullivan North Principal. "Coach Norris had his team prepared extremely well and the kids buy into his program 110%. Coach Norris has been a great asset to our program and most importantly a tremendous role model for our kids."
Through the Titans Foundation, team Owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution to the Sullivan North High School football program in Coach Norris' honor.
"High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee," said Adams. "That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I'm very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!"
Coach Norris will be the team's guest at the Titans vs. New Orleans Saints contest on December 11th when the Titans honor all 2011 Coach of the Week winners. On that date, the Titans will also announce the winner of the 2011 Coach of the Year, who will earn a $2,000 grant for his football program.
Also receiving strong consideration in this week's poll, with outstanding performances, were Bryant Hollingsworth of Lexington High School, who defeated topped-ranked Liberty High School 49-42 and Milan High School's Jeff Norris, whose team gave South Gibson High School its first loss of the season by a score of 38-19.
Now in its 12th season, Mr. Adams has awarded more than $141,000 from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state in honor of the Coach of the Week winners.
The criterion for selection includes the coach's impact on his team, school and community. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school's size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program is designed to recognize high school coaches who transform, through their hard work and dedication, student-athletes into the best possible football players and citizens in their community.
