Sports History

By Joshua Price/Sports Editor

Last week I strolled through the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame, located inside Fitness Plus in Rainbow City. Bronze plaques with likenesses of the most revered athletes and coaches of this county line the walls of the facility. Each plaque gives a brief description of the athletic achievements of each member. Jim Glover, Doc Griffith, Buster…

By Joshua Price/Sports Editor

West End High School principal Mark Stancil said it best.

“The world is a better place because he lived.”

Stancil was referring to Brent Clifton, who was involved in practically everything at West End for forty years as both an athlete, teacher and coach. 

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Clifton taught science and physical education and coached all sports for…

By Joshua Price/Sports Editor

This article was originally published in The Messenger on October 28, 2011 as part of the top teams countdown.

Prior to the ’57 season, there was much skepticism as to the expectations of the Gadsden Tigers. Beginning his second year at the helm, head coach Jerry Watford knew he had a few good players returning from a 1-7-2…

By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
 
Etowah County has a great baseball heritage. The Gadsden Pilots were one of the most popular teams to call Etowah County their home.

Gadsden was a “Class B” team in the Southeastern League during the 1930s.

Although times were tough during the days of the “Great Depression,” the Pilots were a successful financial draw in the Gadsden…

By Mike Goodson
Sports Correspondent
 
The Etowah County area has always been a hotbed of sports. People throughout the county are avid sports fans and love football, baseball and basketball. From the youngest children to the semi-pro and professional players that have played baseball and softball in Etowah County, residents take their sports seriously.

One of the earliest recorded games of baseball…

*This article was originally published as part of The Messenger Top-15 football teams of all-time from Etowah County, 1950-1986.  By Joshua Price/Sports Editor The Sardis Lions finished with a 2-7-1 record in 1965. Ben Perkins found himself without a coaching position with the consolidation of his former school, Altoona, with Walnut Grove. Sardis officials quickly

By Joshua Price/Sports Editor There is little doubt everyone loves a good sports story – especially when it involves the success of the “underdog” or the “little-guy.” Keeping in the spirits of basketball, since of course ‘tis the season, I recently received a phone call that turned me on to a very interesting “underdog” hoop

By Joshua Price/Sports Editor

The Altoona Choctaws had high expectations in 1954. The 1953 team posted an 8-2 record with four shutouts during head coach Fred “Dugan” Taylor’s first year at the helm.

The 1954 team returned a number of key starters, most notably in the offensive backfield. Quarterback DuWayne McCray, halfbacks Roy McNair and Bill Nichols, fullback Roy Hethcox and end…

By Chris McCarthy
Editor/Publisher

ML Brackett’s career has taken him far and wide from his roots in rural Attalla.

The former Etowah High School, Auburn University and National Football League standout probably could rival Abe Lincoln and Will Rogers as a storyteller with regard to his gridiron accomplishments.

Then again, someone who has played for five coaching legends and with several Hall of…

 By Joshua Price
Sports Editor

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow continues to headline most every sports page in the nation.

Tebow first made headlines as a Heisman Trophy winner for the Florida Gators and most recently with a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to defeat the highly favored Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tebow stands in a long line of Bronco quarterbacks to grace Mile High Stadium that…

 By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent The sports world was saddened on Jan. 22 by the announcement of the death of former Penn State University head football coach Joe Paterno. With the passing of the legendary coach another chapter draws to a close in the history books of college football’s most colorful and innovative head coaches. Since

 By Joshua Price/Sports Editor Last Friday, Glencoe High School secured its second consecutive Etowah County basketball championship. The Yellow Jackets were favored to win it this year, but Southside was not far behind.  Glencoe defeated rival Hokes Bluff in round two and Southside in the finals for the championship. The fact is, the Yellow Jackets