History Quiz Things About OTM Football That You May Not Know By Lee Davis
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Journal Sports Writer
f you’re like me, you are a real fan of Over the Mountain football. By “real fan,” I mean someone who can count the days, minutes and seconds until his or her favorite team’s opening kickoff. That’s the same person who has a bumper sticker featuring their school’s mascot displayed in a prominent place on the back of the family car. That person gets nervous before even freshman jamboree scrimmages and can sing their school’s alma mater and fight song from memory. This is also the kind of fan who tailgates in the school parking lot on Friday night – a week before the first game. He or she loves his team so much that they can recite the offensive and defensive starting lineup – from eight years ago. These types of fans are the backbone of high school football everywhere, so let’s hope that we always have folks who feel that level of devotion. Maybe you’re the biggest fan out there, but how well do you understand the history, traditions and rivalries that make Over the Mountain football the best in Alabama and among the best in the nation? Take this fun quiz and find out. 1. Which of the following Auburn or Alabama players did NOT play at old Berry High School? A. Mike Kolen B. Clyde Baumgartner C. Ricky Gilliland D. David Jordan 2. Who was the first head football coach at Homewood High School? A. Alvin Bresler B. Larry Blakeney
davis,
from back cover
to visit with coaches Chris Yeager, Chris Musso, Fred Yancey and Buddy Anderson, respectively. As always, my visits were enjoyable and informative in many ways. My mini-tour began at Mountain Brook, where I caught up with Yeager during the team’s picture day. As always, the coach was cordial and open as he offered me the best chair in his office while photographers took group pictures outside. Yeager admitted that this year’s version of the Spartans was something of a mystery, as he tries to replace the outstanding senior class which recently graduated. But I also got the idea that Yeager was looking forward to coaching this particular team. He’s a coach who doesn’t mind his team being a little overlooked by the pundits in pre-season speculation and likely uses the Rodney Dangerfield strategy to help motivate his players. One of the most impressive things
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
C. Gerald Gann D. Bob Newton
C. Jeffrey Salchert D. Robert Sorrell
3. The late Bob Finley led the Berry Bucs to state championships in two seasons. Which two were they? A. 1968 and 1969 B. 1978 and 1987 C. 1977 and 1982 D. 1971 and 1992
10. Who immediately preceded Rush Propst as head coach at Hoover High School? A. Bob Finley B. Gerald Gann C. Larry Giangrosso D. None of the above
4. Which coach at Mountain Brook had the highest winning percentage in Spartan history? A. Robert Higginbotham B. Rick Rhoades C. Gene Ellison D. Joey Jones
11. Against what team did Mountain Brook win its second consecutive state championship in 1976? A. McGill-Toolen of Mobile B. Dothan C. Hayes of Birmingham D. Murphy of Mobile
5. Buddy Anderson’s first game as head coach at Vestavia Hills came against which school? A. Hewitt-Trussville B. Shades Valley C. Mountain Brook D. Minor 6. What was the last season that John Carroll Catholic won a state football championship? A. 1967 B. 1973 C. 1981 D. 1958 7. What former Hoover quarterback was the first player ever to be named Over the Mountain Journal Boy Athlete of the Year? A. John Parker Wilson B. Ross Wilson C. Jarod Bryant D. None of the above 8. Who was the first head football coach at Spain Park High School? A. Vince DeLorenzo B. John Grass C. Chip Lindsey D. None of the above 9. Who was Vestavia’s usual starting quarterback in the Rebels’ 1980 state championship season? A. John Murphy B. Danny Salchert about Yeager is his football intelligence and his ability to explain things in a way that young players – and sportswriters – can understand. He is one of the true teachers of the game. That attribute, along with his calm but firmly-incontrol persona, make him a perfect fit for the Mountain Brook program. My next stop was John Carroll, where Musso begins his fifth year at the Cavalier helm. Musso never had any illusions that turning John Carroll into a Class 5A power would be anything except a long-range proposition and has made steady progress in laying the right foundation. With typical straightforwardness, Musso took the blame for last year’s 2-8 mark despite the undisputable fact that the Cavs suffered enough injuries last season to fill a MASH unit. When I visited the coach, he talked with great pride and reverence about the team’s trip to the University of Notre Dame earlier this summer. Musso truly wanted the visit to what is perhaps America’s highest profile Catholic university to be a meaningful experience, both for its football tradition and,
12. Which rivalry is the oldest? A. Mountain Brook-Berry (Hoover) B. Vestavia Hills-Berry (Hoover) C. Vestavia Hills-Mountain Brook D. Vestavia Hills-Homewood 13. Prior to building an on-campus stadium, where did Briarwood once play its home games? A. Rickwood Field B. Berry’s Finley Stadium C. Gresham Junior High D. Vestavia’s Thompson Reynolds Stadium 14. When Buddy Anderson opened his first season at Vestavia in 1978, which man listed below was NOT a football head coach at an Over the Mountain school? A. Gerald Gann B. Gary Rutledge C. Gary Fleming D. Leo Wright 15. Former Homewood star Chris Gray went on to an outstanding professional career. With which NFL team did Gray set a record by starting 121 consecutive games? A. Miami Dolphins B. Chicago Bears C. Seattle Seahawks D. Green Bay Packers
much more importantly, for its spiritual significance. He guided me through the John Carroll locker room, where framed photos of famed Notre Dame landmarks are placed in prominent positions on the walls. I don’t know how many games the Cavaliers will win this fall, but I do know their coach is totally committed to his players’ physical, mental and spiritual well-being. My third visit was to Briarwood to visit with veteran Fred Yancey, who transferred the Lions from a perennial homecoming opponent to one of Alabama’s most consistent powers. As was the case with Yeager, I met with Yancey during the school’s picture day activities. Just like all the coaches with whom I work, Yancey is incredibly mediafriendly and accommodating. Yancey confessed to me several years ago that the reason he appreciated the coverage of high school football in metro Birmingham so much was because, in his opinion, the coverage wasn’t as good in other states where he had worked.
Here are the answers: 1. D – David Jordan played at Vestavia before moving on to Auburn. 2. A- Alvin Bresler. Bresler would lead the Patriots to a state title in 1974. 3. C -- Finley led the Bucs to a championship in 1977 and a co-championship with Enterprise in 1982. 4. B -- Rick Rhoades coached the Spartans in 1976, leading them to a perfect 14-0 record. 5. C -- Mountain Brook defeated Vestavia 3-0 in Anderson’s first game as a head coach. 6. B -- The Cavs won the Class 3A championship in 1973. 7. C -- Hoover quarterback Jarod Bryant won the first Over the Mountain Athlete of the Year Award in 2005. 8. A -- Vince DeLorenzo was the first coach of the Jaguars. 9. B -- Danny Salchert. His brother Jeffrey was also a Rebel. 10. B -- Gerald Gann, who also coached at Homewood and John Carroll, coached Hoover prior to Propst’s arrival in 1999. 11. D -- Major Ogilvie-led Mountain Brook crushed Murphy of Mobile 52-27 to win its second consecutive Class 4A title in 1976. 12. A -- Mountain Brook and Berry began playing in the late 1960s. 13. C -- Gresham Middle School was the home of Briarwood football prior to the construction of an oncampus field. 14. A -- Gerald Gann was an assistant at Berry in 1978. He would replace Rutledge at Homewood the next season. 15. C – Chris Gray played for the Dolphins and Bears before going to the Seahawks. He would set a team record for consecutive starts in 2006. How did you do? 13-15 correct: All-State 10-12 correct: First Stringer 8-9: Solid Second Stringer 0-7: Good luck next season Now that you’ve sharpened your mind, let’s get ready for high school football 2012. The coach is always candid about his team and its opponents and always impresses with his sheer personal decency. Just a short visit to a Briarwood practice session reveals the respect he commands from players, coaches and the entire school community. If ever a coach and a program were right for each other, it’s Fred Yancey and Briarwood. And don’t expect to read about his retirement any time soon. Yancey is 67 but looks years younger. Last and not least was my annual trek to Vestavia to chat with Anderson. It’s a testimony to longevity that I’ve had a pre-season meeting with the venerated Rebel coach more years than not since 1978. Anderson always meets me in his small office in the section of the football field house that hasn’t changed much in nearly four decades. A coach of Anderson’s stature and record success could certainly demand and receive more plush accommodations, but fancy perks have never been important to him. As the years have gone by,
OTM Touchdown Club Kicks Off Season The Over the Mountain Touchdown Club is set to kick off its 2012 season with a football-savvy lineup of speakers that includes Bobby Bowden and the offensive coordinators from both the University of Alabama and Auburn University. The club, which is beginning its fourth year, has gained national attention as host of the annual Bobby Bowden National Coach of the Year Award. Through this award and its partnership with national sponsors, the club plans to continue to give back to local high school athletes and their schools. Joey Jones, University of South Alabama head coach, will be the featured speaker at the group’s first meeting Sept. 9. Meetings will be held on Sunday nights at the Hilton Hotel Perimeter Park South. A reception and cocktails begin at 5:30 with dinner and the night’s featured speaker following at 6 p.m. Other speakers this year include Lars Anderson, Sarah Patterson, Jimbo Fisher, Dennis Dodd and Mal Moore. Doug Nussmeir, University of Alabama offensive coordinator, will speak to the club Sept. 23 with a special Skype appearance by UA Head Coach Nick Saban. Scot Loeffler, Auburn University offensive coordinator, and former Auburn player Cole Cublic will speak Sept. 30. Bowden will return to Birmingham Nov. 11 to speak to the group. For information about joining the club, visit www.otmtouchdown. com or call 253-5214. Corporate and individual memberships are available. Membership is limited.
Anderson has gotten more open about his views on his team, its rivals and the general state of Alabama high school athletics. Occasionally the conversion will veer – mostly off the record – into serious matters such as national affairs, politics and his deep Christian faith. Anderson, 62, assured me he has no intention of retiring anytime soon. He admits he has no real hobbies outside of enjoying time with his family, which includes a small legion of grandchildren. In an era where coaches at all levels complain of “burn-out,” Anderson seems to love his job more every day. Here’s hoping he continues to do it for many more years. After completing the interviews, I raced to my computer to put the coaches’ thoughts on paper. Along the way, however, I paused to reflect on how fortunate we are to have these four men and their assistant coaches – and the coaches who work in the other Over the Mountain football programs as well – in our community. And I’m also proud to call them friends.