Mike Carrington is a happy man.
The Thomson City Councilman and has spent the last year going to The Brickyard and setting up a public address system for various events -- a process that required him to climb above the press box.
"I'm a little too old to be walking on catwalks," he said.
He doesn't have to anymore.
Crews installed a new, $16,601.11 PA system in The Brickyard last week.
"I heard a demo before we purchased it, and it sounds outstanding," said McDuffie Superintendent of Schools Mark Petersen.
The system -- paid for with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax dollars -- is top-notch, Dr. Petersen said.
"That was one of those things we could do almost immediately to make a difference over there," he said. "There's no reason for us to go second rate over there. There's a big history in The Brickyard."
Mr. Carrington said the new system is impressive. It has field jacks to allow for easier connection for on-field events. There's also a wireless microphone option that'll allow referees' calls to be broadcast over the speakers.
"It'll be just like Sanford Stadium, the Falcons or whatever," Mr. Carrington said.
The new system replaces a worn-out model that was more that 20 years old. It had deteriorated to the point that it took a couple of seconds for the sound to reach the speakers.
So Mr. Carrington and several helpers spent last year working with a hodgepodge of equipment that has to be set up for each event -- speakers from the high school band, other equipment borrowed from the city of Thomson.
"It wasn't the way it should have been done," Mr. Carrington said. "We've got a first-class football team, and we need a first-class sound system for them."
Voice of the Bulldogs Jerry Randolph said he was excited about the new system.
"I'm tickled to death. It's been a long time coming," he said. "We were using the same PA system that Mr. Cecil started with and prior to him I'm not sure how long it had been up there."
