Segment 3, August 24th, 2024

It is one of the favorite times of the year on the Carolina Outdoors.  Backpacks are put into the corner, the fly rods are leaned against the wall, & we give our hiking boots a chance to rest.  Then we take a peek at our local newspaper for what’s happening on a Friday night in our community.

Host Bill Bartee of the Carolina Outdoors Radio Program & Podcast (with over 80,000+ Downloads & Counting) sponsored by Jesse Brown’s, welcomes Langston Wertz, Jr., of The Charlotte Observer.  Wertz has been a sports journalist in Charlotte for over thirty years.  He is also the host of Talking Preps available via The Charlotte Observer & on YouTube where he covers high school sports.  We and his take on this year’s football season is tackled during the conversation.

Show Highlights:

• 
  
• What is the health of high school football in the Charlotte-area
  
• The Kick-Off of the season for four schools has been held the past few years at Bank of America Stadium.
  
• Charlotte has been a hotbed of talent including Aiden Harris (Weddington) & David Sanders (Providence Day)
  
• Harris & Sanders are potential generational talents & excellent overall athletes.
  
• Player movement & the chance of Open Enrollment in Charlotte Mecklenburg’s public schools
  
• Wertz’s view of athletic fields:  artificial versus grass
  
• Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) becoming available to public school athletes similar to private schools
  

Things You’ll Learn by Listening:

The conversation flows into the impact of NFL rules (such as the new kick-off rule) & the Olympic addition of Men’s and Women’s Flag Football & how that brings more eyes, interest, & change to the high school level.

The Carolina Outdoors is powered by the tailgate brands like Tundra 45 YETI, Turtlebox Speakers, & a pair of Duckhead pants from the  Charlotte fly shop, Jesse Brown’s.

Extra Reading & Referral:

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article290217269.html

Follow Langston on X: https://x.com/langstonwertzjr

Watch: Talking Preps