OTMJ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL u OTMJ.COM
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019
Photo courtesy San Francisco 49ers
SOCIAL
FALL FASHION
FOOTBALL AUGUST 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL 2019 PREVIEW
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NICK AT NIGHT Former Spain Park standout Nick Mullens drew the starting assignment for his first NFL appearance in a nationally televised Thursday night game last season against the Oakland Raiders. Mullens was spectacular, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 49ers’ victory. Mullens is battling C.J. Beathard for the 49ers’ backup quarterback job behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo.
Mullens Making the Most of His Opportunity With the 49ers SEE STORY PAGE 26
KEY PLAYERS BRIARWOOD PAGE 6
HOMEWOOD PAGE 8
HOOVER PAGE 10
JOHN CARROLL PAGE 12
TO WATCH MOUNTAIN BROOK PAGE 14
INSIDE: TEAM PROFILES /// SCHEDULES /// ROSTERS /// A LOOK
OAK MOUNTAIN PAGE 16
SPAIN PARK PAGE 18
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
‘I JUST LOVE FOOTBALL’
VESTAVIA HILLS PAGE 20
BACK AT THE ‘99 BRIARWOOD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
INSIDE: OTM HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW Team profiles, schedules, rosters, key players to watch and more. Plus, a look back at Briarwood’s 1999 championship season.
2 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OPINION/CONTENTS
Inside
Murphy’s Law
T IT TAKES TWO, OR MORE Vestavia Hills Mother of Twins Finds Purpose in BAMOM PAGE 7
LIFE LESSONS Mountain Brook Scout Troop Celebrates Golden Anniversary PAGE 10
A BUSINESS IN THREE ACTS Service-Oriented Nations Boutique “Does Beautiful” in New Homewood Location PAGE 22
THE BEAT GOES ON Sixty-Eight Drums Lead the 201920 Homewood Marching Band PAGE 25
ABOUT TOWN 4 FASHION 22 NEWS 8 SCHOOLS 24 LIFE 10 SPORTS 28 SOCIAL 14
otmj.com With everything that’s happening “Over the Mountain,” it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we have launched the OTMJ newsletter. Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - we’ll give you a quick recap of the latest news, sports and social events as well as a heads up on upcoming events so you won’t miss any of the interesting and fun happenings in the Greater Birmingham metro area. To sign up for our newsletter, visit otmj.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @overthemountainjournal, for daily updates on what’s going on around town, too.
A Winning Loser
he U.S. women’s soccer team announced, the losers had better be seen got a lot of flak for being overto be smiling and clapping and the winenthusiastic winners this season. ner must say that it was an honor to They won the World Cup, thank you even be mentioned with his or her comvery much, so I guess they were entipetitors. Everyone knows the script. tled to gloat just a bit. Still, running up They may all go home and throw their the score and dancing with joy pretty Jimmy Choos at the television but to much puts a target on your back for behave otherwise would make them next season. tabloid fodder the next morning. Here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., But, back to the gridiron. Even we’re getting ready to kick-off the other when the odds are stacked against them kind of football season. Every team – when the Crested Cranes are overstarts with high hopes, but the truth of whelmingly favored to win – on any Sue Murphy the matter is that only one team is given Saturday or Sunday or the odd going to win the national championship Thursday or Friday night, the underdog and everyone else is going to lose at River Otters could emerge victorisome point. ous, so it would make good PR sense I’ve never been a Losing is the necessary side for both teams to practice their oneffect of winning. That’s the way very good loser. Over camera persona for winning and loscompetition works. You’re trying to ing right along with those punts, time, I did graduate find out who is the best at somepasses and kicks. thing, which, in turn, demonstrates I’ll admit, it’s hard to imagine a from stomping and that everyone else is not. A lot of coach sitting the team down and saycrying to smiling people get a thrill out of competition, ing, “OK, fellow Roadrunners (or so much so that we choose to comDucks or Banana Slugs), today we’re while I plotted my pete in all kinds of arenas. Over the to practice how we behave comeback revenge ... going summer, I met a man who won when we lose.” It might seem like numerous medals for throwing darts you were putting forth a vote of noin Australia and a woman who travconfidence. Maybe the players could eled to Ireland to compete in an oyster-shucking contest be given a handout with Goofus and Gallant response where she won a medal for plate cleanliness. To be sure, alternatives to peruse at home, or even better, an interaceach of these proud winners left a trail of losers in their tive computer course with facial expression recognition wake. where they could practice appropriate reactions after I’ve never been a very good loser. Over time, I did practice was over. There could be side lessons in talking graduate from stomping and crying to smiling while I to the press, with praise-winning phrases like “It was a plotted my comeback revenge, but neither one of these full team effort” and postures to avoid like “If he hadn’t was a very generous response. The real challenge in missed that block,” which I’m guessing would also make competing at all is to be able to handle both the winning the front line a little less likely to have your back in the and losing ends of it with style and grace. future. Look at the Academy Awards, or the CMA Awards, Being braggadocios appears unkind to the opposite or even the Pillsbury Bake-Off. The split screen cameras team. Being a sore loser makes you look like a petulant zoom in on each nominee’s face. When the winner is child. Winning at losing. Just an idea.
Over the Mountain Views
Any thoughts on the upcoming football season?
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
August 22, 2019 JOU RNAL Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writer: Emily Williams Photographer: Jordan Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Blake Ells, Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls, Bryan Bunch, Sam Prickett, Lauren Helmer Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald, Gail Kidd, Suzanne Wald
“It’s been an offseason of change.” Matthew Forrester, Briarwood Christian
“The guys are used to winning, so the expectations are high.” Ben Berguson, Homewood
“We’re starving to be where we need to be, and that’s the standard we’ve set.” Josh Niblett, Hoover
“As a coach, I thought about what I needed to fix for us to get better.” Logan Colafrancesco, John Carroll
For more from the coaches see our 24-page OTM High School Football Preview inside this issue!
Vol. 29, No. 2
Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at mwald@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2019 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.
“We lost a lot of good players. It’s a lot to replace.” Chris Yeager, Mountain Brook
“We’ve got to get back to who we are and get back to being a physical team.” Cris Bell, Oak Mountain
“We’re going to be real young.” Shawn Raney, Spain Park
“We’ll throw it when we want to and we’ll run with it.” Buddy Anderson, Vestavia Hills
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 3
4 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
AUG 22 - SEPT 6
6-11 p.m. Where: The Club Website: arcofcentralalabama.org
Aug. 22-25
Wed., Aug. 28
Sidewalk Film Festival
Imerge2019
What: A continuation of films, parties, food and special events, this festival brings over 200 films to the Magic City annually. When: Check the website for events and times Where: Birmingham’s historic theatre district Website: sidewalkfest.com
What: Enjoy a night in the stars as Black Jacket Symphony plays Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” Lt. General Steven Kwast shares insight into the next space race and more. When: 4:30 p.m. Where: Alabama Launchpad Website: “Imerge2019” Facebook page
Thurs., Aug. 22
Mon., Sept. 2
Homewood Chamber Golf Classic
Vino and Van Gogh
What: The United Ability Junior Board hosts an evening of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, live music and a silent auction to include original works created by participants in the United Ability’s programs. When: 6 p.m. Where: Haven Website: unitedability. org
Labor Day Celebration and Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest Photo courtesy Smile-A-Mile
What: The Chamber’s largest annual fundraiser assists its economic development programs, helps provide scholarships for local students and funds its efforts to promote the community. When: 3-6 p.m. Where: Topgolf Birmigham Website: homewoodchamber.org
The annual Monkey C Monkey Run will send runners racing through parts of downtown Birmingham on Sept. 7. Hosted by Smile-A-Mile, the course will start and end at Smile-A-Mile Place. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. The 5K will begin at 8 a.m. and the one-mile fun run at 9 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 23 Clays 4 Kids
What: Not only an aTeam Ministries fundraiser, but an outlet for families to enjoy time together away from the hospital, this annual sporting clays tournament is great for advanced and first-time shooters. When: 8 a.m., registration; 9 a.m., safety presentation; 9:30 a.m., clay shoot Where: Selwood Farm Website: ateamministries.org
free, one-day jazz festival including a kid’s zone, food and merchandise vendors, a health and wellness village and more. When: 3-10 p.m. Where: Historic 4th Ave. Business District Website: “Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival” Facebook page
Sat., Aug. 24 Heart and Sole 5k
Back 2 School Bash 19
What: Equal Access Birmingham host a run to raise money to help operate their free, student-run clinic that provides services to medically under served communities.When: 8 a.m. Where: Crestline Elementary School Website: uab.edu
What: Enjoy an array of rides, bounce houses, food and live entertainment. In order to jump, play and ride,
Fairy Tale Ball
What: Childcare Resources presents a family gala including entertainment, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, children’s activities, a silent auction, fairytale characters and more. Costumes
encouraged. When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, The Wynfrey Hotel Website: ccr-bhm. org
An Arc Affair
What: Take a trip to the Emerald City for dinner, dancing and a silent auction to benefit The Arc of Central Alabama and its mission to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When:
What: For those suffering from the loss of a loved one, Grief Share offers a 14-week series to help those grieving learn to adjust to “a new normal.” For college age or older. When: Thursdays, 7-8:45 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving Where: Faith Presbyterian Church, lower level Website: griefshare.org/ groups/63460
Fri., Sept. 6 Maestro’s Ball
What: The Alabama Symphony’s largest fundraiser provides ten percent of the ASO’s operating budget, including educational programs that serve approximately 25,000 students annually. When: 7 p.m. Where: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall Website: alabamasymphony.org
What: Event-goers will enjoy tastes of tailgating food at various team tents and a kid-friendly afternoon of music and team rivalry. Proceeds benefit the Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs. When: 11a.m.-2 p.m. Where: The Bell Center Website: thebellcenter.org
Journal file photo by Jordan Wald
Mitchell’s Place Dragon Boat Race and Festival
What: Urban impact presents this
an unlimited attractions wristband must be purchased, $10. Proceeds benefit HHS band. When: 4:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Homewood Patriot Park Website: homewoodparks.com
Grief Share
THE BELL CENTER TAILGATE CHALLENGE
What: Lifeline presents its eighth annual 5K, where 100 percent of the proceeds benefit (un)adopted, Lifeline’s international orphan care ministry. When: 8 a.m. Where: Railroad Park, West Green Website: lifelinechild.org
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Finish line festivities will include family events, an awards ceremony and music by The Toddfather. Funds raised will directly support Smile-A-Mile’s year-round programming for families in Alabama who are affected by childhood cancer. For more information, visit smileamile.com. —Emily Williams
Thurs., Sept. 5-Dec. 12
Sat., Aug. 24
R(un) for One 5K
What: Enjoy a kid’s zone, merchants market featuring local artists and restaurants and watch teams of 21 people race across East Lake while supporting Mitchell’s Place and the community. When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: East Lake Park Website: mitchells-place.com
Smile-A-Mile to Host Annual Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and Fun Run
What: Participate in Alabama’s largest moon pie eating contest and compete for prize money. Across the park, the United Mine workers hold an annual celebration featuring BBQ, picking and singing. When: Park hours are sunrise to sunset Where: Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Website: tannehill.org
Enjoying friendly competition at last year’s Tailgate Challenge were, from left: Jenny Hester, Anna Pennebaker and Jeannie Krumdieck.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
SAVE THE DATE
ZooGala 2019 organizers include, from left: Amanda Hawkins, event co-chair; Larry and Phyllis Wojciechowsk, honorary chairs; Chris Pfefferkorn, president and CEO of Birmingham Zoo; Jayna Goedecke, event co-chair; Stewart Jones, event co-chair; and Alex Morton, Birmingham market president at IBERIABANK, ZooGala presenting sponsor.
Fri., Sept 13
Sept. 6 and 7 Giggles and Grace
What: Asbury United Methodist Church hosts its annual baby and child fall consignment sale featuring children’s clothes, toys, books, shoes, baby furniture and more to benefit the church’s youth programs. When: Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-noon Where: Asbury United Methodist Church Website: asburygigglesandgrace.com
Artwalk
What: This two-day event transforms Birmingham’s loft district into an arts district featuring the work of more than 100 visual artist, live musicians, street performers, vendors, children’s activities and more. When: Fri., 5-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: Birmingham Historic Loft District Website: birminghamartwalk.org
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
ZOO GALA 2019
What: “South American Sizzle ‘n Samba” features cocktails, dinner, dessert, dancing and an online auction. Black tie optional. When: 7-10 p.m. Where: Birmingham Zoo Website: birminghamzoo.com
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Sat., Sept. 7 BBQ at the Brew
What: Holy Familly Cristo Rey Catholic High School presents a barbecue cook-off featuring live music, college football, food trucks and more all in support of of Cristo Rey in Birmingham. When: 1-4 p.m. Where: Cahaba Brewing Co. Website: bbqbrew2019.swell.gives
Sun., Sept. 8 Fifth Annual Graze: Birmingham
What: Over 15 local farmer-chef pairs collaborate each on a single dish, which they serve in sample sizes to picnickers as they graze from booth to booth. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Avondale Brewery Website: asanonline.org
Bargain Costume Closet
What: Find Halloween costumes, dance wear and dress up clothes at The Dance Foundation’s annual sale. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s Tuition Assistance and Commuinty Partnership programs. When: 2-4 p.m. Where: The Dance Foundation Website: thedancefoundation.org
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 5
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6 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
Photo courtesy Levite Jewish Community Centerw
Barbecue enthusiasts and chefs from across the Southeast will gather for the cook-off, which offers a monetary prize for the best brisket, chicken and beans, among other dishes.
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tures inflatables and obstacle courses. The Friedman Family Foundation sponsors the event, which is free to the public. Now in its second year, the festival gives attendees the chance to celebrate and learn about the rich traditions of the Jewish community – not least of all the food, which tends to bring individuals from all differing backgrounds and worldviews together. Barbecue enthusiasts and chefs
The “When Pigs Fly” Kosher BBQ Cook-Off will be a primary feature of this year’s Jewish Food and Culture Fest, but not the only one. The festival, being held Sept. 8 at the Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, also will offer a variety of foods, games and educational activities to Jewish and non-Jewish residents alike. Children also will be able to visit the Kid Zone, which fea-
from across the Southeast will gather for the cook-off, which offers a monetary prize for the best brisket, chicken and beans, among other dishes. Awards also will be given for best booth décor and most creative team name. Festivalgoers may sample an array of BBQ and smoked meats prepared by teams in the cook-off. Cash, chec, and credit will all be accepted as payment. Another food-related focus of the festival is an emphasis on Jewish recipes that have been preserved by families for generations. Several combo platters will be offered that include kosher meats, sides and salads, including a whitefish salad for those looking for a non-barbecue option and a hot dog meal for the kids. Several traditional Jewish desserts also will be featured at the festival. Along with its emphasis on traditional Jewish foods, the Jewish Food and Culture festival will be highlighting the 71st anniversary of the nation of Israel’s birth. The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the soccer field by the Levite Jewish Community Center. It will be inside the community center in the case of rain. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the co-hosting organizations, which include Birmingham Jewish Federation, Levite Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, Chabad of Alabama, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School and the Knesseth Israel Congregation.
e have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 7
ABOUT TOWN
It Takes Two, or More Vestavia Hills Mother of Twins Finds Purpose in BAMOM
Before having her twins, Alicia Bailey’s only familial experience with multiples was her grandmother, who was a fraternal twin. The situation was nothing like her potentially identical 9-year-old daughters, Jenna and Aubrey. “Hair color, eye color, blood type, body type, basic weight,” she said. “So, we are guessing they are identical, but we haven’t had them tested.” Bailey married her husband, Todd, at the age of 38, and the couple didn’t get pregnant until she was 41. The chances of what Bailey calls “twinning” increase as a woman ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 1,000 babies born in 2017, 33.3 were twins. In Alabama, there were an estimated 58,941 births that year. Chances are significantly lower at younger ages and jumps to 44.7 for every 1,000 births for women aged 35-39. “Having multiples also increased the chances that we would need to have some sort of medical intervention,” Bailey said. She didn’t have many complications during her pregnancy, at least not physically. The complications for her were balancing her career as a social worker, her pregnancy and the need to care for her mother-in-law, who was quite ill at the time. During this time, she had her first encounter with the organization Birmingham Area Mothers of Multiples. She attended its annual Twice as Nice Sale. “We didn’t have any idea if we were having a boy and girl, two boys or two girls,” she said. “So, we didn’t buy a lot. But when we were checking out with the few things we had, I asked about getting involved.” She pocketed the BAMOM information but didn’t do anything with it for a while. Bailey’s daughters were born nine weeks early. One baby spent 38 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital, while the other spent 42 days there. Nevertheless, both babies arrived home in great health. Bailey didn’t have a “single baby” experience to compare to rearing her twin infants, which she considers a blessing. “But when I went back to work and they were ready to be in day care, they were sick a lot,” Bailey said, which became a struggle. Seeking support and advice, she decided to attend her first BAMOM meeting.
Help From Other Mothers
“I immediately felt like everybody understood,” she said. “That’s the great thing about (BAMOM). When you get involved in something where other people are in similar circumstances ... they’re dealing with kind of the same
struggles that you are. “Some of the moms had older twins, so we could see that you do survive,” she said. “It was so helpful. When you’re in the thick of it, you can’t really imagine that you are going to make it.” She continued to return to meetings, even joining the leadership ranks by organizing refreshments for meetings. “Now I’m in charge of the main moneymaker for the club,” she said. The annual Twice as Nice Sale, taking place at Metropolitan Church of God Aug. 23-24, has been the main fundraiser for the BAMOM group since the early 80s. Its purpose is multifaceted, offering an opportunity for club members to make some money, raising funds for the club’s programs and providing a place for mothers to purchase great baby gear without paying full price. “When you have babies who are born apart – by nine months, 12 months, two years, whatever – you have a trickle-down effect. You can use your first’s crib for the next one,” Bailey said. “With twins, you don’t get that.” The sale makes up for any lack of hand-me-downs, offering maternity and children’s clothing and equipment, including strollers, swings, high chairs, car seats, nursery bedding, furniture and more. “We are very careful about quality control,” Bailey said. “We are very careful about anything that is under recall … because it can put other children at risk.” While the mothers make money from what they sell, a small percentage of the sales feeds back into the organization to support its initiatives.
help people,” she said. The Twice as Nice Sale will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 23, and 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 24, with items half-off. For more information, visit BAMOM.org.
Photo courtesy Bailey xxx?
By Emily Williams
Alicia and Todd Bailey with their twins Jenna and Aubrey and Goofy.
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In addition to social and psychological support programs, money is set aside for any need a mom of multiples might have. “We had a mom who was very young, and she had twin boys,” Bailey said. “One of the twin boys had a defect that was not compatible with life. So, he lived for about three weeks ... but when the end came, she was struggling to get money together for a funeral. So, we helped provide some assistance with the funeral.” They have bought flowers, car seats, cribs and even new tires for moms; but the service spreads beyond the organization’s membership. According to Bailey, if a social worker were to call BAMOM and say they couldn’t send a mother home with her twins because she didn’t have car seats, BAMOM would make sure car seats got delivered to the hospital. It’s stories like those that keep Bailey finding space in her busy schedule for BAMOM. “I retired at the beginning of 2018 from my social work job after 25 years, so picking up the sale and taking that on has allowed me to continue to move forward in that kind of position where I
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8 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Group Trains Coaches of Young Players to Keep Them Safe By Sam Prickett When it comes to preventing athletic injuries, said Drew Ferguson, one population has been largely overlooked. It’s not the roughly 10,000 professional athletes in the U.S., or the 500,000 college players or the 6.7 million high school athletes. It’s the 67 million athletes aged 14 and under. “Park-and-rec, church league, whatever you want to call it – that’s the most underserved and the biggest population” of athletes, he said. Ferguson is the director of Sports Medicine at Children’s of Alabama. But, separately from that, he serves as president of the CoachSafely Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to researching and advocating practices for preventing youth sports injuries. “This is basically a pediatric population,” Ferguson said. “They’re more susceptible to concussions because their brains are developing – and musculoskeletal injuries, overuse injuries. They don’t have the ability to dissipate heat like the older kids whose bodies are developed, so there are a lot of issues with the growth and development of the 14-and-under (age group) when they participate in sports. “In other words, they’re not just small adults,” he added. “They’re children that are in their phases of development, and that needs to be understood and recognized in order to prevent these injuries and conditions.” CoachSafely initially was founded by Jack Crowe in 2013 as a consulting group for national organizations, but in August 2017 it was converted to a policy-lobbying organization.
going through a big onslaught of youth football now, getting them educated. We’ve done baseball, softball and some of football.”
Being Prepared
Ferguson is the director of Sports Medicine at Children’s of Alabama. But, separately from that, he serves as president of the CoachSafely Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to researching and advocating practices for preventing youth sports injuries.
Eight months later, the Alabama Legislature passed the Coach Safely Act, which mandated that all volunteer coaches of children 14 and younger take a course in sports injury recognition and prevention. After that, CoachSafely evolved into its current form, which is largely focused on educating those coaches. “Whenever possible, we’re offering this course free of charge,” Ferguson said. Corporate partners – which include Alabama Power, Encore Rehabilitation and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative – cover the costs involved in creating and delivering the course.
Most of the volunteer coaches taking the course are parents, Ferguson said, which means “you have a lot of turnover.” “Parents like to coach their kids, and when their kids move up to middle school and high school, then another group of parents comes in,” he said. That means the state’s volunteer coaches – approximately 60,000 of them, Ferguson estimates – are required to complete the training every year. “It’s a challenge,” Ferguson said. “We’ve already educated 12,000 coaches (so far this year), and we’re
Mountain Brook Residents Voice Concerns Over Potential Drive-Thru Additions at Lane Parke By Emily Williams At the Mountain Brook City Council meeting on Aug. 12, council members and officials heard from two representatives of Mountain Brook Village’s Lane Parke developer, Evson Inc., as well as many concerned residents. Evson’s legal representative, Mel McElroy of Maynard, Cooper and Gale, presented the developer’s proposal to increase from two to four the number of drive-thrus allowed under the Planned Unit Development master plan. “The point there is that it is an alternate option,” McElroy stated. “It doesn’t mean that we would ultimately do that. It gives us the flexibility to if catered by the leasing.” He added that a few of the businesses that have shown interest in leasing space in the development have made their potential offers contingent on hav-
ing drive-thru access. In addition, McElroy requested that a drive-thru originally in the plan be moved from the top right corner of the former Kinnucan’s location to the alley along the left side of the structure. The only definite new drive-thru discussed was one for a coffee shop on the Regions Bank block. Richard Caudle, a Skipper Consulting traffic engineer representing Evson, presented a traffic study conducted to assess the potential impact the drive-thru could have on Jemison Parkway. Though McElroy said Evson did not know exactly which coffee shop company would take over the space, the traffic study conducted by Skipper Consulting focused on Starbucks locations. It focused on a Starbucks on Montclair Road and one on U.S. 11 in Trussville. The study found that the drive-thru
queue likely would exceed its allotted space for nine cars for approximately six minutes during peak periods in the morning and afternoon. Claudle said the data showed the likelihood of significant traffic issues on Jemison Parkway only during the morning peak hour. According to the analysis, one car would be likely to block a pedestrian crosswalk at the entrance of the drivethru for three minutes and up to four cars would stack up, causing road blocks. Community members identified a number of issues in the proposed changes to the PUD – namely the impact on traffic and on village walkability and a shift in the culture of Mountain Brook Village from small business to big-box shops. Resident Victor Hansen voiced many concerns, including potential issues with having a second coffee shop
The course, which Ferguson calls “real comprehensive,” covers how to identify and respond to acute and chronic overuse injuries, sudden cardiac arrest, heat stroke and more, as well as broader topics such as children’s growth and development. Coaches can take the course and gain their certification online through the Alabama Recreations & Parks Association. For coaches without WiFi access, CoachSafely has partnered with Encore Rehabilitation to provide live group sessions of the course in high schools. Part of the program has involved outreach to some of the state’s more rural communities, “where the population’s not as large and there’s a lot of poverty,” Ferguson said. “There’s just an overall need for medical care, because some counties don’t have a hospital or a medical facility or even have EMS.” He adds that CoachSafely is doing a study on several counties through the University of West Alabama “to assess their needs and where people that live in those counties go for their medical care.” In those areas, he said, the training CoachSafely offers might be valuable off the field, too. “If (a coach who had completed the course) had a neighbor or someone who was having a medical issue, they would know how to do CPR or how to transport them,” he said. in Lane Parke, just one block away from a Revelator Coffee. Hansen also identified the current Starbucks in Mountain Brook Village as the closest thing the village has to a
Community members identified a number of issues in the proposed changes to the PUD – namely the impact on traffic and on village walkability and a shift in the culture of Mountain Brook Village from small business to big-box shops. “local coffee shop” and one that is beloved by many community members. That location does not have a drivethru. Patrick Darby, also a resident, read
CoachSafely has “caught the attention of the rest of the country,” Ferguson said. “We’ve made a lot of headway and are really getting some traction, both here in the state and on the national level,” he said. CoachSafely has partnered with several national youth associations to share its course, Ferguson said, and there are plans to pass similar legisla-
CoachSafely has “caught the attention of the rest of the country. We’ve made a lot of headway and are really getting some traction, both here in the state and on the national level,” Ferguson said. tion in other states. Georgia will likely be next, with a draft of the bill scheduled to come before its legislature in 2020. In Alabama, though, Ferguson said he hopes parents can already feel reassured about their student athletes. The goal, he said, is to “increase participation” in youth sports, “instead of having parents worry about concussions and musculoskeletal overuse injuries that could affect them later on in life … . We want to encourage getting the kids moving and make it safer for them to learn the values of being on a team and participating as a team member, which they can carry throughout their life.” from a letter he had submitted to the City Council concerning the traffic study. “Most importantly, there is no statement of methodology that allows the council to evaluate the statistical significance of this sample,” Darby said, noting that its findings relied most heavily on data obtained on one day’s operations at the Montclair Starbucks location. In addition, Mountain Brook Board of Landscape Design Chair Sim Johnson shared concerns about the effect two new drive-thrus would have on the planned green space. Johnson noted that the tree canopy, which already is at a minimum, would suffer from the removal of a sizeable landscaping area to accommodate the drive-thru entrance. He suggested that Evson and the council find a way to include additional landscaping and trees elsewhere in the plan if additional drive-thrus were approved. As Smith adjourned the nearly twohour meeting, she announced that another hearing will be held Aug. 26.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Jesse Lewis Sr.
John McMahon
Kate Nielsen
J.B. and Charles Schilleci
New Community Leaders Named to Birmingham Business Hall of Fame The Downtown Kiwanis Club of Birmingham recently announced the 2019 inductees to the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame. Inductees this year are Jesse Lewis Sr., Agency 54; John McMahon, Ligon Industries; Kate Nielsen, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham; and J.B. and Charles Schilleci, Supreme Beverage Company. The Birmingham Business Hall of Fame Committee each year selects business leaders who have exemplified strong leadership and made extraordinary contributions to the Greater Birmingham area, according to a Kiwanis statement. Lewis was chosen because he has been a pioneer in marketing and advertising, particularly in the African-American community as the founder of Agency 54 and The Birmingham Times, according to the statement. He also has excelled as an
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 9
NEWS
entrepreneur, educator, political consultant and mentor. McMahon, chairman of Ligon Industries, has been involved in more than 35 acquisitions, ranging from publicly held companies to small privately held companies. He is a director of Protective Life, ProAssurance, National Bank of Commerce, Cooper/T. Smith Corp. and UAB Health Systems; and a trustee of the University of Alabama and Birmingham-Southern College. He was instrumental in the creation of the Birmingham Airport Authority and in the organization of UAB Health System, according to the Kiwanis statement. During her 14 years as president of the Community Foundation, Nielsen spearheaded countless projects and initiatives, including granting seed money to create Railroad Park and Red Mountain Park and make improvements to Ruffner Mountain
Nature Preserve. Under her leadership, the Community Foundation grew from having $38 million in assets to about $169 million in assets. Supreme Beverage Company experienced a period of unprecedented growth during the leadership of the Schilleci brothers. Described as total opposites, the brothers used their different styles and strengths to the advantage of the company, which was founded in 1946 by their father, according to the Kiwanis statement. The company now is being led by a third generation of Schillecis. This year’s induction ceremony is open to the public and will be held Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at The Harbert Center. For information about purchasing tickets to the dinner, please contact the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham at 251-0032 or bhamkiwanis@kcob.com. You can find more details at KCOB.org. —Virginia Martin
Alabama Veterans Memorial Park Yes, We Remember! Honor your military veteran with a StepStone during our special recognition event on November 10, 2019, at the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park located on I-459 at Liberty Park Exit 23. For information about ordering StepStones visit us at alabamaveterans.org. Order deadline for the November event is September 23, 2019.
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LIFE
10 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Life Lessons Mountain Brook Scout Troop Celebrates Golden Anniversary
It’s been a half-century of scouting for Mountain Brook’s Boy Scout Troop 320, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this month. For Frank Tynes, the troop’s current scoutmaster, the milestone is an opportunity to appreciate the past while remaining firmly focused on the present. “For those that are currently in the troop, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to those who built it for us,” Tynes said. “But to me, it’s also about the fact that scouting is a time-tested program that helps 11-year-old boys grow into 17-year-old men of good character. We think we’ve had a good track record of doing that, and we’ve had a lot of fun doing it.” Troop 320 since it was established has been in a hut behind Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church, which has also served as the troop’s sponsor since both the church and the troop were founded in 1969. The hut originally was constructed as a youth building for the church, Tynes said, “but once the scouts got going, it just made sense for us to use it.” “A lot of scout troops struggle with not messing up someone’s Sunday school classroom, as you can imagine a bunch of 11- to 17-year old boys might do,” he added, laughing. “It’s been a fantastic location. It’s like a little park back there for us, and it comes alive every Monday night.” That’s when the troop has its weekly meeting. But, Tynes stressed, “The learning that takes place in this program doesn’t really take place in our scout hut. There are merit badge books, there is an element of book learning to it, but the real learning of the program takes place in the outdoors. The real learning takes place by the boys actually doing things.” The troop goes camping once a month. Its August trip took scouts to Mentone, where they camped out, cooked their own meals and went kayaking,
zip-lining and horseback riding. “It’s amazing the number of places you can go and the things you can do within one, two, maybe three hours of Birmingham,” Tynes said. “We go to these places, whether it’s the Pinhoti Trail on Mount Cheaha or going up to Tennessee along the Cumberland Plateau ... . It’s my favorite aspect of the program because they learn by doing. With rare exceptions, we don’t allow cell phones on our campouts. As I like to tell them, we are going to have a real adventure instead of a simulated adventure.”
“There are merit badge books, there is an element of book learning to it, but the real learning of the program takes place in the outdoors. The real learning takes place by the boys actually doing things,” said current scoutmaster Frank Tynes. Photos courtesy Troop 320
Calling All Alumni
For the 50th anniversary, Tynes hopes to include alumni in celebrations, but he said Boy Scout Troops don’t typically have a strong alumni base. “We’re certainly reaching out to them,” he said. “For the most part, you’re dealing with teenagers ... . When they leave us is the same time that they’re leaving their nest at home. So it’s not the case on a daily basis that we see scouts who were in our troop years ago. Many times, we don’t see them until they come back with their own children.” That’s somewhat true of Tynes himself; he became an Eagle Scout at age 16 as part of Mountain
Brook’s Troop 86, which is headquartered at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. When his son Wilson joined Troop 320 in 2013, Tynes got involved with
scouting again, serving as assistant scoutmaster before succeeding Russell Byrne as scoutmaster in 2014. Tynes points to another former scoutmaster, Walter Rush, whose longstanding support of the troop has been renewed, in part, because of another generation. “I don’t think there’s any question that he was our longest-serving scoutmaster, having served for 12 years as scoutmaster and 11 years before that as assistant scoutmaster,” Tynes said. “Now, Mr. Rush’s grandson is now a second-year scout in our troop. So, we see him even more often than we used to, and I think that’s pretty neat.” But while Rush’s level of dedication might not be shared among all alumni, Tynes said he hopes some will come out for the troop’s anniversary event on Aug. 25. “We want them to come back,” he said. “We’re going to celebrate this. We’ve dug up all sorts of pictures that we’ve had tucked away in closets and nooks and crannies in the scout hut. We want (alumni) to come back and look through these things,
recognize them and tell us about some of the things they did.” Being in the Boy Scouts, Tynes said, can become a lifelong source of pride. “Last year, we had a boy scout who was part of a large group of boys who became Eagle Scouts,” he said. “And his grandfathers were there. ... Both of them showed up wearing their merit badge sashes. ... To be in your 80s, think of how many times you’d have the opportunity to throw stuff away, to throw clutter away. They never did.” What inspires that lifelong dedication? Tynes has a few ideas. “The long-term benefits of the program are not necessarily obvious to the boy while he’s (involved),” he said. “And they don’t need to be ... . But you’re taking care of yourself in a way that you haven’t had to do before. In most cases, these boys come to us at age 11, and up until that point most everything that they need has been done for them. Their food has been provided, their shelter, every little thing you can think of has been provided for them. That’s what we parents do. But Boy Scouts helps the boy have to start doing things on his own. That’s a big difference. “It’s not our only job just to produce Eagle Scouts,” he said. “Our job is to do the best job with the boys we have as long as we have them. Whether they choose to go all the way through the program or not, we think they all get something out of it.” Troop 320’s 50th anniversary party and open house will be Sunday, 4-7 p.m. at the scout hut. Alumni, scouts and their families are invited to attend but are requested to RSVP to troop320.50th@gmail.com.
Journal photo by Maury Wald
By Sam Prickett
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 11
Hot Fun in Homewood
LIFE
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
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12 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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HOMEWOOD: Both events offered an opportunity for city fire and police departments to present information on their foundations and city initiatives to members of the community, as well as offer tours of their vehicles.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 13
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FOOTBALL
OVER THE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL 2019 PREVIEW
q
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
KEY PLAYERS BRIARWOOD PAGE 6
HOMEWOOD PAGE 8
HOOVER PAGE 10
JOHN CARROLL PAGE 12
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OTMJ.COM
TO WATCH MOUNTAIN BROOK PAGE 14
OAK MOUNTAIN PAGE 16
SPAIN PARK PAGE 18
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
AUGUST 22, 2019
VESTAVIA HILLS PAGE 20
INSIDE: TEAM PROFILES /// SCHEDULES /// ROSTERS /// A LOOK BACK AT THE ‘99 BRIARWOOD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
FB 2 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OTM FOOTBALL LOOK BACK
‘99 Lions Were Loaded Briarwood Expected to Repeat as State Champions 20 Years Ago — and Did
Photo courtesy Fred Yancey
The Lions routed Lincoln 55-19 in the championship game played at Legion Field.
By Rubin E. Grant
Not a Perfect Season
Unlike the 1998 team, the Lions were not undefeated in 1999. They opened the season with two convincing victories, but in the third week they traveled to Mobile and fell 31-26 to UMS-Wright, snapping the Lions’ 32-game regular season winning streak.
“They weren’t as good as we were, but we had five turnovers,” Yancey said. “After the game, UMS coach Terry Curtis came up to me and said, ‘Y’all are going to win the state.’” The Lions suffered an even bigger blow in the loss to UMS-Wright when Gant suffered a season-ending knee injury, tearing his ACL. Without Gant, the Lions won their next two games to improve to 4-1. But in the sixth week, defending Class 4A champion Deshler from Tuscumbia visited, seeking revenge for a 24-6 loss to Briarwood the previous season. It had
‘In the first 10 games, we were winning but we were not having too great a season. But in the first week of the playoffs, it all came alive. We were the hottest team in the state for five weeks.’ JAY MATHEWS, BRIARWOOD OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Journal file photo by Lee Walls
Legendary Briarwood Christian football coach Fred Yancey wasn’t expecting to win his first Alabama High School Athletic Association championship in 1998. He figured 1999 would be the year the Lions would bring home the blue map AHSAA championship trophy. But in 1998, the Lions shocked him by going 15-0 to win their first AHSAA title, claiming the Class 3A crown. “That was a surprise to us,” said Yancey, who retired following the 2018 season after 29 years as Briarwood’s head coach. “I think we were a year ahead of schedule. I knew we had a good team, but we didn’t have that many seniors.” When the Lions embarked on the 1999 season, Yancey was convinced the Lions could repeat. “We knew we were going to be really good,” Yancey said. “We had a whole bunch of juniors who carried us (to the 1998 title). “We had a loaded team in 1999 and played great defense. Jeff Flannery was our quarterback. He wasn’t flashy, but he ran our offense, and he could run the football and he could throw it. “Robert Gant was as good as any back in the state. Our fullback Jason Ogletree was a killer blocker. Tim Castille was a freshman and was a terrific athlete.” The Lions did as expected, repeating as Class 3A champions. The 1999 team will be recognized during a ceremony honoring Yancey on Oct. 4, when Briarwood plays its 2019 homecoming game against John Carroll Catholic.
The 1999 team will be recognized during a ceremony honoring Fred Yancey on Oct. 4, when Briarwood plays its 2019 homecoming game against John Carroll Catholic.
been Deshler’s only setback in 1998 as it won the 4A title. Deshler got its revenge, beating the Lions 42-35. “It was a great game between two terrific teams and they beat us,” Yancey said. “They went on to win the state (4A title) again.” Briarwood didn’t lose another game, reeling off nine consecutive victories to earn their second straight title and finish 13-2. The turning point came in the Lions’ eighth game, when they beat Vincent 42-16 and Yancey made a crucial decision at the suggestion of Vincent coach Don Harris. “After Robert got hurt, we moved Tim to tailback and he was terrific,” Yancey said, “but we lost our wide out threat because we didn’t
have anyone else who could do what Tim could do. “After we beat Vincent, their coach came over and told me we needed to give Jason the ball more. He said he’s your best player on the field. And I said, ‘Coach, you’re right.’” So, Yancey moved linebacker Daniel Avery to fullback and moved Ogletree to tailback, but not without some pushback from his assistant coaches. “Some of the defensive coaches came to me and asked me to talk (Coach Yancey) out of doing it,” said Jay Mathews, who was the Lions’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach and is now the school’s athletics director. “I said, ‘No, we’re going to make this work.’” The move paid big dividends. “Jason was a great tailback,” Yancey said. “That’s when we became a great team again.” Briarwood was at their best in the playoffs, outscoring their five postseason opponents 17950. “In the first 10 games, we were winning but we were not having too great a season,” Mathews said. “But in the first week of the playoffs, it all came alive. We were the hottest team in the state for five weeks.” The Lions routed Lincoln 55-19 in the championship game. Ogletree ran for 117 yards and four touchdowns and was named MVP. Flannery completed 11 of 15 passes for 131 yards and a TD and ran for 48 yards and another score. Avery had a 27-yard touchdown run and sophomore Nate Anderson caught two touchdown passes while Castille dealt with a leg injury sustained in the first quarter. “We had a lot of sophomores step up and fill in,” Flannery recalled. Flannery, Ogletree, Castille, offensive lineman Jeremy Ingle and place-kicker Graham Wilson were all named first-team All-State. “It was an amazing experience,” said Flannery, who’s now a dentist with Oak Mountain Pediatric Dentistry. “We had a great group of guys and a solid group of coaches, who taught us values and principles that we could carry into life.”
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 3
OTM FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Over the Mountain
2019 Football Schedule BRIARWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Date
Opponent
Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 10 Oct. 18 Oct. 24 Nov. 1
Date
Location
Chelsea Pleasant Grove Woodlawn Wenonah Hartselle John Carroll Parker Ramsay Fairfield Hueytown
HOME HOME HOME AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY
JOHN CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL
Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 24
Date Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25
Nov. 1
Opponent
Location
St. Clair County Leeds Fairfield Parker Woodlawn Fultondale Briarwood Pleasant Grove Wenonah Ramsay
AWAY HOME HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY HOME AWAY
SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL Opponent
Hillcrest Bessemer City Vestavia Hills Mountain Brook Hewitt-Trussville Thompson Hoover Oak Mountain Tuscaloosa Cty
Shades Valley
Location AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY
HOME
Date Aug. 22 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Date Aug. 23 Aug. 29 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
HOMEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Opponent
Hueytown Vestavia Hills Pelham Helena Center Point Minor Chelsea Carver Jackson-Olin Paul W. Bryant
Location HOME HOME AWAY HOME HOME AWAY AWAY HOME HOME AWAY
MTN BROOK HIGH SCHOOL Opponent
Northridge Center Point Tuscaloosa Cty Spain Park Vestavia Hills Oak Mountain Hewitt-Trussville Thompson Hoover Gardendale
Location HOME HOME HOME AWAY AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY
Date
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL Opponent
Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 3 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Date
Central-Phenix CityCrampton Bowl Cocoa (Fla.) Milton High (Ga.) Thompson AWAY Hewitt Trussville HOME Oak Mountain HOME Tuscaloosa Cty AWAY Spain Park HOME Vestavia Hills HOME Mountain Brook AWAY IMG Academy(Fla.) HOME
OAK MTN. HIGH SCHOOL
Aug. 23 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Date
Location
Opponent
Location
Chelsea Hewitt-Trussville Thompson Hoover Pelham Mountain Brook Tuscaloosa Cty Spain Park Vestavia Hills Pace
AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY HOME
VESTAVIA HIGH SCHOOL
Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25
Nov. 1
Plus tax, title, and administrative fee. All rebates to dealer. Rebates subject to change without notice.
Opponent
Homewood Spain Park Tuscaloosa Cty Mountain Brook Shades Valley Hewitt-Trussville Thompson Hoover Oak Mountain
Huffman
Location AWAY HOME AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY HOME
AWAY
FB 4 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OTM FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Emotional Leader Maturing Ashford Ready to Quarterback Bucs’ Offense Again
By Rubin E. Grant
but I learned a lot. I learned more about reading defenses and how to have better footwork. “I also learned that football can’t be the most important thing in my life. I learned a lot about keeping things in perspective.”
Robby Ashford is an emotional guy. In his first season as Hoover’s starting quarterback, in 2018, Ashford admits he let his emotions get the best of him at times. When you’re the quarterback, that could be problematic because of the effect it has on your teammates. “I wasn’t the leader I needed to be,” Ashford said matter-of-factly. During the offseason, Hoover coach Josh Niblett expressed to Ashford that he shouldn’t get overly emotional, considering the position he plays. “As a quarterback, you have to have a short memory,” Niblett said. “I played the position. If you’ve made a bad play, you have to get back in the huddle and let it go. “We go as Robby goes. He’s highly competitive and he wants to win. We want him to have emotions, but he’s got to learn to control them.” So, heading into his senior season this fall, Ashford has made his emotions a point of emphasis. “My goal is being the best player and being the best teammate I can be,” Ashford said. “I think I’ve grown and I’m doing a better job of keeping my emotions in check.” Niblett has seen signs of progress, but he said, “Like anything in life, it’s a continuous process. He’s young and still maturing.”
Ole Miss Bound
Ashford has orally committed to Ole Miss, choosing the Rebels over Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Colorado. He will play both football and baseball for the Rebels. “I felt Ole Miss was the best place for me,” Ashford said. “I knew that right after I stepped on campus. I’m happy with my decision.” Niblett believes the Rebels landed an impact player. “They’re getting a kid who’s a dynamic player,” Niblett said. “He’s worked extremely
The 6-foot-4 Ashford, a 4-star recruit, is regarded as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the state. He is one of 19 quarterbacks from around the nation named to the preseason watch list for the 2019 National High School Quarterback of the Year award presented by the National Quarterback Club.
Ashford’s fiery competitiveness wasn’t the only thing on display last year. He demonstrated that he was a multi-dimensional, dual-threat quarterback. He completed 148 of 269 passes for 2,542 yards and 22 touchdowns with nine interceptions, and he rushed 100 times for 623 yards and seven more touchdowns as Hoover advanced to the Class 7A semifinals. “He’s a superb athlete,” Niblett said. “The game has evolved. He fits the way the game has evolved.” The 6-foot-4 Ashford, a 4-star recruit, is regarded as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the state. He is one of 19 quarterbacks from around the nation named to the preseason watch list for the 2019 National High School Quarterback of the Year award presented by the National Quarterback Club. The winners are scheduled to be announced Jan. 27 at an awards banquet in Scottsdale, Arizona. The club honors quarterbacks of the year from high school, college and professional football, and it has a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Ashford also was one of 20 quarterbacks who participated in The Elite 11 quarterback competition in late June at the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility in Frisco, Texas. The Elite 11 counts among its alumni Andrew Luck, Vince Young, Tim Tebow and Deshaun Watson. “The competition was exciting, being among the 20 best quarterbacks in the nation,” Ashford said. “I didn’t come out on top like I wanted,
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
Dual Threat
hard, working on all parts of his game. He’s done a good job of studying and trying to get better and putting our guys in better situations.” Ashford is a highly regarded outfielder in baseball, which was instrumental in his decision to go to Ole Miss. “A big factor is they’re going to let me play baseball and football,” he said. Ashford hit .313 with two homers, 27 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 41 games for the Bucs last spring. He could be a high draft choice in the 2020 MLB draft. “I have talked to some scouts about that, but it’s really just wait-and-see,” Ashford said. “I really believe if it’s not first round or second round, I’ll go to school. Even then, I’ll still weigh my options.”
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN
Members of the 2019 Briarwood Christian School varsity football team are: Miller Stubblefield, Brooks Donnelly, Christian Ferguson, Jonah Carroll, Cal Higdon, Chase Travis, Blake McKenna, Luke Prewett, Cohen Luker, Andrew Jones, Parker Hutson, Eli Steadman, Luke Reebals, James Hancock, Sam Gage, John Elliot, Christopher Vizzina, Peyton Clement, Seth Alford, Haddon Stubbs, Reece Garner, Cal Reebals, Nicholas Dicen, Chandler Key, Tyler Smith, Sawyer Tindall, Pierce Reichle, Bailey Salmon, Tyler Waugh, Alastair Harris, Daniel Corbin, Will Barnes, Riley Margene, Crawford Kent, Peyton Fox, A.J. Davis, Mathis Tindall, Knox Merry, Noah Nall, Clay Dorrill, Buddy Campbell, Cole Garner, Grant Bruce, Hardy Thompson, Alex Hudson, Turner Murphy, Christian Pearson, Garrett Harmon, Knox Wolsoncroft, Charlie Heidepriem, Holden Patterson, Clayton Rasmussen, Reeves Pylant, Carson McKeen, James Michael Tedesco, Alex Moorer, Rich Connell, Parker Will, Alex Miller, Trent Howard, Abner Taylor, Harris Smith, Jay Butler, Will Brewer and Ethan Anderson.
‘An Offseason of Change’ Forrester Not Pressured Taking Over for Briarwood Coaching Legend
By Rubin E. Grant
The Lions will have five starters returning on both offense and defense, so they will have plenty of new guys who need to grow up
briarwood KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
quickly.
Backfield
One of the returning starters on offense is junior quarterback Jonah Carroll. “He played a lot as a sophomore and got some experience,” Forrester said. Carroll does have some competition for the position, coming from freshman Chris Vizzina. “He’s good too,” Forrester said. “We’re excited about all our quarterbacks. We’ve got several young ones who we can compete with the next few years.” Although versatile running back J.R. Tran-Reno graduated, the Lions do have senior Luke Prewett returning. “He runs hard and he’s got excellent vision,” Forrester said. Senior Christian Ferguson returns as the blocking back. “We’ve got some others who will play,” Forrester said. “We’ll move them around like we did J.R. TranReno.”
Receivers
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Don’t get Matthew Forrester wrong. He’s not too pressured taking over as Briarwood Christian’s head football coach following the retirement of legendary coach Fred Yancey after 29 years at the helm. “That’s a little thing for me,” Forrester said. “I’m grateful for all coach Yancey did for Briarwood. I played for him (in the late 1990s) and he mentored me as a coach. He’s been a huge influence in my life.” But, Forrester said, “Taking over as defensive coordinator for my dad (Mike Forrester) in 2011 after he had been here for 17 or 18 years and was loved and cared for by his players was pressure internally for me. It was that Thanksgiving table kind of pressure.” Matthew Forester spent 13 seasons as an assistant on Yancey’s staff, including the past eight as defensive coordinator. He also was an All-State linebacker on Briarwood’s first state championship team, in 1998. Now that he’s at the helm of the program, he will try to keep up the Lions’ streak of 26 consecutive seasons in the state playoffs. “It’s been an offseason of change,” Forrester said. “For 29 years we have done everything coach Yancey’s way, but now we are testing the waters.
“I’m trying to make it my program, but at the same time everything we do has him written all over it.”
Briarwood coach Matthew Forrester with from left: Luke Prewett, Turner Murphy, Trent Howard and Cal Reebals.
Briarwood will have an experienced receiving corps with returning starters Blake McKenna, Brooks Donnelly and James Hancock. McKenna and Hancock are seniors and Donnelly is a junior. “Blake is a tough kid who runs great routes and has good hands,” Forrester said. “Brooks is a solid
receiver whose brother (Carson) plays at Clemson. James will be at outside receiver.” Sophomore Luke Reebals and juniors John Elliot and Bailey Salmon
briarwood AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Matthew Forrester 2016 Record: 9-3 Region: Class 5A Region 4: Fairfield, Pleasant Grove, Wenonah, Woodlawn, John Carroll, Ramsay, Parker. Stadium: Lion Pride Field (5,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 10 Oct. 18 Oct. 24 Nov. 1
@ Vestavia Hills** Chelsea Pleasant Grove* Woodlawn* @ Wenonah* Hartselle John Carroll* @ Parker* Ramsay High* @ Fairfield* @Hueytown
*Conference game **Jamboree
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
will see plenty of playing time. “We’re very fortunate that we’re two-deep at each of our receiver positions,” Forrester said. “They can all catch and run.”
Offensive Line
The Lions have three returning starters on the offensive line, led by 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior left tackle Trent Howard. He has committed to Georgia Tech. “He’s versatile,” Forrester said. “He can play all five positions on the offensive line.” The other two returning starters are senior left guard Christian Pearson and junior Carson McKeen, who will move around from tackle to center to guard. Senior Alex Miller will start at right tackle and senior Clayton Rasmussen will play center and guard. Sophomore Alex Moorer also will rotate in at right guard. “He’s a big ol’ boy, about 6-0, 270 pounds,” Forrester said, “but he runs like an athlete. When he gets going, he can go.” Forrester likes having the versatility of his linemen. “We’ve got seven or eight guys who we can rotate in and out,” he said. “It’s going to be interesting how we line them up.”
Defensive Line
With three returning starters, Forrester said the defensive line could be the strength of the team. “Having three returning starters normally doesn’t happen here,” Forrester said. “We usually have a couple of seniors, but last year Turner Murphy, Parker Will and Cole Garner all started as juniors.” Murphy will play strong-side defensive end, Will will play defensive tackle and Garner will
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 7
BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN line up at both positions. Sophomore Miller Stubblefield figures to be the weak-side defensive end. Ferguson also will see time on the defensive line. “We’ve got some young guys, too, who we hope come on,” Forrester said.
Linebackers
Senior Cal Reebals heads an experienced group of linebackers. “We moved him to outside linebacker from offensive line and he’s been a stud for us,” Forrester said. Junior Tyler Waugh will play middle linebacker and junior Parker Hutson will be the other outside linebacker. Senior Crawford Kent and junior Luke Hand also will be part of the rotation.
Secondary
The Lions will have two experienced cornerbacks in senior Chase Travis and junior Alastair Harris. “They both had great seasons last year,” Forrester said. Sophomore Andrew Jones and juniors Cal Higdon and Eli Steadman will man the safety positions, giving the Lions a solid secondary.
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Kicker
Senior Noah Nall will handle all the kicking chores. He made 5 of 7 field goals in 2018 and averaged 35.5 yards per punt. “He’s been starting since he was a freshman and now he’s finally a senior,” Forrester said. “He’s consistent. He was All-State last year. We’re glad to have him.” Briarwood will play its first regular season game Aug. 30 at home against Chelsea before stepping into Class 5A, Region 4 play the following week at home against Pleasant Grove.
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FB 8 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
HOMEWOOD
Members of the 2019 Homewood High School varsity football team are: KeOnte Davis, Khardi Dalton, Len Irvine, Brody Susce, Bradley Jordan, Caleb Walker, Kameron Gaines, Justin Towner, Trae Ausmer, Aron Marsch, Charlie Goode, Brian Condon, Cameron Green, Keyante Rogers, Alex Ray, Jed Stone, Darrius Hentley, Pate Owen, Harvey Ray, Gabe Madden, Taylor Patterson, Blake Bunshaw, Jon Merrell, Logan Hall, Houston Alford, Hansin Dalton, Justin May, Cameron Humes, Jorge Ortiz, JaCorrie Ponds, David Elliot, Carter Engle, J’veon Snow, Dashaun Cottrell, Abdul Maflahi, Josh Beasley, Donte Bacchus, Henry Watson, Jackson Lindsey, Will Crittenden, Mike Ngei, Andrew Ochoa, Emmanuel Erhumwunsee, Nicholas Burczyk, Frank Studinka, Brody Butler, Jaiven Williams, Levi Miller, Ryan Maxwell, D.J. Parker, Jalen Wright, Miles Williams, Cooper Johnston, Thomas Roney, Clark Snow, Anias Thomas, Dailon Hentley, Lucas Padgett, Travion Curry, Jekobie Harris, Isaiah Turner, James Brooks, Foster Snow, Katie Crim, J.C. Daniel and Robert Wilkerson.
‘A Great Football Culture’ Expectations Still High for Rebuilding Patriots
By Rubin E. Grant
“If something happened to Pate, we wouldn’t miss out at all,” Berguson said. “We’re going to try to play him in more than mop-up duty. We’re going to give him some quali-
After two consecutive 10-win seasons and a trip to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs for the first time in 13 years in 2018, the Homewood Patriots are rebuilding in 2019. The Patriots have to replace 16 starters, including 10 on defense. In addition, most of their reserves last year were seniors, so they’re gone, too. “We lost a lot of three-year starters, so we’re rebuilding this thing,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. “You’ll see a lot of new faces this year. “But we’ve got such a great football culture. The guys are used to winning, so the expectations are high.”
ty reps during games.” At running back, KeOnte Davis returns. “He was our red zone back and scored 10 touchdowns last year,”
homewood KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Receivers
The Patriots’ most dangerous offensive weapon is 5-foot-7, 155pound senior slot receiver Trae Ausmer. He accounted for 10 touchdowns, including three on punt returns, and had more than 1,700 all-purpose yards last year. “He’s our best player on offense, our playmaker,” Berguson said. “We’ve got to find ways to get the ball in his hands.” Senior Justin Towner will play the other slot, while sure-handed senior Cameron Green and competitive junior Len Irvine will play outside. “The wild-card in the bunch is sophomore Aron Marsch,” Berguson said. “He has great hands. Don’t be surprised to see him crash the starting lineup.”
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
Backfield
Senior Pate Owen will take over at quarterback. He didn’t want to just observe as a backup last year, so he played tight end, H-back and fullback. “It’s his time now,” Berguson said. “I’m anxious to see how he does. He’s 6-foot-4, 210-pounds with a real strong arm. He’s tougher because of the way we played him last year, so we’re going to run him more.” Owen’s backup is junior Brody Susce, who transferred from Spain Park.
Berguson said. “He’s 5-8, 200 pounds. He’s thick and powerful.” Sophomore Hansin Dalton is the Patriots’ breakaway threat out of the backfield. “He’s the first freshman I’ve ever pulled up on the varsity,” Berguson said. “He has big-time potential. He and KeOnta complement each other. KeOnta is bigger and more powerful and Hansin is more of a scat back, but he has a short center of gravity and he’s tough to tackle.”
Homewood coach Ben Berguson with, from left: Pate Owen and Trae Ausmer.
See PATRIOTS, page 22
homewood AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Ben Berguson 2018 Record: 10-3 Region: Class 6A Region 5: JacksonOlin, Pelham, Minor, Helena, Carver, Chelsea Stadium: Waldrop Stadium (5,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 22 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
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*Conference game
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FB 10 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
HOOVER
Members of the 2019 Hoover High School Varsity football team are: Codey Martin, Jamari Buye, Kory Chapman, Marcus Williams, Dylan Pauley, Anthony Hayes, Aarren Smith, Seth Parker, Matthew Palmer, Malik Thomas, Cooper Tullo, Ben Trulove, Ray Hampton, Robby Ashford, Kory Warren, Josh Smith, Massiah Tolen, Jacob Johnson, Josh Lundy, Jalen Jones, Brian Porter, Joseph Buffet, Jaedan Sankey, Ladarius McCammon, Kobe Williams, Andreas Coats, Isaac Lovoy, Jason Riles, Jamal Denson, Sabon Shelton, Darius Morrow, Will Whisenhunt, Dawson Rye, Joseph Davis, Vinze Moore, Cedric Smith, Bryce Cole, Nick Young, Constantine Hontzas, Foster Ware, Sam Suswam, Markus Clark, Kobe Stewart, Andrew Counce, Carter Short, Drew Tountasakis, Isaiah Moore, Noah Cameron, Maurice McConnel, Devondrez Bridges, Albert Osorio, Tyrrie Ragland, Jeptha Kilgore, Nick Paradise, Christian Givens, Cristian Fields, Cam Johnson, Nick Folse, Harrison Ozgun, Matthew Lippy, David Bodden, Drew Colclough, Adam Lepkowski, Luke Godwin, Christian Ledbetter, Trent Preyer, Juan Sparks, RJ Hamilton, Keyvon Lavender, Colby Davis, Austin Rye-Crook, Jabari Gaines, Mason Williams, Jake Euler, Carlos Castilleja, Noah Rosser and Amari Sanders.
‘A Different Mindset’ Bucs ‘Starving’ to Reclaim Class 7A Title
By Rubin E. Grant
Backfield
Ashford, the top-rated quarterback prospect in the state, will play a starring role if the Bucs ascend back to the top. In his first season as the starter last year, he threw for 2,542 yards and 22 touchdowns with nine interceptions and rushed for 623 yards and
Ashford. “We feel good about him,” Niblett said. “He’s been a guy who’s been in our program. He’s experienced. He
hoover KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
understands our offense. “We’ve got some younger guys we’ll continue to develop,” he said, mentioning sophomores Walker Berryman and Evan Reeder. The Bucs have to replace Larry McCammon, who was their primary ballcarrier the past two seasons, but senior Anthony Hayes and juniors Dylan Pauley and Massiah Tolen are ready to step up at running back. “I’m excited about those guys,” Niblett said. “They’re bigger backs, except for Massiah, and they each bring something different to the table. They play hard and they’re capable of making big plays.” Juniors Will Whisenhunt and Keyvon Lavender will play fullback.
experience last year. Some younger receivers looking for playing time are juniors Malik Thomas, Jalen Jones
See BUCS, page 13
hoover
AT A GLANCE Head Coach: Josh Niblett 2018 Record: 9-4 Region: Class 7A Region 3 Mountain Brook, Hewitt-Trussville, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Buccaneer Stadium (5,000), The Met (9,000)
2019 SCHEDULE
Receivers
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
The Hoover Bucs are not just hungering to get back on top in Class 7A. Their desire is much stronger than that. “It’s not about being hungry,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “We’re starving. When you’re starving it means you’ve got to have it. We’re starving to be where we need to be and that’s the standard we’ve set.” Hoover lost to Thompson in the 2018 Class 7A in their quest for a three-peat as state champions. “I think it’s harder to stay at the top than to get to the top, and I think for myself we took some things for granted,” Niblett said. “We are going to own who we were and own who we are going to be.” Senior quarterback Robby Ashford said reclaiming the Class 7A championship is their top priority. “We’re coming back this season with a different mindset,” Ashford said. “We’re not used to losing in the semifinals.”
seven more touchdowns. “Robby is a dynamic kid,” Niblett said. “He’s a dual-threat quarterback.” Junior Josh Lundy will back up
Hoover coach Josh Niblett with, from left: Robby Ashford, Jeptha Kilgore, David Bodden and Kory Chapman.
The Bucs’ top two receivers from last year are now at SEC schools — George Pickens (Georgia) and Shedrick Jackson (Auburn). Pickens was a man among boys at times last season for the Bucs. “I don’t think you ever replace a guy like George,” Niblett said. “He’s a once-in-a-generation player.” Niblett said the Bucs will have a different group of receivers this fall. “This is probably our most inexperienced spot, but we have some guys we’re trying to develop,” Niblett said. He listed seniors Jamari Buye, Ray Hamilton, Cooper Tullo and Colby Davis as receivers who gained some
Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 3 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Central-Phenix City @ Crampton Bowl Cocoa, Fla. @ Milton High, Ga. @ Thompson* Hewitt Trussville* Oak Mountain* @ Tusc. County* Spain Park* Vestavia Hills* @ Mtn. Brook* IMG Academy, Fla.
*Conference game
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
HOOVER
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 11
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FB 12 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
JOHN CARROLL
Members of the 2019 John Carroll Catholic High School varsity football team are: Isaiah Ambroise, Luke Harris, Christian Harper, Spencer Drouin, Lawrence Johnson, Aaron Mason, Ethan Cull, Jeremiah Gibbs, Mauree Raby, Kaleb Bryant, Sam Sransky, Marice Smith, Jharad Johnson, Quad Harrison, Obi Ifediba, Adrian Martinez, Nicholas Reed, JT Balducci, Kameron Jackson, Patrick Wood, Oneal Mearchant, John Michael Wos, Antoni Ambriz, Seth Seidenfiden, A-Hijah Bell, Brock Sanders, DJ Dunklin, Pow Harrell, Peyton Jacobs, Mitchell Walker, John Crowe, Kingston Lampley, John Murray Hallman, Trey Grissett, Campbell Farr, Jacob McMahon, Chris Ohagwu, Greg Shunnarah, Davis Deason, Chase Botthof, Bobby Campbell, Ethan Kelly, Sam Lynch, Jack Carlisle, Graham Russell, Jack Horton, Tyler Johnson and Dexter Nevett.
‘Back to Some Old-school Stuff’ Colafrancesco Expects Cavaliers to Be More Physical, Show Signs of Maturity
By Rubin E. Grant
this is (his) first year to start,” Colafrancesco said. “He has a good arm and he can sling it. He has to work on his fundamentals, but he
Logan Colafrancesco did some self-evaluation after the John Carroll Cavaliers suffered through a miserable 1-9 season in 2018. “As a coach, I thought about what I needed to fix for us to get better,” Colafrancesco said. “I decided to go back to some old-school stuff I learned. We revamped our offseason program so we could get bigger and stronger and get in a lot better shape. “The point of emphasis was on becoming more physical. We ran toughness drills every day during the offseason.” Along with being more physical, Colafrancesco, entering his fourth season as the head coach at his alma mater, hopes the Cavaliers have matured. “We were young last year,” he said. “We had 14 freshmen on our team. We hope the experience they got will pay dividends this season and in the future.” One of those young players has moved on. Quarterback Nicholas Sellers, who started as a sophomore last year, has transferred to UMSWright in Mobile. Jharod Johnson, a 6-foot-4 junior, will take over as the Cavaliers’ quarterback. “He played a little last year, but
john carroll KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
will back up Johnson. Ambroise also plays cornerback and wide receiver. “If something happens, we’ll go with him at quarterback,” Colafrancesco said. “He’s a good athlete and he’s smart. That’s the key.” At running back, sophomore Aaron Mason returns after a breakout freshman season. Sophomore Lawrence Johnson and junior Jeremiah Gibbs will share the load with Mason. Gibbs sat out last year after transferring from Saint John’s School in Maryland. “He’s ready to get after it,” Colafrancesco said. “I feel good about all our running backs,” he added.
Receivers
The Cavaliers have multiple options at receiver with juniors Ethan Cull and Oneal Mearchant, senior Brock Sanders, and sophomores Quad Harrison and Christian Harper. Cull, Merchant and Sanders are returning starters. “I really like our skilled-position players,” Colafrancesco said. “Merchant has got some wheels, but Cull is the glue and has really good hands.”
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
Backfield
understands what it takes to run our offense. I think we’ll have the opportunity to move the ball.” Versatile senior Isaiah Ambroise
Offensive Line
John Carroll coach Logan Colafrancesco with back, from left: Graham Russell and Isaiah Ambroise. Front: Spencer Drouin and Brock Sanders.
John Carroll returns several offensive lineman from last season, including senior center Graham Russell, senior tackle Jack Horton and sopho-
more guard Chris Ohagwu, who started as a freshman. The other starters will be seniors Kingston Lampley and John Crowe and sophomores Greg Shunnarah, Jack Carlisle and Ethan Kelley. “These guys really busted their
john carroll AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Logan Colafrancesco 2018 Record: 1-9 Region: Class 5A, Region 4: Fairfield, Parker, Woodlawn, Briarwood, Pleasant Grove, Wenonah, Ramsay. Stadium: Carroll Field (4,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 24
@ St. Clair County Leeds Fairfield* Parker* @ Woodlawn* Fultondale @ Briarwood* @ Pleasant Grove* Wenonah* @ Ramsay*
*Conference game
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
tails in the weight room during the offseason and are a year older and stronger,” Colafrancesco said.
Defensive line
Shunnarah and Carlisle will start on the defensive line, joining freshman Jacob McMahon. Ohagwu and Lampley will also spend time on the defense line. “I think we’ll be pretty good up front,” Colafrancesco said. “We’ve got some guys who are fast. “We’ve also got some players who will spend half their time on offense and half their time on defense. That will definitely help us.”
Linebackers
Junior middle linebacker Spencer Drouin spearheads the Cavaliers’ linebacking crops. It will include juniors Luke Harris, Pow Harrell and Mitchell Walker as well as Johnson and Gibbs. “They’re not as big as some, but they play
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 13
JOHN CARROLL hard and they’re quick,” Colafrancesco said.
Secondary
Ambroise and junior Kaleb Bryant will start at cornerback, while Harper will start at safety. Some of the Cavaliers’ other receivers and running backs will add depth to the secondary. “We’ll be two or three deep at every position on the field,” Colafrancesco said. “Guys won’t totally split their time at two positions, but in spots they will.”
STARTING AUGUST 23 8 pm — 11 pm In case of medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to your local ER
Kickers
Senior Obi Ifediba, a soccer player, and freshman Seth Seidenfaden entered preseason practice battling to handle the place-kicking and punting duties. “They can both do it,” Colafrancesco said. John Carroll opens the season with nonregion games against St. Clair County and Leeds before opening Class 5A, Region 4 play against Fairfield in Week 3.
FRIDAY NIGHT
FOOTBALL
CLINIC
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
Hoover senior Jeptha Kilgore leads an experienced group of linebackers.
BUCS From page 10
and Joseph Buffet. Niblett said he also expects freshman R.J. Hamilton “to make a lot of plays.” The Bucs will employ sophomore Jabari Gaines and junior Dawson Rye at tight end.
Offensive Line
Niblett likes what the Bucs have up front on offense. “We’ve got some continuity coming back,” he said. “The biggest thing is they’ve got to continue to grow and get better, but they have a chance to be special.” Seniors David Bodden – a 6-foot-2, 290pound center/guard – Harrison Ozgun, a 6-foot4, 280-pound tackle – and Luke Godwin – a 6-foot-1, 254-pound guard – will anchor the line. A few new guys expected to join them on the line are juniors Nick Paradise and Adam Lepkowski, and senior Juan Sparks. “We’ve got some young guys coming along like Jordan Washington, who will be a sophomore,” Niblett said.
Defensive Line
The Bucs have three seniors anchoring the defensive line — ends Joseph Davis and Sam Suswam and nose guard Drew Tountasakis. “I really like the edge they bring,” Niblett said. “We’re trying to find ways to add pieces, but I like the energy they have, and I like the way they play.”
Linebackers
The Bucs have four experienced players returning at linebacker, led by senior Jeptha Kilgore, who started at middle linebacker as a sophomore. The others are juniors Josh Smith and Marcus Williams, and senior Aarren Smith. Sophomores Corey Warren and Carter Milliron will provide depth. “We need to play consistent and we need to be physical,” Niblett said.
Secondary
Niblett said the Bucs’ secondary is solid, but they need to create some depth. Seniors Seth Parker and Codey Martin return at cornerback and in back of them are juniors Jacob Johnson and Jamal Denson. Safety Kory Chapman is the quarterback of the secondary. Junior Matthew Palmer will play free safety. Senior Cedric Smith and sophomore Paul Thompson are in reserve.
Kickers
Junior Constantine Hontzas is set to handle the punting and kicking chores, inheriting a spot where the Bucs excelled for several years with Barret Pickering, now at Nebraska, and Will Reichard, now at Alabama. Milliron and junior Carter Short are battling to replace Ben Hendrix as the team’s long snapper. Hoover will compete in challenging Class 7A, Region 3. The Bucs will open the season Aug. 23 at the Cramton Bowl against reigning 7A champ Central-Phenix City. The following week, Hoover will travel to Milton, Georgia, to play Cocoa, Florida, as part of the Freedom Bowl.
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FB 14 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
MOUNTAIN BROOK
Members of the 2019 Mountain Brook High School varsity football team are: Paulson Wright, Blake Pugh, Zach Bass, Logan Brewer, Luke Gilbert, Benjamin Parrot, George Cain, Crawford Golden, Colten Niemann, Charles Crommelin, Strother Gibbs, Atkins Roberts, Grady Breland, James Barron, Ben Savage, Sims Brown, Jake Thompson, Caldwell McCraney, Andrew Putman, Jay Rucker, Sam Higgins, William O’Leary, David Allen, Jones Beavers, Will Yarbro, Will Baynes, Edward Reed, Elliott Bloomston, Lev Berman, George Lloyd, James Nichols, Mac McCowan, Michael Brogan, Trent Wright, Wyatt Brooks, Paul McMinn, Jack Lukens, John McKimmon, Rhyne Hogue, Will Rusert, Clark Griffin, Calvin Wilbanks, Matt Holloway, John McMillan, Ethan Shunnarah, David Dixon, George Scofield, James Hufham, Pearson Bedingfield, Quinn Thomas, Michael Lorino, Colledge Elliott, Trenton Hirm, Charles Regan, Jacob Lucas, Drew Elliott, Braxton Wetzler, Will Grant, Charles Law Schilleci, Beau Hubbard, Rob Gunn, John Abele, Nelson Crawford, Alden Chaney, Grayson Chew, Andew Fleming, Jackson Allison, Jack Smith, Austin Sikora, Ryan Kampakis, Henry Skinner, Alex Stokes, Nathan Krueger, Will Monroe, Wilder Hines, Rudy Harrison, Ford Kelly, Miles Waldrop, Alex Abele, Elad Sebbag, Reed Harradine, Corbin Peterson, Laurence Barringer, Edward Barze, Turner Welsh, Gray Doster, Peyton Fair, Grant Johnson, Wheeler Bowron, Tompkins Richardson, Preston Horsley, Nicky Siegel, Win Horn, Cade Holmes and Maddox Pugh.
A Lot of ‘Shoes to Fill’ Spartans Searching for Playmakers
By Rubin E. Grant
ible vision and intelligence. His football IQ is off the charts.” Junior Michael Brogan will spell Higgins at running back.
When Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager says the Spartans have a lot of “shoes to fill” this season, it’s not just coachspeak. The Spartans graduated 36 seniors who led the team to a 9-3 record and a second-round playoff berth in 2018. “We’ve got a big, big challenge facing us,” Yeager said. “We lost a lot of good players. It’s a lot to replace. “The spring didn’t go as well as we wanted, but we’re making strides. We still have to decide who the playmakers are and what they can do.”
Receivers
Senior Crawford Golden, a 6-foot4, 225 pounder, is back for his second year as the starting tight end. He is
mountain brook KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Offensive Line
The Spartans have two starters back on the line, senior left tackle Andrew Fleming and senior left guard Beau Hubbard. But the team is mostly inexperienced up front. Junior Charles Law Schilleci figures to play right tackle, while seniors Charles Regan and Alden Chaney and junior Jack Smith will rotate at guard. Junior Will Grant will start at center with Regan serving as his backup. “We’re really small but fairly athletic on the line,” Yeager said. “We’ll use a variety of schemes to help them be more effective. “We don’t have a whole lot of depth. We have about seven players we’re going to rotate.”
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
Backfield
One position Yeager won’t have to worry about going into this football season is quarterback. Junior Strother Gibbs returns after starting as a sophomore. “Any time you have a returning starter at quarterback, it allows you to expand your offense,” Yeager said. “Last year, we tried to keep it simple and not put too much on him, but as the year went on, we were able to put more on him. Now we can attack more because of his experience.” Freshman Benjamin Parrot is expected to serve as Gibbs’ primary backup. Senior Sam Higgins returns at running back. “He was very productive last year,” Yeager said. “He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he has incred-
being recruited by several mid-major colleges, including Charleston Southern and Austin Peay. “He has a lot of upside,” Yeager said. “He has a long, lean body and he’s very athletic. He has good hands and he’s a powerful blocker.” The Spartans’ starting receivers – junior Paulson Wright and seniors Ben Savage and Jay Rucker – are all new. Seniors Logan Brewer and Rhyne Hogue, who both start in the secondary, will add depth.
Defensive Line
Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager with back, from left: Crawford Golden and Beau Hubbard. Front: Clark Griffin, Sam Higgins and Logan Brewer.
The Spartans also are thin on the defensive line. Junior nose guard
See SPARTANS, page 23
mountain brook AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Chris Yeager 2018 Record: 9-3 Region: Class 7A Region 3: Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Spartan Stadium (5,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 23 Aug. 29 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Northridge Center Point Tusc. County* @ Spain Park* @ Vestavia Hills* Oak Mountain* Hewitt-Trussville* @ Thompson* Hoover* @ Gardendale
*Conference game
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Mike Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Mike FAX:The 205-824-1246 Over Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 aug. 2019 FAX: 205-824-1246 aug. 2017 This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Aug. issue. Please fax approval or changesJOURNAL to 824-1246. This is your22, AD2019 PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN for the Aug. 24, 2017 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
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Alabama Appliances Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Date: August 2019
This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the August 22, 2019 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
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Top: Bea Healey, Antoinette Flowers, Kathy Byrd, Betsy Wall, Anna Margaret Miller, JanieMac Roe, Bill Trotter, Rebecca Hardwick, Beth Hardwick, Pam Evans Ward | Bottom: Amy Ager, Kim Mirelman, Kathy O’Rear, Susan Wall 2 8 5 0 C A H A B A R O A D , S U I T E 2 0 0 · M O U N TA I N B R O O K , A L 3 5 2 2 3 · 2 0 5 . 8 7 0 . 8 5 8 0 · L A H R E A L E S TAT E . C O M
FB 16 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
OAK MOUNTAIN
Members of the 2019 Oak Mountain High School varsity football team are: Noah Young, Mitch Allen, Mark Johnson, Jonathan Bennett, Kyle Percer, Cameron Atkinson, Sam West, Evan Smith, Devin Hiolden, Ethan Hammett, Jimmy Harris, Tyler Do-Bui, Zach Martin, Garrett Murphy, Eli Hackbarth, Zach Hauck, Zach Paisley, Hogan Morton, Kaileb Jackson, Zach Taylor, Juston Taylor, Bobby Laury, Zach Hagedorn, Nic Randle, Cade George, Amor McIntosh, Jaquarious Davis, Tucker Boswell, Judah Tait, Colton Johnson, Aiden Laughlin, Colin Herring, Quest Agee, Jaqeh McFadden, Dean Null, Ashton Taylor, Caleb Webb, Zach Smith, Chase Schwender, Andrew McCallister, David Parker, Landon Holcomb, Reynolds Jones, Jett Turner, Nic Rigdon, Alfredo Hernandez, Zac Hollington, Drew Rowland, Mason Burnett, Nolan Fuqua, Christopher Mattox, Will Pfaffman, Jacob Payne, Mattox Vines, Colin Roberts, Brady Reeves, Kevin Hernandez, Zack Bailey, Drew Padgett, Nathan Besch, Will Ford, Alex Mathis, Grayson Cowart, Sam Johnson, Harrison Miller, Jacob Goldfon, Gavin Nelson, Micai George, Andrew Lee, Braxton O’Brien and Charlie Serra.
‘Get Back to Who We Are’ Young Eagles Looking to Get Physical for Bounce Back Season
By Rubin E. Grant
“We don’t want to throw too much on him, but he can make a lot of things happen.” Junior Tyler Do-Bui is the backup
As Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell discusses his 2019 football team, one thing readily apparent is the Eagles’ youthfulness. “We’re going to be young,” Bell said. “We have only 17 seniors on the roster. Our two-deep depth chart is littered with 10th and 11th graders.” Despite their lack of experience, the Eagles are looking to bounce back from a 2-8 season in 2018, which included a 0-7 record in rugged Class 7A, Region 3. “Last year as the year progressed, we went backward,” Bell said. “I went to Texas after the season and met with some friends to get some ideas. “We’ve got to get back to who we are and get back to being a physical team.” That means Oak Mountain will try to pound teams with their ground game, which in turn will set up the Eagles’ passing attack. The task of running the Eagles’ veer attack falls on 5-foot-11, 170pound sophomore quarterback Evan Smith. He started as a freshman and had a solid season, passing for 861 yards and eight touchdowns and rushing for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. “He’s a special kid,” Bell said.
oak mountain KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior Jonathan Bennett heads a solid running back corps that also includes senior Devin Holden and junior Judah Tait. Holden opened some eyes last year after transferring from ClayChalkville. “He’s just as fast and strong as Jonathan,” Bell said. “He can run the veer path and get on the outside, too.”
Receivers
Junior Noah Young, who is 6-foot4 and 205 pounds, will play tight end. “He’s a good football player,” Bell said. “He can do a lot of things. You can line him up wide because he’s so versatile.” Junior Tucker Boswell and senior Sam Johnson also will see time at tight end. Seniors Kyle Percer and Zach Paisley, junior Harrison Miller and sophomore Ethan Hammett will make up the wide receiving corps. “Ethan is a really dynamic player,” Bell said. “He has a chance to be really good.” Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Backfield
quarterback. “He’s a good, solid, heady kid,” Bell said. “We have a lot of faith in him.”
Offensive Line
Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell with from left, back: Jonathan Bennett and Devin Holden. Front: Will Pfaffman, Jacob Payne and Drew Padgett.
The Eagles will operate behind a completely revamped offensive line because all five starters graduated. “We’ve got a lot of question marks,” Bell said. Sophomore Nic Rigdon will start at center. Zach Bailey will play left guard and Drew Padgett, who is
6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, will play left tackle. On the right side will be juniors Alex Mathis and Drew Rowland. Senior Zac Hollington and sophomore Mason Burnett will provide depth.
oak mountain AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Cris Bell 2018 Record: 2-8 Region: Class 7A Region 3: Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Mountain Brook, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Heardmont Park (5,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 23 @ Chlesea Defensive Sept. 6 Hewitt-Trussville* Line Sept. 13 Thompson* The defensive line has the poten@ Hoover* tialSept. to be20 a strength. Sept. 27 more Pelham “We have options on our Oct. 4 line,” Bell @ Mtn. defensive said.Brook* Oct. 11 Jacob Tusc. County* Senior Goldfon will play Oct. 18 along@with Spain Park* nose tackle senior Jacob Oct. Junior 25 Micai @ Vestavia Payne. George Hills* and Nov.Colton 1 Pace will play senior Johnson defensive end. Sophomores Gavin *Conference Nelson and Calebgame Webb also will see time at defensive end.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OAK MOUNTAIN
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 17
Linebackers
The Eagles have four players vying for time at outside linebacker – sophomore Cam Atkinson, senior Colin Herring and juniors Braxton O’Brien and Jaquarious Davis. They also have four players vying for time at inside linebacker – senior Will Pfaffman, junior Juston Taylor, seniors Reynolds Jones and Sam West. “We’re young everywhere but linebacker,” Bell said.
MAKING THE NEWS
Secondary
In the secondary, juniors Chase Schwender, Dean Null, Eli Hackbarth and Nic Randle will rotate at the safety positions. Sophomore Kaileb Jackson will also play safety as well as corner. “He has a chance to be really good,” Bell said. Juniors Zach Taylor and Jimmy Harris will start at cornerback.
Kickers
Journal file photo by Lee Walls
Johnson will handle punting chores. “I think he’s the best punter in the state,” Bell said. Johnson is rated the nation’s top punter in the Class of 2020 by Kohl’s Kicking recruiting website. Johnson also could wind up as the Eagles’ place-kicker. He’s battling junior Hogan Morton for the position. Oak Mountain opens the season against 6A rival Chelsea before beginning region play against Hewitt-Trussville, Thompson and Hoover.
Despite their lack of experience, Oak Mountain head coach Chris Bell said the Eagles are looking to bounce back from a 2-8 season in 2018.
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FB 18 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Photo by Iron City Studios
SPAIN PARK
Members of the 2019 Spain Park High School varsity football team are: Jaylen Ward, Michael Ogletree, David Moultry, Micheal Benson, Krishad Offord, Larry Ford, Jacob Jenkins, Micheal Callens, Jayst Dorion, T’Nazj Means, Jack Baylor, Harrison Barker, Chris Mancill, Ben Rice, Patrick Davis, Justin Pegues, Micheal Neal, Cooper Kelley, Austin Hutcheson, Dolan Wilson, Neal Partin, George Hill, Landon Miller, Bennett Meredith, Conner Blair, Zach Rushing, Zachary Graham, Drake Tabor, Richard Moses, Khaleb Simmons, Ethan Gutowski, Zamir Farris, Pierson Cole, Goodwin Tidwell, Braden Brock, Logan Denson, Sam Moates, James Broderick, Jackson Major, Alex Morton, Dillion Orr, Christopher Prolsdorfer, Gage Hughes, Tucker Steed, William Harper, Jamal Scott, John David Coggin, Travis Mann, Conner Elrod, Chaz Bounds, Thornton Allen, Parker Stone, Victor Lam, Jackson Boler, Brayden Boggan, Conner May, Zach McPeters, Stephen Olsen, Andrew Moses, Tyler Hunter, Rodney Scott, Russell Partin, Jake Horton, Joseph Heatherly, DeQarius Hill, Darius Dillon, Jay Tibbs, Braxton Sumpter and Samuel Garibay.
‘Looking for Great Things’ Young Jaguars Ready to Showcase Their Skills
By Rubin E. Grant
Backfield
The Jaguars do have some experience at quarterback with senior Harrison Barker returning. He’s the son of former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker and the brother of former Jaguars quarterback
Braxton Barker. “He’s athletic,” Raney said of the 5-foot-9 Harrison Barker “He can run and throw, and he’s a tremendous
leader, similar to Braxton, who we had two years ago.” Sophomore Bennett Meredith will serve as Barker’s backup. “We think
spain park KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
he’s going to be a really good player,” Raney said. The Jaguars don’t have a power back to replace Jalen Henderson, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2018 and walked on at Auburn University. Senior Michael Callens, junior T’Nazj Means and sophomore Justin Pegues will share the running back load. “They’re all small, scat back types,” Raney said. “We’ll be more of a perimeter team than a power team in the running game.”
Receivers
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
When Spain Park coach Shawn Raney looks over his 2019 football team, he sees a bunch of sophomores on offense and several seniors on defense. But what he doesn’t see is players with experience. “We’re going to be real young,” Raney said. “We started six sophomores on offense in our spring game against Jackson-Olin. On defense, we have a lot of seniors, but they hadn’t played a lot.” Still, Raney believes the Jaguars could be a factor in rugged Class 7A, Region 3 despite finishing 4-6 in 2018 and having their 3-year state playoff streak halted. “It’s the most skilled we’ve ever been on offense, but all of them are 14, 15 years old,” he said. “I think they will continue to get better as the year goes along and they get some experience. “They’re talented and physical, and we’re looking for great things out of them the next three years.” On the other side, Raney said, “The kids on defense do a good job.”
Spain Park coach Shawn Raney with, from left: Jacob Jenkins, Harrison Barker, DeQarius Hill and Jake Horton.
The Jaguars have several talented receivers Barker can look to in the passing game. Senior tight end Jacob Jenkins brings athleticism from the basketball court. “He has a chance to be a good player,” Raney said. “He has good hands and he’s a good blocker.” Sure-handed senior wide receiver George Hill also will be a primary target. “He played a lot last year,” Raney said. “He’s more of a possession receiver. He does a great job of catching the ball.” Sophomores Jaylen Ward and David Moultry and junior Cooper Kelley are explosive. “If we can get the ball on the perimeter to these guys, I think they’re as good as anybody around,”
Raney said.
Offensive Line
Raney described his offensive linemen as a “bunch of puppies.” “We’ve got 11 linemen and none
spain park AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Shawn Raney 2018 Record: 4-6 Region: Class 7A Region 3: Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Finley Stadium (5,000)
2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
@ Hilcrest Bessemer City @ Vestavia Hills* Mtn. Brook* @ Hewitt-Trussville* Thompson* @ Hoover* Oak Mountain* @ Tusc. County* Shades Valley
*Conference game
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
The Jaguars have several talented receivers. Sure-handed senior wide receiver George Hill will be a primary target.
of them have much experience,” he said. Senior Chaz Bounds will rotate at one of the guard spots. Three sophomores also will start, with Conner May at center, Andrew Moses at tackle and Jacob Boler at guard. Junior Stephen Olsen, who started some as a sophomore, will be the other tackle and junior Brayden Boggan will be a backup at guard and center.
Defensive Line
The Jaguars could be good up front with seniors Jake Horton, a tackle, and DeQarius Hill, an end, anchoring the defensive line. Senior Jay Tibbs will be the other starting tackle and senior Goodwin Tidwell will be the other end. Junior Samuel Garivay will provide depth at both spots.
Linebackers
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 19
SPAIN PARK
Three more seniors – Richard Moses, Chris Mancill and Michael Neal – comprise the linebacking corps. Senior Zach Rushing also will be
in the mix.
Secondary
Spain Park will rotate sophomores Pegues and Patrick Davis and junior Zachary Graham at cornerback. Davis has a chance to be special. “I think he will be a college prospect in the future,” Raney said. “He’s really talented.” Junior Braden Brock will start at strong safety with senior Dolan Wilson at free safety. Junior Michael Ogletree will be in reserve.
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Kickers
Junior Drake Tabor returns to handle the place-kicking duties. “He’s gotten stronger and he’s experienced,” Raney said. “I think he will be a college kicker.” Senior Neal Partin will take care of the punting. Spain Park opens the season against Class 6A opponents Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Bessemer City before beginning Class 7A, Region 3 play.
Good Luck, Birmingham-Metro Area Football!
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Shay Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 August This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the August 22, 2019 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
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FB 20 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
VESTAVIA HILLS
Members of the 2019 Vestavia Hills High School varsity football team are: AJ Powell, Caleb Uhlich, Joseph Sullivan, John Ross Ashley, Wells Watts, Charlie Hughes, Walker Bunn, Peyton Walraven, Jackson Ayers, Braden Glenn, Taiyo Crawford, Wilson Owen, Zachary Lightfoot, Greg Brown, Brock Payne, Lleyton Hargrove, Cole Johnston, Eli Sawyer, Ben Jackson, Fort Edmonds, Bryant Agee, Sam Willoughby, Caleb Harwell, Joe Phifer, Landon Neese, Grainger West, Tyler Moore, Colton Horne, Will Brooks, Thomas Watson, Camren Lyaka, Skylar McGee, Rob Warnock, Jermaine Harris, Trey Saunders, Jack Talley, Josh Cheatham, Walker Creel, Chandler Merrill, Jack Davis, John Edwards, Bryce Littleton, Aiden Robinson, CJ Parker, Brayden Duke, Jake Levant, Leighton Reese, Caleb Leak, Gram Thornton, Russell Luccasen, Pierce Hanna, Sims Nichols, Garrett Lawley, Garrett Osborn, Michael Weaver, Walker McCulley, John David Miles, John King, Cal Stubbs, Drew Ulch, Jack Dawsey, Hill Stokes, William Lott, Max Neuroth, Vaughn Schneider, Cade Allen, Michael Lawrence, Chris Munger, Eli Bratton, Darren Gordon, Blake Jeffers, Oliver Gilbert, Nelson Greiner, Cole Lenhart, Eli Vielguth, Everett Thompson, Dawson Ray, Matthew Gray, Jamar Wilkins, John Harden, Taviyan Tanniehill, Hoke Smith, Will White, Turner Harris, John Bristle Douglas, Jack Poole, Connor AT A GLANCE Witherington, Garrison Dabbs, Gavin Harvey, Colton Rohling, Christopher Haynes, Josh Decker, Davis Stewart, Andrew Baynham, Hasting Sykes, Bennett Whisenhunt, Jackson Trotman, Carter Tyus, Jackson Baynham, Zachary Mueller, Jordan Moss, John Christiansen, Adam Rudulph, Andrew Spray, Garrett Head Coach: Buddy Anderson Warren, Jackson Bazemore, Matthew McMeans and Conner Knighten. 2018 Record: 6-4 Region: Class 7A Region 3: Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Stadium: Thompson Reynolds Stadium at Buddy Anderson Field (5,000)
vestavia hills
‘Got to Be Ready to Play’ Rebels Coach Hopes Vintage Formula Leads to a State Playoff Berth
By Rubin E. Grant
vestavia hills KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
As he embarks on his 42nd season as Vestavia Hills’ head football coach, Buddy Anderson is not about to change anything. “We’ll do what we’ve always done,” Anderson said. “We’ll throw it when we want to and we’ll run with it.” And on defense, the Rebels will attack. “I think we have a strong unit on defense,” Anderson said. “We have six returning starters and a bunch of players who played a good bit last year, so they have more experience. They’re aggressive and we’ve got good overall team speed.” Anderson hopes that formula will be good enough to earn the Rebels a state playoff berth. Vestavia Hills finished 6-4 last year and missed the playoffs. All four losses came in rugged Class 7A, Region 3 to Mountain Brook, Hewitt-Trussville, Thompson and Hoover. “Our region is just that tough,” Anderson said. “There were a couple of games we let slip away. “We’ve got to be ready to play every week.”
Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson with, from left, back: Jermaine Harris, and Cal Stubbs. Front: Jackson Trotman and Garrison Dabbs.
2019 SCHEDULE
Backfield
The Rebels will have an experienced quarterback to lead the offense. Senior Eli Sawyer returns for his second season as the starter. “He has as good an arm as anybody I’ve coached,” Anderson said. “And he has experience. That’s something you can’t manufacture. It has to be earned.” Junior Braden Glenn will back up Sawyer. “We’re hoping to get him into games some,” Anderson said. The Rebels will employ several running backs to try to replace Cooper Bishop, who graduated. “We don’t have anybody like Cooper who can carry the ball 20-25 times a game,” Anderson said. “We’ll play two or three tailbacks.” Anderson mentioned junior Taiyo Crawford, seniors A.J. Powell and Greg Brown and sophomores Bryant Agee and Pierce Hanna as the ones competing for playing time. “We’re looking at all five of them,” Anderson said. “Each of them brings a different skill set to the table.” Junior Landon Neese will start at fullback with sophomore John See REBELS, page 22
Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Briarwood ** @ Homewood Spain Park* @ Tusc. County* Mtn. Brook* Shades Valley @ Hewitt-Trussville* Thompson* @ Hoover* Oak Mountain* @ Huffman
*Conference game **Jamboree
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Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 21
VESTAVIA HILLS
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FB 22 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
PATRIOTS From page 8
Offensive Line
Homewood has three returning starters on the offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-4, 285pound junior center Lucas Padgett. Senior left tackle Jekobie Harris, who is 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, and senior guard D.J. Parker, who is 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, are the other two returning starters. Junior guard Clark Snow, who is 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, and junior tackle James Brook figure to move into the starting lineup. Berguson said to keep an eye on 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore Thomas Roney. “He’s our next big-time line prospect,” Berguson said. “We don’t have much depth,” Berguson added. “I feel good about the starting group, but we can’t afford any injuries.”
Defensive Line
Homewood will be starting all new faces on the defensive line. Senior Ryan Maxwell and junior Jaiven Williams figure to rotate at nose guard in the Patriots’ 3-4 scheme. Junior Jalen Wright and senior Brody Butler will be the starting defensive ends. Butler is also a highly skilled long snapper. “Defensive line is probably the position we’re struggling with the most,” Berguson said. “They didn’t get many reps last year.”
Linebackers
Berguson said he feels good about the linebacking corp. Seniors Alex Ray and Gabe Madden will play outside linebacker. “Both guys run really well,” Berguson said. Talented juniors Charlie Goode and Jackson
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OTM FOOTBALL PREVIEW Lindsey will play inside.
Secondary
Senior safety Kameron Gaines is the only returning starter on defense and could play both ways. “You may see him play a little bit of tailback, too,” Berguson said. Junior Blake Bunshaw will be the other safety. Senior Khardi Dalton, who’s coming back from an offseason ankle surgery, and junior Cameron Humes will start at cornerback. Berguson is excited about junior cornerback JaCorrie Ponds. “He was a basketball-only guy who came out for football,” Berguson said. “We tried him at wide receiver, but we moved him to defense. He’ll be in the rotation. We’re glad he came out for the team.”
Kickers
The Patriots suffered a blow when placekicker Lane Gilchrist transferred to Corner. “That’s a big loss, especially since he could put the ball in the end zone (on kickoffs),” Berguson said. Junior Nic Burczyka and sophomore Katie Crim will handle the place-kicking duties. Crim was the first girl to play on the Homewood freshman football team last year. “She also plays soccer,” Berguson said. “She has a strong leg and she’s pretty accurate.” Irvine and Owen will handle the punting. Homewood will be attempting to reach the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. The Patriots have a daunting early season schedule, facing Hueytown and Vestavia Hills in its first two games before jumping into Class 6A, Region 5 action against Pelham in Week 3.
REBELS
Defensive Line
From page 20
Edwards and senior Joe Phifer serving as backups.
Receivers
Seniors Chandler Merrill and Peyton Walraven return after seeing extensive playing time in 2018. Seniors Wells Watts, Ben Jackson, Walker Bunn and Gavin Harvey and junior Charlie Hughes will be in the mix. The Rebels graduated tight end Michael Vice, who Anderson said was “as good a tight end as we’ve had in years.” Vice now is at Samford. Seniors Jackson Trotman and Andrew Baynham and junior Hasting Sykes are competing for playing time at tight end. “All three are good blockers and have good hands,” Anderson said.
Offensive Line
The Rebels are rebuilding on the offensive line. Senior guard Garrison Dabbs is the only returning starter. Junior Drew Ulch figures to be the other starting guard with junior John King, senior Matthew Gray and sophomore Jack Dawsey battling for playing time. Junior Dawson Ray, who is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, will start at one tackle spot and senior William Lott and sophomore Max Neuroth will alternate at the other tackle spot. Sophomore Hoke Smith provides depth. Sophomore Hill Stokes is the likely starter at center with seniors Michael Weaver and Eli Bratton, and Neuroth also on hand. “They’re getting better,” Anderson said. “I feel at some point they’re going to gel and we’ll have a good offensive line.”
Seniors Bennett Whisenhunt, a converted linebacker, and Jake Levant will start at defensive end. Juniors Bryce Littleton and Carter Tyus and sophomores Trey Saunders and Blake Jeffers also will see considerable playing time. The Rebels have six players competing for playing time at defensive tackle. The likely starters will be seniors Cal Stubbs and Will White. Seniors Taviyan Tanniehill and Caleb Leak and juniors Everett Thompson and Michael Lawrence also will play.
Linebackers
Seniors Wilson Owen and Cole Johnston, junior Josh Cheatham and sophomore Jack Davis head the linebacking corps. Whisenhunt and Levant also could play outside linebacker because of the Rebels’ defensive scheme.
Secondary
Seniors Sam Willoughby and Colton Horne all start at cornerback with juniors Camren Lyaka and Tyler Moore serving as backups. Junior Brock Payner returns as the starter at strong safety with senior Jermaine Harris, sophomore Thomas Watson and juniors Caleb Uhlich and Leighton Reese serving as reserves. Senior Will Brooks returns for his third season as the starting free safety. Junior Joseph Sullivan and sophomore John Ross Ashley also are on hand.
Kickers
Senior Conner Knighten figures to handle the place-kicking and punting duties following the graduation of Caleb Huber. Junior Matthew McMeans also could see action as a kicker/punter and Watts could be used on kickoffs. The Rebels will open the regular season Aug. 30 at Homewood. They will play their first Class 7A, Region 3 game against Spain Park on Sept. 6.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SPARTANS From page 14
Braxton Wetzler started on the offensive line last year before being moved to the defensive line in the spring. Senior defensive end Ford Kelly played sparingly last year, and senior William O’Leary was a linebacker who was converted to defensive end. Senior Cade Holmes will provide depth and Yeager hopes some other players will step up.
Linebackers
Journal file photo by Lee Walls
Senior middle linebacker Clark Griffin is the lone returning starter on defense. He had 133 tackles last year. Senior Will Baynes will play weak-side linebacker, junior Calvin Wilbanks will serve as rover and junior Matt Holloway will play outside linebacker.
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • FB 23
OTM FOOTBALL PREVIEW “I feel good about our linebackers,” Yeager said. “Matt is the most talented. He has a chance to be really good.”
Secondary
Hogue and junior Blake Pugh will start at cornerback, while Brewer and senior Will Yarbro will start at safety. Finding quality reserves is something Yeager hopes will happen during the season.
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Kickers
Senior Atkins Roberts will handle all the kicking chores. “He may be the strength of everything we’re doing,” Yeager said. Freshman Reed Harradine will serve as the reserve kicker. Mountain Brook opens the season against Northridge and Center Point before stepping into rugged Class 7A, Region 3 action against Tuscaloosa County in week 3.
Mountain Brook QB Strother Gibbs returns to direct the Spartan offense after starting as a sophomore.
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FB 24 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OTM FOOTBALL PREVIEW
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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Look Forward. 7/30/19 5:43 PM
SOCIAL
14 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
AN UMBRELLA OF HOPE usic was in the air at Birmingham Country Club on Aug. 17 as the American Cancer Society’s 2019 Birmingham Hope Gala celebrated the life of the late Barry McRae. Paying homage to McRae’s love of music and theater, this year’s theme was “Singin’ in the Rain Under an Umbrella of Hope.” The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a seated dinner, program and live auction. During the program, the audience was treated to a showing of Keene McRae’s documentary “Love, Keene,” a moving film chronicling his late father’s life. Susan Waldrop was recognized for recently being awarded an American Cancer Society St. George National Award. Waldrop is one of 12 ACS volunteers throughout the nation who received the award this year. According to a release, “recipients were chosen based on their continuous leadership, commitment and dedication to impact the ACS mission.” Waldrop is on the ACS Alabama Area board. The evening concluded with dancing to music by the Underhills. Organizing the event was a committee of volunteers led by gala chair Tracy Simmons, co-chairs Rebecca Fulmer and Sally Lineberry, sponsorship chair Wil Puckett and live auction chair John Thomas. Sponsorship committee members included Chapman Brown, Tedra Cleveland, Matt Condra, Brian Edwards, Michelle Harbison, Sam Heide, Randall Morrow, Nicole Reed, Mike Royer and Will Wright. The Hope Gala serves as one of the most prominent ACS fundraising events in Birmingham. Proceeds from the event will support the ACS mission to save lives by funding cancer research, supporting education and prevention efforts and providing patient support. ❖
Margaret Nichols, Bella Hoffman, Mary Chandler Robinett and Jane Nichols.
Erin McElroy and Ruth Berry.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
M
Hope Gala Celebrates Life of Barry McRae While Raising Funds for Cancer Research
Elizabeth Liang and Keene McRae with Jane and Chris Brakefield.
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Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 15
SOCIAL
Adelante
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Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Latin-inspired music, decor and cocktails were served at the Autism Society of Alabama’s 22nd annual Autism Shines Gala. Festivities included a flavorful dinner by Parkview Catering, music by DJ Prez and salsa instruction from Jon Delancy. Proceeds from the event, held Aug. 17 at Regions Field, will benefit the ASA’s mission to improve services for individuals living with autism and their families. ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Yay, Alabama!
UA Alumni Host Kickoff to Celebrate Start of Football Season Attendees of the Jefferson County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association let the good times roll Aug. 15 at the Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham Irondale location. At the annual Fall Football KickOff Event, a BBQ dinner and spirited program celebrated all things Alabama. Featured speakers included Laura Rutledge of the SEC Network, CBS 42’s Jack Royer and former Tide VIP Players Javier Arenas and Kevin Norwood. Funds raised at the event help fund scholarships for students from Jefferson County. This year, the chapter has presented a total of $55,000 to 17 scholarship recipients.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
16 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 17
SOCIAL
Marcel and Friends
A celebration of the impact animals have on human healing, the 2019 Picasso Pets gala and art auction was hosted by Hand in Paw at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook on Aug. 17. The face of this year’s event was Mountain Brook residents Bart and Danielle Yancey’s rescue Trooper “Lucky” Yancey. This year’s gala featured an online silent auction, star therapy animals, a seated dinner and a live auction, emceed by acclaimed author and food critic Morgan Murphy. Highlights of the evening’s program were presentations by Idie Hastings and Kim and Corbin Day of the artwork their pets painted with local artists Arthur Price and Linda Ellen Price. Honorary chairs of this year’s event were Judge and Mrs. Scott Vowell, and sponsorship chairs were Sheryl and Jon Kimerling. The event is Hand in Paw’s largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds will benefit the organization’s mission to ensure that animal-assisted therapy services can be delivered at no charge to the nearly 100 facilities Hand in Paw serves across North Central Alabama, including Tuscaloosa. ❖
Jan and Bill Bailey.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Hand in Paw’s Annual Picasso Pets Supports Animal-assisted Therapy
Cassie Moore with Idie, Chris and Molly Hastings.
Betsie and James Kennedy with Marcel.
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18 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SOCIAL
Betting on Advancements
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Double Down for Rett Raises Funds for Suki Foundation Grants and UAB Research
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THE HANDBAGS To: From: Date:
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PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD.
This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the August 22, 2019 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
Attendees of The Suki Foundation’s annual “Double Down for Rett” had guests betting on casino-style entertainment while raising funds for Rett syndrome research and therapy programs for patients at Children’s of Alabama. Hosted Aug. 9 at B&A Warehouse, the festivities included silent and live auctions, dinner and drinks. Funds raised will support the foundation, established in 2012 by Marie and Brian Bateh in honor of their daughter Sarah (Suki) Katherine, who was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at age 2. To date, the foundation has raised more than $500,000, which was matched by both Children’s and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to create the Sarah Katherine Bateh Endowed Professorship at UAB. This professorship will help in the recruitment of a lead physician to serve in the Rett Syndrome Clinic and continue advancements in research. ❖
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Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 19
SOCIAL
Musical Ability
Journey of Hope Gala Features Music and Highlights Service Heading up a host committee were co-chairs Steve Crawford and Colin Mitchell, aided by Kelley Caine, Lynne Cohen, Mark Cohen, Jen Dent, Sonny Fowlkes, Annie Goldberg, Devon Laney, Dorothy McDaniel, Bill Pradat, Margaret Ann Pyburn, Jeremy Rasberry, Leigh Robinson, Mallie Whatley, board of directors chair Brian Barksdale, UA CEO Dr. Gary Edwards and UA CDO Alison Berman. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
A crowd of guests spent the evening of Aug. 3 at the Alys Stephens Center for United Ability’s annual Journey of Hope gala. The evening celebrated the organization and advancements in medicine, technology and therapies for people living with disabilities. Headlining the festivities was Brian King Joseph, “king of the violin.” Honoree for the event was longtime United Ability supporter Ed Robinson.
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Honoree for the event was long-time United Ability supporter Ed Robinson, left, with United Ability CEO Dr. Gary Edwards.
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20 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SOCIAL
Rockin’ Robin
Susan Rohrer and Jacken Stubblefield.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Chirps and Chips Features Bird Ambassadors, Music and Casino Gaming Christy Hayes, DeAnna Owen, Barry Smith and Margaret Dinella.
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On Aug. 10, the Alabama Wildlife Center hosted its annual Chirps for Chips casino-style fundraiser at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. An event filled with food, drinks and casino-themed games, the festivities also offered live entertainment, a silent auction and meet-and-greets with the center’s educational birds. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alabama Wildlife Center in its mission to provide medical and rehabilitative care to the nearly 2,000 wild bird patients it serves annually before returning them to the wild. ❖
WO
Friends and supporters of The Overflow Foundation came together Aug. 8 at the Dance Foundation for the annual “Overflow’s Got Talent” event. This year’s ‘70s Edition theme had guests showing off their talents in the style of the decade while raising funds for the foundation’s after school program that serves the East Lake and Tarrant City communities. The foundation’s program provides children with homework help and opportunities to get creative with art and music time. Julie Adams, a Birmingham native, Jodi Haskins and Ruth Lee. started the foundation six years ago with the dream of helping and walking alongside children in lower-income communities. This past year the program grew to serve 66 children. To learn more about The Overflow Foundation, email Julie Adams at TheOverflowFoundation@gmail.com. ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 21
SOCIAL
Rehab Reality...
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
By Judy Butler
Drugs Awareness Has To Be Job One
Murray Meadow, Bruce Littleton and Rulondo King.
Honorary co-chairs Mat Whatley and Wally Nall.
Dance to the Music Night of Big Stars Features Performances by Bigs and Littles
Jen Ivy and Tara Thomas Banks.
Michael Clark and Shannon Long.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham celebrated its annual A Night of Big Stars gala Aug. 3 at The Club, featuring performances highlighting the creative skills of program Littles. Honorary co-chairs for the event were Wally Nall and Mat Whatley, both of the Nall-Whatley Foundation. Emceed by Big Sister and WVTM 13 news anchor Brittany Decker, the performance included a duet between Decker and her Little, Asia, as well as local 16-year-old singer Jaeden Henderson. A silent and live auction, dinner and dancing to the band Just a Few Cats rounded out an evening in celebration of the BBBS and its mission to match children facing adversity with caring mentors. ❖
From left: Phoebe Dover and Marlena Rushton; Meggin and Daniel Taolman; and Kara Isbell, Maria Josof, Dylan Franks, Malloy Panda and Mary Keith.
I’m a Barbie Girl
Art on the Rocks Final Event of Summer Celebrates New Dream House Exhibition For the final Art on the Rocks of the season, held Aug. 9, the Birmingham Museum of Art unveiled its new exhibition “Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future.” The exhibition features an entire gallery transformed into a life-size, interactive dream house created by artists and designers Studio Boca. Performances throughout the evening included dancing by the Alabama Ballet, singing by Opera Birmingham, DJs outdoors and in, and a live concert by Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears. ❖
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Teenagers can often find substances they can use to get high right in their own homes. The medicine and liquor cabinets at home are frequently the targets of teens who either abuse drugs or alcohol themselves or sell them at school. Prescription drug abuse by teenagers is high, especially with regard to performanceenhancing drugs like Adderall or Ritalin, and even opiate painkillers. Therefore, it is very important for parents to get rid of any unused medications as soon as possible, and to pay attention to whether any prescriptions are running out faster than expected. If parents or other relatives or housemates use illicit drugs, teenagers likely have easy access to them. Further, witnessing parents and family members do drugs can legitimize or validate a teen’s own drug use. The next concern should be on-line drug sales. Pop-ups or spam emails advertising cheap drugs for sale online are growing more prevalent. Many web pages that seem legitimate may be fronts for selling illegal substances and are available to anyone, anywhere. Teenagers may learn of these sites through wordof-mouth and can easily buy drugs online. Illegal drugs or medications can easily be purchased without a prescription on-line. In 2013, there was a federal takedown of an online drug marketplace called the Silk Road, which had facilitated over a million transactions — totaling over $1 billion in sales — in just slightly more than two years. Today’s teenagers have become increasingly tech-savvy and many understand how to access the dark web and use it to purchase drugs. Stay aware this can happen to anyone. Call me if you have questions.
22 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
FASHION
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
fall fashion forecast The kids are back in school, football kicks off this weekend and cooler weather is on the way (hopefully soon!). Next up? Wardrobe update. We asked some of our favorite OTM shops to show off what’s in store for the season.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
JOURNAL PHOTOS BY LEE WALLS
Members of the Nations Boutique team, front, from left: Caleigh Coshatt, LisaAnn Muir-Taylor, Amy Brennan and Madi Prewett. Back: Sophie Muir-Taylor, Genie Muir-Taylor and Meredith Beddingfield.
A Business in Three Acts Service-Oriented Nations Boutique “Does Beautiful” in New Homewood Location
By Emily Williams
A
fter a successful two years operating Nations Boutique on Cahaba Valley Road, owner Lisa Ann Muir-Taylor of North Shelby County heard fate’s call to expand. Marrying equal parts retail, mission and female empowerment, Nations Boutique opened a second location this summer in the heart of Homewood, on 18th Street. Muir-Taylor’s vision for the company is spelled on a clean, white wall in lit neon blue script: Do Beautiful. “We believe it’s what you do in your clothes that makes you beautiful,” said Muir-Taylor. “Not the clothes, but the woman in the clothes.” Near the fitting rooms of the Homewood shop, one wall is filled with images of Muir-Taylor and her three daughters; she also has one son. Each scene depicts a member of the family surrounded by smiling women and children they encountered on a mission trip they took to the Dominican Republic. “I love this because it conjures up the joy that we feel when we serve others,” she said. The photos were taken when MuirTaylor and her family took some of her dresses to the Dominican Republic in partnership with the non-profit organiza-
tion Until They Know. Her store, then an online shop, has always supported a nonprofit organization. “Before a customer leaves, I always let them know that they are supporting a ministry,” Muir-Taylor said. “Every season that looks different.”
Muir-Taylor wanted to share her faith with others through some form of community service, thinking she would choose something in her wheelhouse as a former nurse. Instead, she had a budding vision of putting scripture inside of clothing inspired by that slip of paper she was handed at a Rolling Stones concert. Last season, she supported King’s Home. Due to disruptions prepping the new Homewood location, the stores will continue to raise funds for King’s Home in addition to Sozo Children.
“I’m not saying I’m writing them a big check, but hopefully as we grow we will be able to write bigger and bigger checks,” she said.
Chapter One
The seeds of Nations Boutique were sewn long before Muir-Taylor started the first phase of the company, the Nations Outfitters online store, in 2010. At age 27, while she was at a Rolling Stones concert, someone handed her a slip of paper. When she unfolded it she read the words: “He will never leave you or forsake you.” Muir-Taylor had not grown up in a religious household, nor was she religious when she read the piece of paper, but it resonated with her, nonetheless. “I didn’t become a Christian that night, obviously, but I believe that’s how God’s word works. … When you see it and you are exposed to it, it does something to you,” she said. “It certainly did something to me.” In 2008, Muir-Taylor was a mother of four and had developed a deep relationship with God through Christianity. She was listening to Rick Burgess of the Rick and Bubba Show perform the eulogy at the funeral of his late son, Bronner. “He said that 93 percent of Christians never share their faith,” she said. “I was See NATIONS, page 24
Claire Haley is wearing a By Malene Birger dress, $375, with a Lis Lareida turtleneck, $110. Her look is complete with United Nude heel boots, $318, and an Il Bisonte mustard disco bag, $340. B. Prince, 871-1965.
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Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 23
FASHION
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1. Lauren Caldwell is wearing Madewell crop jeans, $22, with a black t-shirt by Frame, $22, a Lululemon stripe jacket, $38.50, and P448 designer sneakers, $148. She has accessorized with sunglasses by Diff, $10, a Kendra Scott bracelet, $29.50, a Kate Spade watch, $59, Kendra Scott necklace, $36.50, and Hannah B. earrings, $12. Alex Sager Fly is wearing Madewell jeans, $22, a black top by Stateside, $24, and vintage Havana camo sneakers, $46.50. Her look is completed with an Alex Fly Designs cross choker, $24, a “Geraldina” layered diamond and gun metal necklace, $248, a Rebecca Minkoff bag, $89 and a Michael Kors gold watch, $79. The Clotheshorse, 823-9144. 2. Nick Norton is wearing a button down by Oxford, $125, five pocket pants by Oxford, $125, a College Collection belt - TP Phelps, $49, and slip-on loafers by Oxford, $195. Roby Boatsman is wearing a camp t-shirt by Elan, $32, Cest Black Label denim jeans, $60, shoes by OluKia, $80, and Shalla Wista gold hoop earrings, $108. Caliber, 917-5800.
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3. Georgia Muir-Taylor is wearing a multistriped sweater, $62, paired with a leopard print skirt, $35, and an “old clutch” handbag, $200. Caleigh Coshatt is in a grey and cream sweatshirt, $52, black jeans, $66, a cowboy belt designed by Birmingham local Talaya Champion, $118, and a camo clutch with a pink tassel, $150. Nations Boutitque, 637-7967.
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4. Mandy Remke is wearing a white leotard from the Oh La La Dancewear Hype collection, $76, paired with Capezio Nanami Pirouette half-sole lyrical shoes. Applause Dancewear, 871-7837. 5. Step out in style in Pierre Dumas’ Ponce in taupe, $49.99, Corkys’ Sunburst black wedge shootie, $69.99, and Soda’s Taylor cheetah print wedge shoe, $39.99. Flip Flops & What Nots, 967-7429. 6. Marie Saab is wearing a Vince dress, $38, Project sweater with fringe, $28, and Sam Eddleman Snakeskin boots, $38. Her look is finished with a black felt hat, $22, an animal print scarf, $16, and a Chanel purse, $1,500. Second Hand Rose, 970-7997.
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24 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
New Assistant Principal Ashley Crossno, right, gets a warm welcome from BWF students and principal Nathan Pitner.
Brookwood Forest Welcomes 2019-20 School Year
Students at Brookwood Forest Elementary School kicked off the new school year an evening early with the Picnic in the Forest on Aug. 11.
NATIONS From page 22
just very convicted by that.” Muir-Taylor wanted to share her faith with others through some form of community service, thinking she would choose something in her wheelhouse as a former nurse. Instead, she had a budding vision of putting scripture inside of clothing inspired by that slip of paper she was handed at a Rolling Stones concert. “The problem was, I knew nothing about clothes,” she said. “And I mean I really knew zilch about clothes. I just wore them.” Though she was unsure how to move forward with the idea, it kept creeping up at random moments in her life. She took the leap after finding an unread copy of “Don’t Waste Your Life,” by John Piper, sitting in her closet. “I open it up to a random page,” she said. “and smack in the middle of the page that I opened it up to, it read (something to the effect of), ‘and
The school’s PTO hosted the event so students could meet each other and new faculty members, including new Assistant Principal Ashley Crossno. The following day, the red carpet was rolled out for a kindergarten orientation. The new students were able to take a look at their classrooms, and a group of sixth grade volunteers took them on a VIP tour of the school and to a welcome ceremony. That same afternoon, all BWF students and their parents were invited to the annual “Meet the Teacher” to get acquainted with their new classrooms and teachers.
Gwin’s Northrup Earns Library Technology Award
Over the summer vacation, Jennifer Northrup, librarian at Gwin Elementary School in Hoover,
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received the Alabama School Library Association’s Ann Marie Pipkin Technology Award for 2019. Nominated by Gwin’s enrichment specialist, Traci Ingleright, and Tarrant High School librarian Jennifer Powell, Northrup was honored at the ASLA’s summer conference. “It’s nice to see the fruits of my labor and that of the students be recognized,” she said, in a release. “I’ve always had a passion for technology in education. I do it for the students and take great pleasure in them embracing the digital narrative.” The award, named after Pipkin, a former Hoover High School and ASFA librarian, honors a person who shows outstanding leadership in advancing the practice of educational technology.
“I so enjoy the collaboration with teachers and students as we all continue with new digital literacy programs that enhance Jennifer Northrup computer science standards,” Northrup said. “I also put together professional development sessions for the teachers at Gwin, for the districtwide PD days and across the state.” Northrup is entering her third year at Gwin, previously having served as a librarian at Oak Mountain Elementary and Forest Hills Elementary in Florence.
finished the evening with a viewing of the movie “Ralph Breaks the Internet” at dusk.
Riverchase Elementary Hosts Kickoff Color Run
Above, Seve Weinbrenner, Deezil Lukima and Owen Hawkins. Below, Carly and Beverly McKee.
Students of Riverchase Elementary School spent an afternoon of their summer vacation back at school to participate in a color run on Aug. 2. Organized to kick-off the new school year, students raced around the parking lot as volunteers, including the school’s student resource officers, doused them in colored powder.
Olivia Roberson and Abigail Grande. Below, Autumn Harper, Haley Pate, Hailey Owens and Abby Owens.
Festival Ushers in the School Year in Vestavia
Journal Photo by Jordan Wald
Photo courtesy Lauren Wallace
Spain Park High School’s Pamela Harman and Mountain Brook High School’s Bryan Rosenstiel are among five Alabama teachers named as finalists for the 2019-2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. According to an Aug. 15 press release, the award is the nation’s highest honor for K-12 math and science teachers and is presented to up to 108 educators each year. Before starting her career in teaching, Harman spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, leaving as a sergeant. She has taught science at Spain Park High School since 1997 after obtaining her bachelor’s in secondary education from the
He received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama and went on to receive a juris doctor from the University of Bryan Rosenstiel Memphis. Both Harman and Rosenstiel will be recognized along with their fellow finalists at a ceremony to be held this fall.
University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has since obtained a master’s from Mississippi State University in geological and earth sciences and Pamela Harman a doctorate in teacher leadership from Walden University. Rosenstiel teaches AP chemistry at MBHS. Before joining the school system, he taught AP chemistry and engineering academy classes at Hoover High School. Before that he taught math, science and engineering classes in the Jefferson County school system.
Journal Photo by Jordan Wald
Harman, Rosenstiel Named Finalists for Presidential Award in Math, Science Teaching
FASHION/SCHOOLS
The weather held out Aug 9 as the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Back to School in the Hills at Philadelphia Baptist Church, celebrating the start of the school year. Guests enjoyed inflatables and freebies from local vendors, and they
what about the clothing industry, nothing points them to their personhood in Christ.’” In her first operation, Muir-Taylor operated an online store out of her home for four years. She oversaw the design and manufacturing of the clothes and could claim at least one customer in 39 of the 50 states. She also conducted speaking engagements to further spread her mission. “After four years, I was completely burnt out spiritually, emotionally, physically,” she said. “My children were suffering. My marriage was suffering. So, I had to make the really, really hard decision to put it down.”
Chapter Two
During a two-year sabbatical, as Muir-Taylor called it, she experienced uncanny moments that led her back to Nations. “For example, I would be at a volleyball tournament in Atlanta with one of my daughters, and a lady would walk up to me and say, ‘Aren’t you that Nations Outfitters lady?’” she said. She tried to fill the void with other
methods of service, such as helping with a children’s ministry at her church, but it didn’t work. “When I finally decided to start (to) pick it back up, I said, ‘It’s not going to be in my home anymore. I’m not going to manufacture clothes anymore,’” she said. Muir Taylor began purchasing her clothing at market, eventually settling on including the scripture in each piece via iron-on fabric labels. She also rented a space next to a Shell gas station on Cahaba Valley Road to be the center of operations for online sales, never expecting that it would turn into a retail shop. “Women who were pumping their gas would see the signage: ‘It’s what you do in your clothes that makes you beautiful.’ And I think that resonates with people,” she said. It also drew shoppers inside. “Our culture is always telling us we have to look beautiful, be perfect – teeth perfect, skin perfect, hair perfect – and it is just too much.” The boutique quickly took shape as Muir-Taylor sold her fashions, spread her slogan and supported orga-
nizations such as Haiti’s Sa Voix, or “her voice,” and, locally, Vapor Ministries, The Red Barn and WellHouse.
Chapter Three
Unlike Nations Outfitters, Nations Boutique brought with it personal relationships with customers. “I’ve really gotten to know my customers in a new way. We’ve spent time together, prayed together,” she said. It has also helped her knowledge of the fashion industry grow. When customers walk in, she said, she notices their stature and their clothing and is confident in showing them things in the store she believes will complement their look. “One of my favorite things to do is have a mother and daughter walk in, especially young girls,” she said. “I’ve learned to respect (fashion),” she said. “I’m still kind of a casual dresser, but I feel like I’ve gotten more of an eye. “I know fashion is important to women,” she added. “Fashion builds them up, makes them feel confident,
makes them feel like they can do something. I’m learning as I go what that looks like to each of us.” An empty-nester now, Muir-Taylor said she wasn’t completely sure about the second location, but the pieces seemed to fall into place yet again. She said that when she first walked the property, in January, “I knew this was where I was supposed to be.” Two years earlier, while shopping for a first location, she had briefly considered the space next door, which now is occupied by Cookie Fix. Muir-Taylor said she has the ability to reach an entirely different customer from the new location, spreading her vision of beauty and service even further in the community. Throughout the store, reminders of her mission statement are included to showcase that it is not just about the clothes. Nations Boutique is at 2856-B 18th St. S in Homewood and #100 7360 Cahaba Valley Road in Birmingham. For more information, visit nationsboutique.com.
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SCHOOLS
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
The Beat Goes On
Members of the marching band devote a portion of their summer vacations to preparing for football season, spending three weeks in band camp before school starts.
Sixty-Eight Drums Lead the 2019-20 Homewood Marching Band By Emily Williams For the 15th consecutive year, Homewood High School boasts the largest marching band in the state of Alabama. According to the band’s assistant director, Chris Cooper, 375 students make up the roster for this year’s marching band. That number accounts for about one-third of the student body. Though it isn’t the most Homewood has had marching – last year’s band topped 400 – the drumline has reached a record 68 drummers. “We have a really cool drum solo this year that involves two large drum racks with extra drums and cymbals mounted on it,” he said. “I wanted to add something a little different to our show this year for the drumline. They are really loving playing on the rack and the audience is going to really
enjoy it.” Students cannot just sign up to be a member of the drumline. Learning to play percussion properly takes practice. “Our drummers start in the sixth grade in band,” Cooper said. The students who stick with it then continue to learn the instrument through middle school, with many taking private lessons on the side. Members of the marching band devote a portion of their summer vacations to preparing for football season, spending three weeks in band camp before school starts. “Each unit of the band works on their show and then we bring them all together the last week to put the show together with the brass, woodwinds, color guard, drummers and the Star Spangled Girls,” he said. “The drum line practices an extra week in July, getting ready for marching season,” Cooper added.
In addition, the drum students practice consistently throughout the year to maintain and improve their
Dancewear 1629 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood 871-STEP (7837)
skills. Cooper said they video their practices and send them to their drum instructor for evaluations.
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 25
Revving the Students’ Brains
Regardless of the hard work, band students benefit from the musical and life skills they develop. “There are so many studies out today about what music does to the brain and how it stimulates learning,” he said. “We are so fortunate in Homewood to have a wonderful school system who supports music at so many levels.” According to Arts Education Partnership, music education helps students develop motor and cognitive skills, as well as boosting their proficiency in other subjects as they get older. Students also showcase a higher level of thinking through increased attentiveness, perseverance, creativity and self-esteem. In marching band, Cooper noted, students have to get a good grasp on time management and teamwork. “Leadership is a big part of being in the band. With 375, we have five drum majors who are the top student leaders and conduct the band,” Cooper said. “We also have leaders in each section who help the younger kids with their instruments and how to march on the field.” When successful, the group feels like one big family on and off the field. Though they have to put in a lot of hard work, band students experience certain perks, including travel. The band has performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade nine times, including last year. “We want kids to enjoy band and have a great memorable experience in high school,” said Cooper. “Traveling to the big parades in New York and California gives them that opportunity to be with their friends and do something they will remember for the rest of their life,” Cooper said. “The students who marched in the Macy’s Parade last year will never forget how cold that parade was and will always have that great memory on Thanksgiving to share with their families and kids one day.”
26 • Thursday, August 22, 2019
SPORTS
Photo courtesy San Francisco 49ers
Nick Mullens finished the season with completions on 176 of 274 pass attempts (64.2%) for 2,277 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight starts. He averaged 284.6 yards passing per game and a respectable 90.9 passer rating.
By Rubin E. Grant
From the moment Chip Lindsey laid eyes on Nick Mullens, he knew Mullens had the makings of a special athlete. “When I first met Nick, he was 170 pounds and 6-foot, but the first thing I noticed is he was extremely smart and extremely competitive,” Lindsey said. “I could tell he was going to be a good player.” Lindsey was in his first season as Spain Park’s head football coach at the time and Mullens was about to embark on two years as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback. They were together for the 2011 and 2012 high school football seasons. Mullens was as good as Lindsey thought he would be, if not better. Mullens was named the 2012 Gatorade Alabama Football Player of the Year after completing 290 of 452 passes for 3,649 yards with 40 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a senior. Despite those gaudy numbers, few major colleges recruited Mullens. He orally committed to UAB, but Lindsey was convinced he could play for a more established program. “I had him for two years and I was a little disappointed in the recruiting process,” Lindsey said. “There were not that many people recruiting him and I’m sure that was because of his size.” Lindsey, who is entering his first season as head coach at Troy University this fall after being offensive coordinator at Auburn, reached out to a coaching buddy, Todd Monken, on Mullens’ behalf. Monken had just been hired as head coach at Southern Miss after being offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. “I called Todd after he got to Southern Miss and I told him I had a kid who ran the same kind of offense they ran at Oklahoma State and they should take a look at him,” Lindsey recalled. Monken’s initial response was silence. “He never called me back,” Lindsey said. Monken eventually returned the call – a month later. “They needed a quarterback,” Lindsey said. “He called and they signed Nick and the rest is history.” Mullens had a solid career at Southern Miss, throwing for nearly 12,000 yards and 87 touchdowns in four seasons, from 2013 to 2016. He was the 2015 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 4,476 yards and 38 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions. Lindsey was Southern Miss’ offensive coordinator for two of those seasons, 2014 and 2015.
NFL Bound
Now, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Mullens is entering his third season in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. That’s something Lindsey didn’t foresee back at Spain Park. “I can’t say it was obvious that he was going to be an NFL quarterback,” Lindsey said, “but he was talented, tough and had extreme accuracy.” Mullens started the 49ers’ opening preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 10 and played the entire first half. He completed 11 of 17 passes, with one interception, for 105 yards and one touchdown in the 49ers’ 17-9 victory. “I thought it was a solid start,” Mullens told NBC Sports Bay Area afterward. “Obviously, you want to eliminate turnovers, but at the same
Mullens Making the Most of His Opportunity With the 49ers
Beathard. When Beathard suffered a wrist injury in late October, Mullens drew the starting assignment for his first NFL appearance in a nationally televised Thursday night game against the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 1. Mullens was spectacular, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 49ers’ victory. His 151.9 passer rating was the best mark set by a quarterback making his debut since the NFL-AFL 1970 merger. Afterward, Mullens became emotional during a postgame television interview with sideline TV reporter Erin Andrews. The interview is still widely viewed on YouTube. “It’s everything I’ve dreamed of,” Mullens said, holding back tears. “It’s one game though, which is very important. I’ve been in the orga-
Although the 49ers are likely to keep only one backup quarterback, Mullens is not uneasy about the prospect of not making the team. ‘There’s no pressure on me. You have to focus on what you can do and let things happen. You have to focus on what matters.’ time, I think we developed a rhythm eventually and put the ball in the right spot. I was accurate for the most part, and everybody did their job well – ran the ball, threw the ball and protected well. It’s a good step for the first preseason game.” Mullens is battling C.J. Beathard for the 49ers’ backup quarterback job behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo. “I just have to have the same mindset to work hard and stay consistent,” Mullens said in a phone interview with the Over the Mountain Journal before he reported to training camp. “It’s an awesome opportunity to compete. I have to focus on the details and play at a high level.” Beathard was a third-round 49ers’ draft pick in 2017 out of Iowa. The 49ers signed Mullens immediately following that same draft as an undrafted free agent. Mullens was among the final cuts before the beginning of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but after he cleared waivers both years, Mullens was immediately assigned to the 49ers’ practice squad.
Coming Out Party
Mullens burst onto the NFL scene midway through the 2018 season. Garoppolo had suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 24 and Mullens joined the active roster as the backup to
nization for two years, just trying to learn as much as I could. Prepare like I’m their starter every week, and this week was my week. So just got to take advantage of opportunities when they come, and they came. “I’m calm, cool, and collected until I have to bring my emotions out, and they’ll come out. I just love football. Growing up, been playing since second grade. This is why you play, for stuff like this.” Reflecting on that first game months later, Mullens was still gracious. “It’s been fun,” Mullens said. “When opportunities come along, you have to take advantage of them. I was glad to get in and play and see what happens.” Mullens received the bulk of the starts for the rest of the season. He finished the season with completions on 176 of 274 pass attempts (64.2%) for 2,277 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight starts. He averaged 284.6 yards passing per game and a respectable 90.9 passer rating. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers are the only players to throw for more yards in their first eight starts. The experience Mullens gained during the second half of the last season was invaluable.
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“The more experience you get, the more comfortable you get and the quicker you can react,” Mullens said. “It will help me going forward.”
The Business of Football
In May, Sports Illustrated tabbed Mullens as the starting quarterback on its “All Undrafted Team,” an imaginary expansion team composed of players currently in the NFL who were signed as undrafted free agents. “Mullens last year showed the patience, pocket toughness and field vision of a future NFL starter,” the magazine wrote. Mullens took the recognition in stride. “It’s a cool honor,” he said. “Any time you’re included in something by Sports Illustrated, you have to appreciate it. I’m very thankful, but now I have to focus on doing my job and the season.” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has said neither Mullens nor Beathard has the edge to back up Garoppolo and the battle will last throughout the preseason. Beathard suffered a thumb injury last week in practice, opening the door for Mullens to seize the job. Although the 49ers are likely to keep only one backup quarterback, Mullens is not uneasy about the prospect of not making the team. “There’s no pressure on me,” he said. “You have to focus on what you can do and let things happen. You have to focus on what matters.” Mullens also is not letting the competition affect his friendship with Beathard. The two have become close. “We have a great relationship, and we both understand the business,” Mullens said. “We are basically just doing what we’re told.”
Home Life
Mullens lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, during the offseason. He and his wife, Haleigh, a former Southern Miss cheerleader, are expecting their first child. Mullens comes to Alabama whenever his schedule allows. “I have some close friends who still live in Birmingham,” he said. “I have some family who still lives there. I’ve been two times this year. I was there for the 4th of July. I had a good week. Lindsey said Mullens also hasn’t forgotten his high school coach, the one who groomed him for the future when they were at Spain Park. “We connect about once every week,” Lindsey said. “He’s really good about checking in and staying in touch.”
Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 27
SPORTS
DOUBLE DOSE
HOOVER
From page 28
From page 28
Mountain Brook enters the season ranked No. 1 in 7A and is led by five seniors, including the twins, outside hitter Grace Carr, right side hitter Mary Katherine Fowlkes and reserve setter Kate Amberson, left.
Journal file photo by Mark Almond
with a laugh. Ann started wearing a headband at Mountain Brook Junior High to help the coaches differentiate who was who. Mountain Brook coach Vickie Nichols, who’s entering her third season, said it took her a little while to tell the difference. “Ann wore a headband, so that’s the only way I could identify them,” Nichols said. “Liz plays libero, and both start with ‘L,’ so that helped. “After I got to know them personality wise – and their personalities are different – I could tell. And their facial features are different, but you’ve got to know them. It’s hard if you don’t.” Living in a family of four girls that includes older sister Delia and younger sister Frances, the twins are extremely close. “We hang out together,” Ann said. “When we were younger, we fought more. But as we’ve gotten older, we’ve grown closer. “I love having a twin sister. You have someone who shares the same feelings you have. And if we’re struggling, we have each other to offer encouragement.” Despite their closeness, they do have “completely different” personalities, Liz said. Their mom agrees. “They’re both very outgoing and have never met a stranger, but Liz might be a little more social,” Adelaide Vandevelde said. “Liz is more of an adventurer. She likes going out of the country on trips. Ann prefers to stay at home more.” Liz spent part of this summer playing tennis. “I played two really hard tournaments, but my focus right now is on volleyball,” she said. In the spring, Liz helped the Spartans win their third consecutive Class 7A tennis championship. She won No. 4 singles and teamed with Emma Karcher to win No. 1 doubles. Last fall, the twins helped Mountain Brook reach the 2018 ASHAA volleyball tournament. Ann recorded 1,242 assists and 455 digs, while Liz had 671 digs. Nichols is excited about having them back for their senior year. “As the setter, Ann will be running
our offense,” Nichols said. “She’s got experience and we’re working on some things in practice that we’re excited about. “Liz does a great job as a libero and is doing a great job. She’s our primary passer and is pretty vocal.” This will probably be the twins’ last season playing together. They are undecided about what college they are going to attend and might choose different schools. “It would be really weird because all our life we’ve done the same things,” Liz said. “We’re going to enjoy this last season because it could be the end of us playing together,” Ann said. The twins would like to go out with a state volleyball championship.
Hoping to End With a Bang
Mountain Brook won three consecutive titles from 2014 to 2016, but McGill-Toolen won the past two
Briarwood Students Pull Out Second Bassmaster Fishing Championship Win Briarwood Christian School students Grayson Morris and Tucker Smith for the second year in a row have won the Mossy Oak Bassmaster High School National Championship, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. The duo caught a three-day total of 15 bass that weighed 50 pounds, 1 ounce to score the landmark win on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The victory marked the first time a high school duo has repeated as national champion, according to a statement from Bassmaster. Morris, 18, recently graduated from Briarwood and will compete for the University of Montevallo bass fishing team. Smith, 17, is a rising senior at Briarwood. They were awarded $4,500 in scholarship money for the win and an extra $875 for having the Big Bag of the Tournament.
championships. The Spartans open the season Aug. 22, when they play host to McGillToolen at 5 p.m. McGill eliminated Mountain Brook in the 7A semifinals in 2017 and 2018. On Friday and Saturday, the Spartans will compete in the Boddie Tournament at Hoover. Mountain Brook enters the season ranked No. 1 in 7A and is led by five seniors, including the twins, outside hitter Grace Carr, right side hitter Mary Katherine Fowlkes and reserve setter Kate Amberson. But they know the ranking means little. It’s all about how they perform throughout the season. “I think we know we’re capable of winning and getting (to be No.1),” Ann said. “But we know we have to prove that.” “We want it so bad,” Liz added. “The final four is not going to cut it. There’s really no pressure but a desire to succeed.”
Overall, anglers had difficulty on Kentucky Lake during the tournament earlier this month, with many teams going some days without weighing a fish. Morris and Smith were no exception. While they ended their days with good hauls, it was bites late in the day that carried them to the win. On the final day of the championship, they didn’t complete their limit until there was only 15 minutes of fishing time remaining. “We had three fish at 10 o’clock today, which was better than the first three days,” Morris said after the win. “So we thought we were making some progress. Tucker caught our fourth fish about an hour later, but then it just shut down completely.” They used their knowledge of the lake from last year’s tournament and worked the banks incessantly to pull out the win, according to the Bassmaster statement. “We weren’t going to leave anything out there,” Smith said. “If we were going to finish second, we weren’t going down without a fight.”
er. She’s very gifted.” The Bucs’ front line also includes 6-foot senior Laurel Burkhardt on the right side with 6-foot-2 junior Melodie Jones, 6-foot-1 junior Kayla Jemison and 6-foot senior Amelia Johnigan in reserve. Hoover has only three seniors – Burkhardt, Johnigan and defensive specialist Heather Hancock. “This will be the youngest team I’ve ever had,” Camper said. “We’ve got a lot of girls who will be a huge part of our team who have not played a full varsity schedule yet.” Burkhardt doesn’t anticipate the Bucs’ sparsity of seniors being an issue. “I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure on me to be a leader because I’m a senior,” Burkhardt said. “Everyone on the team can be a leader.” Camper believes his younger players will gain experience during practices. “One of the greatest advantages we have is (that) in practice, we’re going up against one of the top teams in the state, whether that’s 7-on-7 or 8-on-8,” Camper said. Hoover does have to replace setter Amiyah King, who had 1,240 assists and 256 digs last season. King is now a freshman at Tennessee State University. Junior Aly Durban will take over at setter. “She comes from a volleyball family,” Camper said. “Her mother was a
setter in college at Indiana and now works in the Samford athletic department. “Aly is a very smart volleyball player. She will be a big factor for us this season.” McKinnon likes the way the Bucs are coming together as a team. “With all the skill we have, I think we have great team chemistry,” McKinnon said.
Season Opener
Hoover opens the season Aug. 23-24, hosting the Boddie Tournament. The Bucs will begin tournament play Friday against St. Paul’s at 5 p.m. and Austin at 7 p.m. They will play Huntsville Saturday at 10 a.m. The following week the Bucs play host to Class 7A No. 4 Bob Jones on Aug. 27 and visit 7A No. 9 Vestavia Hills on Aug. 29. Hoover has never won a state volleyball title. The Bucs were eliminated by Bob Jones in the semifinals of the 2018 state tournament in a tense five-set match, 21-25, 25-11, 25-16, 17-25, 15-10. Camper hopes the Bucs can end their title drought this fall, but it will be a challenge. “I don’t know how we match up with the other top teams,” Camper said. “McGill-Toolen is great and Mountain Brook has a great passing team. We’re different because we’re such a tall team. “But 7A is 7A. The team that can defend and play ball control will win.”
Junior Gabrielle Essex is a Florida commit.
Journal file photo by Mark Almond
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SPORTS
Mullens Making the Most of His Opportunity With the 49ers. PAGE 26
Thursday, August 22, 2019 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
CROWD FAVORITE OTM High School Football Preview. INSIDE
By Rubin E. Grant
‘I love having a twin sister. You have someone who shares the same feelings you have. And If we’re struggling, we have each other to offer encouragement.’
Deep, Talented Hoover Volleyball Team Set for Another Run at Elusive State Title Junior Aly Durban will take over at setter. Journal file photo by Mark Almond
Adelaide Vandevelde knew something was up with her twin daughters when they were babies. “They crawled early, they climbed out of their crib and they walked early,” Vandevelde said. “We had a feeling they might be agile.” Ann and Liz Vandevelde weren’t just agile. They were in the early stages of developing into multi-sport athletes. The twins began with competitive swimming. When they were 8, they competed in a county swim meet and both touched the block at the same
Photo courtesy Adelaide Vandevelde
ANN VANDEVELDE
Ann and Liz Vandevelde.
Vandevelde Twins Form Athletic Duo At Mountain Brook
time in the butterfly, setting a meet record in the process. They also played soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and basketball while growing up. Now seniors at Mountain Brook High School, the Vandevelde twins are teammates on the Spartans’ volleyball team. Ann is a setter and Liz is a libero. Ann also plays basketball for the Spartans and Liz plays tennis. “They both had to choose only two sports each because it was such a huge time commitment and became difficult given their academic rigor,” Adelaide Vandevelde said. The twins are identical and sometimes that creates recognition issues. “Some of our teachers don’t like it when we’re in the same class because it’s hard to tell us apart,” Ann said See DOUBLE DOSE, page 27
By Rubin E. Grant Hoover volleyball coach Chris Camper has a problem many coaches would like to have. Camper has so many talented players that he has to figure out a way to get them court time this fall. “We have 15 players and it’s the deepest team I’ve been a part of,” Camper said. “We’re athletic, big and strong. We’re a presence on the front and deep on the back row.” The Class 7A second-ranked Bucs might have the most talented front line in the state. It begins with 6-foot-
3 junior Gabrielle Essex, a Florida commit, in the middle and 5-foot-11 sophomore Rya McKinnon on the outside. Essix recorded 331 kills and 112 blocks as a sophomore. “For a girl her size, she’s a phenomenal athlete,” Camper said. “She’s explosive. She jumps out of the gym.” McKinnon tallied 526 kills and 228 digs as a freshman. “She’s a sixrotation player who never comes off the court,” Camper said. “She’s a great passer, hitter, server and defendSee HOOVER, page 27
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