Chris Jones on Cancelling Marion Co Game

But you never want it to get out of hand.

That's partly why new south pittsburg head football coach chris jones decided to cancel the pirates long- running rivalry with marion county.

It's been reported that marion county allegedly turned in the pirates recently for a t-double-s, double-a violation, but marion county a-d chuck keef says that's not true.

Regardless, jones worries about what could happen in the game, so he decided to pull the plug on the annual grudge match.

Reporter:"was it hard for the south pitt administration to go along with it?

Was everybody pretty much on board?"

Jones:"you know what.

It was one of those things we discussed.

We came to the agreement.

Some agreed.

Some didn't.

This is the decision that was made.

Well i played in this.

I know what the magnitude of this game is.

We took great pride in it and that type thing.

Like i say this is a new chapter.

We've got some big fish to fry in the future."

Reporter:"were you afraid there might be some bad blood in this game?"

Jones:"well again you never know what's going to happen and that type thing.

Can't read into the future.

You also can't.

You know somebody says there's a speed up there on 72, you slow down.

That's all i know is the fact that we're the ones that are on probation, and so we've got to watch what we do."

Reporter:"how difficult was the phone call to marion county?"

Jones:"it was tough.

Again dale pruitt, i've known him for a long time.

That's jeremy's dad.

I worked with him at the university of alabama together.

Known each other for a long time.

Again, any time.

My daughters have gone to school there.

My son went to school at marion county, so it's a big rival."

Reporter:"have you had to talk to your players about it.

Have you addressed it?"

Jones:"we're not evey talking about it because it's not something that affects what we do.

We've got one thing in mind.

All decisions are made to win a gold ball, and that's it.

And that's what i'm saying.

We're not trying to win a county championship.

We're trying to win a state championship.

I get paid as the head football coach to make big decisions.

I'm a big picture thinker.

This program is more important than any one regular season game.

We've got one thing in mind, and that's to win a gold ball."

Reporter:"any idea when this game could be re-addressed?"

Jones:"nope.

And i don't see it.

As long as i'm here, it won't be addressed."