Bill Ragans was raised on small-town football in Live Oak.
In fact, Suwannee High was close enough to his childhood home that he walked to watch football practice and games. Ragans absorbed every moment, wanting to follow his football heroes on that same field one day.
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“It was a special place and time,” Ragans said.
“I wanted to be around football – and all the sports – all the time. Those kind of teams, where neighborhood kids in small towns all want to play at the same (high) school, are hard to come by now.”
Ragans was among the hundreds of former Suwannee High football players, coaches, cheerleaders and others who gathered in the Suwannee County Coliseum in Live Oak Aug. 8 to celebrate the upcoming 100th season of Suwannee High football.
Located midway between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Live Oak is also linked to Florida State football.
Thirteen Suwannee High football players, including Ragans – the head football coach at Chiles High – played for the Seminoles dating back to 1949.
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The list also includes current Suwannee High head coach Kyler Hall, who returned home from Tallahassee to coach the Bulldogs in 2016.
“Growing up here, and all these years later coming back as a coach, it’s really a full circle moment for me,” said Hall, whose father Ron also was longtime football coach at Hamilton County and coached various sports at Suwannee, leading the boys track team to a state title in 2001.
“Growing up in this environment and being around a lot of great people throughout the years, it just means so much to everyone.”
More: Here are key takeaways from Big Bend teams at high school football media day
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Suwannee High football holds fond memories for former players
The Live Oak Suwannee High football program celebrated its upcoming 100th season Friday, Aug. 8.More than 300 former players, coaches, cheerleaders administrators showed for the event.
Suwannee High football has a rich history, punctuated by four consecutive state titles in the late 1980s. The Bulldogs won consecutive Class 3A titles from 1987 to1990 under Mike Pittman, who also attended the celebration and was honored for his achievements.
Among Suwannee’s players who landed at FSU included brothers Matt (1989-93) and Todd Frier (1995-99), Eric Smith (1990-94) and Lee Weaver (1999-2002). At least three of the Suwannee players, including Ragans, Hall, and Matt Frier, also were team captains at FSU.
Dale McCullers (1966-68) played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins.
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Additionally, first-year Lincoln High head coach Matt Jackson played at Suwannee High. Also a coach’s son, Jackson’s father was on the Bulldogs’ staff during their state title streak. Matt often looked at his father’s championship rings.
“Growing up all we wanted to do was emulate the Bulldogs,” said Jackson, who played football at Florida. “It was more of a family than just a team.”
Matt Frier is one of Suwannee’s most celebrated football players, adding to his legacy at FSU.
The receiver helped the Seminoles win the program’s first national championship in 1993. He was on the iconic Sports Illustrated cover that celebrated the Seminoles’ 18-16 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to claim that title.
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In 2007, Frier was named by the Florida High School Athletic Association as one of the 100-greatest players in the first 100 years of Florida high school football. Frier was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
Frier’s son Camdon is a redshirt freshman at FSU.
Suwannee High opens its 100th season Aug. 22 against rival Lake City Columbia and closes the regular season against Ragans’ Timberwolves Oct. 31.
More: Seminole Scrapbook: A national title, iconic photo and heartfelt tribute
Here our the former FSU football players who played at Live Oak Suwannee
FSU Football Players from Suwannee High school – Live Oak, Florida 1. Theron Bass, 1968-70
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2. Matt Frier, 1989-93
3. Todd Frier, 1995-99
4. Kyler Hall, 2001-05
5. Chip Harris, 1970
6. Bill Hingson, 1949
7. John Hurst, 1966-67
8. Dale McCullers, 1966-68
9. John Quinn, 1949
10. Bill Ragans, 1986-90
11. Eric Smith, 1990-94
12. Lee Weaver, 1999-02
13. Del Williams, 1964-66
Source: Nolefan.org
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Live Oak Suwannee football celebrates 100 years
