It’s not often I hear people around the Augusta area say they know where Barnesville, Georgia is. That’s why I was really surprised when I read that an Augusta football player made Gordon State his college of choice. Be sure to scroll down for photos from Barnesville!
That’s My Hometown
First of all, Barnesville is about an hour south of Atlanta. I grew up there. In fact, my parents still live in the house where I grew up! It’s a small town. And back when I was growing up, we knew it as Gordon College. It’s only been in recent years that they became Gordon State.
Gordon State Connections
Both of my sisters actually attended Gordon. One sister went for teaching, and the other went for nursing. (See pictures of me and my sisters, mom and nieces here.) Gordon does have a great nursing program! I actually took a couple of summer classes there when I was in college too.
Gordon State has definitely grown a lot since I was younger. It’s right in the heart of Barnesville too. The town isn’t what you’d think of for a “college town” though. In fact, in some areas of downtown, you might feel like you’ve taken a step back in time!
A Little About Barnesville
Barnesville is known as the Buggy Capital of the South. Check out this fun little history about the founding of the town too! And every September they host Buggy Days– a huge arts and crafts festival, with a fireworks show and… get ready for it… pig chases! Yep, kids’ parents pay to let their kid on a field and chase after a greased up pig! Now that I think about it, I haven’t been to Buggy Days in a few years, and I’m not sure if they still do the pig chases. I’ll have to check on that.
Augusta Football Player’s College Choice
Ok, so back to the original story here. So, Rakeem Blount has chosen to go to Gordon State College. Honestly, I didn’t even realize they had a football team! I’m out of the loop on that. From the looks of the website, it seems they have a great athletics department!
Some seem surprised by his choice of school, but he wasn’t trying to impress anyone. It came down to two defining reasons for him- to learn how to better himself as a man and on the football field. He believes he can get that at Gordon. He said he really felt welcomed at Gordon, and he felt at home. Which as someone from Barnesville, I can vouch that true Southern Hospitality can be found there!
Blount played defensive end, tight end and H-back for Westside High School. He credits his coaches for preparing him well.
At Gordon State, Blount plans to major in criminal justice.
I’ll Like To Thank My Teammates And Family On This Long Journey , Glad To Say I’m 110% Committed #GoHighLanders💚💙@IngramDarvon @GordonState @WhsFb21 @LeeHutto1 pic.twitter.com/QwueUH11Od
— ROCK ! (@blount_rakeem) February 15, 2022
About Gordon State College:
Gordon State is a junior college in Barnesville, Georgia. They compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Here are some photos of my hometown, thanks to some great Barnesville residents! And since it’s Throwback Thursday… be sure to scroll ALL the way down for a little “gem,” AKA, Miss Buggy Days 2004!
