Bonifay- Few things can bring an area together or tear it apart like hometown football. With the upcoming season just around the corner, a pre-season controversy has been brewing in Holmes County over the past week.

Rickey Callahan told us his heart beats true blue...devils that is.
"In the fifth grade we followed the team to Eustis Florida and they won the state championship that year" Callahan reminisced. "That instilled- I want to be a Blue Devil. I wanted to play for them, I wanted to root for them and it's been that way ever since."

For the past 12 years, Callahan has been the Holmes County High School football public announcer. But this year, instead of sitting in the box, he'll be sitting on the bleachers.

"It will be different. It will be really different. I don't even know where I'll sit" Callahan said.

Last week, Holmes County High School Principal, Eddie Dixon gave the long time Blue Devil the boot.

"[Dixon] said, 'it's because you supported Chipley in the playoffs last year'" Callahan told us of the firing.

Last season, after beating the Blue Devils, Chipley went on to play in the state tournament. "I was supporting them as a neighboring school and I thought it looked good that our district was represented in the state playoffs"

But Callahan told us he though the real reason he lost the volunteer position was politically motivated.

"[Dixon and I] talked for probably another 15 minutes. He's a candidate for superintendent this year. It got around to politics before it was over. He asked me why I could not support him for superintendent and it went from there" Callahan said.

News Channel 7 got in touch with Dixon Monday, but he refused to comment. As for Callahan, he said becoming a different kind of fan would be bitter sweet.

"I just felt like a part of the team being able to have that closeness. I'm disappointed no doubt, but I'll still be there supporting the Blue Devils" Callahan said.