By Sue Murphy The game is getting tense, the quarterback is poised, and over on the sidelines we see a guy frantically waving a giant sign featuring four pictures: Britney Spears, Argyle socks, a garlic press and a lesser kudu. What do these things have in common? I have no idea, but the players do. Or they’d better. It’s a code, I’m guessing, each card signaling … [Read more...]
Rebel Rewind: Vestavia Hills Plans to Honor Anderson’s First Season and 1998 Title Team
By Rubin E. Grant As he embarks on his 41st season as Vestavia Hills’ head football coach, Buddy Anderson remembers his first season as if it unfolded yesterday. In 1978, Anderson was elevated to the head job after spending six seasons as a Rebels assistant. Vestavia Hills reached the 1978 Class 4A championship game – the highest classification level then – but lost 21-7 to … [Read more...]
‘A Dynamic Player’: Five-star Rating for Hoover Senior Headed to Auburn
By Rubin E. Grant By the time the 2018 season ends, Hoover senior George Pickens could be the No. 1 receiving recruit in the nation. The 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound Pickens already has garnered a five-star rating from Rivals.com. “Pickens’ size, speed, play-making ability and relentless competitiveness remind me of the best wide receivers I’ve seen since I’ve been doing this … [Read more...]
‘We Could Have an Outstanding Team’: Briarwood Faces a Tough Schedule but Aims for the Top With Position Switches
By Blake Ells It’s tough to find room for improvement when you’re coming off of a 14-1 season. Briarwood Christian School fell in last season’s state championship game to St. Paul’s Episcopal 17-14 when the Saints scored on a fourth down with 1:54 remaining in the game. After its third title in four years, St. Paul’s now moves to 6A because of the AHSAA’s new competitive … [Read more...]
‘The Expectations for Us Are Really High’: Homewood Has Experience in the Right Positions
By Rubin E. Grant The Homewood Patriots enter the 2018 football season with designs on making a run at the Class 6A title. In 2017, Homewood came within a minute of finishing the regular season unbeaten. Then after a thrilling comeback first-round playoff win against Fort Payne, the Patriots were eliminated in the second round by Clay-Chalkville to finish the year … [Read more...]