By Rubin E. Grant Oak Mountain seniors Leah Nielsen and Maddie Moss have been playing volleyball together for so long they could be considered Siamese twins, joined at the brain on the court. “We’re super close,” Nielsen said. “We’ve been playing together since the seventh grade, and for the last two years we’ve played on the same club team. In a game, it’s like we read each … [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...]
Peruvian Import: Homewood Senior Loo is Right at Home on the Volleyball Court
By Rubin E. Grant As a young girl growing up in Lima, Peru, Alejandra Loo would look out the window of her family’s apartment at the volleyball players practicing on the court outside. She was fixated. “It looked like so much fun and when I saw the players mash the ball, I told myself I wanted to be able to do that,” Loo said. Loo told her mother she wanted to play, … [Read more...]
Rebel Rewind: Vestavia Hills Plans to Honor Anderson’s First Season and 1998 Title Team
By Rubin E. Grant As he embarks on his 41st season as Vestavia Hills’ head football coach, Buddy Anderson remembers his first season as if it unfolded yesterday. In 1978, Anderson was elevated to the head job after spending six seasons as a Rebels assistant. Vestavia Hills reached the 1978 Class 4A championship game – the highest classification level then – but lost 21-7 to … [Read more...]
‘A Dynamic Player’: Five-star Rating for Hoover Senior Headed to Auburn
By Rubin E. Grant By the time the 2018 season ends, Hoover senior George Pickens could be the No. 1 receiving recruit in the nation. The 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound Pickens already has garnered a five-star rating from Rivals.com. “Pickens’ size, speed, play-making ability and relentless competitiveness remind me of the best wide receivers I’ve seen since I’ve been doing this … [Read more...]