Well, when a man tells the truth, and someone doesn’t believe him, it might come back and bite him in the back parts! Do you recall last week I mentioned that I saw a Bear on our back porch? Well, next time I tell Ethel something, I bet she will believe me. Friday night, while I was hanging out at the fence at the football game, I got a call on my cell phone. I had never owned a cell phone until back in the winter when Ethel said,” You need to get one because you never know what might happen, and someone might need to talk to you.” Well, I said ok, but I refuse to do any of that texting on the crazy phone. If somebody needs to get in touch with me, they can just call. My fingers can’t do all that writing on the phone. Heck, I just started typing on a computer a couple of years back when the good folks at Mountain Valley asked me to start writing an article for them. Lord knows I have come a long way. Anyway, back to the story. I got this call, and it was Ethel. She hollered over the phone, “You have got to get home quick because I am stuck in the outhouse!”
I said,” Just kick the door, and it will come open.”
She said,” No, the door is not stuck!”
I said, “Well, woman, what’s the problem?”
She screamed, “A big ole black bear is standing outside the outhouse!”
This is where it gets good. I said, “There ain’t any Bears around our house! You are just trying to get me to come home from the Ballgames.”
Ethel said, “No! I am telling you, a Big Black Bear IS standing outside the outhouse!”
I said sweetly, “Well, honey, I think my truck is blocked in, and there is a crowd at the ballgame. I should be home in just a little while.” I got home about 10:00; sure enough, Ethel was still in the outhouse. I opened the door, and she was sitting there reading a Sears and Roebuck Christmas Catalog. I looked her square in the face and said, “There ain’t no BEAR out here.” She hit me in the head with that catalog, and I still see stars! I am sure this story will continue!
Now, let’s talk about coaches from the past! Coach Vernon Wells grew up and played football in Moss Point, Mississippi. He went on to play quarterback for Southern Mississippi, where he lettered for three years. Wells began his coaching career at Albertville in 1949, and he coached there for five years. His 1953 team was named State Champs by the Birmingham News. He moved to Butler in 1954 and stayed there for three years. In 1958 he became the Head Coach for the Fort Payne Wildcats. The 1964 Team won the Class 3A State Championship. People still, to this day, talk about that team! Coach Wells moved to Plainview in 1967, and he coached the Bears to five winning seasons. His final stop was back in Albertville.
Coach Wells won 200 games during his tenure. Coach Wells’s honors included: Being head Coach of the Alabama All-Star Game, Two-time Alabama State Coach of the Year, and being inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame and the DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame. We honor and remember this great Coach! Coach Vernon Wells!
Let’s talk about some football from week 1. The Big Red Machine caged the Bulldogs 34-6. Valley Head scored in overtime to beat Section 26-20 in the Brother vs. Brother Contest. Dade County put a beat down on the Bison of NSM 50-13. Scottsboro outscored North Jackson, 26-18. Fort Payne manhandled Etowah 26-14. The Sylvania Rams horse whipped Saxs 19-6. Collinsville captured the Crossville Lions 33-7. Pisgah came back and defeated Lexington 29-28. Ider downed Asbury 28-0. Jacksonville St defeated Stephen F Austin 42-17, and Northwestern beat Nebraska 31-28.
Week 2 has good games. Section will travel to Collinsville. Section is coming off a tough loss. Collinsville is riding high after a big win. This game should be a barn burner. Collinsville takes the win 24-21. Geraldine travels to Plainview. Geraldine is probably beaten up after the loss to Fyffe. Plainview is coming off a bye. This matchup could be interesting. Geraldine slides by Plainview 28-24. Fyffe hosts NSM. Not much to say about this game; the Big Red Machine rolls past the Thundering Herd 38-14. Scottsboro travels to Boaz. Scottsboro is coming off a big rivalry win. I’m going with Boaz in a close one. Boaz 21 Scottsboro 17. Fort Payne travels to Mae Jemison. I don’t know much about Jemison. It really don’t matter; the Wildcats win 31-14. Sylvania is coming off a big win. Now they have to get ready for another big one. Piedmont lost to Cherokee County last week. They were ranked #1 in class 3A. Sylvania travels to Piedmont. It could be a long ride home for the Rams! Piedmont 42, Sylvania 21. Crossville goes to Guntersville. Guntersville will win 49-0. Valley Head has another big game. This one is a region game. Decatur Heritage has dominated the region for the past few years. That could change. The Tigers are big, strong, and fast. This battle could be a slobber Knocker. Valley Head gets the win 28-21. Woodville heads to Cedar Bluff. Not good for Woodville. Cedar Bluff wins 41-14. North Jackson travels to Westminister Christian. Westminister squeaks by North Jackson 21-14. Ider defeats Whitesburg Christian 24-10. Pisgah goes to Sand Rock. The Eagles will be down 14 points when they get off the bus. The Eagles will find a way to win! Pisgah 28 Sand Rock 24. Bama hosts Utah State. Any questions? Bama 56 Utah State 10. Georgia and Oregon square off in Atlanta. This should be a good one. Georgia wins 34-21. Utah goes south to Florida. Utah gets past the Gators 28- 21. Notre Dame goes to Ohio St. Notre Dame will find out why they won’t be in the Big 10! Ohio St wins 38 14!
Well, that’s about it for this week. We honor the Late Vernon Wells as this week’s Coach from the Past.
Make sure to save me a spot by the fence! Ethel may decide to show up for a game this week!