Back to the FuturePropst Embodied Hoover Revival
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By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
When John Propst entered Hoover High School as a young ninth grade linebacker in the fall of 2006, his school’s football program was at the top of the world. That previous December, the Bucs – under the direction of Propst’s uncle, Rush – had won their fourth consecutive state 6A championship.
There seemed to be no end to what some were calling America’s greatest high school sports dynasty. Some even suggested that Hoover football was almost too good for the rest of Alabama, and that perhaps the Bucs should join a national super-conference for America’s elite prep programs. While that speculation proved to be just talk, it showed the perception of Hoover’s dominance to the rest of the state.
But a strange thing began to happen during Propst’s freshman season: The Bucs’ football machine began to show signs of rust. Prattville defeated Hoover decisively in the 2006 state title game, knocking the Bucs off their championship perch for the first time since 2001.
A year later, Hoover was plagued by off-the-field distractions, and the 2007 season ended with a loss to archrival Vestavia Hills in the state 6A quarter-finals.
The following year saw an old era end and a new one begin. Josh Niblett was brought in from Oxford to replace Rush Propst, who resigned after the 2007 season. In Niblett’s first season, Hoover returned to its familiar spot in the state championship game but lost to Prattville again.
So going into their senior season of 2009, John Propst and his classmates – who had entered high school with such high hopes four years before – were facing their last shot at earning a state championship ring.
“You play football at Hoover to win a state championship,” said Propst. “And here we were as seniors and hadn’t done it yet. We definitely went into the year with something to prove.”
Propst and his teammates rolled through 15 games like men on a mission. Hoover routed Gardendale and Homewood in its first two games before staging a dramatic 30-27 win over Camden County, Ga.
The Bucs scored easy shutout wins over Thompson and Oak Mountain, setting the stage for an epic confrontation with cross-town rival Spain Park. The Jaguars jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead, but Hoover rallied for a thrilling 24-21 win.
The Bucs took Mountain Brook’s measure 30-0 and seemed to be invincible. Vestavia wasn’t impressed, however, and stunned Hoover 30-27 to hand the Bucs their first defeat.
It would also be their last.
“Vestavia was a wake-up call,” Propst said. “It reminded us that we still had a lot of work to do.”
Hoover rolled through the remainder of the regular season, swept through the playoffs like a hurricane and won its first state championship since 2005 with a 28-23 win over old nemesis Prattville at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“We wanted to get Hoover back to where it belonged,” Propst said. “That was our goal from the beginning. It was nice to be able to graduate knowing we had put the program back on top.”
An argument can be made that without Propst, Hoover never would have reached the throne room. As an all-state linebacker, he sparked a Buccaneer defense that earned four shutouts. Propst was so dominant that he was chosen by the over-the-mountain coaches as the 2009 Over the Mountain Football Player of the Year – an honor that had always gone to either a quarterback or a running back in previous seasons.
Because of Propst’s superb play on the field, he epitomized the Bucs’ return to glory. His overall excellence and commitment toward achieving his personal and team goals make him the choice as the Over the Mountain Journal 2009-2010 Boy Athlete of the Year.
Hoover softball star Madison Dickey was named the Over the Mountain Journal 2009-2010 Girl Athlete of the Year.
“I’m really honored to be picked as Over the Mountain Athlete of the Year,” Propst said. “That’s an honor I never really thought about being in consideration to receive.
“When you look at all the great athletes in this area, it makes it all the more special. I’m proud to accept it on behalf of Hoover High School.”
Propst believes that team unity was a big factor in the Bucs’ successful championship run.
“We seemed to have been more together than we had been in the past,” Propst said. “The team was like a family, and that had a lot to do with our success.”
Propst earned a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee and has spent much of his summer in Knoxville.
“I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the place,” he said. “I’m in the mix at linebacker. There are two guys ahead of me, so I don’t know if I’ll be playing special teams or even be red-shirted. Whatever happens, I just want to do whatever possible to help the team win games.”
Whatever happens in his college career, Propst said he would always look back on his years at Hoover as a special time in his life.
“The great memories will always be there,” he said. “First, I’ll always have the great relationships with my teammates and coaches from all the times we spent together at practices and games. And then I’ll remember the hard work that had gotten us where we wanted to be.
“Maybe best of all is the feeling that we were the senior class that restored the Hoover dynasty.”
Propst will have one more memory to add to his list: He’s the Over the Mountain Boy Athlete of the Year.
