By Blake Ells Defense will be a strength for Mountain Brook in 2018. Coming off an 8-4 season that concluded with a loss to Thompson in the second round of the state playoffs, the Spartans return nine players from a unit that lost just two 7A Region 3 regular season games. “Most of the urgency is on offense,” said coach Chris Yeager. “We have a lot of positions up front that … [Read more...]
‘We’ve Got Some Kids Who Can Play’: Eagles Aren’t Flashy, but They Have Talent to Compete
By Rubin E. Grant Fans attending Oak Mountain football games this fall probably won’t see any stars, at least on the Eagles’ side of the ball. That’s because the Eagles don’t have any big-time recruits lining up for them. “We’re not as flashy as some other spots,” Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell said. “We don’t have the four- and five-star players. In fact, some of our guys … [Read more...]
‘Every Week, We’ve Got to Bring It’: Spain Park Filling in Its Roster in Bid to Excel
By Blake Ells Spain Park will have some key positions to fill in 2018, but coach Shawn Raney feels confident that he has enough “program kids” who are up to the task. “Program kids” are what he affectionately calls the athletes who have been a part of his program from the moment they could be but who often are inexperienced and undersized before their arrival, who work hard … [Read more...]
‘Real Good Leadership Coming Back’: Vestavia Hills Returns in 2018 With Experience at Most Positions
By Blake Ells It was quite an off-season for Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson. The winningest high school football coach in Alabama was inducted into the National Federation of State High School Association Hall of Fame on July 2 during a banquet in Chicago. “It was nice,” said Anderson, who is just the 12th individual from Alabama enshrined in the National Hall of … [Read more...]
Messy Houseguest Catalyst for Home Remodel: Vestavia Hills Couple Update Their ’60s Home with Big Open Spaces
By Ingrid SchnaderA curious, enthusiastic dog was the catalyst for a long-delayed remodeling of a 1960s house in Vestavia Hills. Ron and Lu Ann Smith said they had wanted to remodel their house ever since they moved in 20 years ago, but converting the closed-in house to an open concept design would be a big project, and so the job never made it to the top of the to-do … [Read more...]