By Rubin E. GrantUsually, transferring from one high school to another in a different state before your senior year could entail a considerable adjustment.But not for Savannah Gibbs. She felt at home right away after she transferred from Panama City, Florida, to Hoover High School this summer. Her teammates on the Hoover Bucs’ volleyball team made the transition … [Read more...]
#StandUpForBen: Pleasant Grove, Former Home of Abercrombie’s Father, Rallies for Fallen Buc
By Rubin E. Grant Pleasant Grove football coach Jim Elgin had no idea attending one of his son’s baseball games in the spring would lead to such a poignant event as the one the Spartans had Friday. Elgin’s son Scott plays baseball for Hoover High School and was a teammate of former Buc Ben Abercrombie’s on the Bucs’ 2017 Class 7A championship team. Elgin showed up for the … [Read more...]
‘It’s Still a Big Rivalry’: Passionate Hoover-Vestavia Hills Football Game Takes Center Stage Again
By Rubin E. Grant In the book “Tales from Alabama Prep Football,” Buddy Anderson described his introduction to the Vestavia Hills-Berry football rivalry. “Vestavia opened in 1970 and most of the kids who came to Vestavia had been going to Berry,” Anderson recalled. “We opened the ’72 season against Berry and they had a good team. We had some players who had a choice that … [Read more...]
They Pulled Him Back In: Patriots’ Jones Just Can’t Get Away From Coaching
By Rubin E. Grant David Jones figured his coaching career had ended when he retired in 2011 after more than 40 years in the business. But then his granddaughter Autumn Carpenter entered high school at Homewood, and Jones once again found himself in the Patriots’ football film room and on the sidelines. Jones initially retired to spend more time with his family, especially … [Read more...]
A Lifetime of Football: Patriots’ Wilkins Racking Up Tackles and Making an Impression
By Rubin E. Grant Whenever Homewood senior strong safety Kris Wilkins steps on the football field this fall, he craves two things: accomplishing a win and making a good impression. So far he’s getting both. The Patriots opened the season with four consecutive wins, beating Pelham 29-22, Vestavia Hills 6-0, Parker 20-14 and Jackson-Olin 28-6. The victory over Vestavia Hills … [Read more...]