Yes, Chris Akers was part of the George Washington coaching staff which produced the AAC Offensive Player of the Year at Virginia Tech and former NY Giants' running back, David Wilson.
CoachedB4, I have nothing against Tony Palmer. I remember him as a excellent player on the Graham 1989 State Championship Football Team and I am not even going to comment on his so called Barons' experience. However, in my opinion he simply just does not have the coaching experience or qualifications to be the Head Coach of a tradition rich football program such as Graham. I do have concerns with those on this forum trying to promote an unproven assistant coach from within a struggling program into the Head Coach position. Remember Graham lost 70-0 in their last playoff game and I believe Graham needs a complete change of direction starting with a Head Coach who should not be from the current staff. If they were winning, I would feel differently.
Chris Akers is not even my first choice. If I were choosing my first choice would be Nick Colobro a former Bluefield Beaver, former Tazewell Head Coach, former Gate City Head Coach who is retired but still assisting at Abingdon High School. There are others who come to mind that are very qualified too such as Greg Mance from Richlands (Sorry GMen, Richland is now a much better job and he is not coming), I.S. Ingo from George Wythe who won a State Championship two years ago, Dave Litz who won the last State Championship in Tazewell, Bobby Wyatt, Harris Hart, Beckley Head Coach and former Bluefield Beaver John Lilly, former long term assistant and Graham Head Wrestling Coach, Tim Woodward, younger Freddie Simons who assists his father at Bluefield and even Glenn Carlock Jr. who ran the offensive for his father.
The last time Graham chose a "trainer" as Head Coach with no real coaching experience and you see what happened. I just hope history does not repeat itself.