I set up at Willowfest Saturday in Henagar to sell a few books. It was a great day, and I sold quite a few. But the best part of an event like this is seeing those old familiar faces. Having lived away for so long, any chance I get to see old friends and classmates is welcome. I saw three people from my graduating class: Lisa (McSpadden) Shrader, Rhonda (Waldrop) Bell, and Jeff Crump.
I saw Mike Owens, my cousin. He was there with some local musicians to provide live music. I was a tad shocked to see him anywhere but Black Tires in Rainsville and The Pickin’ Post. In fact, I was convinced he had constructed a tunnel from one place to the other and secretly went back and forth between the two.
I saw Woodrow Guffey, which was awesome. I haven’t seen Woody in a coon’s age. But it brought back a fond memory. When I was in the 7th grade, Coach Graham put together a football team with just guys from my class. He was proud of us and challenged the junior varsity coach to put together a team of 8th graders and boasted we would whoop them.
Coach Graham, other than being a great coach, was the ultimate showman. He promoted the game as the showdown between the 7th and 8th graders. Tickets were sold, and a huge crowd came to see his younger team whoop the older team. (Spoiler alert: we lost, but only by one point.)
I played slot back, that odd running back position that lines up between the tackle and tight end but still in the backfield. You don’t see that much anymore. We had a play called Slot Right 41 Trap. (Don’t ask me how I still remember that.) The quarterback would take the snap, step back a couple of feet, and hold the ball in front of him. I’d run down the line and take the handoff.
It worked every time. I’d pick up 12 to 15 yards every time. I’d get a first down every time. And every time, I’d run right into their safety – Woody Guffey. And Woody would plant me like a farmer plants potatoes… every time.
Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Coach Graham pulled me aside. He was a great motivator, and I was expecting a Knute Rockne speech or other words of wisdom. But he simply put his hand on my shoulder and said, “You know you can run around him, don’t you?” I just looked him in the eyes and answered, “That seems a little rude.”
A great day in Henagar, seeing old friends and selling books…two of my favorite things.