THOMASVILLE — Though college football season has ended, don’t be surprised to see Thomasville awash in red and black on Friday.

Bill Hooks went online and asked people to wear red and black in honor of his son Harrison, who was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident Sunday. And now, even Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart is helping spread the word, urging Bulldogs supporters in a tweet to wear red and black for Harrison.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” Bill Hooks said of the outpouring of support for the family and for his son.

Young Harrison’s affinity for Georgia football came “unfortunately, from me,” Bill Hooks joked. 

Bill Hooks’ grandfather played there in the 1920s and his mother is an alumna.

“We have bled red and black all our lives,” Hooks said.

He inculcated his son into all things Bulldogs at an early age, teaching him how to “call the Dogs” when he was 2.  When Harrison was 4, his father — the Hooks are season ticket holders — took him to his first game. Young Harrison wouldn’t let his dad leave until every player had left the field following the game’s conclusion.

At 8, Harrison could recite the Bulldogs’ two-deep depth chart. Harrison went as far as to watch replays of the games and offered suggestions to his dad, such as asking why the team didn’t throw more screen passes.

“I think I let him play ‘Madden’ a little too much,” Bill Hooks said.

At the top of Harrison’s list, though, was his love of Jesus Christ, Bill Hooks said. 

“He wanted everyone he met to go to Heaven with him,” his dad said. 

Secondly, Harrison loved his family and then came the Bulldogs. 

“He taught me,” Bill Hooks said of his son.

Losing Harrison was a freak accident, Bill Hooks said. 

“We wanted something good to come out of this,” he said. 

Asking people to wear red and black is also a way to try to bring them closer to God’s word, Bill Hooks said.

The family is getting special shirts, with a big ‘G’ in the middle and with #HunkerDownForHarrison on them as well. There also will be a Bible verse, Philippians 4:13. 

Bill Hooks called Coach Smart tweeting for Harrison “incredible.’

“I hope I get to thank him personally,” he said.