By Rubin E. Grant
It’s called Camp Mac.
Nestled in the towering pines of the Talladega National Forest near Mount Cheaha in what was once a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Camp Mac since 1948 has been a place where children can participate in a variety of activities, have fun, learn and experience nature’s beauty.
A few weeks before the 1974 high school football season kicked off, young Homewood head coach Alvin Bresler took his team to Camp Mac.
Little did they know that trip 50 years ago would play a pivotal role on the Patriots’ journey to the school’s first state championship in just the third year of the program.
Earlier in the year, just after they had returned from the Christmas holiday break, Bresler and his staff implemented a rigorous offseason conditioning program that included weightlifting, running hills, agility drills, playing basketball, wrestling and even boxing.
“We had a team meeting and asked them what the expectations were for this fall and they said, ‘Win a championship,’” Bresler said. “We said, ‘Don’t forget that.’”
For the Patriots to win a championship, Bresler, who turned 26 during the season that fall, figured his players needed to develop endurance and stamina. Hence, the various workouts they did.
But boxing?
“I had to clear the boxing plans with our principal, Michael Gross,” Bresler said. “He said it would be OK if we had boxing helmets to go with our boxing gloves.
“So, they punched each other. We wanted to teach them that if they wanted to win a championship, they had to learn how to fight.”
When the offseason program began, there were 60 players who came out, but only 42 made it to spring training when the Patriots put their offensive and defensive schemes into place for the fall.
“This group was really dedicated and kept themselves in shape during the summer,” Bresler said.
Camp Mac
Bresler also wanted to create some team chemistry, so the team went to Camp Mac, named after former Talladega County Schools Superintendent E.A. McBride – Mr. Mac, as the kids called him.
“Growing up, I was a camper there and then became an administrative counselor,” Bresler said. “We went as a team because I knew we needed to develop some unity.
“The mayor of Homewood, Bob Waldrop, sent us the ‘new’ Homewood Park & Rec bus that could seat the entire team. We had to rent a big truck to transport practice equipment, uniforms, training room items, etc.”
Charles Gattis, the team chaplain who was an associate minister at Trinity Unity Methodist Church at the time, accompanied the team.
“Camp Mac had a beautiful amphitheater where we had a Vesper Service every night,” Bresler said. “He would get to preaching and the team loved it. It was glorified FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), that’s what it was.”
During the day, Homewood received permission from legendary Munford football coach Gerald Grogan to use its nearby stadium for practices and 7-on-7 drills with quarterbacks, receivers, defensive backs and linebackers.
“We had our morning and early afternoon practices at the camp,” Bresler said. “We needed the bus all week in order to practice at Munford in the afternoon and evening, which was 10 minutes down the mountain.”
By the end of their weeklong stay, the Patriots weren’t only fit but close-knit.
“That helped solidify our oneness as a team,” said Murray Legg, who was a senior quarterback/defensive back on the 1974 team. “It was a good team-bonding experience.”
Bresler couldn’t agree more.
“We came away from Camp Mac with self-confidence, self-motivation and self-discipline, on the field and off the field.
“So much credit for our championship has been given to that one week we spent at Camp Mac. I’ll never forget it.”
Regular Season
The Patriots had posted winning seasons in their two years as a program, finishing 6-4 in 1972 and 7-3 in 1973. They entered the 1974 season with high expectations, especially since they had 26 seniors.
“For the most part we had all grown up in Homewood,” Legg said. “We had played with each other or against each other since the sixth or seventh grade. We had created a good nucleus. We had a lot of good players and good leaders.”
Among the standouts were Legg, who signed with Alabama; tight end Wade Kirkpatrick, who signed with LSU; middle linebacker Rick Powers, who signed with Tennessee; and wide receiver/safety Mark Robbins, who signed with Auburn.
But Bresler made sure the team wasn’t just about the stars.
“We kept 42 on the varsity and every one of them contributed somewhere every game,” he said. “It could be offense, defense or special teams, and/or a needed backup.”
A look back at game recaps makes it clear that it was a team effort with names such as tailback Jimmy Lee Edwards, linebacker Tommy Wingo, defensive tackle Mike Wald, quarterback/defensive back David Fleisher, fullback Larry Riffe, guard/linebacker Randy Smith, defensive back Hank Marshman, flanker Joe Wurtele and kicker Tim Calloway, among others dotting the summaries.
The Patriots opened the season with a 22-0 shutout of Jess Lanier and 21-6 victory against Jeff Davis.
But in the third game, they lost 30-23 at Hueytown. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“We were down, but we kept fighting,” Legg said. ‘I think that was one of the biggest turning points of the season.”
Victories against Shades Valley, 37-0, and Walker, 22-18, followed. Then came the most consequential game of the season. Trailing at Minor 24-14 with five minutes remaining, the Patriots rallied for a 29-24 victory.
“That’s what made everybody believe we could be a championship team,” Legg said.
Homewood closed the regular season with victories over Vestavia Hills (21-14), John Carroll (27-7), Berry (14-0) and Mountain Brook (48-6) to head into the state playoffs with a 9-1 record.
Playoff Run
The Patriots opened the Class 4A state playoffs, then the largest classification, with a 21-14 victory at Hueytown to avenge their only loss of the season. Legg ran for three touchdowns.
In the next three playoff games – all at Legion Field – Homewood defeated teams with quarterbacks who all had signed with Alabama – Banks, 12-0, with Jeff Rutledge; Anniston, 18-0, with Marty White; and Dothan, 10-7 in the championship game, with Steadman Shealy.
Legg said the Patriots caught a break against Banks because Rutledge was sidelined.
“It was fortunate for us he did not play,” Legg said. “He had gotten injured in that legendary game against Woodlawn the week before. I would have liked to have seen him play against us.”
In the championship game against Dothan, Homewood fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter. Calloway kicked a field goal in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 7-3 at halftime.
Edwards scored what turned out to be the winning touchdown on a 21-yard run in the third quarter.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Bresler recalled. “It was the grace of God we won. They had a receiver wide open late in the fourth quarter and the ball slipped off his fingertips. It would have been a sure touchdown.
“I think our chaplain had something to do with it.”
Where Has the Time Gone
Reflecting on the season, Bresler believes a confluence of things enabled Homewood to claim the title and finish with a 13-1 record.
“We had great leadership and great team chemistry,” he said. “We got the bounce of the ball and we didn’t get anybody hurt.
“We had great support from the Homewood community, the student body and the great Homewood band. Michael Gross was our true unsung hero.”
The 50th anniversary of the championship team will be celebrated with two days of activities this fall, Oct. 4-5.
“I don’t know where the 50 years went,” Bresler, 75, said. “We’ve got seven players and a coach, Jack Clayton, who are deceased. I’m excited about getting back together. It was a close-knit group who really liked each other.”
Legg, 67, also wonders where the time has gone.
“In my mind, I can’t believe it’s been 50 years,” Legg said. “It was one of those things and times in life where everything comes together. That season was one of those times.”
