Merry Christmas from the AHSAA

Volume 11, Number 10 AHSAA Executive Director Update Newsletter December-January 2018-19 Merry Christmas from the AHSAA

Inside this Month’s Update

Savarese Commentary — Page 2

Super 7 Teams Set — Pages 4-5

SEC-Bound QBs Highlight All-Stars — Page 7-8

AHSHOF Class of 2019 — Page 9

Savarese Selected for ASHOF Induction — Page 10

Paf- we So Much to Be Thankful For this Holiday Season

valuable component of athletic in- We celebrated Thanksgiving volvement. Nov. 22 and, in a few weeks, will be Why do we do what we do? We celebrating Christmas. Both holi- do it for the students, so for them I days are very important in our na- am especially thankful. Their enthu- tion’s history and provide opportu- siasm and eagerness to succeed keep nities for families and guests to us aware of our purpose as teachers. spend time together and share the They keep us young at heart, and true blessings in life — faith, family, through their success we are re- and love. minded that what we do daily for Both holidays serve to remind us these children does make a differ- just how much we have to be thank- ence. As I watch student-athletes ful for. We have our faith to believe, compete with zeal and enthusiasm, our families and friends to love and regardless of talent or ability, I remi- to share life with, and we have the niscence on memories when I was blessings we receive by living in Steve Savarese their age and recall some of the best such a great nation. days of my life. My hope is as these As I wish each of you a blessed Executive Director students get older, they will also re- holiday season, I also feel the need written by our member schools. flect on their athletic experiences to mention some values I am espe- We live in a world where it seems and positively use them in their daily cially thankful for what we learned so many are turning away from the lives. I am thankful for everything as youngsters that we now try to values we were taught as youngsters. you do for our students. teach our children. Hosting friends However, interscholastic athletics Recently, a national study showed and family has always been an excel- and other extracurricular activities students who participate in high lent time to put our “best foot for- provide opportunities — opportuni- school athletics and other challeng- ward”– treating each guest with re- ties for students to learn many of ing extracurricular activities are spect and appreciation. As a guest, those life-long lessons that have much more likely to do volunteer it has always been an excellent time been the bedrock of our nation. work and participate in charitable to show appreciation to our hosts While I fully recognize the im- endeavors when they reach adult- and to display the character and mense passion that accents our ath- hood. This is not accidental or just a manners that our parents strived so letic events, it is imperative to put coincident. These students want to diligently to teach us. You get to our games in perspective. We have serve others because somewhere teach these attributes every time you some wonderful rivalries among our down the road, a teacher or coach host an event at your school. schools, but it is more important led by example and taught them the I am thankful for our member that these rivalries recognize the value of service, humility, and kind- school leadership – of the adminis- worthiness of and respect the oth- ness. I am thankful for you being a trators, teachers and coaches – who er’s opponent than to be victor of role model, teaching by example embrace those ideals and teach les- the game. Every day we witness and being someone who students sons daily by their own examples. In some great examples of how our can look up to. doing so, they are preparing the schools are playing the game by the As we approach the conclusion of youth of today to be even better rules, playing with passion and de- the first semester of this school leaders tomorrow. termination, and when the contest year, I would like to take this oppor- I am thankful for the AHSAA is over, congratulating the oppo- tunity to wish our students, coaches, Central Board of Control, the Legis- nent for their efforts as well. I am and administrators, your families lative Council and the AHSAA fam- thankful for educators who exempli- and friends a very Merry Christmas ily who all diligently stress these val- fy the life-long lesson that whether and an AWESOME New Year. ues daily and take pride in uphold- their school wins or loses, what they Thank you for making a differ- ing the Constitution and Bylaws as learn from participation is the most ence within your profession.

IMPORTANT DATES Dec. 5-6-7: Super 7 State Football Championships, Auburn University, Jordan-Hare Stadium Dec. 15: AHSAA State Cheerleading Competition, Hanceville Dec. 17: 32nd Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game, Cramton Bowl, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21: AHSAA Office closes for Christmas Holidays Dec. 25: Merry Christmas Jan. 1: Happy New Year Jan. 3: AHSAA Office opens for business

SUPER 7 COACHES MEET AT AHSAA Front row, from left: Flomaton Coach Doug Vickery; Fyffe Coach Paul Benefield; Mars Hill Bible Coach Darrell Higgins; Baldwin County Unified Coach Mike Conner; AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese; Associate Executive Director Alvin Briggs; Linden Coach Demetrius Jackson; Luverne Coach Scott Rials; Piedmont Coach Steve Smith. Back row, from left: Deshler Coach Bo Culver; Central-Clay County Coach Danny Horn; Pinson Valley Coach Patrick Nix; Thompson Coach Mark Freeman; Central-Phenix City Coach Jamey DuBose; Saraland Coach Jeff Kelly; Vigor Coach Deric Scott; and UMS-Wright Coach Terry Curtis. Not pictured in Vestavia Hills Teams Set for 2018 Super 7 State Football Championships Dec. 5-7

All pairings are set for the AHSAA’s seven mont (12-2) vs. Flomaton (11-3) at 11 a.m., classification championship games and Uni- followed by the Class 1A championship fied Game as the 23rd annual Super 7 State game featuring Linden (13-0) versus Mars Football Championships get underway Dec. Hill Bible (13-1) at 3 p.m. Vigor (13-1) and 5 at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadi- Central-Clay-County (11-3) play in the 5A um. finals at 7 p.m. The Alabama Unified Game, which kicks Friday’s schedule includes the Class 4A off at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, is partnership finals at 11 a.m., with defending state cham- between the AHSAA and Special Olympics pion UMS-Wright (13-0) meeting Deshler Alabama. Vestavia Hills and Baldwin (9-5) at 11 a.m., followed by the 2A finals County will be playing in the game or the pitting Fyffe (14-0) versus Luverne (13- second straight year. 1) at 3 p.m., and concluding with defend- The Class 7A state championship game ing Class 6A state champion Pinson will kick off the Super 7 finals at 7 p.m., Valley (12-1) facing Saraland (13-1) at 7 Wednesday night with Thompson (11-1) p.m. facing Central-Phenix City (13-0). CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Thursday’s finals include Class 3A Pied-

Teams Set for 2018 Super 7 State Football Championships Dec. 5-7

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 championship games with station information available at Mars Hill Bible, coached by Darrell Hig- www.pathtotheplayoffs.com. gins, is making its first appearance in the The NFHS Network will also live-stream Super 7 Championships, which began at Le- the Raycom production over its subscriber- gion Field in 1996 as the Super 6. The games based NFHS Network platform. The Uni- moved from Birmingham to a rotation be- fied Game is being produced by the Opelika tween the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tusca- High School NFHS Network School Broad- loosa and Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn in cast Program. 2009. The 23rd Super 7 Championships The AHSAA Radio Network will marks the 10th year of that memorable rota- also broadcast all championship games tion. The AHSAA state football playoffs, over its statewide network of radio and now in its 53rd year, began in 1966. internet affiliates. Producers Randy Higgins’ Panthers began varsity play in Lee and Brett Pritchard will use a va- 2016 finishing 0-10. Now in their third sea- riety of some of the state high school son, the only loss was a one-point setback to radio announcers from around the state Class 4A Brooks in the regular season. Other in the radio booth all week. schools making first appearances in the Su- Instant Replay will be used in all per 7 are Class 3A Flomaton, Class 5A Cen- seven state finals for the first time in tral-Clay County and both Class 7A finalists AHSAA Super 7 state history. – Thompson and Central-Phenix City. The Super 7 pairings: While Central of Clay County is making its first appearance, the two schools that merged in 2012 to form Clay County’s only AHSAA Super 7 Championships current high school, Lineville and Clay At Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn County (Ashland), squared off in the first (Home team listed second) Super 6 Class 2A championship game at Le- WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 UNIFIED GAME gion Field in 1996 with Clay County winning Vestavia Hills vs. Baldwin County, 3:30 p.m. 42-0. Clay County’s win was part of a state- CLASS 7A record 55-game winning streak. Central-Phenix City (13-0) vs. Thompson (12-1), 7 The two schools met 102 times in the se- p.m. ries judged one of the nation’s Top 10 rivalries by USA Today in the 1990s. Lineville THURSDAY, DEC. 6 held a 55-43-4 edge in the series with only CLASS 3A 108 points separating the two schools in the Piedmont (12-2) vs. Flomaton (11-3), 11 a.m. CLASS 1A 102 games played. Danny Horn was coach Linden (13-0) vs. Mars Hill Bible (13-1), 3 p.m. at Clay County from 1989-2008 compiling a CLASS 5A 225-40 record in that 20-year span with six Vigor (13-1) vs. Central-Clay County (11-3), 7 p.m. state titles in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2005. He moved to Benjamin Russell FRIDAY, DEC. 7 from 2009-2017 and returned as head coach CLASS 4A for Central-Clay County this season. His UMS-Wright (13-0) VS. Deshler (9-5), 11 a.m. overall coaching record is 298-86 in 30 sea- CLASS 2A Fyffe (14-0) vs. Luverne (13-1), 3 p.m. sons. CLASS 6A Raycom Network is producing all seven Pinson Valley (12-1) vs. Saraland (13-1), 7 p.m.

Class 7A Coaches

Pause to Congratulate Each Other for Year

The spirit of education- based athletics was on display when Class 7A Super 7 State Championship Coaches Jamey DuBose of Central-Phenix City and Mark Freeman of Thompson took time to congratulate the other on an outstanding season at the AH- SAA Office Nov. 24. The Class 7A finals kick off the 2018 Super 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Dec. 5. The Uni- fied Game between Vestavia Hills and Baldwin County will be held at 3 p.m., followed by the 7A contest at 7 p.m.

QBs Taulia Tagovailoa and Bo Nix Headline 2018 Alabama All-Star Roster

Senior quarterbacks Taulia Tagovailoa of Thompson High School and Bo Nix of Pinson Valley headline the 2018 40-player All-Star roster for Alabama for the upcoming 32th annual Alabama-Mississippi Classic set to be played at Cramton Bowl on Monday, December 17, Bo Nix Taulia Tagovailoa at 6:30 p.m. The AHSADCA, in conjunc- the AHSAA’s eight districts and 196-of-307 passes for 2,872 tion with the Mississippi Associ- at least one player from each of yards and 35 TDs. He was ation of Coaches (MAC) admin- the seven AHSAA classifica- named Super 7 Class 6A MVP isters the all-star game each tions. Three players may be in the finals. He has completed year. Raycom Media will be chosen from two AHSAA 242-of 410 passes for 3,496 televising the game live. member schools, but no more yards and 47 TDs this season in Alabama holds a 22-9 edge than two players may be select- 13 games. He became the in the series, which began in ed from any other member state’s all-time total offense 1988 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. schools. Head coach is Josh leader in the semifinal 28-20 Mississippi won last year’s game Niblett of Hoover. win over Clay-Chalkville, sur- at Hattiesburg 42-7 – the largest Tagovailoa has compiled a 23 passing the mark (11,788 yards) margin of defeat for Alabama in -2 record at Thompson High set by Terrance Hollingsworth the series history. School since moving to Alabas- of Berry from 2009-2013. He Both quarterbacks have led ter prior to the 2017 season became the first player in AH- their teams to the Super 7 state including 12-1 as a junior and SAA history to amass more than championships this season with 11-1 this season. He led the 12,000 total yards. Thompson (11-1) meeting Cen- state in passing last season com- Niblett, 197-50 overall with tral-Phenix City (13-0) in the 7A pleting 287-of-435 passes at- seven state titles to his credit, finals at Jordan-Hare Stadium tempted for 3,820 yards and 36 will be making his second head- on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and touchdowns. He heads into the coaching appearance in the All- Pinson Valley (12-1) meeting Super 7 Class 7A state finals Star Classic. He coached the Saraland (13-1) on Dec. 7, also with 264 completions in 431 Alabama team to a 21-13 win in at 7 p.m. attempts with 35 touchdowns 2009 and was an assistant in the Tagovailoa has committed and five interceptions. His com- game. The rest of his coaching to the University of Alabama, pletion percentage is 61.3%. He staff includes Patrick Nix, Pin- where his brother Tua is cur- has thrown for 507 yards in one son Valley; Sam Adams, Hill- rently the starting quarterback. game this season and has three crest-Tuscaloosa; Shawn And Nix has committed to other games over 400 yards in Rainey, Spain Park; Pat Auburn, where his dad and head his tenure at Thompson. Thompson, Sweet Water; coach Patrick Nix was a quar- Nix is 39-2 as a starter since Clifford Story, Lanett; Clinton terback from 1992-95. his sophomore season. He led Smith, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; The team is comprised of 40 Scottsboro to a 12-1 record in Steve Mask, St. Paul’s Episco- seniors selected by the AHSAD- 2016 and guided Pinson Valley pal; and Jason Kervin, Hoover CA All-Star Selection Commit- to a 15-0 season and the High School, who will serve as tee. The team must have at least school’s first ever Class 6A state the scout coach. one player chosen from each of title last year which completing

Alabama High School Hall of Fame

Selects 11 for Class of 2019 Induction Eleven major contributors to prep athletics in Alabama have been selected from an outstanding field of 48 nominations for induction into the 29th class of the Ala- bama High School Sports Hall of Fame next March. The 2019 class, which includes an “old-timer,” will be inducted at the 27th annual banquet at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa, March 18, 2019. Selected for induction are football coaches Phil Lazenby, David Lowery, Willie Carl Martin, Billy Odom and Ronnie Sikes; basketball coaches Carolyn Wright and Scheussler Ware; track coach Claborn Campbell; baseball coach Mark Mincher; basketball official Johnny Robertson; and longtime coach and administrator Reynolds “R.C.” Cook, chosen in the old-timers’’ division. Mr. Cook is deceased. Sponsors of the Hall of Fame program are the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) and the AHSAA. The corporate partners include Alabama Power, ALFA, Cadence Bank, Coca-Cola, Encore Rehabilitation, Jack’s, Russell Athletic, TeamIP and Wilson Sporting Goods. Veteran sportscaster Jeff Shearer will emcee the banquet. The NFHS Network is scheduled to live-stream the banquet. The first class was inducted in 1991. These 11 new inductees will run the total enshrined into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame to 353.

Central-Phenix City assistant athletic director, girls’ basketball and volleyball coach Carolyn Wright (center) will be among the 11 individuals selected for induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. She is shown above receiving the NFHS Coaches Association Section 3 Girls’ Coach of the Year Award for 2016. Also pictured, from left, are retired AHSAA Associate Executive Director Tony Stallworth, State Senator Jabo Waggoner, current AHSAA Associate Director Alvin Briggs and Executive Director Steve Savarese.

Executive Director Steve Savarese to

Be Inducted into ASHOF in April, 2019 Steve Savarese, Executive Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Associa- tion, is one of eight individuals selected to be inducted into the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The Board of Directors of the ASHOF announced the Class of 2019 on Nov. 28. The class will be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame at its induction banquet on April 27, 2019. The Class was selected by ballot through a statewide selection committee; votes were tabulated by the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The newly elected inductees for the Class of 2019 are as follows: TOMMIE AGEE; BILL BURGESS; WILLIE DAVENPORT; LUIS GONZALEZ; BUD MOORE; ANTONIO LANGHAM; STEVE SAVARESE; and CATHERINE REDDICK WHITEHILL

Starting with the first class in 1969, this will be the 51st Class inducted into the Al- abama Sports Hall of Fame. The eight newly elected inductees will bring the total number of inductees to 361. The 51st Induction Banquet and Ceremony will be held in the Birmingham Ballroom, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, on April 27, 2019. For more information please contact the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum at (205) 323-6665. Savarese, who has served as executive director since 2007, is being inducted in the administrator category. Others with AHSAA ties include football standouts Tommie Agee, who is a Maplesville High School graduate, and Antonio Lang- ham, who graduated from Hazlewood High School in Town Creek; former coaches Bill Burgess, a Banks High School graduate, and Bud Moore, a West End of Bir- mingham graduate; track Olympian Willie Davenport of Troy; and soccer star Cath- erine Reddick Whitehill, who attended Briarwood Christian School in Shelby County.

Steve Savarese, standing, is shown during a light moment with AH- SAA Assistant Direc- tors, seated, from left, Marvin Chou, Jamie Lee and Brandon Dean during last summer’s Championship Coach- es Banquet. (Photo by Tom Ewart).

Regional Cheer Competition Was Big Hit State Cheer Competition is Dec. 15 at Wallace Hanceville The AHSAA State Cheerleading State Competition will be Saturday, Dec. 15 at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. For the first year, teams advanced to the state competition through Regional cheer competitions held at Mobile and Birmingham. The regional format increased the number of schools that participated greatly this first year. Mobile had more than 900 participants and Birmingham’s site hosted more than 1,600. A total of 85 high school teams with approximately 1,400 participants are registered for the state competition. As a result of the regional competition, 39 schools (20 from the South Regional and 19 from the North Regional) will be competing in the state competition for the first time. The expansion to regional competition drew rave reviews. One cheer coach had this to say. “I just wanted to tell you how much our girls enjoyed the Super Regional,” she said. “We have not competed in a while and this was our first Game-Day experience. It was a great one! The Game-Day portion of the competition fits us so much better! “I have other athletes on my squad, so it was very difficult to find practice time. Practicing for Game Day is no different than practicing for an actual game. Thank you for adding this to the competition format. I wish we had done in it sooner. We look forward to competing again (at the state competition).” Denise Ainsworth, Assistant Director

Deadline for Bryant-Jordan Nominations in January The deadline for all Principals to submit their nomination forms to the Area Chairpersons for this school year’s Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement and Scholar-Athlete Awards program is Jan. 9, 21019. Nomination forms and submission information have been mailed to all principals in late November and applications can also be found on the AHSAA C2C website. Shelton Thompson, Bryant-Jordan Coordinator

2018-19 Coaching Lunch & Learn (Mini-Clinics) Each clinic will be held at the AHSAA Office at 7325 Halcyon Summit Dr., Montgomery, unless otherwise noted. COST PER CLINIC Registration: By Mail – $30.00 By Credit Card – $30.00 (plus a transaction fee) On-Site Registration - $40.00 (plus a transaction fee)

TENNIS: Boo Mason, Hoover Country Club Jan. 10, 2019 SOCCER: Matthew Thorne, U. of West Alabama Jan. 16, 2019 SOFTBALL: Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson, Alabama State U. Jan. 17, 2019 GOLF: Jay Seawell & Jon Howell, U. of Alabama Men’s Staff Jan. 24, 2019 VOLLEYBALL: Melissa Walter, U. of West Florida Feb. 7, 2019 FOOTBALL: TBA Mar. 8, 2019

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Visit us on the web at Sportsmanship Photo of the Month www.ahsaa.com and The more than 200 head football coaches in attendance at the first AHSAA follow us on Twitter Playoff Football Meeting in November took the time to show their apprecia- #AHSAAUpdates tion to the dedicated AHSAA staff that spends countless hours weekly pre- and see the latest paring for all sports championships and other member school needs. Steve AHSAA news at Savarese introduced them at the meeting. They are, from left: Sandy Logan, Charlotte Davies, Alaine Davis, Vanda Peppers and Cynthia Abrams. www.AHSAANOW.com

Thank You AHSAA Corporate Partners!