By Rubin E. Grant John Parker Wilson has been around football for more than 20 years, but the last thing he expected this fall was to be part of the Alabama radio broadcast team. “It definitely wasn’t on my radar,” Wilson said. But when color commentator Phil Savage left the radio team in July, the Alabama athletic department tabbed Wilson, who was the Crimson Tide’s … [Read more...]
Football Has Long Been a Part of Renowned Artist Skipper’s Life
By Rubin E. Grant Internationally renowned artist Steve Skipper was once a standout high school football player. Skipper played linebacker for the Homewood Patriots in the mid-1970s, starting his junior and senior seasons. He patterned his game after two of the NFL’s most vicious hitters, Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears. “I was … [Read more...]
‘It’s All About Competing’: Bucs Staying on the Prowl for Another State Championship
By Rubin E. Grant After winning two consecutive Class 7A football championships and five state titles in the past six years, the Hoover Bucs could be excused for allowing complacency to set in. Except head coach Josh Niblett is not about to let that happen. “The key for us is to continue to be the hunter and not the hunted,” Niblett said. “It’s all about competing.” The … [Read more...]
‘It Comes Down to Day-to-Day Work Ethic’: Mountain Brook Starts With an Experienced Defense, Looks to Fill the Offensive Line
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...]
‘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...]
