By Rubin E. Grant
Alvin Bresler was a young coach when he led the Homewood Patriots to their first state championship in 1974, in just the third year of the program’s existence.
“When I think back about that, Homewood High School hired me when I was 23 years old (in 1972),” Bresler said. “I was 25 when the 1974 season started and I turned 26 during the season.
“I wanted to coach them the way I wanted to be coached. We didn’t have great size, but we had great quickness.”
Homewood finished the 1974 season with a 13-1 record, defeating Dothan 10-7 in the Class 4A championship game, which was the highest classification in the Alabama High School Athletic Association at the time.
Now, Bresler, 75, is a part of the committee that is putting together a 50-year commemorative celebration of that championship season.
“I can’t believe it’s been 50 years,” Bresler said. “How fast time does travel.
“The new athletic director at Homewood, Rick Baguley, is very supportive of our recognition,”
The preliminary plans call for the team to be recognized Oct. 4-5.
On Oct. 4, the 1974 team will meet at Waldrop Stadium 45 minutes before Homewood kicks off its game against Gardendale. The team and coaches will be recognized at midfield between the first and second quarters.
“The team will walk onto the field with the band playing the Olympic anthem as we did 50 years ago,” Bresler said. “The press box announcer will be provided the wording for the recognition.”
At halftime, the team will depart from the game and meet at a local restaurant for a reception.
On Oct. 5, there will be a luncheon and then a scramble golf tournament with the offense taking on the defense on the Robert Trent Jones course at Oxmoor Valley.
That night, a banquet will be held at the Homewood Senior Center ballroom for the players and coaches as well as their wives and other guests. A continuous highlight film will be shown, featuring most of the games and especially the playoff and championship games.
“We will have some invited guests to speak and the players and coaches will also have a chance to speak,” Bresler said. “Michael Gross, former principal, and I will be the last speakers.”
