By Rubin E. Grant Trent Howard doesn’t remember how much he weighed when he was in the seventh grade. What he does remember is how his jersey fit his 5-foot-9 frame. “I was No. 76 and my jersey swallowed me up,” Howard said with a laugh. Howard was one of the smallest linemen on his middle school football team, but late in his eighth grade … [Read more...]
‘Super Talented’: Competition Brings out the Best in Rebels’ Strand
By Rubin E. Grant Something happens to Vestavia Hills junior distance runner Ethan Strand on race days. He becomes transcendent, almost otherworldly. “He really responds well to competition,” said Brett Huber, Vestavia Hills’ track and cross-country coach. “He becomes a different athlete when he’s competing rather than training. That’s what separates him from other … [Read more...]
Paris Morris Flourishing Just as Spain Park Volleyball Coach Predicted
By Rubin E. Grant Paris Morris couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and her facial expression depicted her disbelief. When she was a freshman on Spain Park’s junior varsity volleyball team, Jaguars varsity coach Kellye Bowen told Morris she was going to be “a very big part of the program.” “She just looked at me,” Bowen said, recalling the conversation. “I was shocked,” … [Read more...]
Getting Her Kicks In: Katie Crim Makes History as Homewood’s First Female Varsity Football Player
By Rubin E. GrantEddie and Michelle Crim have been attending Homewood football games for a number of years to support their three daughters, but this year it’s different.Instead of watching a daughter cheer for the Patriots as a varsity cheerleader, as their oldest daughter, Hannah, did, or watching a daughter perform as a Star Spangled Girl in the band, … [Read more...]
Playmakers: Brewer Getting It Done on Both Sides of the Ball for Spartans
By Rubin E. Grant “Spiderman, Spiderman, friendly neighborhood, Spiderman Wealth and fame, he ignores, action is his reward Look out, here comes the Spiderman” Logan Brewer is not a superhero like Spiderman, but apparently he has the so-called “spidey sense.” At least that’s what Mountain Brook football coach Chris Yeager says about his senior two-way player whose No. 4 … [Read more...]