The Sports Ledger Fall 2016

SEC FOOTBALL Schedules

SPO

RT S

P

G N I ICK

10

th

Anniversary Issue

Phone: 256-506-7368 E-mail address: thesportsledger@gmail.com Mailing Address PO Box 175 Albertville, AL 35962 Shipping Address 1458 County Road 21 Crossville, AL 35962 Like us on

Follow us on Twitter at SportsLedger

The cover photo for The Sports Ledger’s 2016 football magazine is Albertville High School senior Bailey Taylor.

Bailey said she plans to enjoy her senior year and hopefully attend a local community college next fall.

The cover photo was made by Brandon K. Pierce, who is the publisher of The Sports Ledger and owner of Pierce Photography and Studio.

www.thesportsledger.com

(L-R) Bobby Allison and Tony Stewart pose with the car's new paint scheme during the No. 14 Darlington Throwback Announcement True Speed Press Conference at NASCAR Hall of Fame on August 3, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Stewart is set to retire after this season. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Stewart-Haas Racing)

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS The Sports Ledger Was established in 2006 by Publisher Brandon K. Pierce

2

l

Tony Stewart’s final Darlington paint scheme

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

SPORTS

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher As fall gets closer and the weather begins to cool down, Saturday mornings are the perfect time for yard sales and flea markets. Many folks can use this time to search for a newfound treasure before watching, or attending, an afternoon college football game.

Although it’s not quite fall yet, the World’s Longest Yard Sale was held during the first weekend of August and I spent some time “picking” for various sports related items and learning more about the event.

My journey started near Noccalula Falls, where I visited with two gentlemen from Jacksonville, FL that were selling various items, including glass bottles, collectible cards, and race cars.

This was their 12th year at the event and it is one of seven yard sales they set up at each year.

The guys noted that one of the other big events they attend each fall is called the “Turkey Run”

G N I K C I P Photos by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger

(TOP LEFT) A collectible die cast Sterling Marlin race car with a picture of John Wayne.

(TOP RIGHT) A table at the World’s Longest Yard Sale displaying sport collectibles includes a Bear Bryant belt buckle. (BELOW) A collection of cars, tracks, and NASCAR items for sale. inside the Daytona International Speedway. The event is held the week of Thanksgiving and consists of vendors and many classic cars.

This year’s 43rd Turkey Run is set for November 24-27 in the infield of the Daytona Speedway.

In addition to the classic cars, there will be a large artisan alley with arts and fashion, great food, entertainment and a play area for children. The costs can range from $10 to $55, based on how many days attended.

In addition to learning about this awesome event in Daytona, which I must admit sounds likes a fun trip come November, I also found more treasures during the recent World’s Longest Yard Sale.

One vendor had a nifty looking Bear Bryant belt buckle.

However, he had a hefty price on the buckle at $50. Needless to say I passed on purchasing this item.

However, further up the road near Mentone, I found many other sports treasures, some of which I actually purchased.

The Sports Ledger

One item that caught my eye was a car tag from the Atlanta Braves 1995 World Championship season. Another item was a Sterling Marlin Die Cast Replica NASCAR Chevrolet featuring a picture of the legendary John Wayne.

If you are planning to go “Picking” this fall, you may find more than just antiques. So, remember to keep an eye out for anything unique, or sports related, and be sure to sharpen up on your negotiating skills.

l

FALL 2016

l

3

Football Schedules 2016

DATE 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPPONENT @ Pennington Holly Pond New Hope @ NSM @ Pisgah Douglas @ Geraldine Plainview OPEN @ Sylvania @ DAR

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

Columbia @ Arab Cullman @ Brewer @ Oxford @ Boaz OPEN Pell City Fort Payne @ Southside Guntersville

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

Grissom Albertville @ Alexandria @ Crossville Boaz @ Brewer @ Etowah Scottsboro Douglas @ Guntersville OPEN

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

Jamboree @ Pennington @ Guntersville Alexandria @ Arab Albertville Crossville @ Etowah Scottsboro @ Douglas @ Sardis

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Hokes Bluff @ Douglas @ N. Jackson Westminster @ New Hope Geraldine Madison Co. Sardis @ Randolph @ M. Academy Brindlee Mtn.

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN DAR Etowah @ Scottsboro @ Crossville @ Brindlee Mt. Guntersville @ Alexandria @ Arab Boaz Pennington

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN @ Oneonta Boaz @ Etowah Scottsboro Madison Co. @ Douglas Crossville @ Alexandria Arab @ Albertville

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

Plainview @ Sylvania @ M Academy Geraldine @ NSM OPEN Westminister @ DAR @ Madison Co Randolph Boaz

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Southside Madison Co. @ Douglas Guntersville @ Alexandria @ Fort Payne Arab Boaz Crossville @ Scottsboro OPEN

OPPONENT

OPPONENT

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/25 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN @ Woodville @ Fyffe Section @ Collinsville Holly Pond @ Gaston Westminister @ Ider Sand Rock @ Southeastern

8/19 8/25 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Glencoe Susan Moore @ Tanner Cleveland Tarrant P. Valley Cold Springs @ Falkville OPEN Winston Co. @ Ashville

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN Crossville Ider @ Gaston Asbury Cedar Bluff @ Westbrook Fyffe @ Sand Rock @ Section @ Valley Head

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN @ Collinsville @ Scottsboro Arab Douglas Sylvania @ Boaz @ Guntersville @ Etowah Alexandria Geraldine (HC)

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

Chattanooga @ Scottsboro @ Southside OPEN Cullman Etowah Brewer @ Oxford @ Albertville Pell City Anniston

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN Geraldine Asbury @ Westbrook @ Ider @ Plainview @ Sand Rock @ Collinsville Section @ Gaston Cleburn Co.

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21

OPEN @ Fyffe @ Pisgah @ Sardis Plainview @ DAR Brindlee Mtn. Sylvania New Hope NSM

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/27

OPEN @ Valley Head @ Collinsville Sand Rock Fyffe NSM Section @ Gaston Asbury @ Westbrook Sylvania

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Pisgah @ Gaylesville Gaston @ Asbury Westbrook OPEN @ Ider Sand Rock @ Fyffe Collinsville Woodville

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN Fort Payne Crossville Douglas @ Guntersville @ N. Jackson Alexandria @ Arab @ Boaz Etowah @ Madison Co.

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Sardis Sand Rock @ NSM Pisgah @ Geraldine Fyffe OPEN @ Brindlee Mt. @ Sylvania New Hope @ Moody

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21

Grissom Albertville @ Alexandria @ Crossville Boaz @ Brewer @ Etowah Scottsboro Douglas @ Guntersville

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

OPEN @ Plainview Westbrook @ Ider Gaston @ Pisgah Fyffe @ Section Collinsville @ Asbury Cedar Bluff

8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28

@ Lanett Ider @ Coosa Chr. JCA Spring Garden OPEN @ Cedar Bluff @ Gaylesville Woodville OPEN Collinsville

Boaz coach thankful to be back on sideline

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher There are not many times in life that folks have a second chance at something. However, to be blessed with this opportunity is something very special and it should be cherished and enjoyed.

That’s exactly what Boaz High School head football coach Eric Whaley is doing this year.

After missing the 2015 season due to cancer, Whaley has battled back and will once again be leading the Pirates this fall.

“I feel like I’m starting over,” said Whaley. “I’m so fired up.”

Whaley’s cancer is in remission and he said that he is definitely ready to get started back this season. He was quick to note that his second chance at living life and coaching football would not be possible without the power of prayer from his team, community, family and friends.

“It’s by the Grace of God I am here today,” he said.

6

l

“We all fight the same struggle,” added Whaley, noting that “cancer affects everybody.”

During the recent 2016 media day in Oneonta, Whaley received a standing ovation from the other coaches and players in attendance. He told the group that every team Boaz faced last season did something to personally help him.

“I can’t thank ya’ll enough,” commented Whaley, who is entering his 17th year in education at Boaz and fourth year as head football coach.

On the field, Whaley said that the Pirates have approximately 20 seniors this season.

However, he still expects his team to be somewhat young. Boaz will be returning five starters on offense and four starters on defense.

“We jump in the fire right out of the gate,” added Whaley about the season.

The Pirates’ ship will sail into J.B. Pennington for the season opener on August 26.

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

The Sports Ledger, Brandon K. Pierce

Boaz coach Eric Whaley speaks at the 2016 Media Day in Oneonta on July 28. He received a standing ovation from the other coaches, players and media attending the event.

Boaz Snapshots

2016 Boaz Cheerleading Squads

2016 Boaz Pirates Football Team

Boaz football pictures

by Brandon K. Pierce

Albertville Aggies to face tough opponents

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher The Albertville football program is getting set for its second season under head football coach Dale Pruitt and this year’s schedule may be difficult. The Aggies are competing in Class 6A Region 7 and will face Regional foes Brewer, Cullman, Fort Payne, Oxford, Pell City and Southside. Albertville will also be facing Marshall County rivals Boaz, Guntersville and Arab.

Last year the Aggies finished the season with a 7-4 record and placed second in their Region. Albertville also competed in the opening round of the state playoffs, where they fell to Minor 37-35.

2016 Albertville Coaching Staff

The Sports Ledger, Brandon K. Pierce

Albertville seniors Andra Williams, Amie Benjamin, Seth Pack, Will Appleton (kneeling) and Bailey Taylor.

Guntersville set for third year in class 5A

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher The Guntersville Wildcats will be competing in Class 5A for the third consecutive season.

Last year the Wildcats had a successful program and went undefeated during the regular season. Guntersville also won the Class 5A Region 7 Championship and advanced deep into the playoffs.

The Wildcats defeated Ramsey and Hayden, before ending their season with a 26-0 loss to Mortimer Jordan in the third round of the AHSAA State Playoffs. Guntersville finished the year with a 12-1 record.

This year, the Wildcats will once again be trying to complete the season with an undefeated record and advance to the state playoffs.

Guntersville will kick off their quest on August 26, 2016 at Oneonta. According to reports, the Wildcats fell to the Redskins 23-21 in their last match-up.

The 2016 home campaign for the Wildcats will kick off on September 2, when the program welcomes Marshall County rival and Region 7 foe Boaz to Chorba-Lee Stadium Other regional opponents for the 2016 season include: Arab, Alexandria, Crossville, Douglas, Etowah, and Scottsboro.

Guntersville will also play long time rival Albertville in the season finale on October 28.

The Wildcats are coached

by Lance Reese, who is entering his 7th season at the helm of the program.

10

l

The Sports Ledger

2016 Douglas Eagles Varsity Football Team

MOVING ON

Douglas Photos Courtesy of Bentley Gray

2016 Douglas Cheerleaders

Brian Knapp left the Douglas Eagles’ football program this past summer to accept the head coaching position at Valley Head High School in DeKalb County. In his eight years at DHS he complied a 27-53 record.

Clay-Chalkville to face challenging schedule

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher The Clay-Chalkville football program is hoping to reach the state playoffs again this season. Last year the Cougars reached the AHSAA 6A Championship, where they ended the season with a 31-28 loss to Spanish Fort.

Clay-Chalkville head football coach Jerry Young said during the 2016 Media Day in Oneonta that he is looking forward to the upcoming season and hopes to lead his team back to the state title game.

However, with one of the toughest 6A schedules in Alabama and only five returning starters on the team, the Cougars have a very challenging task ahead of them. l

FALL 2016

Jacksonville State Ranked No. 3 Gamecocks looking to return to FCS Championship The Jacksonville State University football program is ranked No. 3 heading into the 2016 season in both major Football Subdivision Preseason polls.

The top five were identical in both the STATS and FCS Coaches Polls, with the Gamecocks becoming the highest ranked Ohio Valley Conference team in a preseason poll since 1993. It's the highest preseason ranking for JSU in its Division I history and the highest since the Gamecocks were No. 2 in the 1992 Division II preseason poll.

Sam Houston State, who JSU eliminated from the 2015 FCS Playoffs with a 62-10 win in the semifinals, is ranked No. 2 in both polls, while Richmond is No. 4 and Northern Iowa No. 5 in both.

The Gamecocks received four first-place votes in the STATS poll, while SHSU was voted first by two voters.

The Gamecocks won the program's fifth Ohio Valley Conference Championship and rolled through the playoffs to make it to the first FCS Championship Game in school history in 2015. The team that stopped the run in Frisco, Texas, North Dakota State, is ranked No. 1 in both preseason polls.

JSU Photos by Brandon K. Pierce

Jacksonville State tied the school record for wins in their 13-2 season in 2015 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for 11 weeks, the first time JSU has been atop the national polls. They finished the season ranked No. 2, the highest ranking in Division I history.

The 2015 Gamecocks set 52 school records and 10 OVC records en route to earning the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS Playoffs. Once there, JSU led the nation in playoff attendance at 22,647 fans per game and finished second in the FCS for the entire season with an average of 20,598 fans over eight home games.

JSU Head coach John Grass was the Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season and then was selected as the National FCS Coach of the Year by his peers in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He became the first coach in FCS history to go unbeaten in conference play over his first two years and was the first OVC coach to win the AFCA Coach of the Year Award. His 23-3 start to his career tied the best start to a career by any coach in FCS history.

The 2016 Gamecocks feature four preseason All-Americans in quarterback Eli Jenkins, center Casey Dunn, offensive lineman Justin Lea and wide receiver Josh

Barge. They are part of a group of nine JSU players on the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team for 2016.

Jenkins was named the OVC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 and is picked to win the honor again this season. Junior defensive end Darius Jackson is the OVC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

JSU will open the season on Sept. 1 with a Thursday night match-up with old rival North Alabama at Burgess-Snow Field. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. CT and will be the first of six home games for the Gamecocks in 2016. _Courtesy of JSU Athletics

DATE

OPPONENT

9/1 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19

North Alabama @ LSU Coastal Carolina @ Liberty OPEN Tennessee Tech Austin Peay @ E. Kentucky East Illinois (HC) @ SE Missouri @ Murray State UT Martin

2016 SEC Football Schedules DATE 9/5 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

DATE 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

Wisconsin (G. Bay) Jax State Miss State @ Auburn Missouri @ Florida Southern Miss Ole Miss OPEN Alabama @ Arkansas South Alabama @Texas A&M

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

LA Tech @ TCU Texas State T. A&M (Dallas) Alcorn State Alabama Ole Miss @ Auburn OPEN Florida LSU @ Miss State @ Missouri

9/1 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

Appalachian St. V. Tech (Bristol) Ohio Florida @ Georgia @ Texas A&M Alabama OPEN @ South Carolina Tennessee Tech Kentucky Missouri @ Vanderbilt

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

OPPONENT

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/14 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

South Alabama South Carolina @ LSU @ UMass OPEN Auburn @ BYU @ Kentucky Samford Texas A&M @ Alabama Arkansas @ Ole Miss

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

OPPONENT

DATE

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/24

FSU (Citrus Bowl) Wofford Alabama Georgia Memphis OPEN @ Arkansas @ LSU Auburn Georgia Southern @ Texas A&M @ Vanderbilt Miss State

OPPONENT UMass Kentucky North Texas @ Tennessee @ Vanderbilt LSU Missouri OPEN UGA (Jacksonville) @ Arkansas South Carolina Presbyterian @ FSU

DATE

OPPONENT

DATE

9/1 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

South Carolina MTSU @ Georgia Tech @ W. Kentucky Florida @ Kentucky @ Georgia Tennessee State OPEN @ Auburn @ Missouri Ole Miss Tennessee

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/24

The Sports Ledger

l

OPPONENT

UCLA PV A&M @ Auburn Arkansas (Dallas) @ South Carolina Tennessee OPEN @ Alabama New Mexico State @ Miss State Ole Miss UTSA LSU

FALL 2016

l 12

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

@ North Carolina Nicholls State @ Missouri @ Ole Miss Tenneesse @ South Carolina Vanderbilt OPEN Florida (J’ville) @ Kentucky Auburn LA Lafayette Georgia Tech

OPPONENT @ West Virginia East Michigan Georgia Delaware State @ LSU OPEN @ Florida Mid Tennessee Kentucky @ South Carolina Vanderbilt @ Tennessee Arkansas

9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

DATE 9/1 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

OPPONENT

Southern Miss @ Florida New Mexico State South Carolina @ Alabama Vanderbilt OPEN Miss State @ Missouri Georgia @ Tennessee Austin Peay @ Louisville

OPPONENT @ Vanderbilt @ Miss State East Carolina @ Kentucky Texas A&M Georgia OPEN UMass Tennessee Missouri @ Florida West Carolina @ Clemson

Crimson Tide ranked #1 in preseason poll Alabama practices during its fan day on August 7.

(Photo by Kent Gidley)

DATE 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

OPPONENT USC (Arlington) Western Kentucky @ Ole Miss Kent State Kentucky @ Arkansas @ Tennessee Texas A&M OPEN @ LSU Mississippi State Chattanooga Auburn

The Amway Preseason Coaches Poll for college football has been released and the Alabama Crimson Tide football program sits at the top in the No. 1 team spot. The ranking marks the seventh consecutive year the Crimson Tide is amongst the top-3 teams in the nation heading into the new season.

Alabama returns 14 starters from last season's squad that finished 14-1 and won the school’s 16th national championship. The Tide has claimed four of the last seven national championships and owns a 98-12 record across the last eight seasons under head coach Nick Saban.

The Crimson Tide received 55 of a possible 64 first-place votes in the poll. Clemson occupies the No. 2 spot in the rankings while Oklahoma enters the 2016 season as the No. 3 overall team.

The Southeastern Conference placed six teams in the top 25 with four of those squads ranking in the top-12. In all, 10 SEC schools received votes in the preseason poll, including all seven SEC Western Division programs.

The Crimson Tide will face three teams ranked in the preseason top-25 poll, including LSU (6), Tennessee (10) and Ole Miss (12).

Alabama opens its 2016 season on Sept. 3 in Arlington, Texas against 17th-ranked Southern California in the annual AdvoCare Classic inside AT&T Stadium. The match-up is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT start on ABC.

DATE 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26

OPPONENT Clemson Arkansas State Texas A&M LSU Louisiana Monroe @ Miss State OPEN Arkansas @ Ole Miss Vanderbilt @ Georgia Alabama A&M @ Alabama

Auburn coach Gus Malzhan will lead the Tigers during the 2016 season.

(Photo by Brandon K. Pierce)

Local playwriter reflects on time spent writing for The Sports Ledger

BY Jade Rice The Sports Ledger I graduated from Boaz High School in the spring of 2007.

Since that beautiful day in May, I’ve rarely returned to the school or even to Boaz that often. I think it’s because I have this drive in me, composed, no doubt, both of dreams and of fear, telling me to keep things always moving forward. However, in 2013 I found myself suddenly rushing back to BHS when I discovered that the school had started a theatre program.

After high school, I graduated in theatre and in English from the University of Montevallo in 2012.

The following year, I found myself on a surreal trip back to Boaz High School where I was able to teach a theatre workshop to the freshfaced students of the new department. The school had lovingly invited me back after I had sent them a letter detailing the excitement and gratitude I felt when I had heard the news about their new program.

When I walked back through the front doors of my old high school, I felt much more like a returning student than someone who was actually there to teach.

I was immediately greeted by my old middle school basketball coach, Patrick Williams, who is the vice principle at Boaz now. He grinned at me. “Theatre, huh?” he said, “I always thought you’d go into journalism.” He made that remark because when I was in high school I used to write for the newspaper.

I don’t remember exactly what day it was that my cousin, Brandon Pierce, asked me to be a correspondent for The Sports Ledger, but it was shortly before 14

l

Jade Rice the start of my senior year. I had told him that I wanted to be a writer. When I think back on it now, I’m so grateful for his kindness and consideration in giving a kid an opportunity like that.

While I didn’t grow up to become a professional journalist, I have no doubt that the ripples of everything I learned during my brief stint in that field are still at work in my life today, and I know for certain that I learned a lot back then.

For one thing, it was the first real job I ever had. I’ll never

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

forget the first time I received a paycheck. I took a picture of it and everything. It was a truly powerful feeling, the first time I realized that I had something to offer that people would actually pay money for.

Writing for Brandon also taught me about professional responsibility and accountability, and I learned all about the overwhelming power that a deadline can wield. So much of life as an adult seems to be about being able to work well under the various deadlines that come with the territory of being a grown up.

Feeling that pressure as a high

school senior was no doubt healthy for me, as the rest of my life back then was mostly about reading books, playing sports, and that usual silly business of trying too hard to fit in.

Another thing that I learned quite rapidly, was that while I may have known how to play sports, I certainly had a thing or two to learn about writing them.

The first articles I wrote covered Boaz High School’s football games. Brandon had procured a press pass for yours truly…which, by the way, felt very official around my neck and was just the coolest thing in the world. Wearing it was almost as much fun as being able to look at my mother as a 17-year-old girl and say, “Mom, I have to go to a football game tonight. It’s my job.”

I may have been feeling a little too big for my britches, though. In my first article, I failed to note the difference between passing yards and rushing yards. I just called them all “carries”. The entire football team and coaches got a pretty big kick out of that one, and I was more than a little mortified. A little farther down the road, I committed an even bigger blunder. I had covered a youth basketball game, and I somehow managed to get some of the children’s names wrong.

This flub was more than a little displeasing to their parents, and we had to print a correction…which, by the way, does not at all feel like the coolest thing in the world.

Rather, it feels like announcing to the world, “Sorry I didn’t do my job well the first time! I’m a moron!”

I’ve no doubt that these failures were healthy for me too,

though. As one of our most famous athletes once remarked, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Failures notwithstanding, as a young aspiring writer, being able to personally witness the words “By Jade Rice” typed in an actual publication was a truly grand thing. I think the greatest gift I received as a writer from writing those articles, however, was that it helped me to discover what I loved writing about the most.

In addition to covering sports, I also wrote little articles about the history behind our various national holidays. I truly enjoyed all of it, but over time I began to realize that I didn’t love it.

Toward the end of my senior year, I had the opportunity to write a few articles about some of my classmates who had earned scholarships. The facts in those were quick and easy to report, so I was able to fill the bulk of them with personal interview content. I

truly loved being able to talk with my friends about the way they felt about their respective high school journeys coming to a close, and I found so much joy in being able to document that for them while also congratulating them on their achievements in print.

It’s this greater interest in a more personal narrative that eventually pulled me toward fiction rather than journalism. (It’s worth mentioning, though, that I do love a true story, as well as historical fiction. In both of these, the worlds of fiction and journalism come together in beautiful collaboration.) In any case, if I’m writing anything these days it’s usually a play.

However…I also journal. I’m pretty relentless about it, actually.

I journal all the time. By definition, I think that still qualifies me as a journalist, even if I’m not a professional one.

Most of us may get our news online now, but the importance of journalism cannot be overstated.

After all, it’s one of the mediums

we use to document human history, isn’t it? We write these events down and we share them with each other in order to remember the facts about the things that happen and have happened in our world and in our lives. We write them down so we won’t forget them. We write them down so that our posterity can know them, and we do it all under the conviction that all of human life is valuable and important.

As a writer and a person, I am very grateful to have had these values instilled in me at a very young age, and I try to keep them in mind whenever I put pen to paper. Who knows? Maybe I wouldn’t have learned half of the things I’ve mentioned if it hadn’t been for Brandon Pierce and the writing opportunity he was gracious enough to extend to me way back then.

So, I would very much like to thank him, and I would like to wish The Sports Ledger a very happy 10th Anniversary.

The first issue was printed August 16, 2006

Fort Payne’s Eleanor Isbell was the 2006 DeKalb County Jr. Miss

The Guntersville volleyball team had five seniors on the 2006 roster. They were Jennifer Wood, Amanda Chamblee, Lauren Gray, Niki Swearengin, and Jordan Ferguson.

Photo Courtesy Bentley Gray Photography

2006 Boaz Varsity Volleyball Team As a senior in high school, Jade Rice was active in sports and journalism. She was a member of various athletic teams and she worked as a reporter for which is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary this fall. Jade is pictured above with her teammates on the 2006 Boaz High School Varsity volleyball team. The team members include (L-R) Destin Knott, Brittany Roberts, Jennifer Hogeland, Beth Fulmer, Laura Leeth, Amanda Gilliland, Kasey Williams, Jade Rice, Amber Soworowski, and Kristen Corbin.

The Sports Ledger

DeKalb All-Star Team at the opening ceremonies in the 2006 Junior Dixie World Series in Grand Praire, TX. l

FALL 2016

l 15

Fyffe looking to return to State Championship

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher The Fyffe Red Devils were the only team to represent DeKalb County in the 2015 State Football Championship in Tuscaloosa last season. After falling to Elba 36-22 in the title game, the Red Devils finished second in the state.

This year Fyffe is gearing up for a repeat appearance in the Class 2A State Championship game. The Red Devils will kick off their quest against DeKalb County Rival Geraldine on August 26, 2016.

Fyffe is coached by Paul Benefield, who is entering his 20th season at the helm of the Red Devils football program.

The Sports Ledger, Brandon K. Pierce

Fyffe’s Kyle Collins (No. 34) runs the football during the Red Devils State Championship game against Elba last year.

2016 Fyffe Varsity Football Team

Fyffe UFO Days set for August 27 In 1989, numerous sightings of unidentified flying objects throughout the town of Fyffe led the small community to be known as the UFO Capital of the World, and later to be recognized by the state as the UFO Capital of Alabama. As a tribute, the community comes together each year to host the Fyffe UFO Day Festival. Set for August 27, 2016, the Fyffe UFO Day Festival is considered by many, an unforgettable family outing celebration where the only flying objects spotted over Sand Mountain are colorful hot-air balloons.

Now in its twelfth year, the UFO Day Festival offers tethered balloon rides, arts and crafts, games for children, a 5k run, an antique car and tractor show, an assortment of food vendors, and live music throughout the day. Slated to perform are Bill Henson/Glen Mountain, Dennis George, Deborah Avans Peek, The Sharp’s, The LST Band, Jack Martin and Forever Country, Danny Lee, Jeff Martin and Caleb Chisenhall, Still Kickin’, Backwoods Revival, Notorious, Willie Underwood, Country Case, and Jamie O’Neal.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with the entertainment getting underway at 10 a.m. Festivalgoers are encouraged to arrive as early as 6 a.m. to watch the hot air balloons launch and disappear into the sky. Tethered rides for the public are generally offered around 6 p.m. Also, in conjunction with the UFO Day Festival, hot-air balloon rides across the Sand Mountain area will be available, weather permitting, by advance reservation only. For more information, visit www.ballooningal.com or call 256.461.8612 or send an email to rides@ballooningal.com.

Registration for the 5K begins at 6:30 a.m. with the race getting underway on Campbell Road at 7:30 a.m. New for this year is a Kids one-mile fun run. For 10 years old and younger, the fun run will be held at the conclusion of the 5K race. Registration is available online at racesonline.com. Cost is $25 in advance or $30 day of race for 5K and $20 for fun run.

For more information on 2016 UFO Day Festival, visit www.facebook.com/FyffeUFODays.

2016 Fyffe Cheerleaders

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

l 17

Crossville Varsity Cheerleaders (Front L-R) Charisma Bowen, Macey West, Logan Politakis, Karla deLeon. (Back L-R) Katie Underwood, Makenzie Bloodworth, Hannah Haston, Brooke McCollum, America Lira, and Katelyn Hairell.

2016 Crossville Lions

2016 Crossville Seniors

Crossville JV Cheerleaders

Geraldine gets new uniforms

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher While many other teams have already finished picture day and shifted their focus to the season opener, the Geraldine Bulldogs are doing things differently.

The Bulldogs, led by second year head football coach Brad Waldrop, opened fall practice with complete focus on getting ready for competition. Geraldine postponed picture day and all the preseason madness until August 19, in order to wait on new uniforms.

Geraldine will have the opportunity to show off the new uniforms, should they choose to wear them, against county rival Fyffe on August 26.

The Red Devils defeated Geraldine last year 33-14 and went on to play in the AHSAA state championship, where they finished as the state runner-up.

The Bulldogs regrouped after the loss to Fyffe to finish last year with a 6-5 overall record.

Geraldine went on to reach the first round of the state playoffs, where they lost to Winfield 34-7.

Geraldine will play three road games in a row to open the 2016 season, before returning home to host Plainview on Sept 16.

The Bulldogs will close out the regular season in their 93rd match-up against DeKalb County rival Crossville on October 28.

The Sports Ledger, Brandon K. Pierce

Geraldine runs the football against Plainview during the 2015 season.

Plainview Football Picture Day 2016

The Sports Ledger, Brandon K. Pierce

2016 Plainview Varsity Football Team

2016 Plainview Varsity Cheerleaders The members of the 2016 Plainview Varsity Cheerleaders are: (not in order) Madison Mince, Taylor Hood, Mr. Bear Jeremy Smaller, Callie Strickland, Karli Hamilton; Allison Garrett, Sarah Dupree, Abby Casey, and Sydney Reed.

2016 Plainview JV Cheerleaders 22 l

The Sports Ledger

Picture day fun! l

FALL 2016

Valley Head Varsity Football Team

2016 Sylvania Marching Band

2016 Ider High School Varsity Football Team

24 l

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

2016 Sylvania Rams Varsity Cheerleading squad

2016 Sylvania Rams Football Team

Collinsville to open season against Crossville

By Brandon K. Pierce Publisher The Collinsville Panthers are gearing up for the 2016 football season, which will kick off on August 26 against long time DeKalb county rival Crossville.

This season Collinsville will be competing in Class 2A Region 6, which includes last year’s state runner-up the Fyffe Red Devils.

The other region opponents will be also be very competitive and the Panthers will jump into Region action when they host the the Ider Hornets in week two this season.

The Panthers will also play regional foes Gaston, Asbury, Sand Rock, Westbrook Christian and Section.

Last year Collinsville finished the season with a 6-5 record and fell to Randolph County in the opening round of the state playoffs.

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

l 25

Fort Payne Football Picture Day 2016

26 l

The Sports Ledger

l

FALL 2016

Photos by Brandon K. Pierce