Among HBO’s incredible lineup of original programs, I always look forward to the new season of “Hard Knocks.”

“Hard Knocks” follows an NFL team during its training camp, documenting the lives of the players and coaches as they prepare for the upcoming season. This year it’s the L.A. Rams.

Not a bad choice, I guess. The Rams just moved back to Los Angeles after two decades in St. Louis, and they have the big No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff, who everyone is eager to watch play. Not to mention they have Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, who I’m obviously pretty partial to as a Dawgs fan.

I was watching the first episode last week, and became giddy when I saw a familiar face on the beach. It wasn’t a Georgia Bulldog, or an FSU ‘Nole, or any of that.

It was a Bainbridge Bearcat.

Rohan Gaines, a 2010 graduate of Bainbridge High School and a four-year starter at Arkansas (he was redshirted his freshman year), Gaines is currently at Rams Training Camp trying to earn himself a position as safety (or maybe any position).

There was a scene on the episode where Gaines and some other players were hanging out on a beach. Out in the ocean were people swimming through the water and body surfing on huge eight-foot tall waves. Gaines and the other guys stood there watching as these bodysurfers would get a good start, and then wipe out, obliterated in the crashing water.

In a span of two minutes, they went from wanting to give it a try to backing out completely. They had seen one too many guys get beat up and washed up on shore doing it. Watching that probably would have changed anybody’s mind.

It was cool to see a Bainbridge boy getting some time on air in a setting unrelated to football. If you have the HBO channel, check out “Hard Knocks” every Tuesday at 10 p.m.