Georgia HS OL coach gives out maple syrup shots for pancake blocks

A high school offensive line coach in Georgia has come up with a creative way to reward his players for their biggest blocks.

For every pancake block or touchdown, Darrian Carmicheal - who coaches at Jonesboro High School - doles out shots of maple syrup to his linemen on the sideline.

Carmichael told Cam Smith of USA TODAY Sports he first started carrying around a bottle of Aunt Jemima while coaching at DeKalb County last year. The practice turned out to be a big hit, so he brought it with him to Jonesboro.

"I believe (in) this day and age when coaching kids you have to have something extra for them to look for or an incentive to make them go harder," Carmichael said. "You should see my boys' eyes ready to run to the sideline! If you have played football before or offensive line, you know we do not get all the praise and accolades when we do most of the work. This is just something to make them proud and feel appreciated because no one gets the shot but them."