"The Hard Road to Glory"
Preface
What is a Wonder? That question gets asked alot, and nobody can really say for certain from where it originated. A Wonder has been portrayed as the imposing image of the incredible hulk, a stallion riding across Memorial Stadium plunging a spear at the fifty yard line, and lately a Wonder has been portrayed as a man dressed in all green bearing the striking resemblance of an alien or a man from Mars. To cut to the chase, Nobody can really tell you for sure, and everyone has their opinion. I feel a Wonder is a “State of Mind” The feeling of invincibility or immortality. I feel when you relate that definition to “Wonder Football” it makes sense. A better question now is “Who are Wonders?” for the sake of this series we will refer to a “Wonder” as those young warriors who since 1952 when A.L Brown High School first opened its doors have donned the Green and White for the town of Kannapolis, and have gone to war on many different battlefields in the fall defending the town, the school, and its residents from invaders within and without. As I sit here today and begin work on my first athlete profile I reflect back on some of those warriors I grew up admiring as a young boy in his formative years. Now before some of you even older Wonder fans get your dander up because I seem to have forgotten those who came before the seventies, you must understand one thing. The Wonders I will be featuring in this series are the ones I grew up with, The ones I started going to see as a kid who first instilled the pride of K-Town into my blood, and whose Green and White blood I still bleed today. In my minds perception, The modern era of football for me began in the seventies.
In 1973 I began attending the football games at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium with my family as a “group outing” so to speak on Friday nights for entertainment. Little did I know that a football game in November of 1973 at Concord's Bailey Stadium would for all practical purposes change my life, and grow into the obsession it is today. My earliest memories of those early Friday nights are great, and stamped in my brain like a brand on a horse at the lazy 5 ranch. Sitting on those old wooden bleachers in Memorial Stadium picking splinters out of my tush, Eating some of the best hotdogs ever created, The roar of thousands of people as the men in White Jerseys and Brown Pants jogged onto the field for pre game warm ups. My eyes transfixed in amazement as these giants in shoulder pads took the field like gladiators in the coliseums of Rome. The chills that ran down my spine as the marching band all dressed in green uniforms some two hundred plus members strong marched down the hill in single file line to the slow methodical cadence of many drums pounding in the distance. The roar of the crowd as the musical monster ran out onto the field, which to me looked like utter chaos forming a pristine letter “K” Then the voice of Mr. Boone on the public address system calmly saying Ladies and Gentlemen “The Big Green Machine.” The fight song plays and those same roaring fans in perfect unison sing what I then came to know as The Fight Song. Minutes later the football team takes the field and the contest begins. An eight year old boy’s first introduction to the great game of high school football, and all just two short miles across the tracks from West C Street to Memorial Stadium.
In 1973 I began attending the football games at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium with my family as a “group outing” so to speak on Friday nights for entertainment. Little did I know that a football game in November of 1973 at Concord's Bailey Stadium would for all practical purposes change my life, and grow into the obsession it is today. My earliest memories of those early Friday nights are great, and stamped in my brain like a brand on a horse at the lazy 5 ranch. Sitting on those old wooden bleachers in Memorial Stadium picking splinters out of my tush, Eating some of the best hotdogs ever created, The roar of thousands of people as the men in White Jerseys and Brown Pants jogged onto the field for pre game warm ups. My eyes transfixed in amazement as these giants in shoulder pads took the field like gladiators in the coliseums of Rome. The chills that ran down my spine as the marching band all dressed in green uniforms some two hundred plus members strong marched down the hill in single file line to the slow methodical cadence of many drums pounding in the distance. The roar of the crowd as the musical monster ran out onto the field, which to me looked like utter chaos forming a pristine letter “K” Then the voice of Mr. Boone on the public address system calmly saying Ladies and Gentlemen “The Big Green Machine.” The fight song plays and those same roaring fans in perfect unison sing what I then came to know as The Fight Song. Minutes later the football team takes the field and the contest begins. An eight year old boy’s first introduction to the great game of high school football, and all just two short miles across the tracks from West C Street to Memorial Stadium.
A new Friday Night tradition is born that night, and one that for me has remained constant for thirty nine years. So many things have come full circle since that August night thirty nine years ago in Memorial Stadium. Wonder Football has been a dominant force in the state of North Carolina since the last recorded losing season in 1977. You see in 1977 the Little Wonders as they were referred to back then had just come off a three year drought in which winning was a luxury, and losing was well, common place. Prior to that in 1974 the Wonders had been on a four year winning streak since 1971 where the worst recorded outing was a 1972 squad that went 5-5. I was there for all of it in 1973 and 1974.
I experienced the joy and the pain. I experienced the near riot in Salisbury in 1975, and the heated moments in Concord Stadium walking back to the car. I stood and yelled at the top of my lungs for the winning teams of 1973-1974, and did the same for the not so fortunate teams of 1975 -1977, and I never walked out of the stadium until the final whistle blew. I was there along with thousands of other Wonder faithful who did the very same thing. In those days I had two sisters who were varsity cheerleaders in 1975-1976, and 1977-1979. Today after thirty six years of Conference Titles, State Championships, and countless playoff appearances my thoughts drift back to that time long ago. A time that seems to have been misplaced, and whose Gladiators have been dismissed like so many long forgotten ghosts. Gladiators who put everything they had on the line for their school, for their community, and for the deep rooted internal pride they all felt in being called “Little Wonders”
I have long desired to do something to show my appreciation to these gallant men of Friday nights who thrilled a young boy in his formative years with what some would call a game of organized chaos. Now my opportunity has come to fruition. “The Hard Road to Glory” is the story of some of these warriors from long past who time has neatly tucked away into the scrapbooks of the ages. I just recently discovered, and reopened some of those scrap books, and along with them relived some of the greatest and most exciting moments in Wonder Football history. I know some of you today who don’t know what this time was like would ask “What was so great and exciting about that time?” All I can say is, “You had to have been there to understand it.” Those of you who were fortunate enough to have been there know exactly what I’m talking about. This is a labor of love that for me is long overdue. These men will tell you just how life as a “Little Wonder” really was for young men with much desire, and limited resources. A time when there were no state of the art Strength and Conditioning Complexes, and when toughness was developed through self determination and self motivation with the help of a single universal machine. Toughness that was cultivated through hard work growing up in a common textile town where young men went to work when they left school and helped their fathers on the weekends. A time when you had to at least come in second in your conference to even have a shot at a playoff appearance, and when one seemingly harmless night out at the Prince of Pizza before or after the Kannapolis/Concord game could mean big trouble when folks from both schools happened to show up at the same time.
This is a look back into a past that is rich in tradition, color, and spirit. A time of pep rallies, bonfires, spirit buttons, team pennants, and emotion. A time when victory didn't necessarily mean who was ahead on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but rather the victory of the human spirit. A time when the fight song was sung with pride after every touchdown, and the band actually played our alma mater at the end of every game. A time of "Franco's Italian Army March" and "Watermelon" and of cowbells and shakers. A time that our current generation could take a few lessons from. Friday Nights in K-Town wishes to thank all of these great athletes who participated in this heroic tale, and for taking the time to sit down with that old eight year old kid from long ago and share your memories and observations. Athletes whose pride in being a Wonder is as strong today as it was then. I want to say how much I have enjoyed listening to your stories of a time when men were men, and football was a game of desire and determination. I can honestly say that I have seen the pride in your faces first hand as I have pulled these old memories out of your personal memory banks. I also want to thank each and everyone of you who have provided materials from your own personal archives to share with Wonder Nation. I sincerely hope I can convey your stories appropriately, and bring to all of you some much needed recognition you so richly deserve. The tales of that “Hard Road to Glory” we all know to be Kannapolis Football. -The editor
"The Hard Road to Glory"
Tim Davis
As a young boy Tim Davis had long dreamed of one day playing football for the Little Wonders. In the Summer of 1972 that dream came to reality. Tipping the scales at 225 pounds Davis was a nose guard that played with a linebackers mentality and scoured the line of scrimmage for the Wonders from 1972-1974. Ask anyone who played or practiced against Davis and they will pretty much describe him the same way every time. Quiet and very reserved an extremely likeable fellow, until he put his helmet on then he was anything but pleasant.
Davis pulled double duty for most of his senior season playing nose guard on defense then offensive tackle opposite Brian Holbrooks. Davis played in a time when going both ways offensively and defensively was not a rare occurrence and the odds of getting injured doing that were high to say the least. Davis did this playing in the old South Piedmont Conference with the likes of Salisbury, Thomasville, Asheboro and Lexington who were some heavy hitters of that era. Outside of the occasional cramps Davis performed exceptionally for three years and never missed a game. As I stated in my last post, today you have players who get hurt in practice. (laughing) Tim Davis also proved himself very capable in other aspects of the game as well A very accomplished punter/kicker Davis could boot the melon a country mile and one thing that sticks out in my mind as a kid watching Davis was his range. Davis punting ability was handy to have in close situations that some of the games of that era came down to. During one game in particular in 1974 Davis was instrumental if not downright responsible for Kannapolis eeking out a nail biting 7-6 victory in over then WNCHSAA Champion Salisbury in Memorial Stadium. A win that put the Wonders in sole possession of first place in the SPC in 1974. That night Davis kept the powerful Hornets in terrible field position for most of the game averaging 42.8 yards per kick as well as kicking the deciding pat in Kannapolis lone touchdown of the game. In 1974 Davis was an astounding 19 of 22 in PATs his senior year and averaged 38.6 yards per punt on forty four punt attempts.
But Davis true talent was on the line of scrimmage. Davis was a hitter who loved contact and was always looking for someone to put the corkscrew to during a game or even in practice. Davis only knew one way according to those who played with him and that was all out every play until the whistle blew and that was not even a guarantee that he would let up at the sound of the whistle. A former Teammate recalls “Davis would lay the wood to me in practice even when I had nothing to do with the play and he enjoyed it. It use to make me so mad, but that was Tim. Coach Lope Linder described Davis as a “Tremendous athlete and an excellent individual on and off the field. I see no reason he couldn’t see a lot of playing time as a freshman in college.” Linder went on further to say “ Davis true talent is blocking. He is probably the best blockers I’ve ever seen in the SPC.”
My first introduction to Davis was in 1973 as with Tim’s partner in crime Lacy Brumley. The first thing I remember catching my attention was how high he could punt the football. I can remember watching Davis in warm ups punting and just sitting in amazement as the melon floated onward and upward taking what seemed like an eternity to come back to earth. Davis and his parents attended my church on Sundays as well and I always use to beg my oldest sister to ask Tim to come over to the house and play football with me as a kid, but she would never ask him. After the 1974 season Davis who was recruited by several ACC and SEC schools his senior year as well as Georgia Tech signed a scholarship to play football at Wake Forrest. The all SPC for 74 as well as the Golden Helmet Award Winner of 1974 excelled in his four years with the Demon Deacons as a blocker on the offensive line.
When I decided to write this series I knew Davis was definitely one athlete from the seventies era I had to talk to, and knowing Davis the way I do I knew when I called him he would have no problem helping me with this project. My only concern was going to be how much information could I drag out of him knowing he’s a man of few words. I met with Davis at his home in Concord about a week and a half ago to get his story and fully realizing what he was about to do I was shocked to see him wearing Black and Gold. (laughing) Davis has always been proud of his alumni status from Wake Forrest so I had to cut him a little slack. Not to mention the fact I had no deep rooted desire to go toe to toe with Davis in his own front yard. (laughing) As with Lacy Brumley, I arrived at Tims home with all the recording devices and implements I needed to capture Tim's comments along with a football and helmet for a few photos to document the evening. I told Tim when I arrived that I had waited along time to play football with him and that typical Tim Davis smile came to his still boyish face. I knew that sly, sinister smile of his was only a façade by the way I use to see him play football and the comments I had solicited from his teammates. Again I was deeply honored to have the chance to sit down one on one with Davis and hear his account of the days when the pride of being a Wonder ran deep.
(FIK) What first motivated you to want to play football?
(TD) I can remember going with my dad and sister to the games starting around 1963 and the early seventies watching Wonders like Dan Dayvault, Haskell Stanback, Donnie and Danny Hamrick and all those guys and I just knew I wanted to be a part of that when I got to high school.
(FIK) You had the opportunity to play for Coach Will Campagna and Lope Linder. Can you tell me a little about those two coaches styles?
(TD) Well, they were both great coaches and I really liked them both, but they were opposites of each other in a lot of ways. Coach Campagna was very spirited and could really get after you if you weren’t doing right, while coach Linder was very laid back. Coach Campagna was more wide open as an offensive coach and Linder was more defensive minded. As a matter of fact with the style offense Coach Campagna ran and the talent we had in 72, with the Fortson's, Grier's and Butch Anthony our sophomore year. I don’t know how we went 5-5. Something just wasn’t right. I don’t know how that happened.
(FIK) Did you involve yourself in any strength and conditioning in those days?
(TD) Not as much as I probably should have, but all we had back then was this one universal machine that was in what is now the coaches office in the Bullock Gym. Lifting weights wasn’t something that was required of us at that time. They didn’t discourage it, but they didn’t overly encourage it either.
(FIK) What was a typical practice day like for you in those days?
(TD) Practice usually started after school around 4:00pm and lasted till about 6:30pm I can remember practices were tough, and it seemed like county fairs lasted forever. We always went all out and tried to give our best effort. We would split off into our groups and go through some drills, then we would work on the defensive and offensive game plan for the following Friday night. We would usually scrimmage against the Jv's. Now my senior year Linder wouldn’t let us scrimmage the jayvees. I remember we all felt sometimes like we were beat to death, but I never ever wanted to walk away or quit. That would come later at Wake. (laughing) I really enjoyed the contact. I just liked hitting people. (laughing)
(FIK) Todd Williford tells this story about Tim Davis. “ Tim Davis was a hard hitter, He use to hit me in practice just because he could. He would hit me sometimes and I wouldn’t even be part of the play. I went home many nights bruised up from Tim Davis. (laughing)
(TD) (laughing) I don’t know, Maybe I did I cant remember. (laughing)
Davis pulled double duty for most of his senior season playing nose guard on defense then offensive tackle opposite Brian Holbrooks. Davis played in a time when going both ways offensively and defensively was not a rare occurrence and the odds of getting injured doing that were high to say the least. Davis did this playing in the old South Piedmont Conference with the likes of Salisbury, Thomasville, Asheboro and Lexington who were some heavy hitters of that era. Outside of the occasional cramps Davis performed exceptionally for three years and never missed a game. As I stated in my last post, today you have players who get hurt in practice. (laughing) Tim Davis also proved himself very capable in other aspects of the game as well A very accomplished punter/kicker Davis could boot the melon a country mile and one thing that sticks out in my mind as a kid watching Davis was his range. Davis punting ability was handy to have in close situations that some of the games of that era came down to. During one game in particular in 1974 Davis was instrumental if not downright responsible for Kannapolis eeking out a nail biting 7-6 victory in over then WNCHSAA Champion Salisbury in Memorial Stadium. A win that put the Wonders in sole possession of first place in the SPC in 1974. That night Davis kept the powerful Hornets in terrible field position for most of the game averaging 42.8 yards per kick as well as kicking the deciding pat in Kannapolis lone touchdown of the game. In 1974 Davis was an astounding 19 of 22 in PATs his senior year and averaged 38.6 yards per punt on forty four punt attempts.
But Davis true talent was on the line of scrimmage. Davis was a hitter who loved contact and was always looking for someone to put the corkscrew to during a game or even in practice. Davis only knew one way according to those who played with him and that was all out every play until the whistle blew and that was not even a guarantee that he would let up at the sound of the whistle. A former Teammate recalls “Davis would lay the wood to me in practice even when I had nothing to do with the play and he enjoyed it. It use to make me so mad, but that was Tim. Coach Lope Linder described Davis as a “Tremendous athlete and an excellent individual on and off the field. I see no reason he couldn’t see a lot of playing time as a freshman in college.” Linder went on further to say “ Davis true talent is blocking. He is probably the best blockers I’ve ever seen in the SPC.”
My first introduction to Davis was in 1973 as with Tim’s partner in crime Lacy Brumley. The first thing I remember catching my attention was how high he could punt the football. I can remember watching Davis in warm ups punting and just sitting in amazement as the melon floated onward and upward taking what seemed like an eternity to come back to earth. Davis and his parents attended my church on Sundays as well and I always use to beg my oldest sister to ask Tim to come over to the house and play football with me as a kid, but she would never ask him. After the 1974 season Davis who was recruited by several ACC and SEC schools his senior year as well as Georgia Tech signed a scholarship to play football at Wake Forrest. The all SPC for 74 as well as the Golden Helmet Award Winner of 1974 excelled in his four years with the Demon Deacons as a blocker on the offensive line.
When I decided to write this series I knew Davis was definitely one athlete from the seventies era I had to talk to, and knowing Davis the way I do I knew when I called him he would have no problem helping me with this project. My only concern was going to be how much information could I drag out of him knowing he’s a man of few words. I met with Davis at his home in Concord about a week and a half ago to get his story and fully realizing what he was about to do I was shocked to see him wearing Black and Gold. (laughing) Davis has always been proud of his alumni status from Wake Forrest so I had to cut him a little slack. Not to mention the fact I had no deep rooted desire to go toe to toe with Davis in his own front yard. (laughing) As with Lacy Brumley, I arrived at Tims home with all the recording devices and implements I needed to capture Tim's comments along with a football and helmet for a few photos to document the evening. I told Tim when I arrived that I had waited along time to play football with him and that typical Tim Davis smile came to his still boyish face. I knew that sly, sinister smile of his was only a façade by the way I use to see him play football and the comments I had solicited from his teammates. Again I was deeply honored to have the chance to sit down one on one with Davis and hear his account of the days when the pride of being a Wonder ran deep.
(FIK) What first motivated you to want to play football?
(TD) I can remember going with my dad and sister to the games starting around 1963 and the early seventies watching Wonders like Dan Dayvault, Haskell Stanback, Donnie and Danny Hamrick and all those guys and I just knew I wanted to be a part of that when I got to high school.
(FIK) You had the opportunity to play for Coach Will Campagna and Lope Linder. Can you tell me a little about those two coaches styles?
(TD) Well, they were both great coaches and I really liked them both, but they were opposites of each other in a lot of ways. Coach Campagna was very spirited and could really get after you if you weren’t doing right, while coach Linder was very laid back. Coach Campagna was more wide open as an offensive coach and Linder was more defensive minded. As a matter of fact with the style offense Coach Campagna ran and the talent we had in 72, with the Fortson's, Grier's and Butch Anthony our sophomore year. I don’t know how we went 5-5. Something just wasn’t right. I don’t know how that happened.
(FIK) Did you involve yourself in any strength and conditioning in those days?
(TD) Not as much as I probably should have, but all we had back then was this one universal machine that was in what is now the coaches office in the Bullock Gym. Lifting weights wasn’t something that was required of us at that time. They didn’t discourage it, but they didn’t overly encourage it either.
(FIK) What was a typical practice day like for you in those days?
(TD) Practice usually started after school around 4:00pm and lasted till about 6:30pm I can remember practices were tough, and it seemed like county fairs lasted forever. We always went all out and tried to give our best effort. We would split off into our groups and go through some drills, then we would work on the defensive and offensive game plan for the following Friday night. We would usually scrimmage against the Jv's. Now my senior year Linder wouldn’t let us scrimmage the jayvees. I remember we all felt sometimes like we were beat to death, but I never ever wanted to walk away or quit. That would come later at Wake. (laughing) I really enjoyed the contact. I just liked hitting people. (laughing)
(FIK) Todd Williford tells this story about Tim Davis. “ Tim Davis was a hard hitter, He use to hit me in practice just because he could. He would hit me sometimes and I wouldn’t even be part of the play. I went home many nights bruised up from Tim Davis. (laughing)
(TD) (laughing) I don’t know, Maybe I did I cant remember. (laughing)
(FIK) Lacy Brumley said this of Tim Davis “Tim was a tough individual. He loved to hit, and he would rip a guysarm off, and beat him with it if he could. He was a really nice guy till he put his helmet on and then you were the enemy. Which is the way you had to be as a football player.”
FIK) How did you view the support for the Wonders in those days?
(TD) I thought it was great. I don’t remember a game where everyone didn’t get into it and get behind us. That was what made playing on Friday nights so great. I loved running out on the field and seeing the stands full with people to support us. I recall the stadium was always packed even for your Albemarle and Trinity games. Then when Northwest and Concord would come to town they brought even more. People sitting in the horseshoe on blankets it was great. I really miss it.
(FIK) Do you see a difference in the level of support today compared to when you played?
(TD) Yea, A little. It seemed like in our day it was louder and the noise was constant. You also had the Big Green Machine in those days. The band today does a good job with what they got. I think the fans have grown accustom to winning and they don’t get behind the players in times that they should. When the defense needs to make a big stand or the offense is going for a first down they don’t seem to get in behind them like they did when Iplayed.
(FIK) What was the work ethic like amongst the guys on the team?
(TD) I think overall it was good. We always tried to give a hundred percent especially my junior year. We had just come of a 5-5 season in 72 and everyone knew it shouldn’t have happened, so we had a little extra incentive to make our junior year better and do what we knew we were capable of doing. Like I said the talent we had on the 72 team was outstanding and to go 5-5 hurt. It just didn’t make sense to us so we wanted to be a better team in 73 and we did that going 7-2-1.
(FIK) What was a typical game day like for you?
(TD) We would have a pep rally during school, and then we would go home after school and you were pretty much on your own until time to go back to the gym. My mom would cook dinner for me because we didn’t have pre game dinners back then at school. My mom would always find some kind of meat for me to eat. It may not have been steak. (laughing) Then it was getting those salt tablets down. (laughing)
(FIK) Who were some of the toughest teams you played during that time?
(TD) Salisbury, Thomasville and Albemarle that year they had Tommy Knotts as their quarterback, but Salisbury and Thomasville were always good and we knew if we could beat them we had a good chance a getting through the rest of our schedule outside of Concord.
(FIK) Did the thought of getting injured ever enter your mind while you were playing?
(TD) No, not really. I was lucky that I never did get injured. I use to get some pretty bad cramps though. We would be on the bus going back home and “Bang” one would come up and it was painful. Especially my senior year because we hardly ever come off the field. That happened to a lot of the two way starters. Now my sophomore and junior years there wasn’t that much going both ways, but my senior year it was necessary.
(FIK) What were your thoughts on Lacy Brumley?
(TD) Big, Tough, really great ball player. Laid back until you got him pissed off. (laughing) He was hard to block because he was so tall and strong. He ended up going to Clemson I think.
(FIK) Terry Cunningham?
(TD) Great offensive player. Great quarterback. He had a great arm and could make cuts really well. He was always good to run a kickoff or a punt return back for big yardage.
(FIK) Todd Williford?
(TD) Tough defensive back. Not afraid to get hit. He would stick ya and for his size he was a good hitter. He reminded me a lot of Chip Sigmon. Gritty. He like to stick his nose in there and get dirty and nasty.
(FIK) What ranks as probably your mostmemorable victory?
(TD) I would have to say our win in 74 against Salisbury. I had a really good night punting that night and was able to keep Salisbury pinned down deep in their own territory for a good portion of the game. I don’t know if you remember this , but we even punted on third down to pin them down deep. We beat Lexington who came in #1 in 1972 10-7, but then they seemed to always be ranked up there in the top of the conference until we got a hold of them. (laughing) They would be undefeated until we got hold of their butts. (laughing) I know while I was there my three years we always beat Northwest and South Rowan pretty handily. (laughing) I remember getting thrown out of the South Rowan game for hitting Jimmy Miles. (laughing) I was going down field to block him and I blocked him and I’m not sure if he said something or what, but I tomahawk chopped him on the helmet. (laughing) I got thrown out of the game, but I didn’t miss the following Friday night. That next week when we were watching the films the coaches said “Look at Davis and his Tomahawk Chop. (laughing) He may have taken a swing at me I don’t know.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the Kannapolis/Concord rivalry today? And how do you think it compares to the days you were at Brown?
(TD) I remember as a young boy going with my sister to the pep rallies then going into downtown Concord and getting eggs thrown at our cars. I was never so scared in my life. I thought we were going to die. (laughing) Bad blood, Lots of bad blood between the schools back then. Good things just didn’t happen when those two schools got together. I don’t hear too much now about things happening so maybe it has calmed down somewhat. I don’t know. I tried to stay home as much as I could during that week and not show up somewhere where there were a bunch of people from Concord hanging out.
(FIK) The 1974 loss to Concord not only resulted in the loss of the bell but it knocked the Wonders out of playoff contention. Tell me in your opinion what went wrong in the 74 loss to Concord?
(TD) Well for one thing our offense just couldn’t get going. Concord was stacking the box and our backs just didn’t have any room to run or make a play. The first play of the game was suppose to be a tackle eligible pass to me, but Terry checked out of it and we didn’t run it. We did run that play against Statesville and I caught it. They didn’t get it on film though. (laughing) We fumbled several times that could have made a difference in the game.I don’t know. Nothing went right that night. Concord didn’t even have a winning record when they came in and it was just as much a shock to us as it was to everybody else. I don’t know, Maybe it was overconfidence, I recall it seemed like we just didn’t have a good week of practice that game. I’m not Making excuses, but if you remember Me, George Smith and Terry Cunningham were the captains then. George was one of our fullbacks and he like to run the ball, but he was mostly a linebacker. When he got to carry the ball he would hit the line and he would carry four or five guys with him through the line. He was like Larry Csonka, he just carried people. But something happened after the Thomasville game between him and coach Linder. I don’t know what it was, but my guess was that it had something to do with him not getting to run the ball as much and he just quit. He quit the week of the Trinity game. Trinity wasn’t a problem because I think we ended up beating them like 42-0 or something, but him quitting when he did had an impact on us. It just seemed to be a different team then. I think it hurt the morale some. Practice that week seemed very nonchalant with no intensity and I knew this was Concord we were getting ready to face, but then again everyone was confident that we would beat them even without George.
I remember I use to get into fights in practice and this one particular practice that week I blew by Sandy Yow and I was about to make the tackle, and the next thing I know I’m getting tackled. I snapped up and turned around and pounded him. Coach started yelling “Tim, Tim what is wrong with you?” Did you eat some raw meat or something”? (laughing) I said “Man he tackled me. He cant do that.” That’s just the way I remember the feeling being like in practice and I think it hurt us in the end.
(FIK) Do you remember what you did when the game ended?
(TD) I was in a daze. I can remember towards the end of the game I was just running around looking for anybody to hit. I was just mad and upset and in disbelief this was happening. You remember that the Captains had to drag that thing across the field. I don’t remember what I did. I remember the cheerleaders being in that picture in the paper, but I wasn’t. (laughing) I was looking for Terry, but I was just in shock. That whole night was like a dream. I did crack Tracy Andrews helmet that night. I guess that was a good thing. (laughing)
(FIK) What is your view on the direction Kannapolis Football is going now in 2011?
(TD) I think its going in the right direction. I remember when Coach Boswell was at NC State he recruited me, and when I heard he was coming to Kannapolis to be the new head coach in 1976 I knew the program was heading in the right direction. He use to let some of us come in and work out with the new weights in the weight room he created out of the old concession stands and it rivaled some colleges at that time. I believe this new coach is going to do great. I don’t think there will be any slacking off at all.
(FIK) Tell me a little about your recruiting experience?
(TD) I started receiving some letters from colleges my junior year. Wake, Duke, South Carolina, Clemson, NC State, Georgia Tech. Those were the main ones along with Gardner Webb, Catawba, Lenior Rhyne as the smaller colleges. Maybe since Lacy was being so heavily recruited it may have helped me too, But you have to have someone pushing your name out there and I have to thank Coach Campagna for that. I really enjoyed my college experience. Wake was very tough academically, but I made it through and was a 4 year varsity letterman.
(FIK) What influenced your decision to attend Wake Forrest?
(TD) Small school, Chance to play early, Close to home and getting a full ride to go didn’t hurt.(laughing) I wouldn’t have went there any other way. (laughing)
(FIK) For you what was the biggest difference in playing high school and college?
(TD) Well the biggest difference was it was an all year long thing. Winter work outs, spring workouts, run here, run there, study, study, keep your grades up to stay eligible. The pressure was tremendous, and them just drilling it into you all of the time. It didn’t seem like there was ever a break. My junior and senior years we didn’t have a good team, We were suppose to have a good team, but something happened and we went 1-10 and 1-10. I just got tired of losing.
(FIK) What do you miss the most about playing on Friday Nights?
(TD) I miss the camaraderie with my team mates. The hitting. I miss all of it. I probably had the most fun my senior year. Except for the Concord game. (laughing)
(FIK) If you could address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room before they play Shelby in the home opener this year what would you tell them?
(TD) Play every play like its your last. Cause once its over you’ll never have the opportunity again. Play every play like its your last play. I love that Kenny Chesney song “The Boys of Fall” That’s a great song.
(TD) I was in a daze. I can remember towards the end of the game I was just running around looking for anybody to hit. I was just mad and upset and in disbelief this was happening. You remember that the Captains had to drag that thing across the field. I don’t remember what I did. I remember the cheerleaders being in that picture in the paper, but I wasn’t. (laughing) I was looking for Terry, but I was just in shock. That whole night was like a dream. I did crack Tracy Andrews helmet that night. I guess that was a good thing. (laughing)
(FIK) What is your view on the direction Kannapolis Football is going now in 2011?
(TD) I think its going in the right direction. I remember when Coach Boswell was at NC State he recruited me, and when I heard he was coming to Kannapolis to be the new head coach in 1976 I knew the program was heading in the right direction. He use to let some of us come in and work out with the new weights in the weight room he created out of the old concession stands and it rivaled some colleges at that time. I believe this new coach is going to do great. I don’t think there will be any slacking off at all.
(FIK) Tell me a little about your recruiting experience?
(TD) I started receiving some letters from colleges my junior year. Wake, Duke, South Carolina, Clemson, NC State, Georgia Tech. Those were the main ones along with Gardner Webb, Catawba, Lenior Rhyne as the smaller colleges. Maybe since Lacy was being so heavily recruited it may have helped me too, But you have to have someone pushing your name out there and I have to thank Coach Campagna for that. I really enjoyed my college experience. Wake was very tough academically, but I made it through and was a 4 year varsity letterman.
(FIK) What influenced your decision to attend Wake Forrest?
(TD) Small school, Chance to play early, Close to home and getting a full ride to go didn’t hurt.(laughing) I wouldn’t have went there any other way. (laughing)
(FIK) For you what was the biggest difference in playing high school and college?
(TD) Well the biggest difference was it was an all year long thing. Winter work outs, spring workouts, run here, run there, study, study, keep your grades up to stay eligible. The pressure was tremendous, and them just drilling it into you all of the time. It didn’t seem like there was ever a break. My junior and senior years we didn’t have a good team, We were suppose to have a good team, but something happened and we went 1-10 and 1-10. I just got tired of losing.
(FIK) What do you miss the most about playing on Friday Nights?
(TD) I miss the camaraderie with my team mates. The hitting. I miss all of it. I probably had the most fun my senior year. Except for the Concord game. (laughing)
(FIK) If you could address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room before they play Shelby in the home opener this year what would you tell them?
(TD) Play every play like its your last. Cause once its over you’ll never have the opportunity again. Play every play like its your last play. I love that Kenny Chesney song “The Boys of Fall” That’s a great song.
Tim Davis would finish his college career at Wake Forrest in 1978. Davis would return home to Kannapolis afterwards and in 1986 played a brief stint with a Semi Pro football team from Concord the Cabarrus Cardinals. That team went undefeated during his time with them. At the conclusion of the interview I couldn’t help but feel the deep sense of pride that still resonated within Davis as he reflected back on the days that for the most part held very fond memories. Just as much I could still sense the deep hurt he still felt in that heartbreaking 74 defeat at the hands of the Concord Spiders his senior season. As I’ve said so many times before that loss in 74 affected me more than any other loss to the Spiders. Why? I’m still trying to figure that one out. Maybe it was because we all sensed something big for that 74 team and to see it all come crashing down in that manner was just hard to stomach. Maybe it was because we cheered so loud and strong for them that year, and we just developed a closeness to that team as fans. I don’t know, but one thing is for certain. Tim Davis and his Wonders were anything but losers. Pound for pound maybe some of the strongest Wonder teams to date.
Though Tims last game in Memorial Stadium would ultimately end in defeat there was one thing the Spiders didn’t take from Davis that night, and that was his pride. Pride in being a Wonder. A pride that remains a constant, and that is what made this era of Wonder football so special. The pride we all felt in the school, the town, and especially The Little Wonders. They were a part of our sensibility. They were who we looked upon to feel strong within ourselves. For Tim Davis football was a way of expression, a shy, soft spoken persons park pass to get legally crazy for three months in the fall. One doesn’t have to look far into Tims face to get the sense that competitive spirit still exists. Once you get it, You got it, and for Tim Davis that’s what defines him in the Wonders stoic past. Wonders are forever, and forever a Wonder is Tim Davis.
Though Tims last game in Memorial Stadium would ultimately end in defeat there was one thing the Spiders didn’t take from Davis that night, and that was his pride. Pride in being a Wonder. A pride that remains a constant, and that is what made this era of Wonder football so special. The pride we all felt in the school, the town, and especially The Little Wonders. They were a part of our sensibility. They were who we looked upon to feel strong within ourselves. For Tim Davis football was a way of expression, a shy, soft spoken persons park pass to get legally crazy for three months in the fall. One doesn’t have to look far into Tims face to get the sense that competitive spirit still exists. Once you get it, You got it, and for Tim Davis that’s what defines him in the Wonders stoic past. Wonders are forever, and forever a Wonder is Tim Davis.
Tim Davis in 2011
*To revisit the glory days of former Wonder great Tim Davis click on the appropriate button text for that year *
1972
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1973
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1974
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"The Hard Road to Glory"
Lacy Brumley
Long before There was a Mount Cody at Alabama, there was Mount Brumley in Kannapolis. Standing six foot seven and hovering between 270 and 280 pounds, Brumley was an offensive linemans worst nightmare personified. For three seasons at A.L Brown High School 1971 -1973 Brumley was the centerpiece of a defensive line that boasted many heavy hitters across the board. Names like Tim Davis, Fletcher Moon, Bobby Query, Bobby Trott and Danny Hamrick. This was a defensive dream team that would produce three blue chip division one recruits in Brumley, Hamrick and Davis all of whom would go on to have very successful college careers. Brumley played nose guard and defensive tackle on three Varsity Wonder Squads that all together went 19-10-1 including one playoff appearance in 1971. Brumley was the type of defensive player opposing teams would have to target to try to neutralize him, usually to no avail. Players who have either played with him or played against him describe Brumley usually in two words Strong and Physical. Many say Brumley was very quick for his size and could unload on someone like a Mack truck going down hill. Nominated to the 1973 Shrine Bowl Classic, Countless player of the week nominations and senior Prep All American Lacy Brumley was the Quintessential Wonder of the seventies.
Now if you’re talking intimidation factor Brumley had it hands down. All Brumley had to do was walk down the hill into Memorial Stadium with that tall massive frame and that alone was enough to make players on visiting teams lose their pregame dinner. Brumley exuded a presence on the field that was second only to his prowess on the field. In the three seasons Brumley played he never got injured and never missed a game. Today you have players who get turf toe. That speaks volumes for Brumley’s toughness and stamina. My initial glimpse of Lacy Brumley was at my first inaugural game with the Wonders in 1973 against the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans in Memorial Stadium. On That faithful night I remember vividly as the Wonder football team in those white jerseys and brown pants made their way down the hill in the East endzone I thought Brumley was a giant, and to an eight year old kid giants were very scary. The whole game my eyes were fixed on Brumley as he pummeled the players who lined up in front of him like they were paper dolls. I also remember taking the souvenir program to school the following Monday and showing all my friends this massive human being I saw playing football the previous Friday night. I can remember the first football uniform I got for my birthday and how thrilled I was to get a white jersey with a big green #75 on the front. I can remember many back yard football games I played all by myself pretending I was Lacy Brumley making the tackle for the Wonders. Unfortunately I was only able to see Brumley play one year in 1973 and he was then off to begin his college career.
“Fast forward thirty eight years later. I’m now walking up to the front door of Lacy Brumleys Kannapolis home with pen, pad, camera, tripod, Wonder helmet, football and voice recorder in hand, and very nervous of what this meeting would be like and how I would be received. The front door opens and I’m instantly confronted with the giant I feared as a kid. “Hi Lacy” I said. “I’ve waited thirty eight years to play football with you and here I am” (laughing) “Hey Scott come on in” The atmosphere was very light and relaxed from the start. As the conversation began I immediately noticed Lacy was unlike anything I pictured him being as a kid. The monster who I envisioned eating kids for lunch was very cordial and outgoing and more than willing to tell me everything I wanted to know. “I’m just surprised anyone remembered me” Brumley stated as I got my recorder and pad ready to jot down some notes. “I appreciate what you’re doing” “Its my pleasure Lacy its something I’ve wanted to do for along time.” I knew then this was going to be a great conversation.
(FIK) Lacy, When did you first realize you wanted to play football?
(LB) “Best I can remember my dad use to take me over to the games when Haskell Stanback, Freddy Query and Dan Dayvault played I would watch those guys. You know, every Kid has a dream and I knew I wanted to play football. I enjoyed it and I was lucky enough to have the God given ability to play. I can remember when I was in the eighth grade Vance Furr was the head coach of the eighth grade team. My mother wanted me to play football so I went out for the team that Monday. When I came home from practice that evening my mom asked me when our next practice was so I told her it was the next Monday, but it was actually the next day. (laughing) I didn’t go back to practice until the following Monday. Back then we always use to sit on the back steps of the Bullock Gym because that’s where everybody who played hung out and would meet. Coach Furr came out and started calling peoples names out for them to go on down to the field and after he finished I was the only one still sitting there. Coach Fur said “Son whats your name?” I said, I’m Lacy Brumley. Coach Furr said “well where have you been?” I said I’ve been around coach, and he said alright buddy hit the field. So I went out and ended up participating and made the team, but the funny thing was he didn’t even miss me that week. And for a guy the size of Brumley that is hard to imagine.
(FIK) What was life like playing Football for the Wonders?
(LB) People treated me great Scott, You know before I actually started over there Carver High was still around and segregation had just started. There was still a fair amount of turmoil still going on. Now of course segregation had already taken place when I got there, but you could see that people still had their little groups they hung around and would talk to before class so it was still a touchy situation even in the mid seventies, but as far as being around the team there didn’t seem to be a problem. I played with some great black athletes and we all got along real good. there just didn’t seem to be an issue there. There were several of the black athletes I would hang out with after the game, and we were all friends so I never had any problems with anybody, of course I was the biggest guy on campus back then and nobody really wanted to give me any trouble anyway. (laughing) I think people knew me back then for the fact that I was so tall. I was probably the biggest guy on the team, but I think it was because of what I could do on the field that was the reason so many people knew me. You know I’m honored that you’re here now talking to me about it, and I feel privileged that I did mean something to some people. (laughing)
(FIK) What would a typical practice day consist of?
(LB) A typical day at practice for us, we would go out on the practice field and start off with calisthenics, and then everyone would separate off into their individual groups. A lot of the time on defense we would be down on all fours crawling and learning how to get back up quick. Coach Campagna would blow the whistle and everyone would get back together as a team and we would then start to work on preparations for the game. The Jayvees job would be to run the defense and offense that the opposing team ran for our number 1 offense and number 1 defense. That was so we would know what to do if they run a split I or a wishbone or split backs whatever the case may be.
(FIK) How much Strength and Conditioning did you take part in during your high school years, and was it encouraged?
(LB) As far as lifting weights it was never a requirement. It was encouraged to an extent, but I never recollect a coach coming in and saying you had to do this or you had to do that. After football season was over I played a little basketball and then I got into baseball. Back then lifting weights for a baseball player was big no no. You couldn’t be tightening yourself up when you needed to be limber and loose so I never did lift weights much in high school. I don’t think not doing it affected my play on the field, but you got to understand that so much more is expected of athletes today and that’s the reason Kannapolis Wins, These kids are starting much younger than we did and this concept of strength and conditioning is being encouraged to them young so they are in better shape than maybe we were when they get into high school.I remember when Boswell came to Kannapolis and brought in all this nice modern weight lifting equipment and machines. He set up a new weight room where the concession stands use to be. I know when I went back up there one year while I was in college and looked at it I was astonished because what they had and what we had was no comparison.
(FIK) Tell me a little about Coach Campagna and Coach Linder?
(LB) (laughing) Coach Campagna and Coach Linder were two totally different personalities altogether. Both were good coaches, but Campagna was fiery and could chew you out when he had to. Lope was sort of easy going and you never saw him get fired up about anything. Coach linder coached the defense while Campagna was mainly offense. I can remember in 1971 we were playing Concord in Concord the year we won the bell back. It was my sophomore year, and we called a defensive play where I was supposed to fill in the gap on the left side between the center and the guard and Bobby Trott was supposed to come up if they hit right there in that spot and fill the gap on the other side, well what did Concord do? They run their back straight up the middle and they scored this was right before halftime, and if I remember correctly it either tied the score or they went ahead 7-0.
We didn’t have a room to go to or anything at halftime so we had to get back on the bus, and it was so cold that night. I believe it was below freezing. It was one of the coldest nights I remember playing in high school. I’m sitting there on the bus trying to warm up and the next thing I know Will Campagna got on the bus and lit in to me, I mean he chewed me out. He was talking Italian and raising his hands all over the place and I just really felt low, but on the other hand it fired me up because I said to myself I wasn’t going to let that happen to me anymore. When the second half started I was so mad I proceeded to make four straight tackles in the backfield and we ended up winning. One of my best memories of that game was we were in the fourth quarter Concord had the ball and I believe their QB was Jerry House and he dropped back to pass and our defensive end Lonnie Isom tipped the ball and I actually caught it and intercepted it. The next series is when Billy Krimminger kicked the field goal and we beat em 10-7 That was the first time Kannapolis had beat Concord in ten years. I didn’t realize it at the time that it had been that long.
Now if you’re talking intimidation factor Brumley had it hands down. All Brumley had to do was walk down the hill into Memorial Stadium with that tall massive frame and that alone was enough to make players on visiting teams lose their pregame dinner. Brumley exuded a presence on the field that was second only to his prowess on the field. In the three seasons Brumley played he never got injured and never missed a game. Today you have players who get turf toe. That speaks volumes for Brumley’s toughness and stamina. My initial glimpse of Lacy Brumley was at my first inaugural game with the Wonders in 1973 against the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans in Memorial Stadium. On That faithful night I remember vividly as the Wonder football team in those white jerseys and brown pants made their way down the hill in the East endzone I thought Brumley was a giant, and to an eight year old kid giants were very scary. The whole game my eyes were fixed on Brumley as he pummeled the players who lined up in front of him like they were paper dolls. I also remember taking the souvenir program to school the following Monday and showing all my friends this massive human being I saw playing football the previous Friday night. I can remember the first football uniform I got for my birthday and how thrilled I was to get a white jersey with a big green #75 on the front. I can remember many back yard football games I played all by myself pretending I was Lacy Brumley making the tackle for the Wonders. Unfortunately I was only able to see Brumley play one year in 1973 and he was then off to begin his college career.
“Fast forward thirty eight years later. I’m now walking up to the front door of Lacy Brumleys Kannapolis home with pen, pad, camera, tripod, Wonder helmet, football and voice recorder in hand, and very nervous of what this meeting would be like and how I would be received. The front door opens and I’m instantly confronted with the giant I feared as a kid. “Hi Lacy” I said. “I’ve waited thirty eight years to play football with you and here I am” (laughing) “Hey Scott come on in” The atmosphere was very light and relaxed from the start. As the conversation began I immediately noticed Lacy was unlike anything I pictured him being as a kid. The monster who I envisioned eating kids for lunch was very cordial and outgoing and more than willing to tell me everything I wanted to know. “I’m just surprised anyone remembered me” Brumley stated as I got my recorder and pad ready to jot down some notes. “I appreciate what you’re doing” “Its my pleasure Lacy its something I’ve wanted to do for along time.” I knew then this was going to be a great conversation.
(FIK) Lacy, When did you first realize you wanted to play football?
(LB) “Best I can remember my dad use to take me over to the games when Haskell Stanback, Freddy Query and Dan Dayvault played I would watch those guys. You know, every Kid has a dream and I knew I wanted to play football. I enjoyed it and I was lucky enough to have the God given ability to play. I can remember when I was in the eighth grade Vance Furr was the head coach of the eighth grade team. My mother wanted me to play football so I went out for the team that Monday. When I came home from practice that evening my mom asked me when our next practice was so I told her it was the next Monday, but it was actually the next day. (laughing) I didn’t go back to practice until the following Monday. Back then we always use to sit on the back steps of the Bullock Gym because that’s where everybody who played hung out and would meet. Coach Furr came out and started calling peoples names out for them to go on down to the field and after he finished I was the only one still sitting there. Coach Fur said “Son whats your name?” I said, I’m Lacy Brumley. Coach Furr said “well where have you been?” I said I’ve been around coach, and he said alright buddy hit the field. So I went out and ended up participating and made the team, but the funny thing was he didn’t even miss me that week. And for a guy the size of Brumley that is hard to imagine.
(FIK) What was life like playing Football for the Wonders?
(LB) People treated me great Scott, You know before I actually started over there Carver High was still around and segregation had just started. There was still a fair amount of turmoil still going on. Now of course segregation had already taken place when I got there, but you could see that people still had their little groups they hung around and would talk to before class so it was still a touchy situation even in the mid seventies, but as far as being around the team there didn’t seem to be a problem. I played with some great black athletes and we all got along real good. there just didn’t seem to be an issue there. There were several of the black athletes I would hang out with after the game, and we were all friends so I never had any problems with anybody, of course I was the biggest guy on campus back then and nobody really wanted to give me any trouble anyway. (laughing) I think people knew me back then for the fact that I was so tall. I was probably the biggest guy on the team, but I think it was because of what I could do on the field that was the reason so many people knew me. You know I’m honored that you’re here now talking to me about it, and I feel privileged that I did mean something to some people. (laughing)
(FIK) What would a typical practice day consist of?
(LB) A typical day at practice for us, we would go out on the practice field and start off with calisthenics, and then everyone would separate off into their individual groups. A lot of the time on defense we would be down on all fours crawling and learning how to get back up quick. Coach Campagna would blow the whistle and everyone would get back together as a team and we would then start to work on preparations for the game. The Jayvees job would be to run the defense and offense that the opposing team ran for our number 1 offense and number 1 defense. That was so we would know what to do if they run a split I or a wishbone or split backs whatever the case may be.
(FIK) How much Strength and Conditioning did you take part in during your high school years, and was it encouraged?
(LB) As far as lifting weights it was never a requirement. It was encouraged to an extent, but I never recollect a coach coming in and saying you had to do this or you had to do that. After football season was over I played a little basketball and then I got into baseball. Back then lifting weights for a baseball player was big no no. You couldn’t be tightening yourself up when you needed to be limber and loose so I never did lift weights much in high school. I don’t think not doing it affected my play on the field, but you got to understand that so much more is expected of athletes today and that’s the reason Kannapolis Wins, These kids are starting much younger than we did and this concept of strength and conditioning is being encouraged to them young so they are in better shape than maybe we were when they get into high school.I remember when Boswell came to Kannapolis and brought in all this nice modern weight lifting equipment and machines. He set up a new weight room where the concession stands use to be. I know when I went back up there one year while I was in college and looked at it I was astonished because what they had and what we had was no comparison.
(FIK) Tell me a little about Coach Campagna and Coach Linder?
(LB) (laughing) Coach Campagna and Coach Linder were two totally different personalities altogether. Both were good coaches, but Campagna was fiery and could chew you out when he had to. Lope was sort of easy going and you never saw him get fired up about anything. Coach linder coached the defense while Campagna was mainly offense. I can remember in 1971 we were playing Concord in Concord the year we won the bell back. It was my sophomore year, and we called a defensive play where I was supposed to fill in the gap on the left side between the center and the guard and Bobby Trott was supposed to come up if they hit right there in that spot and fill the gap on the other side, well what did Concord do? They run their back straight up the middle and they scored this was right before halftime, and if I remember correctly it either tied the score or they went ahead 7-0.
We didn’t have a room to go to or anything at halftime so we had to get back on the bus, and it was so cold that night. I believe it was below freezing. It was one of the coldest nights I remember playing in high school. I’m sitting there on the bus trying to warm up and the next thing I know Will Campagna got on the bus and lit in to me, I mean he chewed me out. He was talking Italian and raising his hands all over the place and I just really felt low, but on the other hand it fired me up because I said to myself I wasn’t going to let that happen to me anymore. When the second half started I was so mad I proceeded to make four straight tackles in the backfield and we ended up winning. One of my best memories of that game was we were in the fourth quarter Concord had the ball and I believe their QB was Jerry House and he dropped back to pass and our defensive end Lonnie Isom tipped the ball and I actually caught it and intercepted it. The next series is when Billy Krimminger kicked the field goal and we beat em 10-7 That was the first time Kannapolis had beat Concord in ten years. I didn’t realize it at the time that it had been that long.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the Kannapolis /Concord rivalry today?
(LB) I dont believe its lost a thing as far as the intensity. I always try to make it over for that game every year. I know my three years there I was always fired up for that game, I mean who wouldn’t be. You’re playing in a stadium packed with people and there is not a seat left, the hill is full, folks back porches are full, the trees are full, its like a miniature college game in my opinion. There are lots of players at different high schools around who will never get to experience something like that. The Kannapolis/Concord game was always one of my favorite games to play.
(FIK) Were you ever involved in any extra curricular activity before or after the Bell Game?
(** Some names have been changed to protect the Spiders**)
(LB) (laughing) Well, I remember my sophomore year in 1971 It was after we had beaten Concord and probably not very long after that. I remember there was a lot of hype and a lot of talk going on, Kannapolis people were bragging and Concord people had their heads down and I remember us as a team we would all kind of gather up after the game on Friday night at the Prince of Pizza and talk about the game and what everybody did like “Man that was a great touchdown you made” or “Man what a great tackle that was” and you know the kind of bragging guys do. Well, me and a couple other players we all took off from the Prince in Kannapolis and went to Concord you know kind of looking for somebody. (laughing) You know the old saying If you’re not looking for trouble then you wont find it (laughing) well, we were kinda lookin for it you know. So we drove down there and couldn’t find anybody so we ended up back at the Prince in Kannapolis.
We all get out and walk inside and its all full up with Concord People. I don’t know where all our guys went. (laughing) So I went in, and Concord had a real good Linbacker back then #52 named (Boris Dingley) I go inside and I say something to Dingley and he says something about taking it outside so we start walking outside and Dingley hits me in the back of the head before I can get turned around and get out the door, then all of the sudden its like a group thing going on all at one time, fists flying and it was just a melee. There was about fifteen or twenty people involved. Then here comes the Kannapolis Police pulling up and everybody starts running away people going their separate ways and some how or another my name gets brought up and I get took to the police station (laughing) I know when mom and dad had to come get me they all had their heads down and was real dejected and I knew what was coming when I got home (laughing) My daddy was gonna tear my butt up I remember another incident not long after that there was a big fight at the basketball game when Concord came down. Me and my dad went up to watch that game and there was a big fight at the concession stand so my dad said “come on son lets get on out here.” So we went outside and when we got out there I saw students had their belts off swinging buckles and I saw one of the Concord Football players (Dewey Cheatem) was driving a corvette that night and students from Brown were jumping up and down on the roof of his car and that roof got put down on his front seat that night. There must have been seven or eight of them just jumping on it just flattening it. (laughing) It use to get real bad back then.
(FIK) Lacy, I‘ve spoken with some players today who tell me that “The Bell” doesn’t mean as much to them as it does to the community or maybe as much to the older players. Can you tell me how the players of your era felt about The Bell?
(LB) Well, It had a special significance to us because we hadn’t had it in ten years (laughing) I do know when we got it in seventy one and we put that big K on it, they took it around town, We took it to the Christmas parade and we put it inside the gym and over in the school some so for us it was a big deal. I never had the experience of having to take it back and if you will remember that year was the year that girl was giving us the finger in the paper when they were dragging that thing back over to us. (laughing) Scott, you have to understand to us the bell was a big thing because what the players today are experiencing we didn’t. When I was there we hadn’t been to many playoff games and there was never any talk of are you going to the playoffs this year. More or less if you won the Concord game you had a winning season, so yea maybe the times have changed now. We’ve won State Championships and Conference Championships and playoffs and playoffs and playoffs and that could be the reason why players today feel that way. They want to win State Titles. It aint just making the playoffs anymore because that’s just a given now to these guys so there could be a big difference in how they feel about it. Now it might be a little different if they didn’t have it for along period of time.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on where the program is now, Where it is going, and Where its been?
(LB) We’re winning (laughing) You know, the program is great. We haven’t had a losing season in I don’t know how many years, we’re always a contender and look at all the athletes that have gone onto college and the pros, I don’t want to name any of them cause I don’t want to leave any of them out, but Kannapolis has got that tradition of being a great football team every year so things are good. As far as where the program is going: I know there is probably a little anxiety about having a new coach, but look at what this guy did at Butler, I mean we may go undefeated this year. I’m proud to have been a part of the teams I played with and I think alot can be said for what we accomplished during that time. It was a great time.
(FIK) Tell me about your recruiting experience.
(LB I remember getting a few letters my junior year from different places telling me they were interested, but my senior year man was hectic. I mean really hectic. Everyday I would get phone calls, mom and dad would get letters in the mail, Coach Wrenn and Coach Emery from Clemson would be at my house. I just remember not having any free time which is a good thing I guess with all the offers. “I remember sitting down one Sunday after church and we were all sitting around having lunch and the phone rang. It was coach Bear Bryant from Alabama. I turned him down right on the phone. He said “we’ll send a private plane to pick you up.” so I said well, Coach Bryant from what I can see about your program down there you don’t have too many freshman or sophomores that start for you. Its more juniors and seniors and I’m not that type of person coach Bryant. I want to play. I want to start. I mean when I go wherever it is I go, I want to play and I finally told him “no” that I really wasn’t interested in going to Alabama. Lou Holtz came to see me he was at NC State then. I was recruited by all the ACC teams and most of the SEC teams and as far away as UCLA. So I could have probably went anywhere I wanted to.
(FIK) What was the deciding factor in you picking Clemson?
(LB) Well, I picked Clemson because they had a good football, and baseball program cause I wanted to play football and baseball back then. If you remember Clemson had the dominating baseball teams, and if you go back and look they were always in the college world series about every year back then. I could have actually signed a football or a baseball scholarship, but I ended up signing a football scholarship because I thought it was more prestigious. Football players and basketball players all had their own dorms and chefs that prepared their meals so needless to say we got better food then most got from the cafeteria. (laughing) I enjoyed the recruiting process. I went and visited many schools and to tell you the truth I almost wound up at Virginia Tech. I really liked the campus up there, but they really didn’t have a good program then. Now they are one of the most dominating schools in the ACC. If I had it to do all over again I still would have picked Clemson so there are no regrets there.
(FIK) Did you find college to be much different than what you experienced in high school?
(LB) Oh yes much different. Its almost like the military, I mean you always have something to do and very little free time. That’s the best way to describe it, it was like being in the military. Mondays you usually went out in shoulder pads and shorts, Tuesdays and Wednesdays you went out in full uniform, and Thursdays you were back in helmet, shoulder pads and shorts, and then Fridays you went out light, and then you have the game on Saturday. After the game on Saturday if you were home you might could go home for a few hours, but if you were away you ended up traveling. Then Sunday comes and if you got hurt in the game on Saturday you were in rehab first part of the day and then you go down Sunday evenings and watch films. After film study you had meetings and then come Monday it all started over again. Plus keeping your studies up. It was a lot of pressure.
(LB) I dont believe its lost a thing as far as the intensity. I always try to make it over for that game every year. I know my three years there I was always fired up for that game, I mean who wouldn’t be. You’re playing in a stadium packed with people and there is not a seat left, the hill is full, folks back porches are full, the trees are full, its like a miniature college game in my opinion. There are lots of players at different high schools around who will never get to experience something like that. The Kannapolis/Concord game was always one of my favorite games to play.
(FIK) Were you ever involved in any extra curricular activity before or after the Bell Game?
(** Some names have been changed to protect the Spiders**)
(LB) (laughing) Well, I remember my sophomore year in 1971 It was after we had beaten Concord and probably not very long after that. I remember there was a lot of hype and a lot of talk going on, Kannapolis people were bragging and Concord people had their heads down and I remember us as a team we would all kind of gather up after the game on Friday night at the Prince of Pizza and talk about the game and what everybody did like “Man that was a great touchdown you made” or “Man what a great tackle that was” and you know the kind of bragging guys do. Well, me and a couple other players we all took off from the Prince in Kannapolis and went to Concord you know kind of looking for somebody. (laughing) You know the old saying If you’re not looking for trouble then you wont find it (laughing) well, we were kinda lookin for it you know. So we drove down there and couldn’t find anybody so we ended up back at the Prince in Kannapolis.
We all get out and walk inside and its all full up with Concord People. I don’t know where all our guys went. (laughing) So I went in, and Concord had a real good Linbacker back then #52 named (Boris Dingley) I go inside and I say something to Dingley and he says something about taking it outside so we start walking outside and Dingley hits me in the back of the head before I can get turned around and get out the door, then all of the sudden its like a group thing going on all at one time, fists flying and it was just a melee. There was about fifteen or twenty people involved. Then here comes the Kannapolis Police pulling up and everybody starts running away people going their separate ways and some how or another my name gets brought up and I get took to the police station (laughing) I know when mom and dad had to come get me they all had their heads down and was real dejected and I knew what was coming when I got home (laughing) My daddy was gonna tear my butt up I remember another incident not long after that there was a big fight at the basketball game when Concord came down. Me and my dad went up to watch that game and there was a big fight at the concession stand so my dad said “come on son lets get on out here.” So we went outside and when we got out there I saw students had their belts off swinging buckles and I saw one of the Concord Football players (Dewey Cheatem) was driving a corvette that night and students from Brown were jumping up and down on the roof of his car and that roof got put down on his front seat that night. There must have been seven or eight of them just jumping on it just flattening it. (laughing) It use to get real bad back then.
(FIK) Lacy, I‘ve spoken with some players today who tell me that “The Bell” doesn’t mean as much to them as it does to the community or maybe as much to the older players. Can you tell me how the players of your era felt about The Bell?
(LB) Well, It had a special significance to us because we hadn’t had it in ten years (laughing) I do know when we got it in seventy one and we put that big K on it, they took it around town, We took it to the Christmas parade and we put it inside the gym and over in the school some so for us it was a big deal. I never had the experience of having to take it back and if you will remember that year was the year that girl was giving us the finger in the paper when they were dragging that thing back over to us. (laughing) Scott, you have to understand to us the bell was a big thing because what the players today are experiencing we didn’t. When I was there we hadn’t been to many playoff games and there was never any talk of are you going to the playoffs this year. More or less if you won the Concord game you had a winning season, so yea maybe the times have changed now. We’ve won State Championships and Conference Championships and playoffs and playoffs and playoffs and that could be the reason why players today feel that way. They want to win State Titles. It aint just making the playoffs anymore because that’s just a given now to these guys so there could be a big difference in how they feel about it. Now it might be a little different if they didn’t have it for along period of time.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on where the program is now, Where it is going, and Where its been?
(LB) We’re winning (laughing) You know, the program is great. We haven’t had a losing season in I don’t know how many years, we’re always a contender and look at all the athletes that have gone onto college and the pros, I don’t want to name any of them cause I don’t want to leave any of them out, but Kannapolis has got that tradition of being a great football team every year so things are good. As far as where the program is going: I know there is probably a little anxiety about having a new coach, but look at what this guy did at Butler, I mean we may go undefeated this year. I’m proud to have been a part of the teams I played with and I think alot can be said for what we accomplished during that time. It was a great time.
(FIK) Tell me about your recruiting experience.
(LB I remember getting a few letters my junior year from different places telling me they were interested, but my senior year man was hectic. I mean really hectic. Everyday I would get phone calls, mom and dad would get letters in the mail, Coach Wrenn and Coach Emery from Clemson would be at my house. I just remember not having any free time which is a good thing I guess with all the offers. “I remember sitting down one Sunday after church and we were all sitting around having lunch and the phone rang. It was coach Bear Bryant from Alabama. I turned him down right on the phone. He said “we’ll send a private plane to pick you up.” so I said well, Coach Bryant from what I can see about your program down there you don’t have too many freshman or sophomores that start for you. Its more juniors and seniors and I’m not that type of person coach Bryant. I want to play. I want to start. I mean when I go wherever it is I go, I want to play and I finally told him “no” that I really wasn’t interested in going to Alabama. Lou Holtz came to see me he was at NC State then. I was recruited by all the ACC teams and most of the SEC teams and as far away as UCLA. So I could have probably went anywhere I wanted to.
(FIK) What was the deciding factor in you picking Clemson?
(LB) Well, I picked Clemson because they had a good football, and baseball program cause I wanted to play football and baseball back then. If you remember Clemson had the dominating baseball teams, and if you go back and look they were always in the college world series about every year back then. I could have actually signed a football or a baseball scholarship, but I ended up signing a football scholarship because I thought it was more prestigious. Football players and basketball players all had their own dorms and chefs that prepared their meals so needless to say we got better food then most got from the cafeteria. (laughing) I enjoyed the recruiting process. I went and visited many schools and to tell you the truth I almost wound up at Virginia Tech. I really liked the campus up there, but they really didn’t have a good program then. Now they are one of the most dominating schools in the ACC. If I had it to do all over again I still would have picked Clemson so there are no regrets there.
(FIK) Did you find college to be much different than what you experienced in high school?
(LB) Oh yes much different. Its almost like the military, I mean you always have something to do and very little free time. That’s the best way to describe it, it was like being in the military. Mondays you usually went out in shoulder pads and shorts, Tuesdays and Wednesdays you went out in full uniform, and Thursdays you were back in helmet, shoulder pads and shorts, and then Fridays you went out light, and then you have the game on Saturday. After the game on Saturday if you were home you might could go home for a few hours, but if you were away you ended up traveling. Then Sunday comes and if you got hurt in the game on Saturday you were in rehab first part of the day and then you go down Sunday evenings and watch films. After film study you had meetings and then come Monday it all started over again. Plus keeping your studies up. It was a lot of pressure.
(FIK) If you could go back and play any of your three seasons again, would you do anything different?
(LB) You know when you’re young and you’re in high school you think you know it all, and I know I could have done a few things differently. If coach Campagna would have took me in a room and shut the door and said “lacy this is what its going to take for you to become an outstanding college player and these are the things you need to be doing right now” I probably would have done it, but that just never happened. I was just so fortunate to have the God given ability, and that was what got me through my high school and college years, because I didn’t lift that many weights in college if I’m being truthful about the thing.
(FIK) Do you still feel the same pride in being a Wonder as you did in the seventies?
(LB) Oh yea man. When my blood is not running orange its running green.(laughing) I have a good buddy I played with named Ken Erwin, he had a son Steve that played for South Rowan and I would go with Ken to see Steve play when they would play Kannapolis and I would have to sit on the South Rowan side. I wanted Steve to play good, but deep down I was still a Kannapolis man you know and always will be.
(FIK) If you were invited to address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room on opening night against Shelby. What would you tell them?
(LB) Play hard every down, and don’t take anything for granted, and always give 110%. If you do that you’ll have nothing to hang your heads about.
After Lacy’s college career ended in 1977, he was drafted in the 11th round by the Denver Broncos and moved to Colorado to begin his life in the pros however, things would not go as planned for Brumley in that aspect of his career. After two weeks in training camp Brumley was cut by the Broncos and after a short vacation in the Colorado Rockies with other players who had been cut as well, Brumley made his way back to K-Town where he settled into another life leaving the contact of football for the first time since he was a boy.
When the interview concluded I gathered my things and it was off for home to begin scanning some of the photos you are looking at now from one of his scrapbooks. As I was collecting my things it was then I noticed the tan nylon stocking wrap around Lacy’s right leg. Lacy explained “I had some circulation problems I had to deal with in the past and I have to wear this thing now. I don’t know if all the athletics I was involved in had anything to do with it or not. I’ll just call it an old football injury.”(laughing) Knowing this I began to realize that maybe some of the abuse Lacy took on the field during his playing days had exacted a toll on him, and some of that abuse happened taking care of business on the hallowed grounds of Memorial Stadium on Friday Nights in K-Town long ago. So many Wonders have since run through the same large footprints left by Brumley on that field for over three decades now, and the same Blood, Sweat and Tears that fell to the ground by Brumley so many years ago has now become the fertilizer for the lush green grass of a new winning era we have experienced since 1978. I just “Wonder” how many fans in Kannapolis stop to consider that? Just before leaving Lacy’s home there was just one last order of business to complete on my days mission. I reached into my car and pulled out a black sharpie and then handed Lacy my Kannapolis Football Helmet. I asked him if he would mind signing it for me along side some of the other Wonder signatures that are on it. He smiled and said sure. Finally an outstanding Wonder was receiving a little recognition that he so richly deserved, and an eight year old kids dream had come true. It just took thirty eight years to make it happen..
(LB) You know when you’re young and you’re in high school you think you know it all, and I know I could have done a few things differently. If coach Campagna would have took me in a room and shut the door and said “lacy this is what its going to take for you to become an outstanding college player and these are the things you need to be doing right now” I probably would have done it, but that just never happened. I was just so fortunate to have the God given ability, and that was what got me through my high school and college years, because I didn’t lift that many weights in college if I’m being truthful about the thing.
(FIK) Do you still feel the same pride in being a Wonder as you did in the seventies?
(LB) Oh yea man. When my blood is not running orange its running green.(laughing) I have a good buddy I played with named Ken Erwin, he had a son Steve that played for South Rowan and I would go with Ken to see Steve play when they would play Kannapolis and I would have to sit on the South Rowan side. I wanted Steve to play good, but deep down I was still a Kannapolis man you know and always will be.
(FIK) If you were invited to address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room on opening night against Shelby. What would you tell them?
(LB) Play hard every down, and don’t take anything for granted, and always give 110%. If you do that you’ll have nothing to hang your heads about.
After Lacy’s college career ended in 1977, he was drafted in the 11th round by the Denver Broncos and moved to Colorado to begin his life in the pros however, things would not go as planned for Brumley in that aspect of his career. After two weeks in training camp Brumley was cut by the Broncos and after a short vacation in the Colorado Rockies with other players who had been cut as well, Brumley made his way back to K-Town where he settled into another life leaving the contact of football for the first time since he was a boy.
When the interview concluded I gathered my things and it was off for home to begin scanning some of the photos you are looking at now from one of his scrapbooks. As I was collecting my things it was then I noticed the tan nylon stocking wrap around Lacy’s right leg. Lacy explained “I had some circulation problems I had to deal with in the past and I have to wear this thing now. I don’t know if all the athletics I was involved in had anything to do with it or not. I’ll just call it an old football injury.”(laughing) Knowing this I began to realize that maybe some of the abuse Lacy took on the field during his playing days had exacted a toll on him, and some of that abuse happened taking care of business on the hallowed grounds of Memorial Stadium on Friday Nights in K-Town long ago. So many Wonders have since run through the same large footprints left by Brumley on that field for over three decades now, and the same Blood, Sweat and Tears that fell to the ground by Brumley so many years ago has now become the fertilizer for the lush green grass of a new winning era we have experienced since 1978. I just “Wonder” how many fans in Kannapolis stop to consider that? Just before leaving Lacy’s home there was just one last order of business to complete on my days mission. I reached into my car and pulled out a black sharpie and then handed Lacy my Kannapolis Football Helmet. I asked him if he would mind signing it for me along side some of the other Wonder signatures that are on it. He smiled and said sure. Finally an outstanding Wonder was receiving a little recognition that he so richly deserved, and an eight year old kids dream had come true. It just took thirty eight years to make it happen..
Lacy Brumley in 2011
*To revisit the glory days of former Wonder great Lacy Brumley click on the appropriate button text below*
1971
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1972
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1973
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"The Hard Road to Glory"
Joey Roseman
The prototypical defensive end on any high school football team is usually tall and quick. It also helps for the person holding down that position to be smart so as to quickly read offensive formations. An ideal defensive end is patient, strong, and most importantly oblivious to intimidation. Those qualities best describe Joey Roseman who held down the defensive end position for the Wonders from 1973 to 1975. Roseman who tipped the scale at 170lbs as a sophomore before a growth spurt that increased that to 210lbs his junior and senior seasons was one of those players who loved contact, and loved to make an impression on another human by putting the fear into them as instructed by Coach Calvin Colson. Roseman would also pull double duty as a tight end during his junior and senior seasons.Joey Roseman played on two Wonder Squads in 1973 and 1974 that went 7-2-1 before a disappointing 1975 season in which the Wonders would go 4-6. Though wins for Roseman were few in 1975 the hard hits were many. Joey was named All SPC on defense in 1975 which put him in with likes of Concord’s Matt Troxler, Guy Smith, and Tony Moody for that gridiron year. Roseman also excelled in his high school years as a very accomplished wrestler all of which would land him an all expenses paid ride to Catawba College in 1976. Joey also had the privilege of getting to play along side his very talented brother the late Tim Roseman in 1973 and 1974 before following him to college at Catawba in 1976. Roseman was a typical teenage boy while attending A.L Brown High School, and loved the attention playing football gave him on campus and in the public. Roseman loved to win and despised losing. Roseman loved the camaraderie with his fellow team mates on and off the field and gave one hundred percent on the practice field and on game day. Friday Nights in K-Town sat down with Roseman in his Kannapolis home and spoke with him on life as a Wonder during years he experienced the Good, the bad, and the ugly. The conversation went as follows.
(FIK) When did you begin playing organized football?
(JR) I started back in the seventh grade playing for the Black Colts. That was the first introduction to organized tackle football I had. You didn’t get the chance to play until then.
(FIK) When did you decide playing high school ball was something that interested you?
(JR) My seventh grade year I would have to say. Coach Jim Tedder came over to Carver and spoke to a lot of us and it really peeked my interest. I thought to play junior high would be great. I didn’t start getting confidence until right around that time. I was warming the bench a good bit before that time. I got to see how much fun my brother Tim was having with it, and I guess I was trying to keep up with him. You got recognized a lot in school, and the girls liked it. (laughing) So I thought I’d give it a shot. I didn’t really start coming into my own until my sophomore year. I always had fun, but my confidence didn’t come along till right around that time. That’s one thing sports did for me was build my confidence. Tenth grade was my breakout year.
(FIK) What was the difference in coaching styles with Campagna and Linder?
(JR) Coach Campagna was more in your face, and he would jump on you good if you weren’t doing what you were suppose to do, and Coach Linder was the exact opposite. Linder was more laid back, and reserved a little more old school I guess. He was a good man Coach Linder. Campagna had that motivating fire that could get you psyched up for a game and he knew how to get the most out of his people.
(FIK) Did you take part in any strength and conditioning while you were in school?
(JR) Coach Rivers offered some after class weight lifting that I took part in around my ninth grade year. I think it would be set up like Cardio one day, then weight lifting. When I got over there my sophomore year they had what they called County Fairs that everybody participated in. Man that was rough. (laughing) Weight training during that time was a joke if you look at the standards today, and we only had a single universal machine. We didn’t have free weights, but I think they did the best they could with what they had at the time. I tried to do as much as I could, but looking back I know I should have done more. I probably would have been much better if I had. I did more when I got out of school than I did while I was there. (laughing) My self discipline wasn’t really good then, and I wish I would have been more focused on that looking back.
(FIK) Are you supportive of strength and conditioning now for kids playing ball?
(JR) Definitely. You look at the athletes today. They are bigger, stronger, and faster and its helped them get better. I was always disappointed that some of the guys I played with didn’t get more into it then. If they had taken it seriously many of them could have been much better athletes.
(FIK) What was support for the program like during this time in your viewpoint?
(JR) I thought it was great for such a small town. The stadium was always packed for each game, and the Band was really good. I thought for the size town we had the support was great. I didn’t start noticing a difference until I got out and saw the world a little bit especially in the bigger towns. I thought it was really good though. Kannapolis has always been supportive of its athletic teams.
(FIK) What was the general work ethic like amongst the players during your time?
(JR) My sophomore and junior years we had some really good athletes that really worked hard and were very talented, but my senior year we didn’t have the same level of talent. As far as the general work ethic for the most part it was good, but there again there were days especially my senior year that some just seemed to be going through the motions. Me and Tony Pethel were all about winning and we didn’t like to lose and we would take it personally. So overall all it was as good as we could get from that time.
(FIK) What was the typical game day routine like for you back then?
(JR) We would go down to the steakhouse and eat raw meat.(laughing) Well, it was almost raw. (laughing). Me and Todd Williford, and Tony Pethel would all go down to the Bonanza and eat. We would go home for a few hours and then report back to the gym. There wasn’t really any rituals or anything like that. Campagna and Linder didn’t allow music to be played or a bunch of hee hawing around. We took it like business and would just get ready to go do battle against whoever we were playing. If there was any discussions it would be about your assignments in the game and just general game preparation.
(FIK) Tell me a little about your brother Tim on the field?
(JR) We got to play side by side each other for two years and I thought that was so cool. We were called “The Bruise Brothers” (laughing) He played tackle and I thought it was just the greatest thing to be playing beside him like that. Tim was always big and naturally strong. He was like those old country boys you were talking about that just got it naturally. I saw him getting to play and getting the girls and the dates and that was a big influence on me to want to get better. We got to play my Junior and Senior years together, and then when we got to Catawba. We didn’t get to play side by side in college though. Tim was tough and could put a physical beating on you. We would compete against each other to see who could have the best game. It was a good productive competition. I look back now, and think how fortunate I was to get the opportunity to do that especially now that hes gone.
(FIK) Did you ever get injured or miss any games?
(JR) I broke my nose one year, but it didn’t keep me out of a game. I also hurt my shoulder on that universal machine one day training. (laughing) I still have problems out of that shoulder today, but I hope to get it fixed sometime this year. I was lucky about injuries, but I did injured a few on the field back then too. (laughing)
(FIK) Give me your thoughts on some of these athletes you had the opportunity to play with. Todd Williford?
(JR) Todd always gave great effort, and knew where he was suppose to be. For his size he was tough. Todd wasn’t afraid to take the biggest guys on though he may get freight trained doing it. (laughing) Todd was a really good guy, and did really well in life.
(FIK) When did you begin playing organized football?
(JR) I started back in the seventh grade playing for the Black Colts. That was the first introduction to organized tackle football I had. You didn’t get the chance to play until then.
(FIK) When did you decide playing high school ball was something that interested you?
(JR) My seventh grade year I would have to say. Coach Jim Tedder came over to Carver and spoke to a lot of us and it really peeked my interest. I thought to play junior high would be great. I didn’t start getting confidence until right around that time. I was warming the bench a good bit before that time. I got to see how much fun my brother Tim was having with it, and I guess I was trying to keep up with him. You got recognized a lot in school, and the girls liked it. (laughing) So I thought I’d give it a shot. I didn’t really start coming into my own until my sophomore year. I always had fun, but my confidence didn’t come along till right around that time. That’s one thing sports did for me was build my confidence. Tenth grade was my breakout year.
(FIK) What was the difference in coaching styles with Campagna and Linder?
(JR) Coach Campagna was more in your face, and he would jump on you good if you weren’t doing what you were suppose to do, and Coach Linder was the exact opposite. Linder was more laid back, and reserved a little more old school I guess. He was a good man Coach Linder. Campagna had that motivating fire that could get you psyched up for a game and he knew how to get the most out of his people.
(FIK) Did you take part in any strength and conditioning while you were in school?
(JR) Coach Rivers offered some after class weight lifting that I took part in around my ninth grade year. I think it would be set up like Cardio one day, then weight lifting. When I got over there my sophomore year they had what they called County Fairs that everybody participated in. Man that was rough. (laughing) Weight training during that time was a joke if you look at the standards today, and we only had a single universal machine. We didn’t have free weights, but I think they did the best they could with what they had at the time. I tried to do as much as I could, but looking back I know I should have done more. I probably would have been much better if I had. I did more when I got out of school than I did while I was there. (laughing) My self discipline wasn’t really good then, and I wish I would have been more focused on that looking back.
(FIK) Are you supportive of strength and conditioning now for kids playing ball?
(JR) Definitely. You look at the athletes today. They are bigger, stronger, and faster and its helped them get better. I was always disappointed that some of the guys I played with didn’t get more into it then. If they had taken it seriously many of them could have been much better athletes.
(FIK) What was support for the program like during this time in your viewpoint?
(JR) I thought it was great for such a small town. The stadium was always packed for each game, and the Band was really good. I thought for the size town we had the support was great. I didn’t start noticing a difference until I got out and saw the world a little bit especially in the bigger towns. I thought it was really good though. Kannapolis has always been supportive of its athletic teams.
(FIK) What was the general work ethic like amongst the players during your time?
(JR) My sophomore and junior years we had some really good athletes that really worked hard and were very talented, but my senior year we didn’t have the same level of talent. As far as the general work ethic for the most part it was good, but there again there were days especially my senior year that some just seemed to be going through the motions. Me and Tony Pethel were all about winning and we didn’t like to lose and we would take it personally. So overall all it was as good as we could get from that time.
(FIK) What was the typical game day routine like for you back then?
(JR) We would go down to the steakhouse and eat raw meat.(laughing) Well, it was almost raw. (laughing). Me and Todd Williford, and Tony Pethel would all go down to the Bonanza and eat. We would go home for a few hours and then report back to the gym. There wasn’t really any rituals or anything like that. Campagna and Linder didn’t allow music to be played or a bunch of hee hawing around. We took it like business and would just get ready to go do battle against whoever we were playing. If there was any discussions it would be about your assignments in the game and just general game preparation.
(FIK) Tell me a little about your brother Tim on the field?
(JR) We got to play side by side each other for two years and I thought that was so cool. We were called “The Bruise Brothers” (laughing) He played tackle and I thought it was just the greatest thing to be playing beside him like that. Tim was always big and naturally strong. He was like those old country boys you were talking about that just got it naturally. I saw him getting to play and getting the girls and the dates and that was a big influence on me to want to get better. We got to play my Junior and Senior years together, and then when we got to Catawba. We didn’t get to play side by side in college though. Tim was tough and could put a physical beating on you. We would compete against each other to see who could have the best game. It was a good productive competition. I look back now, and think how fortunate I was to get the opportunity to do that especially now that hes gone.
(FIK) Did you ever get injured or miss any games?
(JR) I broke my nose one year, but it didn’t keep me out of a game. I also hurt my shoulder on that universal machine one day training. (laughing) I still have problems out of that shoulder today, but I hope to get it fixed sometime this year. I was lucky about injuries, but I did injured a few on the field back then too. (laughing)
(FIK) Give me your thoughts on some of these athletes you had the opportunity to play with. Todd Williford?
(JR) Todd always gave great effort, and knew where he was suppose to be. For his size he was tough. Todd wasn’t afraid to take the biggest guys on though he may get freight trained doing it. (laughing) Todd was a really good guy, and did really well in life.
(FIK) Lacy Brumley?
(JR) (laughing) I was always scared of big Lacy. (laughing) Lacy was a tremendous athlete. It seemed like when I was out there with him I was always lined up on his side. I remember playing South Rowan one year I got greedy, and thought I was going to get a sack in the end zone. I missed containment on my assignment and he looped out and got the ball off. It didn’t go for a big gain, but Lacy jumped all over me when I came back to the huddle. I thought “Oh God here we go” (laughing) I thought he was going to kill me. Guys like Lacy wanted to win, and you better not get in the way of that. (laughing) He was like “Don’t screw up my senior year because you want to do your own thing, Do what you’re suppose to do” Lacy was quick for the size guy he was on the field. That’s why he got a full ride to Clemson.
(FIK) Tim Davis?
(JR) Tim was a big man too. Tim was smart and always knew what he was suppose to do. You had to physically beat Tim on the line when you lined up against him. Strong individual and a great punter. He had a toe man. (laughing) I always liked Tim too as a person. He was real good friends with my brother, and just a great athlete all the way around. I believe he ended up at Wake Forest.
(FIK) Terry Cunningham?
(JR) “Top Cat” I loved that guy. He was a great guy and good friends with my brother. He was a great quarterback and fast. He was always a threat to run a punt back and he was just fun to watch. You knew when he got the ball something big could happen and you stayed focused on him. He was a good leader too. Terry was always one of these guys I think fell through the cracks when it came to going into the pros. I never understood why he didn’t.
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(JR) Ah, “PIG” (laughing) I always loved him. (laughing) He was a super athlete who was very determined, and hated to lose. Pig was a animal on the field. If I’m not mistaken the year we played Salisbury in 1975 Me and Tony put their quarterback Chal Glenn out of the game. I hit him high and Tony hit him low, and he was gone. (laughing) Tony would lay a hit on you too, and when he did you were going to feel it. (laughing) Did he tell you I knocked him out for a little bit in wrestling practice? (laughing)
(FIK) Did you have to play both ways when you were at Kannapolis?
(JR) I did my junior and senior years because we didn’t have the personnel those years. Things began to get a little thin around 1975 and many guys had to go both ways. It was tough because you never left the field. It would build your stamina though.
(JR) (laughing) I was always scared of big Lacy. (laughing) Lacy was a tremendous athlete. It seemed like when I was out there with him I was always lined up on his side. I remember playing South Rowan one year I got greedy, and thought I was going to get a sack in the end zone. I missed containment on my assignment and he looped out and got the ball off. It didn’t go for a big gain, but Lacy jumped all over me when I came back to the huddle. I thought “Oh God here we go” (laughing) I thought he was going to kill me. Guys like Lacy wanted to win, and you better not get in the way of that. (laughing) He was like “Don’t screw up my senior year because you want to do your own thing, Do what you’re suppose to do” Lacy was quick for the size guy he was on the field. That’s why he got a full ride to Clemson.
(FIK) Tim Davis?
(JR) Tim was a big man too. Tim was smart and always knew what he was suppose to do. You had to physically beat Tim on the line when you lined up against him. Strong individual and a great punter. He had a toe man. (laughing) I always liked Tim too as a person. He was real good friends with my brother, and just a great athlete all the way around. I believe he ended up at Wake Forest.
(FIK) Terry Cunningham?
(JR) “Top Cat” I loved that guy. He was a great guy and good friends with my brother. He was a great quarterback and fast. He was always a threat to run a punt back and he was just fun to watch. You knew when he got the ball something big could happen and you stayed focused on him. He was a good leader too. Terry was always one of these guys I think fell through the cracks when it came to going into the pros. I never understood why he didn’t.
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(JR) Ah, “PIG” (laughing) I always loved him. (laughing) He was a super athlete who was very determined, and hated to lose. Pig was a animal on the field. If I’m not mistaken the year we played Salisbury in 1975 Me and Tony put their quarterback Chal Glenn out of the game. I hit him high and Tony hit him low, and he was gone. (laughing) Tony would lay a hit on you too, and when he did you were going to feel it. (laughing) Did he tell you I knocked him out for a little bit in wrestling practice? (laughing)
(FIK) Did you have to play both ways when you were at Kannapolis?
(JR) I did my junior and senior years because we didn’t have the personnel those years. Things began to get a little thin around 1975 and many guys had to go both ways. It was tough because you never left the field. It would build your stamina though.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the Kannapolis/ Concord rivalry?
(JR) (laughing) I think its great. That was always a fun week. (laughing) I remember the fights at Martins Drive in and all the pranks that would follow. It was just a typical situation when people from Kannapolis and Concord got together. It was usually going to be a fight. (laughing) We usually went looking though. (laughing) We did a little something with some burnt motor oil one year that was pretty original. (laughing) I better not incriminate myself. (laughing)
(FIK) What do you think went wrong in the 1974 loss to Concord?
(JR) I think it was just a lack of focus. Concord didn’t have a winning record and it wasn’t suppose to happen. I think we just didn’t play the way we should have. They had some really good people that year in Tracy Andrews and Ray long. I remember they were beating people relentlessly in the eighth and ninth grade, and I remember saying to myself that these guys are going to be tough in high school and I was right. There was nothing that stood out about practice that week which leads me to think that it was just another game. That is why I say the focus wasn’t there for some reason.
(FIK) Do you remember George Smith quitting before the Concord game, and do you think that impacted the team the week of the Concord game?
(JR) Yea I remember that. George was a part of the family, and football teams are like extended families. You have to be if you are going to be any good. You play for that guy next to you and he is suppose to do the same. George was a great guy and strong. He played linebacker and some fullback then. I don’t remember the reason he quit, but I say if hurt the team because we lost a member of the family. George brought a dimension to the team that we could have definitely used against Concord.
(FIK) If you could go back and replay your high school career what would you do differently?
(JR) (laughing) I would tear some @$$es up. I would get in their face, and be more vocal with guys who weren’t pulling their weight. That hurts a team when some are giving more than others. You cant expect to win if you don’t have everyone giving one hundred percent every play on every down, and looking back I saw guys who did that and I just accepted it. I would also change a lot of things myself. I know I could have been more focused, and grounded back then, but I was a typical young kid in high school that wanted to be accepted and have friends like most do. I know I could have been much better had I been more disciplined. You cant change that now, but I do have some regrets about that.
(FIK) Did you get a chance to meet coach Boswell after you graduated?
(JR) Yes I did. Coach Boswell actually let me and my brother Tim, and Tim Davis suit up and run a few plays in practice one day after we graduated and that was fun. (laughing) I got to bust Ethan Horton’s @$$. (laughing) I love it, I love it. (laughing) I had gained some size by then and it was great. I will give one guy credit he flat laid some lumber on me on an isolation play. I don’t remember what back it was, but he came through and he laid a lick on me. It may have been Terry Baxter.
(FIK) Looking back now do you still feel the sense of pride in being a Wonder as you felt during your high school days?
(JR) Oh yes. Sports did more for me than I can tell you. It taught me discipline and gave me confidence to persevere and not quit on anything. Being a Wonder was probably my most fondest memory of high school life. I made up my mind in the ninth grade after riding the pine for much of my seventh and eighth grade years that I wanted to play and be a starter. My brother Tim was doing it and I wanted to get the opportunities he was getting.
(JR) (laughing) I think its great. That was always a fun week. (laughing) I remember the fights at Martins Drive in and all the pranks that would follow. It was just a typical situation when people from Kannapolis and Concord got together. It was usually going to be a fight. (laughing) We usually went looking though. (laughing) We did a little something with some burnt motor oil one year that was pretty original. (laughing) I better not incriminate myself. (laughing)
(FIK) What do you think went wrong in the 1974 loss to Concord?
(JR) I think it was just a lack of focus. Concord didn’t have a winning record and it wasn’t suppose to happen. I think we just didn’t play the way we should have. They had some really good people that year in Tracy Andrews and Ray long. I remember they were beating people relentlessly in the eighth and ninth grade, and I remember saying to myself that these guys are going to be tough in high school and I was right. There was nothing that stood out about practice that week which leads me to think that it was just another game. That is why I say the focus wasn’t there for some reason.
(FIK) Do you remember George Smith quitting before the Concord game, and do you think that impacted the team the week of the Concord game?
(JR) Yea I remember that. George was a part of the family, and football teams are like extended families. You have to be if you are going to be any good. You play for that guy next to you and he is suppose to do the same. George was a great guy and strong. He played linebacker and some fullback then. I don’t remember the reason he quit, but I say if hurt the team because we lost a member of the family. George brought a dimension to the team that we could have definitely used against Concord.
(FIK) If you could go back and replay your high school career what would you do differently?
(JR) (laughing) I would tear some @$$es up. I would get in their face, and be more vocal with guys who weren’t pulling their weight. That hurts a team when some are giving more than others. You cant expect to win if you don’t have everyone giving one hundred percent every play on every down, and looking back I saw guys who did that and I just accepted it. I would also change a lot of things myself. I know I could have been more focused, and grounded back then, but I was a typical young kid in high school that wanted to be accepted and have friends like most do. I know I could have been much better had I been more disciplined. You cant change that now, but I do have some regrets about that.
(FIK) Did you get a chance to meet coach Boswell after you graduated?
(JR) Yes I did. Coach Boswell actually let me and my brother Tim, and Tim Davis suit up and run a few plays in practice one day after we graduated and that was fun. (laughing) I got to bust Ethan Horton’s @$$. (laughing) I love it, I love it. (laughing) I had gained some size by then and it was great. I will give one guy credit he flat laid some lumber on me on an isolation play. I don’t remember what back it was, but he came through and he laid a lick on me. It may have been Terry Baxter.
(FIK) Looking back now do you still feel the sense of pride in being a Wonder as you felt during your high school days?
(JR) Oh yes. Sports did more for me than I can tell you. It taught me discipline and gave me confidence to persevere and not quit on anything. Being a Wonder was probably my most fondest memory of high school life. I made up my mind in the ninth grade after riding the pine for much of my seventh and eighth grade years that I wanted to play and be a starter. My brother Tim was doing it and I wanted to get the opportunities he was getting.
(FIK) Was there a big difference in playing college and high school ball?
(JR) Night and Day. Everybody lifts weights, everybody is fast, and nobody is scared of you. (laughing) In high school you can pop somebody and the next time you come up to them their eyes are big and they are a little apprehensive, but in college you might get them the first time, but they are probably going to even the score somewhere on the field that day. (laughing)
(FIK) What do you miss the most about playing on Friday Nights?
(JR) The camaraderie with my team mates and the way I use to feel walking out of the locker room into the stadium and seeing the crowd. I miss that a lot. It went too fast.
(FIK) If you were asked to address the 2011 Wonders on opening night in Memorial Stadium against Shelby what would you tell them?
(JR) “Leave it out on the field guys. Don’t have any regrets when you walk back in the locker room. Take advantage of the moment you have because it doesn’t last.
(JR) Night and Day. Everybody lifts weights, everybody is fast, and nobody is scared of you. (laughing) In high school you can pop somebody and the next time you come up to them their eyes are big and they are a little apprehensive, but in college you might get them the first time, but they are probably going to even the score somewhere on the field that day. (laughing)
(FIK) What do you miss the most about playing on Friday Nights?
(JR) The camaraderie with my team mates and the way I use to feel walking out of the locker room into the stadium and seeing the crowd. I miss that a lot. It went too fast.
(FIK) If you were asked to address the 2011 Wonders on opening night in Memorial Stadium against Shelby what would you tell them?
(JR) “Leave it out on the field guys. Don’t have any regrets when you walk back in the locker room. Take advantage of the moment you have because it doesn’t last.
Joey Roseman would finish his football career at Catawba College in 1979, and would never play organized football again. After my interview with Roseman we went out in the front yard of his residence, and took a few photos. We still continued to talk during this time, and I could sense that our conversation had awaken many sleeping ghosts that had not been awaken since 1975.Joey Roseman would experience some tough times in the new millennium with the loss of both his parents in 2006 and 2007, but nothing prepared him for the loss he would experience on October 24, 2008 when his brother Tim whom who he played ball with as a Wonder for so many years, and who was a big influence on his life passed away after losing his battle with cancer. The loss of his brother Tim had a profound impact on his life, and one need only mention it to see that impact in his eyes.
In the days after this interview I was at A.L Brown High School taking photos for my piece on the “Summer Warriors” program when I received a call from Joey telling me he had located a picture taken with him and his brother Tim while at Catawba College, and I was more than welcome to use it. Roseman went on further to say how much he appreciated what I was doing with this “Hard Road to Glory” story line, and how grateful he was that someone wanted to recognize the warriors of that time who had been misplaced in the pages of time. I told him the athletes of that era deserve this recognition, and that I was glad it was me that decided to pick up the ball and run with it. Joey Roseman to me epitomized the glamour of being a student athlete during the seventies, and I can vividly recall hearing Roseman’s name mentioned as one of the standout student athletes of the time by my two sisters. I can remember like it was yesterday seeing Roseman run back a blocked punt for a touchdown against Lexington in Memorial Stadium and some of the vicious hits he put on some of his adversaries during his three years with the Wonders. More than anything I could sense that bringing up this time in Roseman’s life brought back much pride as well as a few regrets, but all in all I think it brought back memories of great times and camaraderie with fellow Wonders who walked that “Hard Road to Glory” with Roseman into the pages of Wonder Football history.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to give special thanks to Joey Roseman for allowing me the opportunity to hear the stories he lived in a time that was very dear to me as a young Wonder Football fanatic. Many of these great players I have met for the first time during the interviews for these storyboards some thirty six years after the fact, and its just as much a thrill now as it would have been then. Joey Roseman will forever be the quintessential Wonder.
In the days after this interview I was at A.L Brown High School taking photos for my piece on the “Summer Warriors” program when I received a call from Joey telling me he had located a picture taken with him and his brother Tim while at Catawba College, and I was more than welcome to use it. Roseman went on further to say how much he appreciated what I was doing with this “Hard Road to Glory” story line, and how grateful he was that someone wanted to recognize the warriors of that time who had been misplaced in the pages of time. I told him the athletes of that era deserve this recognition, and that I was glad it was me that decided to pick up the ball and run with it. Joey Roseman to me epitomized the glamour of being a student athlete during the seventies, and I can vividly recall hearing Roseman’s name mentioned as one of the standout student athletes of the time by my two sisters. I can remember like it was yesterday seeing Roseman run back a blocked punt for a touchdown against Lexington in Memorial Stadium and some of the vicious hits he put on some of his adversaries during his three years with the Wonders. More than anything I could sense that bringing up this time in Roseman’s life brought back much pride as well as a few regrets, but all in all I think it brought back memories of great times and camaraderie with fellow Wonders who walked that “Hard Road to Glory” with Roseman into the pages of Wonder Football history.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to give special thanks to Joey Roseman for allowing me the opportunity to hear the stories he lived in a time that was very dear to me as a young Wonder Football fanatic. Many of these great players I have met for the first time during the interviews for these storyboards some thirty six years after the fact, and its just as much a thrill now as it would have been then. Joey Roseman will forever be the quintessential Wonder.
Joey Roseman in 2011
*To revisit the glory days of former Wonder great Joey Roseman click on the appropriate button text below*
1974
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1975
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"The Hard Road to Glory"
Tony Pethel
Wonder Football from 1975 thru 1977 are known historically as some of the hardest years in Wonder Football history. These were transitional years that would ultimately benefit the program in the long run, but would have some devastating beginnings. What I mean by transitional years is this. In 1975 although he didn’t know it at the time Coach Lope Linder would coach his last season with the Wonders and the reigns would be handed over to a man who many believe as I was solely responsible for the success we have today, and that man was Coach Bob Boswell. 1975 and 1976 are the years that are going to be discussed in depth in this series. Between these two years the Wonders would see victory six times total and people in K-Town were beginning to ask was there any light at end of the tunnel. Ultimately the answer would be yes, but many dues would have to be paid before the lofty visions of a new head coach and revamped system would finally begin to pay dividends. I wont go too far into this issue until a new profile piece, but the point is simply this. The transitional years of 1975 thru 1976 became years that most Wonder faithful would just as soon forget instead of rehashing, but in reality that is a very unfair attitude and assessment of its warriors. Both of these years in question had athletes who went out on that field every Friday night trying to represent the town, the school and its fans proudly. Circumstances prevailing they did the best they could with what they had, but in wins and losses that just wasn’t enough to make them relevant to our history.
The 1975 and 1976 Wonders are who I refer to as the faceless Wonders. Meaning you would be hard pressed to put a face on these two teams in our history. Case in point. In five seconds name three players from these two squads. Get my meaning? Athletes who had the dubious distinction of playing during this time were for a better word marginalized to say the least, and in my opinion have been locked away in a glass case that reads “Break only in the event of exhilaration overload” Players like Joey Roseman, Darrell Grier, Todd Williford, Danny Jenkins, Casey Litaker, Marty Allen, David Gibson, Tim Roseman, John Rodgers and the list goes on. These players were phenomenal athletes in their own right, but as I stated earlier fell under this umbrella of uncertainty and transition. Our featured athlete for this profile Tony Pethel knows those times well. Standing 5’10 and 245lbs as a senior, Pethel was a standout performer in a virtual whose who of faceless Wonders during this period. Pethel began his varsity season in 1975 during the numbered days of head coach Lope Linder where the Wonders went 4-6. Pethel would then play one season for Coach Bob Boswell where his team would experience a humiliating 2-8 campaign. Pethel was named most valuable player for the 1976 season and was invited to participate in the 1977 North-South Gridiron Classic held on the campus of East Carolina University. Head Coach Bob Boswell had this to say of Pethels invitation. “If we can get a boy into that game after the record we had last year think what is ahead.” How prophetic Coach Boswell was, knowing it was only a matter of time before this thing would get turned around. Tipping the scales at 245lbs and standing 5’10 Pethel was a piece of petrified wood at the tackle position and excelled in that area for two years as a starter. Pethel’s 1975 squad would be the last Kannapolis team to don the old uniforms of the early seventies for the updated and much improved new look that Coach Boswell ordained in 1976. Friday Nights in K-Town caught up with Pethel at his home in Kannapolis for an interview that was very revealing of that time. A time when victories of the human spirit were more so the order of the day than victories on the scoreboard.
(FIK) When did you decide that playing football was something you wanted to pursue in high school?
(TP) I started playing when I was about seven or eight years old, I started playing flag then because they didn’t have tackle football for kids at that time. We would play back yard ball because we didn’t have video
games like they have today to keep us inside, and it would usually be the kids from one neighborhood playing the kids from another neighborhood. That’s just the way it was. I finally got to play tackle football competiveley when I got into seventh grade and that was pretty cool. Back then seventh grade was the
only tackle football that was offered to kids then. Teams were divided up by classroom you were either a Black Colt, Wee Wonder, Red Raider. I think there were five teams and you were divided up by classroom and that’s how you got your team and then the best of those teams would get to play in a bowl game at the
end of the season to determine your champion. Then you had eighth, ninth grade teams and then high school. So I started seeing the high school guys playing when I was in the ninth grade. Transportation was an issue then because cars weren’t very plentiful and I didn’t want to walk back and forth from practice.
After I started my junior varsity year I was hooked.
(FIK) Did you involve yourself in any strength and conditioning during this time?
(TP) They had a universal machine that I guess for that time was pretty cutting edge, but there were no instructors. I didn’t run. (laughing) The only running I did back then was to get out of something you know. (laughing) I quickly learned that fast feet were the key so I started doing some rope running and bag running, tires, the kind of stuff you see on tv mostly. When I started doing some weight lifting I began to see some progression the more I did it, and so I got my weight up from about 170lbs to around 200lbs. The gain wasn’t in my stomach either it was all in my arms, legs and back, and I could see that added strength pay off in my football. I liked lifting and I really didn’t mind that. I knew I was going to be a lineman and I
played a few different positions when I started. I played a little Nose Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Offensive Tackle, then back to Offensive Guard. Now of course I’m talking before Boswell’s staff came in. Most of the coaches under Linder were maybe a little naïve to the benefits of strength and conditioning because it might have been a little before their time. They encouraged us, but if we did any of it was up to us to set the pace. They encouraged us to the best of their knowledge in the field. One universal machine with sixty to seventy Varsity players in one room and then you have jayvees it just wasn’t practical to try to get everyone in.
(FIK) What was the feeling of the Wonder Squad going into that 1975 season?
(TP) I think going into that season we thought we were going to do really well and we sure didn’t expect to lose to some of the people we would eventually end up losing to. Everyone got along well with each other. You had personalities like you do on every team, but a lot of that was due to what I said earlier that there were players who were ticked about not playing more and rightfully so. You had guys in those practices who were hitting people and making statements, then not getting into the rotation and it was tough for them. The overall feeling going into the 1975 season was good. I think there were some concerns on everybody’s minds, but we were ready to go. I don’t think the very best of what we had that year made it into the starting lineup. They didn’t play the first game and they didn’t play the last game. If the coaches couldn’t mold you to what they wanted for whatever reason you were going to sit it out. We had backs who were on the scout team who didn’t have the 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 forties, but would run through our first team defense for four and five yards a pop in practice. They didn’t have break away speed, but they could get the job done and they didn’t play. a lot of that went on, and looking back forty some years later I still ask myself that question why? We knew there were going to be road blocks in the season, but we sure didn’t think Northwest and South Rowan would beat us in our wildest dreams.
(FIK) What was a standard practice like with coach Linder?
(TP) We started off with exercise and then maybe thirty minutes with individual groups, linemen, linebackers, backs and quarterbacks. Then you come together as a team and scrimmage for about thirty or forty five minutes, take a water break, then go back to scrimmaging. It was like a military type setting for the most part. You didn’t drink water, water was a sign of weakness, you didn’t get hurt, because that was a sign of weakness. Today’s concussions were yesterdays headaches. Take two aspirin and see you in the morning type thing. The game was primitive back then as oppose to today’s standards. Some things that went on then you just wouldn’t see today because somebody could have gotten into some trouble. We did drills that in my mind made no sense in relation to the game, but the drills you did were more of an intestinal type thing, Gut checks for a better word. We would run that hill in the stadium and the one in the practice field up and down, up and down and if you didn’t run it you crabbed it or crawled it and if you couldn’t do that you would lay in the ditch at the top of it. I didn’t see the need in it, but then again maybe it was to test our stamina and see how much we could stand before we dropped. That was my thinking on it.
It wasn’t until coach Boswell got there that any real emphasis was put on being in shape. I think coach Linder and his staff just wanted able bodies that could play the positions. It wasn’t a fashion show they just wanted strong guys and a lot of “yes sirs” out of everybody. Coach Watts coached me mainly and he would be on me to no end (laughing) I think he was like that on all underclassmen then, but he was fair. He would jump Dale Fink, he would jump Brumley, he would jump anybody at the drop of a hat. Coach linder was a good man and I have a lot of respect for him, but he just didn’t have that mean streak that I would say would get players fired up or get the most out of them. He was more into molding men than molding players I believe, and I commend him for that. I have a lot of respect for coach Linder. Coach Watts was just crazy, but the more I got to know him I really liked him as a person.
(FIK) Were you ever asked to do double duty on offense and defense by Coach Linder?
(TP) My junior and senior year I saw a lot of going both ways, and we had the talent there to fill those spots, but there again I guess some of those guys didn’t do what maybe the coaches thought was admirable or they may have said something in practice that may have kept them from playing much. Coaches were really sensitive then.
(FIK) After the 27-0 shut out to Northwest in the season opener, What was the morale like on the team?
(TP) My first thought after that game was “Man Larry Rucker is everything they said he was” (laughing) We didn’t lose our confidence, we actually took it as a positive. We thought maybe we just need to calm down and take these games one at a time and re evaluate ourselves. It was an eye opener, but Props go to Rucker because he was every bit of the hype and more.
(FIK) At what point in that 1975 season did you begin to realize that the going was going to be tough?
(TP) The loss to South Rowan. That was just inexcusable to me. You could probably come up with a thousand reasons why, but losing that game really put us in our place. I can remember my father telling me “you boys are going to be middle of the road if you don’t turn this thing around.” and he was right.
(FIK) As the losses in 1975 began to mount up, Did you ever feel like giving up or quitting?
(TP) No not at all. I questioned practice a lot. The intensity of practice actually began to pick up because it became a personal thing to everybody. I never though about quitting that just wasn’t something that anybody thought of I don’t think.
(FIK) What was the atmosphere like in practice during this time?
(TP) Practice actually intensified if you can believe it. It became personal to us. Its hard to practice day in and day out knowing you are just playing for pride. It weighed on everybody’s mind and it was tough. What bothered me is we changed very little in our strategy and game plan. Trinity and Concord could have requested our game film from Northwest and South Rowan and would have seen very little difference in what we were doing and who we were doing it with. Personnel changes could have been made, but were not, and that bothered me. Everything became robotic. I mean try something new. Sometimes pride needs to get set aside if everything else isn’t working you know.
(FIK) Did you consider yourself an informal leader on the 1975 squad?
(TP) Not really, I would say something every now and then, but I didn’t feel at that time it was my place to step on any of our seniors toes.
(FIK) In your best recollection who was?
(TP) Joey Roseman, Dale Fink, Marty Allen all those guys would speak out if they though it needed to be done.
(TP) We started off with exercise and then maybe thirty minutes with individual groups, linemen, linebackers, backs and quarterbacks. Then you come together as a team and scrimmage for about thirty or forty five minutes, take a water break, then go back to scrimmaging. It was like a military type setting for the most part. You didn’t drink water, water was a sign of weakness, you didn’t get hurt, because that was a sign of weakness. Today’s concussions were yesterdays headaches. Take two aspirin and see you in the morning type thing. The game was primitive back then as oppose to today’s standards. Some things that went on then you just wouldn’t see today because somebody could have gotten into some trouble. We did drills that in my mind made no sense in relation to the game, but the drills you did were more of an intestinal type thing, Gut checks for a better word. We would run that hill in the stadium and the one in the practice field up and down, up and down and if you didn’t run it you crabbed it or crawled it and if you couldn’t do that you would lay in the ditch at the top of it. I didn’t see the need in it, but then again maybe it was to test our stamina and see how much we could stand before we dropped. That was my thinking on it.
It wasn’t until coach Boswell got there that any real emphasis was put on being in shape. I think coach Linder and his staff just wanted able bodies that could play the positions. It wasn’t a fashion show they just wanted strong guys and a lot of “yes sirs” out of everybody. Coach Watts coached me mainly and he would be on me to no end (laughing) I think he was like that on all underclassmen then, but he was fair. He would jump Dale Fink, he would jump Brumley, he would jump anybody at the drop of a hat. Coach linder was a good man and I have a lot of respect for him, but he just didn’t have that mean streak that I would say would get players fired up or get the most out of them. He was more into molding men than molding players I believe, and I commend him for that. I have a lot of respect for coach Linder. Coach Watts was just crazy, but the more I got to know him I really liked him as a person.
(FIK) Were you ever asked to do double duty on offense and defense by Coach Linder?
(TP) My junior and senior year I saw a lot of going both ways, and we had the talent there to fill those spots, but there again I guess some of those guys didn’t do what maybe the coaches thought was admirable or they may have said something in practice that may have kept them from playing much. Coaches were really sensitive then.
(FIK) After the 27-0 shut out to Northwest in the season opener, What was the morale like on the team?
(TP) My first thought after that game was “Man Larry Rucker is everything they said he was” (laughing) We didn’t lose our confidence, we actually took it as a positive. We thought maybe we just need to calm down and take these games one at a time and re evaluate ourselves. It was an eye opener, but Props go to Rucker because he was every bit of the hype and more.
(FIK) At what point in that 1975 season did you begin to realize that the going was going to be tough?
(TP) The loss to South Rowan. That was just inexcusable to me. You could probably come up with a thousand reasons why, but losing that game really put us in our place. I can remember my father telling me “you boys are going to be middle of the road if you don’t turn this thing around.” and he was right.
(FIK) As the losses in 1975 began to mount up, Did you ever feel like giving up or quitting?
(TP) No not at all. I questioned practice a lot. The intensity of practice actually began to pick up because it became a personal thing to everybody. I never though about quitting that just wasn’t something that anybody thought of I don’t think.
(FIK) What was the atmosphere like in practice during this time?
(TP) Practice actually intensified if you can believe it. It became personal to us. Its hard to practice day in and day out knowing you are just playing for pride. It weighed on everybody’s mind and it was tough. What bothered me is we changed very little in our strategy and game plan. Trinity and Concord could have requested our game film from Northwest and South Rowan and would have seen very little difference in what we were doing and who we were doing it with. Personnel changes could have been made, but were not, and that bothered me. Everything became robotic. I mean try something new. Sometimes pride needs to get set aside if everything else isn’t working you know.
(FIK) Did you consider yourself an informal leader on the 1975 squad?
(TP) Not really, I would say something every now and then, but I didn’t feel at that time it was my place to step on any of our seniors toes.
(FIK) In your best recollection who was?
(TP) Joey Roseman, Dale Fink, Marty Allen all those guys would speak out if they though it needed to be done.
(FIK) Tell me about the near riot at Salisbury High School in 1975 and what kicked that off?
(TP) I’d like to say Marty Allen did. (laughing) As a quarterback you really don’t want to call people out on the field, but that night almost from the first play of the game Marty was calling out Salisbury players without let up. (laughing) Marty talked mess from the first play to the last play. (laughing) Whats bad is Salisbury was handing us our @$$ and Marty was still talking mess. (laughing) At that point the season was a wash so nobody really told Marty to stop. (laughing) We all thought hey if we cant win the war we will at least win some of the little battles on the field. (laughing) By the middle of the 4th quarter it became more of a controlled street fight than a football game. It was a fun game, everybody was tatooing the other guy and throwing leather, and cheap shots. The officials were unable to put any restraint on it. (laughing) Marty was beat half to death and he was still shooting his mouth off. I’ll give him that he didn’t back down. (laughing)
The game ends and we are all walking towards the gate. I was actually talking to the guy I had lined up against all night Leon Gaither. All of the sudden I hear a commotion behind me and when I turn around I see helmets flying, and fists flying and people squared off with other people fighting, so I just turned around and wailed Leon and we just started fighting. (laughing) I wasn’t mad at anybody it was just a fight, and I liked to fight so I didn’t mind it. Then the police came and started spraying mace all over the place. We hurried onto the bus and people started throwing rocks on to the roof of the bus. Coach Linder came on the bus and he had been sprayed with mace. He was holding his eyes cause he couldn’t see. The next thing I remember was Coach Watts getting on the bus and telling us to put our helmets on and lean over in the seat we were heading out. (laughing) It was crazy. The funny thing was, the guy I was fighting Leon Gaither, we ended up wrestling that year and then I played against him again my senior year, and in the North-South Game. (laughing)I’ve seen him a few times since in Salisbury and he talks about me sucker punching him. I got him good. (laughing) That’s probably my fondest memory of the 1975 season. (laughing)
(FIK) The end of the 1975 season you were shut out by Concord 21-0. Was that a hard pill to swallow?
(TP) You can be 0-9 when you go into that game and it doesn’t mean a thing. The records get thrown out and everybody is playing with purpose. No, it wasn’t a hard pill to swallow, but Concord had some great
returning players on that team ie: Ray Long, Maverick Grady, and Tracy Andrews so 21-0 isn’t as bad as it could have been. (laughing) considering the athletes they had I thought it was pretty respectable. You just cant ever tell when those two teams get together.
(FIK) Were you surprised that coach Linder stepped down prior to the 1976 season?
(TP) No not really. Nobody was sitting in the back saying this is coach Linders last year and he wasn’t saying that, but again everyone knew change was in the air. That 1975 season was tough and he took a lot of heat for it. People were not going to tolerate that and I think coach Linder knew that. There were some other things going on from boosters and faculty that weren’t right, but in the end the wins are what matters. I didn’t really know at the time. I don’t believe there was any talk, but I think as far as having a winning season that meant a change was needed. Coach Linder again was a respectable man and he had more in mind for his players than just wins and losses, but when people want to see you winning and you’re not a changing of the guard is inevitable.
(FIK) When did you first hear of the hiring of coach Bob Boswell to Kannapolis in 1976?
(TP) Right around the first time everybody else did around early 1976. There were no rumors or anything like that, as a matter of fact we all just assumed they would give it to Coach Watts or possibly Gerald Hefner. Boswell just blind sided everybody I think. When I heard the news I thought “man they are stepping up to the plate bringing in some college coach.” I knew then things were going to turn around. I knew very little about him when he arrived only what he had done with that group up at High Point Andrews and coaching at NC State. From a resume standpoint that was good enough for us. We were pumped as players and we weren’t lacking confidence. Then Coach Boswell came out in those checkered pants and checkered collar shirts. (laughing) I thought man we are on the cutting edge now. (laughing)
(FIK) In your recollection were there any noticeable, immediate changes in the program starting in 1976?
(TP) When Boswell came in it was like a light switch being flipped on, and you knew changes were going to happen right then. He didnt wait around to start either. I remember he came in and started painting things and re arranging things, and renovating things. He didn’t say “We’ll talk over the summer and see what we need to do” he came in from jump street and started changing things. I could see all that Cannon money being spent. (laughing) I know it burned Bill up seeing all that money being spent that he was saving up and Bos smoked through it. (laughing) Hands down everything that is over there now would not be there had it not been for coach Boswell. Boswell came in with a vision and a roadmap to get there, and the players bought into it. I bought into it. The emphasis on weights and conditioning took priority then. The old universal machine became obsolete, so he brought in all the free weights, power weight racks. Instituted training times, and made everything accessible to the athletes. You had sign in sheets, he kept records and charts and if you were playing sports your physical education time was spent lifting weights and conditioning. All of it was monitored very closely by the staff. You could see the change in your speed and your strength and this was team wide. If you played football you lifted weights. Some guys didn’t like it because they thought it was being shoved down their throats, but Bos stayed the course and you see how it is now. The underclassmen benefited the most from it. I can remember seeing some of those underclassmen when I came home from Elon one year and some of them were bigger than we were. Kannapolis fielded a team that was pound for pound bigger than we were at Elon.
(FIK) What was your impression of the new uniform style Boswell implemented in 1976?
(TP) I liked them. It was a 50/50 thing Some of the older players liked the white helmets and brown pants, but most of us wanted something new at that time, and it actually turned out to be pretty good. Then Bos went from calling the team “Little Wonders” to just “Wonders” and that started a little controversy. I remember the school news paper pitched a fit about that “We’re Little Wonders not Wonders” Bos was like “There is nothing little about this school.” That died down after awhile and people warmed up to it.
(FIK) What changed in a typical practice for the 1976 Wonders under coach Boswell?
(TP) The pace. The pace increased tremendously, there were more drills, and county fairs. There was no dead time you didn’t stand around, and not a lot of grab @$$ing. Practice was fun. Even players that weren’t playing on the first team got the mess worked out of them, and they had to work just as hard as everybody else. There was no lolli gagging then go get a free steak dinner. You worked.
(FIK) What was the expectations of the 1976 Wonders going into the season opener with Northwest?
(TP) Personally I thought we might go 6-4 or 7-3 that would have been a great year, but it didn’t take long to figure out that was not going to materialize. They had a boy up at Northwest Cabarrus named Larry Rucker that woke you up real quick.
(FIK) When you dropped the season opener to Northwest 18-0 did concerns arise from the team?
(TP) No, not with Northwest. We knew Rucker was still there and was a hell of a player. That team was stacked with talent, so we knew it would be tough, but it wasn’t a shock when it happened. The shock came and the flags went up the following week at South Rowan when we lost 5-0. We knew then that there were going to be problems.
(FIK) In five of your losses in 1976 you gave up a total of only twenty seven points. Two Losses were only by a margin of five points combined. What do you attribute that to?
(TP) Our defense was good. Many of those games it came down to a bad call here or there, Offense not being able to get things going at critical times. By the time we got to Trinity we were just demoralized by some of these close defeats.
(FIK) Your largest margin of defeat came at the hands of Trinity 36-0. Was this especially hard to swallow given Trinity‘s past history?
(TP) Things went wrong in that game before we ever got to the stadium. (laughing) I believe one of the busses had a wreck on the way up there, Larue Wyndham forgot his jersey, another kid forgot his helmet and I think someone forgot their pants. We get out there and we didn’t show up, I didn’t show up. It just seemed like we went through the motions and tore us a new one.
(FIK) Going into the final game of the year against the Spiders of Concord you were looking at going 2-8. Was this something that weighed heavily on your mind or was it secondary to the rivalry itself?
(TP) No. When we were 0-4 and still hadn’t scored our season was basically a wash then. Going into the Concord game we were just wanting to get some redemption. We wanted to bring the bell back. That was our main objective. It would have been our way of salvaging the season. Concord was basically in the same situation we were record wise. We knew Chip Irby was going to be tough and Tee Moorman, but they were like us they didn’t have anybody that just jumped off the page at you. They weren’t an explosive team by any means. I think everybody knew it was going to be one of those 7-3, 10-7 type games from the start. The game went as expected and we led 3-0 for a long time, and we had that penalty that called back a touchdown that would have put us ahead. That just broke our backs. I remember we were second and goal on the one trailing 7-3 in the 4th quarter. We went unbalanced line and caught Concord sleeping. They didn’t even shift, it was wide open. Freddie Martin hands off to Randall Norris and he runs to the wrong side right into the teeth of the Concord defenders. He gets a two yard loss. Third down and goal it wasn’t a trap play, but it Was a quick hitter up the middle and Randall gets the ball again. Randall makes it to the one and a Concord defender reaches up and pulls him down from the back of the jersey backwards on his @$$ and the ball never crossed the endzone. I’ve told Randall since, all he had to do was fall forward into the end zone there was nobody in front of him blocking his way and the defender reaches up one arms him and brings him down. We have to go on fourth down, and they hand off to Darrell Grier and they just stuff him. I remember that plain as day. Randall could have dove, but I guess he wanted to go in standing up I don’t know. Those are the things that stand out after forty years of frustration, and me and Randall are good friends. I don’t blame him at all for it.
I guess its just one of those instances of hine sight being 20/20. In Randall’s defense he only weighed about 145lbs or 150lbs so it wasn’t like he was a big bruiser of a back. Its things like that I guess that define the way things went for us that season. Another instance, We are playing Lexington and they are #1 in the state. David Gibson picks up a fumble and runs it back sixty five or seventy yards to just inside the five of Lexington and they stop us on downs. We get beat 9-0 at that time it was a 3-0 game. That would have put us up 7-3 then who knows how the game may have turned around for us. Just about every game had some little something that turned it in the wrong direction. It was frustrating to say the least. We didn’t get any breaks and I wouldn’t even call it breaks, we just didn’t have any luck. I still had fun, but I’ll tell people right quick my senior year we went 2-8 what else is there to say, I mean it is what it is. We could sit here for hours and break it down what we did and didn’t do, but what most people don’t understand is what we went through as a team with coaching changes and personnel issues. It was like a big ball of confusion.
(FIK) The 7-3 loss to Concord in 1976 was the exclamation point on a very disappointing season. How did you end up gauging the personal success of your high school career?
(TP) I never really concerned myself with personal successes back then. I guess if I look back at it now it would be the fact that I played at the level I did under some of the circumstances we were under. I think the
world of all those guys I played with, and even though we didn’t come out on the right side of the scoreboard I still stood out there with them guys and fought till the game was over. I believe that is a success.
(FIK) Tell me what your feelings were as to the direction Wonder Football was heading under the direction of Bob Boswell as you started preparing for college?
(TP) I knew Coach Boswell had the smarts to get the job done. There was no question that program would be on the rise in a few short years. Coach Mackie who coached me my senior year at Kannapolis started
coaching at Elon after I graduated. After I came back from South Carolina State Coach Mackie persuaded me to come play for him at Elon. Coach Mackie and I became close over the years and we had a lot of conversations, and I remember talking with him one day about my Senior year at Kannapolis. I said “You know coach, We watched a lot of films and tried to prepare well, and I just didn’t understand why my senior class didn’t do well in 1976.” Coach Mackie shook his head and said “Me and Bos knew going in that 2-8 was about as good as we would get. We knew we didn’t have the personnel for what we wanted to do, and there were too many old habits we couldn’t break. That’s why Bos concentrated on the underclassmen as much as he did. We knew that season would probably be a wash in the aspect of trying to conform to his philosophy after being in the system you were in for so many years. It was just going to be too much to ask in such a short period of time for it to have ever been successful for that class”
(FIK) What influenced you decision to attend Elon after high school?
(TP) My senior year when we started signing up for classes, Coach Boswell mentioned to me that I might want to consider taking some college prep courses. Up to then I had taken brick laying, shop, and Textiles. I wasn’t really considering anything after high school. I just wanted to graduate and get out, but they told me it would be in my best interest to take some college prep courses. It was then I started receiving letters from different places, but then again I think it had a lot to do with Coach Boswell and Coach Stone’s connections. They were use to putting peoples names out there so athletes could get into college. I knew I had the ability, but I didn’t know anything about getting my name out there and that is important. You can ask Lacy Brumley, Tim Davis, Lance, Ethan, Dan Hamrick, and all the rest and they will tell you the same thing. I really liked Elon and coach Mackie being there was a big influence on my decision.
(FIK) Tell us about any heated Rivalry Moments with Concord that you experienced during this time?
(TP) (laughing) I was seeing one of the Concord gals at the time, and I did mouth off a lot.(laughing) We also played a lot of backyard ball growing up together down at Winecoff School which was a good area to play. We would see a lot of the Concord and Northwest guys then and we would go over there and play pretty much in your face style football. I made aThey made it real hard for me in 1976. They harassed me through the mail. I was dating one of the Concord lot of friends over there.(laughing) I’m pretty sure that just kinda carried over into the season. Me and a couple of our guys made it a point to stay in touch with some of the Concord guys during the season because their season was going pretty much like ours, and we would just stay in touch to keep them motivated. (laughing) The week of the game they rolled my yard with toilet paper because they had some crazy idea that I had something to do with a little gift that their coach W.A Cline received in his driveway during the week. I was wrongly accused of that, and they don’t want to believe it, but I didn’t have anything to do with that one. I thought we were all friends down there by the way they use to wave at me when I would ride through Martins Drive In. (laughing) They always made me feel like I was number one when I would go through there you know. They would lift the sign as I drove through. (laughing) They would come down to the Prince and we would do the same thing to them and make them feel like they were number one. (laughing) I received a few packages in the mail with meaningful messages attached. (laughing) I had funeral signs displayed in my front yard. The Concord game was for a better word a game within a game. (laughing)
(TP) I never really concerned myself with personal successes back then. I guess if I look back at it now it would be the fact that I played at the level I did under some of the circumstances we were under. I think the
world of all those guys I played with, and even though we didn’t come out on the right side of the scoreboard I still stood out there with them guys and fought till the game was over. I believe that is a success.
(FIK) Tell me what your feelings were as to the direction Wonder Football was heading under the direction of Bob Boswell as you started preparing for college?
(TP) I knew Coach Boswell had the smarts to get the job done. There was no question that program would be on the rise in a few short years. Coach Mackie who coached me my senior year at Kannapolis started
coaching at Elon after I graduated. After I came back from South Carolina State Coach Mackie persuaded me to come play for him at Elon. Coach Mackie and I became close over the years and we had a lot of conversations, and I remember talking with him one day about my Senior year at Kannapolis. I said “You know coach, We watched a lot of films and tried to prepare well, and I just didn’t understand why my senior class didn’t do well in 1976.” Coach Mackie shook his head and said “Me and Bos knew going in that 2-8 was about as good as we would get. We knew we didn’t have the personnel for what we wanted to do, and there were too many old habits we couldn’t break. That’s why Bos concentrated on the underclassmen as much as he did. We knew that season would probably be a wash in the aspect of trying to conform to his philosophy after being in the system you were in for so many years. It was just going to be too much to ask in such a short period of time for it to have ever been successful for that class”
(FIK) What influenced you decision to attend Elon after high school?
(TP) My senior year when we started signing up for classes, Coach Boswell mentioned to me that I might want to consider taking some college prep courses. Up to then I had taken brick laying, shop, and Textiles. I wasn’t really considering anything after high school. I just wanted to graduate and get out, but they told me it would be in my best interest to take some college prep courses. It was then I started receiving letters from different places, but then again I think it had a lot to do with Coach Boswell and Coach Stone’s connections. They were use to putting peoples names out there so athletes could get into college. I knew I had the ability, but I didn’t know anything about getting my name out there and that is important. You can ask Lacy Brumley, Tim Davis, Lance, Ethan, Dan Hamrick, and all the rest and they will tell you the same thing. I really liked Elon and coach Mackie being there was a big influence on my decision.
(FIK) Tell us about any heated Rivalry Moments with Concord that you experienced during this time?
(TP) (laughing) I was seeing one of the Concord gals at the time, and I did mouth off a lot.(laughing) We also played a lot of backyard ball growing up together down at Winecoff School which was a good area to play. We would see a lot of the Concord and Northwest guys then and we would go over there and play pretty much in your face style football. I made aThey made it real hard for me in 1976. They harassed me through the mail. I was dating one of the Concord lot of friends over there.(laughing) I’m pretty sure that just kinda carried over into the season. Me and a couple of our guys made it a point to stay in touch with some of the Concord guys during the season because their season was going pretty much like ours, and we would just stay in touch to keep them motivated. (laughing) The week of the game they rolled my yard with toilet paper because they had some crazy idea that I had something to do with a little gift that their coach W.A Cline received in his driveway during the week. I was wrongly accused of that, and they don’t want to believe it, but I didn’t have anything to do with that one. I thought we were all friends down there by the way they use to wave at me when I would ride through Martins Drive In. (laughing) They always made me feel like I was number one when I would go through there you know. They would lift the sign as I drove through. (laughing) They would come down to the Prince and we would do the same thing to them and make them feel like they were number one. (laughing) I received a few packages in the mail with meaningful messages attached. (laughing) I had funeral signs displayed in my front yard. The Concord game was for a better word a game within a game. (laughing)
(FIK) Tell me about Todd Williford as a defensive back?
(TP) (laughing) Todd would hit you. He was like the kid who would throw a rock and hide his hand. (laughing) He would take a lick too. He would take on a blocker twice his size and maybe not win the battle, but he would stay in there and go toe to toe. He was smart too. He wasn’t big enough not to be. If he hadn’t been smart he would have probably been killed. (laughing) He would meet you head on and take his blows, but he chose his battles wisely lets put it that way. (laughing) If his physical size would have been the size of his heart, he would have been All American I think.
(FIK) Had any of those teams you played on been under the direction of Bob Boswell’s staff longer or under the direction of either Bruce Hardin, Ron Massey, or new head coach Mike Newsome, Do you think things would have been any different?
(TP) (laughing) I sure do. There just wasn’t enough time for us. Time was not on our side. I have no doubt that the 73, 74 teams would have gone deep into the playoffs if not all the way under those coaches. No question in my mind.
(FIK) Tell me about the level of support you got from the fans during this time?
(TP) Every Friday night we knew whether we were on the road or at home the seats were going to be full and we knew that every time. We gave all we could with what we had and there again I say that I believe Coach Boswell kinda cut the cord on the senior class of 1976 after about mid season and started playing some younger kids preparing them for the next year. I don’t blame him for that. At the same time however, at that point when your season is a wash don’t pull the plug on the seniors because they don’t have another year. That’s it for them unless they are going to college. I was fortunate enough to get to go to college to play ball, but when you have say thirty or so seniors, twenty eight or twenty nine of them will never get to play organized ball again, and we had some seniors who deserved to play and that just didn’t happen. That has always bothered me.
(FIK) What did you think about Kannapolis moving into the Central Piedmont 4A conference in 1977?
(TP) Coach Boswell is very smart. He went out into the 4A and he got these kids exposure to a different level of football that you were not going to get in the SPC at that time, and fan base wise and support wise he wasn’t going to get any better than what he had at Kannapolis. This was around the time that Ethan Horton, Lance Smith and those guys were beginning to come along and they could have played against anybody and he saw that potential. The only thing that was hurting Kannapolis at that time was the gate draw. That’s how you generate money for your program through gate sales and concessions and tickets. That’s a big thing. When Bos got ready to come out of the 4A, I believe his dream conference was getting Cabarrus County and Rowan County together cause you’re now looking at fat gates every week. If you take Kannapolis, Northwest, Concord, Central Cabarrus and then go on the other side and add East Rowan, North Rowan, West Rowan and South Rowan into the mix you got a 25 mile radius draw that would do nothing but draw big gates. Plus the rivalries is a big thing with all those schools. That’s what I believe he was wanting in the long run. When Kannapolis went into the 4A the whole demeanor of the team changed. They were high powered then, and I think that is when it went from being a game to being what it is now and that is a serious winning tradition. Their time in the 4A is what catapulted them from being a good high school program to a great one.
(FIK) Do you still feel the same level of pride knowing you played for two teams that didn’t experience the same level of success as some of the teams experienced since 1978?
(TP) Oh yes. Sometimes you just have to play the hand life deals you, and those two years we had good teams just not the best placement of the people within those teams into the right positions to be successful. I wanted to play for Kannapolis, and its like I said before, once you experience that feeling of being under those lights in Memorial Stadium you always feel the pride. The tradition goes back to Lacy Brumley, Tim Davis, Tim Roseman, Fletcher Moon, Danny Hamrick. The tradition was instilled by those guys, the Trotts and the Krimmingers. That’s where your tradition comes from. I was #71, Danny Hamrick was #71 I was playing for those guys and these guys today are playing on the same field those guys did. That’s your tradition right there. A proud tradition.
(FIK) What do you miss the most about playing on Friday nights in Memorial Stadium?
(TP) Walking out on the field. Camaraderie with my fellow team members. The thing I miss the most is the controlled aggression. It was a great release. You know its like, If I’m having a bad day, I’m passing it on, If I’m having a bad night, I’m passing it on to somebody. (laughing) I got to where I could flip a switch, and once that helmet went on I could impose my will on another person without consequences.
(FIK) If you could address the 2011 Wonders prior to this years home opener with Shelby, what would you tell them?
(TP) If I was to address them the first thing I would do is address them by class senior, junior, and sophmore and challenge each class. To the seniors I would say you’re looking at ten games and its over so give it everything you got. To the juniors spread the desire. Take what you’ve been given by those that came before you and spread it. Soak it all up every Friday night and let the underclassmen feed off of that. The sophmores do the same thing and prepare to be role models to the ones coming behind you. Don’t take anything for granted.
(FIK) Are there any lessons that the teams of this era could take from the 1975-1976 teams?
(TP) I think so. Its like the old saying goes “Somebody has got to stomp the grapes before they can sip the wine.” That’s just the way it is. We ended up being the ones who did much of the grape stomping and now the wine flows freely. Everybody had a part they played in this and my class played their part. Football teaches you to persevere and it gives you confidence. You don’t put on a nasty pair of shorts and pants, and shoulder pads that are stinking during two a days, and then going out in the hundred degree heat for two and a half hours rolling around in the dry grass and not take something from it. Not everyone can do it. We did, and the reasons we did it for are the same reasons they do it today. Pride and desire.
(TP) Walking out on the field. Camaraderie with my fellow team members. The thing I miss the most is the controlled aggression. It was a great release. You know its like, If I’m having a bad day, I’m passing it on, If I’m having a bad night, I’m passing it on to somebody. (laughing) I got to where I could flip a switch, and once that helmet went on I could impose my will on another person without consequences.
(FIK) If you could address the 2011 Wonders prior to this years home opener with Shelby, what would you tell them?
(TP) If I was to address them the first thing I would do is address them by class senior, junior, and sophmore and challenge each class. To the seniors I would say you’re looking at ten games and its over so give it everything you got. To the juniors spread the desire. Take what you’ve been given by those that came before you and spread it. Soak it all up every Friday night and let the underclassmen feed off of that. The sophmores do the same thing and prepare to be role models to the ones coming behind you. Don’t take anything for granted.
(FIK) Are there any lessons that the teams of this era could take from the 1975-1976 teams?
(TP) I think so. Its like the old saying goes “Somebody has got to stomp the grapes before they can sip the wine.” That’s just the way it is. We ended up being the ones who did much of the grape stomping and now the wine flows freely. Everybody had a part they played in this and my class played their part. Football teaches you to persevere and it gives you confidence. You don’t put on a nasty pair of shorts and pants, and shoulder pads that are stinking during two a days, and then going out in the hundred degree heat for two and a half hours rolling around in the dry grass and not take something from it. Not everyone can do it. We did, and the reasons we did it for are the same reasons they do it today. Pride and desire.
Tony Pethel finished his football career in 1982 at Elon College where he was a four year starter on two NAIA National Championship teams in 1980 and 1981. After football he would return to Kannapolis to settle into life with his family. Tony Pethel is probably one of the best examples I know in the old saying that perseverance is important when facing adversity. As Sir Winston Churchill once stated “If you’re going through hell, Keep going.” Pethel did that for two years with the Wonders, but ask Tony if there was ever a lapse in support for the teams? Ask Pethel if the stadium seats were ever empty? The answer is a resounding no. The seasons of 1975 and 1976 as I stated earlier were seasons where the paper bags would have come out for most of your fair weathered fans, but that was not the case in Kannapolis. Fans still came to Memorial Stadium in droves and there was never any lack of enthusiasm. I know because I was one of them. This was before the Charlotte Catholics, South Points and West Rowans of the new era, and everyone stayed until the final whistle blew and the fight song was played. I’m sure those two teams like Tony Pethel felt like they had let the Wonder fans down with their lack of success on the field, but nobody felt that way. We were all just as proud to be there in that stadium as we are today, maybe even more so. The Wonders would have to endure one more dismal season in 1977 before Coach Boswell delivered the Wonders from the football ashes to the beginnings of a high school football tradition like no other in the State of North Carolina. Where am I going with this you ask? Its quite simple. Though the 1975 and 1976 seasons were deemed a failure on paper, they were a testament to the loyalty and pride of Wonder Nation. a lesson in humility if you will that needs revisiting. Tony Pethel exemplified perseverance and tough work ethic on the field as many others of that time did, but didn’t receive the accolades.
One of the more touching moments in this interview with Tony Pethel was this story he conveyed to me about his football days. (TP) (“You know Scott, I could have played football or not it wouldn’t have mattered, but I liked the way it made my parents feel. Some of the upper class people living in Kannapolis would come up to my parents in the stands during the games and tell them how good I was and talk to them about me, and it made them feel good. I thought to myself, I can do this for awhile to make them happy.”) Tony did confide in me that he did love the contact of football and the license football gave him to be aggressive. This was a very important reason as to why he played on. In closing I am reminded of a statement made by the Great Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers just shortly before his death. “The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence. Regardless of his chosen field of endeavor” Tony Pethel exemplified that statement and gives new meaning to the term Wonder Pride for the rest of us to follow.
One of the more touching moments in this interview with Tony Pethel was this story he conveyed to me about his football days. (TP) (“You know Scott, I could have played football or not it wouldn’t have mattered, but I liked the way it made my parents feel. Some of the upper class people living in Kannapolis would come up to my parents in the stands during the games and tell them how good I was and talk to them about me, and it made them feel good. I thought to myself, I can do this for awhile to make them happy.”) Tony did confide in me that he did love the contact of football and the license football gave him to be aggressive. This was a very important reason as to why he played on. In closing I am reminded of a statement made by the Great Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers just shortly before his death. “The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence. Regardless of his chosen field of endeavor” Tony Pethel exemplified that statement and gives new meaning to the term Wonder Pride for the rest of us to follow.
Tony Pethel in 2011
*To revisit the glory days of former Wonder great Tony Pethel click on the appropriate button text below*
1975
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1976
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"The Hard Road to Glory"
Todd Williford
In the seventies the spirit of Wonder Football was epitomized by getting the most from the smallest of people. Nobody personified that fact better than the subject of this last installment of the “Hard Road to Glory” When you talk about dynamite coming in small packages this is what best describes Wonder HB/DB from 1974-1975 Todd Williford. Standing right around 5’9 and weighing in at 140lbs Todd Willeford prowled the Wonder secondary as a last line of defense behind such great linemen as Tim Davis, Tim Roseman, Ricky Greir, and Tony Pethel. Willeford could be compared to the “little Engine that Could” on the Little Wonders defense, and would stand toe to toe with some of the best the South Piedmont Conference had to offer at that time. Todd Williford was described by many of his partners in crime as a kid not afraid to take on the biggest people, and most of the time did. Linemen Tim Davis said of Williford “He was a tough, gritty kid who liked to get dirty, and wasn’t afraid of getting hit.” “Todd was smart, and knew how to pick and choose his battles” said linemen Tony Pethel. “He wouldn’t always win, and he got freight trained many times, but the guy would stand in there and hit ya.” said wonder defensive end Joey Roseman. Comments like this were not uncommon about Willeford. As a Defensive back Willeford he knew his position well where he spent most of his time while playing under coach Lope Linder.
Though one of the Smallest Wonders of this time Williford played the game with big heart, and a reckless abandon that earned him the right of being called one of the best Wonders to suit up at DB. One of his most memorable outings was in 1974 against the Salisbury Hornets in Memorial Stadium. With just under 3:40 left in the game The Wonders had allowed the Hornets to score a late TD to come within one of the Wonders 7-6. Salisbury decided to go for the win rather than a tie and elected for the two point conversion. Hornet RB Kevin Moss took a pitch from Salisbury QB Mike Cansler and headed for the pay dirt only to be held up by Willeford and Terry Cunnigham at the Wonder three. This win put the Wonders in sole possession of first place in the SPC that year. I remember very well watching Willeford play during this time, and even at 140lbs he still seemed like an NFL caliber player to a nine year old kid longing to play football for the Wonders someday.
I just recently had the opportunity to sit down with the mighty might at his home in Kannapolis for the interview you are about to read. Todd welcomed me into his home with his family and we sat down to relive some very memorable moments in Wonder football for me and as it turned out some memorable moments for Willeford as well. The conversation went as follows.
Though one of the Smallest Wonders of this time Williford played the game with big heart, and a reckless abandon that earned him the right of being called one of the best Wonders to suit up at DB. One of his most memorable outings was in 1974 against the Salisbury Hornets in Memorial Stadium. With just under 3:40 left in the game The Wonders had allowed the Hornets to score a late TD to come within one of the Wonders 7-6. Salisbury decided to go for the win rather than a tie and elected for the two point conversion. Hornet RB Kevin Moss took a pitch from Salisbury QB Mike Cansler and headed for the pay dirt only to be held up by Willeford and Terry Cunnigham at the Wonder three. This win put the Wonders in sole possession of first place in the SPC that year. I remember very well watching Willeford play during this time, and even at 140lbs he still seemed like an NFL caliber player to a nine year old kid longing to play football for the Wonders someday.
I just recently had the opportunity to sit down with the mighty might at his home in Kannapolis for the interview you are about to read. Todd welcomed me into his home with his family and we sat down to relive some very memorable moments in Wonder football for me and as it turned out some memorable moments for Willeford as well. The conversation went as follows.
(FIK) What got you interested as a boy in playing football?
(TW) I just liked all sports as a Kid. I would sit with my Dad and listen to the braves play in this kind of temperature because there was not a lot of sports on TV so we had to listen to it on the radio. At an early age we played mostly basketball and baseball, and my dad use to coach a little league basketball team at the YMCA and I was a few years younger than my brother. We started having flag football around the fifth or sixth grade and I just got interested in it and liked it then. I started playing tackle football over at Carver and this was just around the time of integration. We use to play in that field at carver where the middle school is now. I had coach Gilreath atthat time who use to coach at Concord for awhile and we had a really good group then and I believe we won the championship then. Most of those guys would end up playing at Brown. We had an eight grade and ninth grade team at Cannon Jr High and I played both years. My eight grade year we went undefeated, and then my ninth grade year we lost to Concord at Webb Field I believe it was 76-0 which they had a little QB you came to know pretty well later on named Tracy Andrews. I remember getting off the bus and looking at their player and they already looked like high school kids. It was unreal.
(FIK) When was your first exposure to Wonder Football?
(TW) I started seeing the Wonders play when I was in the second or third grade. Dan Dayvault was playing then and I use to go watch him play all the time. Back then you knew all the players who played on the team. It was like what you were saying about our guys being like NFL players to you, well it was the same for us with those guys. My dad had an old drug store up where the Towel City Junction use to be and many of the Wonder football players would go up there and that’s where I started admiring them and getting to know them. The highlight in the fall in Kannapolis was the ball games. Back then it seemed like everybody had someone related to them that was involved with the school in some way or fashion and that’s why the seats were packed for every game.
(FIK) What was the program like when you started over Brown?
(TW) My sophomore year coach Campagna was there coaching the varsity. He didn’t coach us, but we use to practice around the varsity, and I remember things being really tough. The program was not what it is today. We didn’t have the weight program that they have now, and all you had was that one universal machine inside the gym. Weights were not mandated then, and you pretty much had to take it upon yourself to lift. Things were a little more primitive in nature. Practice was tough. I remember we use to run through the neighborhood behind Kentucky Fried Chicken with our helmets on, and people would fall out, and they wouldn’t go look for them either you would just have to find your way back. (laughing) We had a guy one time to fall in the creek while we were running and someone told coach Watts and he said “Leave him down there” (laughing) It was tough and there wasn’t water breaks and if you wanted water you had to run from the practice field down to the main playing field where You practiced whether it was raining or it was clear and there was no excuses for not being there.
(FIK) Did you see your size as a disadvantage?
(TW) Not really. I knew if I set my mind to it I could play with those guys. I’m not going to lie though it was tough, and more time than not the guy in front of me outweighed me by forty pounds at least. It was tough for me to gain weight. I looked at the program and they had me listed at 140lbs and I actually weighed 135lbs. I knew if I was going to be any good I was going to have to utilize speed more than anything because weight was just not going to be there for me. I always played a flanker, wide receiver, defensive back during that time and you wanted those types of guys to have speed more than size.
(FIK) What were the expectations of the 1974 team going into that season?
(TW) I remember when coach Campagna was head coach we ran that triple option, and when Linder took over in 1974 we scrapped that offense. We went to a simpler more straight forward style offense since we had guys like Vernon Greir, Donald Fortson, and George Smith who would run the ball some. Linder was a great guy, and I liked him, and respected him, but I’m just not sure he was able to get the most out of the talent he had. He wasn’t the type to motivate you. If you were there dedicated, and ready to play you would do well, but if you needed a nudge you weren’t going to get it from coach Linder. Everybody got along, and we were really close during that year. I thought we would be really good, and I think our expectations were reasonable. You didn’t talk of playoffs back then you just wanted to go out, and take each game one at a time and if at the end of the year you were in position to get into the playoffs great. I knew in 1974 we had the people to win it was just a matter of mobilizing those guys into a viable contender. We played in what I called the “I 85” conference in the old SPC. We would play guys like Lexington, Salisbury, Thomasville, Concord, and South Rowan and we picked up Trinity one year. The best teams during that time were Salisbury and Thomasville.
(FIK) Did the guys sense big things going into the game with Thomasville in 1974?
(TW) Like I said before, There was really no talk about playoffs back then. I think we took each game one at a time and just tried to do our best. We knew the Thomasville game was going to be a tough one. I remember they had one fella that was about 5’3 and wore a feather in his hair. My coach told me don’t let this guy get in front of you for any reason, so I would hold him as much as I could without getting flagged for it, but I let him get in front of me one time and he took it all the way. I don’t remember his name, but
he was one of the quickest guys running a forty I remember that year. The loss was disappointing, but I don’t think anybody threw in the towel. That didn’t come until a night in early November against Concord. (laughing)
(FIK) You had the opportunity to play with some standout athletes what are your feeling on these individuals? Lacy Brumley?
(TW) Fabulous guy. Great athlete. Probably one of the best linemen ever to play at Kannapolis. If Brumley would have had access to the facilities they have over there today I think he would have made a great pro. He was one of the strongest guys I remember back then. I didn’t get to play football on Friday nights with him, but we use to play as kids together and he was just a super athlete.
(FIK) Terry Cunningham?
(TW) Cunningham’s size made him so hard to catch. He reminded me some of Cam Newton just not as tall. Very elusive and could burn you if he go into the open field. He really excelled in that triple option. I
think they used that in 1973 and he was really smart running that offense. Super athlete and one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet.
(FIK) Tim Roseman?
(TW) Great linemen and a very easy going person. Tim was strong and had a lot of natural ability. A funny story about Tim. We went up to High Point to play Trinity and it never failed on one of those long trips someone was always forgetting a piece of their equipment. We get up to Trinity and Tim gets off the bus and tell coach “I forgot my pants” (laughing) Well, Tim is bout 260lbs, 280lbs and there’s not too many people going to have pants to fit him. Coach Linder somehow got him some practice pants that were white. I don’t know if he got them from the Trinity guys or he had a pair on the bus, but Tim was the only player on the field that night in white pants. (laughing) Tim was another one of those guys who would have really benefited from the strength and conditioning program they have over there at Brown now.
(TW) I just liked all sports as a Kid. I would sit with my Dad and listen to the braves play in this kind of temperature because there was not a lot of sports on TV so we had to listen to it on the radio. At an early age we played mostly basketball and baseball, and my dad use to coach a little league basketball team at the YMCA and I was a few years younger than my brother. We started having flag football around the fifth or sixth grade and I just got interested in it and liked it then. I started playing tackle football over at Carver and this was just around the time of integration. We use to play in that field at carver where the middle school is now. I had coach Gilreath atthat time who use to coach at Concord for awhile and we had a really good group then and I believe we won the championship then. Most of those guys would end up playing at Brown. We had an eight grade and ninth grade team at Cannon Jr High and I played both years. My eight grade year we went undefeated, and then my ninth grade year we lost to Concord at Webb Field I believe it was 76-0 which they had a little QB you came to know pretty well later on named Tracy Andrews. I remember getting off the bus and looking at their player and they already looked like high school kids. It was unreal.
(FIK) When was your first exposure to Wonder Football?
(TW) I started seeing the Wonders play when I was in the second or third grade. Dan Dayvault was playing then and I use to go watch him play all the time. Back then you knew all the players who played on the team. It was like what you were saying about our guys being like NFL players to you, well it was the same for us with those guys. My dad had an old drug store up where the Towel City Junction use to be and many of the Wonder football players would go up there and that’s where I started admiring them and getting to know them. The highlight in the fall in Kannapolis was the ball games. Back then it seemed like everybody had someone related to them that was involved with the school in some way or fashion and that’s why the seats were packed for every game.
(FIK) What was the program like when you started over Brown?
(TW) My sophomore year coach Campagna was there coaching the varsity. He didn’t coach us, but we use to practice around the varsity, and I remember things being really tough. The program was not what it is today. We didn’t have the weight program that they have now, and all you had was that one universal machine inside the gym. Weights were not mandated then, and you pretty much had to take it upon yourself to lift. Things were a little more primitive in nature. Practice was tough. I remember we use to run through the neighborhood behind Kentucky Fried Chicken with our helmets on, and people would fall out, and they wouldn’t go look for them either you would just have to find your way back. (laughing) We had a guy one time to fall in the creek while we were running and someone told coach Watts and he said “Leave him down there” (laughing) It was tough and there wasn’t water breaks and if you wanted water you had to run from the practice field down to the main playing field where You practiced whether it was raining or it was clear and there was no excuses for not being there.
(FIK) Did you see your size as a disadvantage?
(TW) Not really. I knew if I set my mind to it I could play with those guys. I’m not going to lie though it was tough, and more time than not the guy in front of me outweighed me by forty pounds at least. It was tough for me to gain weight. I looked at the program and they had me listed at 140lbs and I actually weighed 135lbs. I knew if I was going to be any good I was going to have to utilize speed more than anything because weight was just not going to be there for me. I always played a flanker, wide receiver, defensive back during that time and you wanted those types of guys to have speed more than size.
(FIK) What were the expectations of the 1974 team going into that season?
(TW) I remember when coach Campagna was head coach we ran that triple option, and when Linder took over in 1974 we scrapped that offense. We went to a simpler more straight forward style offense since we had guys like Vernon Greir, Donald Fortson, and George Smith who would run the ball some. Linder was a great guy, and I liked him, and respected him, but I’m just not sure he was able to get the most out of the talent he had. He wasn’t the type to motivate you. If you were there dedicated, and ready to play you would do well, but if you needed a nudge you weren’t going to get it from coach Linder. Everybody got along, and we were really close during that year. I thought we would be really good, and I think our expectations were reasonable. You didn’t talk of playoffs back then you just wanted to go out, and take each game one at a time and if at the end of the year you were in position to get into the playoffs great. I knew in 1974 we had the people to win it was just a matter of mobilizing those guys into a viable contender. We played in what I called the “I 85” conference in the old SPC. We would play guys like Lexington, Salisbury, Thomasville, Concord, and South Rowan and we picked up Trinity one year. The best teams during that time were Salisbury and Thomasville.
(FIK) Did the guys sense big things going into the game with Thomasville in 1974?
(TW) Like I said before, There was really no talk about playoffs back then. I think we took each game one at a time and just tried to do our best. We knew the Thomasville game was going to be a tough one. I remember they had one fella that was about 5’3 and wore a feather in his hair. My coach told me don’t let this guy get in front of you for any reason, so I would hold him as much as I could without getting flagged for it, but I let him get in front of me one time and he took it all the way. I don’t remember his name, but
he was one of the quickest guys running a forty I remember that year. The loss was disappointing, but I don’t think anybody threw in the towel. That didn’t come until a night in early November against Concord. (laughing)
(FIK) You had the opportunity to play with some standout athletes what are your feeling on these individuals? Lacy Brumley?
(TW) Fabulous guy. Great athlete. Probably one of the best linemen ever to play at Kannapolis. If Brumley would have had access to the facilities they have over there today I think he would have made a great pro. He was one of the strongest guys I remember back then. I didn’t get to play football on Friday nights with him, but we use to play as kids together and he was just a super athlete.
(FIK) Terry Cunningham?
(TW) Cunningham’s size made him so hard to catch. He reminded me some of Cam Newton just not as tall. Very elusive and could burn you if he go into the open field. He really excelled in that triple option. I
think they used that in 1973 and he was really smart running that offense. Super athlete and one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet.
(FIK) Tim Roseman?
(TW) Great linemen and a very easy going person. Tim was strong and had a lot of natural ability. A funny story about Tim. We went up to High Point to play Trinity and it never failed on one of those long trips someone was always forgetting a piece of their equipment. We get up to Trinity and Tim gets off the bus and tell coach “I forgot my pants” (laughing) Well, Tim is bout 260lbs, 280lbs and there’s not too many people going to have pants to fit him. Coach Linder somehow got him some practice pants that were white. I don’t know if he got them from the Trinity guys or he had a pair on the bus, but Tim was the only player on the field that night in white pants. (laughing) Tim was another one of those guys who would have really benefited from the strength and conditioning program they have over there at Brown now.
(FIK) Joey Roseman?
(TW) Joey was the same. Joey had a lot of natural strength and he was a great wrestler too. Joey was quick for his size and could really put a lick on somebody when it called for it. (laughing) Joey was a really good DE.
(FIK) Tim Davis?
(TW) Toughest, hardest, meanest guys I ever got hit by on a football field. Tim was a great guy off the field, but he just turned into somebody totally different when he put that uniform on. Tim hit me sometimes just because he could. There would be times in practice I wouldn’t even be a part of the play and Tim would just lay into to me. Tim would pull on an end sweep and he would just level me. You couldn’t get out of his way or the coaches would eat you alive so you just had to stand in there and take it. Sometimes it hurt worse than others, but you just might as well go ahead and have the collision and then get up brush yourself off, and have the pride in knowing you took it. (laughing)
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(TW) Really tough. Tony was a year behind me, but he was a great lineman, and didn’t seem to fear anything. Tony was like the kid who would stick his hand in the cookie jar and try to hide it when he got caught. (laughing) Pethel was strong and with his height had a real low center of gravity so it was like trying to move a stump when people hit him.
(FIK) Tell me about the loss to Concord in 1974?
(TW) That was a tough one. I know nobody was expecting it. I remember we beat Trinity the week before pretty bad and I think it may have been a let down from that game to be honest with you. I remember it was really cold that night and that could have also had something to do with it.
(FIK) Tim Davis tells the story that George Smith quit the team abruptly before the Trinity game. Do you think that may have had some effect on the team and their mindset going into Concord week?
(TW) I remember that. It seems like George had missed some practices and the coaches were really upset about that. I think some team members felt like he should have been at practice and their may have been some feelings about that, but George quit and we just went on with the task at hand. There was some discussions about that, but to say it was instrumental in our defeat I don’t think you can lay it on any one particular thing. Concord ended up being better than most people thought. I don’t remember exactly everything about that game, but I do remember not being able to run the ball which we had been doing all year. I think it took us out of our comfort zone and made us have to do things we didn’t like to do. Now I remember Terry Cunningham about bringing us back to win that game, but a pass got dropped in the end zone that would have given us a chance to at least tie the game. There were a lot of hard hits in that game, but it was hard to stomach losing it like that.
(FIK) How do you sum up your senior year after going 4 and 6?
(TW) We had a very stout line then and if I recall correctly we had some really close games that could have went either way. It was disappointing, and I thought we had more opportunity to some good things, but
things just didn’t go our way. Lack of success on the offensive side of the ball was what cost us. We just couldn’t score, and you got to have points to win. That was a bad year, and it was hard to lose games like we were losing, but some things you just don’t have any control of. I tried not to let it affect my year especially it being my senior year and all.
(FIK) What are some of your fondest memories about your high school experience playing for the Wonders?
(TW) Walking down the hill into the stadium and seeing all those people. Back then we packed the stands with supporters. It was something to see for a kid and knowing they were there in support of you made it really special. I remember how big the band was during that time. We had the best band around, and I use to get excited just hearing them march down that hill. That’s something you cant recreate. I miss that a lot. Our support system was fantastic, even when we were losing they were there and you never forget things like that. I remember how serious things were on game day. There wasn’t a lot of fooling around and clowning around on game day. Everyone was wired up and ready to go and you knew it was serious business. I remember the jitters I use to get when I would be at home sitting around waiting for time to leave for the stadium.
(TW) Joey was the same. Joey had a lot of natural strength and he was a great wrestler too. Joey was quick for his size and could really put a lick on somebody when it called for it. (laughing) Joey was a really good DE.
(FIK) Tim Davis?
(TW) Toughest, hardest, meanest guys I ever got hit by on a football field. Tim was a great guy off the field, but he just turned into somebody totally different when he put that uniform on. Tim hit me sometimes just because he could. There would be times in practice I wouldn’t even be a part of the play and Tim would just lay into to me. Tim would pull on an end sweep and he would just level me. You couldn’t get out of his way or the coaches would eat you alive so you just had to stand in there and take it. Sometimes it hurt worse than others, but you just might as well go ahead and have the collision and then get up brush yourself off, and have the pride in knowing you took it. (laughing)
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(TW) Really tough. Tony was a year behind me, but he was a great lineman, and didn’t seem to fear anything. Tony was like the kid who would stick his hand in the cookie jar and try to hide it when he got caught. (laughing) Pethel was strong and with his height had a real low center of gravity so it was like trying to move a stump when people hit him.
(FIK) Tell me about the loss to Concord in 1974?
(TW) That was a tough one. I know nobody was expecting it. I remember we beat Trinity the week before pretty bad and I think it may have been a let down from that game to be honest with you. I remember it was really cold that night and that could have also had something to do with it.
(FIK) Tim Davis tells the story that George Smith quit the team abruptly before the Trinity game. Do you think that may have had some effect on the team and their mindset going into Concord week?
(TW) I remember that. It seems like George had missed some practices and the coaches were really upset about that. I think some team members felt like he should have been at practice and their may have been some feelings about that, but George quit and we just went on with the task at hand. There was some discussions about that, but to say it was instrumental in our defeat I don’t think you can lay it on any one particular thing. Concord ended up being better than most people thought. I don’t remember exactly everything about that game, but I do remember not being able to run the ball which we had been doing all year. I think it took us out of our comfort zone and made us have to do things we didn’t like to do. Now I remember Terry Cunningham about bringing us back to win that game, but a pass got dropped in the end zone that would have given us a chance to at least tie the game. There were a lot of hard hits in that game, but it was hard to stomach losing it like that.
(FIK) How do you sum up your senior year after going 4 and 6?
(TW) We had a very stout line then and if I recall correctly we had some really close games that could have went either way. It was disappointing, and I thought we had more opportunity to some good things, but
things just didn’t go our way. Lack of success on the offensive side of the ball was what cost us. We just couldn’t score, and you got to have points to win. That was a bad year, and it was hard to lose games like we were losing, but some things you just don’t have any control of. I tried not to let it affect my year especially it being my senior year and all.
(FIK) What are some of your fondest memories about your high school experience playing for the Wonders?
(TW) Walking down the hill into the stadium and seeing all those people. Back then we packed the stands with supporters. It was something to see for a kid and knowing they were there in support of you made it really special. I remember how big the band was during that time. We had the best band around, and I use to get excited just hearing them march down that hill. That’s something you cant recreate. I miss that a lot. Our support system was fantastic, even when we were losing they were there and you never forget things like that. I remember how serious things were on game day. There wasn’t a lot of fooling around and clowning around on game day. Everyone was wired up and ready to go and you knew it was serious business. I remember the jitters I use to get when I would be at home sitting around waiting for time to leave for the stadium.
(FIK) If you could do any of it over again what would you do differently”
(TW) I believe I gave it everything I had then. I wish I had been bigger, but I think I took as much advantage of that time as I possibly could so for that I have no regrets. I never really got hurt during a game. I
have some issue now as I’m getting older, but I think I did as well as I was capable of doing especially for my size. You know I don’t remember anybody missing a game with an injury. It seems like injuries just didn’t happen as much then. I’m proud of that fact.
(FIK) If you had the opportunity to address the 2011 Wonders on opening night against Shelby what would you say to them?
(TW) I would probably say “People are counting on you. They’re watching every move you make and you will remember this moment for life so give all you have every play.” Playing football prepares you for many
things. You are going to face bigger people than you, and you are going to have challenges that some people will never have, but its those challenges that make the difference in your life and will prepare you for the adversity you will face later in life. So give all you have, and don’t waste a minute of the experience.” That’s probably what I would say to them.
After our interview we stepped outside to take a few pictures and as I was taking the photos I couldn’t help but notice that Todd’s Stature had changed very little from his playing days. Todd still looked in shape and
much like he could still suit up today and take the field. Todd has a seventeen year old son who just by chance is the starting quarterback for the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans. Colby Williford has turned out to be a chip off the old block in the Williford family, and is poised to make some noise his senior season as the field general with the Trojans. Todd is very proud of him, and supports him one hundred percent even though he is wearing black and orange. I asked Todd if that was an issue for him after playing for the Wonders, and as I thought he said absolutely not. Colby is a super kid, and I think he is going to be a big asset to the Trojans this year. Now Colby has a little more height on him than his dad, and some will say he’s even better looking. Lol lol. Todd Williford followed in his dads footsteps after high school, and became an attorney at law practicing in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. I run into Todd often in my line of work, and we always take a moment to sit down and remember some old Wonder football moments back in judges chambers or in the conference room. After high school Todd Williford would never play organized football again, and has only a few scars, and a few added aches and pains from the beatings he use to take, but more than anything he has stored away plenty of memorable moments to document his time as a Wonder football player which I know he has passed on to Colby. Todd confided in me just before I left that he would attend the Northwest Cabarrus Games in support of his son until he graduates, but when that day is over he will proudly don his Wonder green again. Married to a Trojan however I’m sure there will be some tense moments in the Williford household for many years to come.
(TW) I believe I gave it everything I had then. I wish I had been bigger, but I think I took as much advantage of that time as I possibly could so for that I have no regrets. I never really got hurt during a game. I
have some issue now as I’m getting older, but I think I did as well as I was capable of doing especially for my size. You know I don’t remember anybody missing a game with an injury. It seems like injuries just didn’t happen as much then. I’m proud of that fact.
(FIK) If you had the opportunity to address the 2011 Wonders on opening night against Shelby what would you say to them?
(TW) I would probably say “People are counting on you. They’re watching every move you make and you will remember this moment for life so give all you have every play.” Playing football prepares you for many
things. You are going to face bigger people than you, and you are going to have challenges that some people will never have, but its those challenges that make the difference in your life and will prepare you for the adversity you will face later in life. So give all you have, and don’t waste a minute of the experience.” That’s probably what I would say to them.
After our interview we stepped outside to take a few pictures and as I was taking the photos I couldn’t help but notice that Todd’s Stature had changed very little from his playing days. Todd still looked in shape and
much like he could still suit up today and take the field. Todd has a seventeen year old son who just by chance is the starting quarterback for the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans. Colby Williford has turned out to be a chip off the old block in the Williford family, and is poised to make some noise his senior season as the field general with the Trojans. Todd is very proud of him, and supports him one hundred percent even though he is wearing black and orange. I asked Todd if that was an issue for him after playing for the Wonders, and as I thought he said absolutely not. Colby is a super kid, and I think he is going to be a big asset to the Trojans this year. Now Colby has a little more height on him than his dad, and some will say he’s even better looking. Lol lol. Todd Williford followed in his dads footsteps after high school, and became an attorney at law practicing in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. I run into Todd often in my line of work, and we always take a moment to sit down and remember some old Wonder football moments back in judges chambers or in the conference room. After high school Todd Williford would never play organized football again, and has only a few scars, and a few added aches and pains from the beatings he use to take, but more than anything he has stored away plenty of memorable moments to document his time as a Wonder football player which I know he has passed on to Colby. Todd confided in me just before I left that he would attend the Northwest Cabarrus Games in support of his son until he graduates, but when that day is over he will proudly don his Wonder green again. Married to a Trojan however I’m sure there will be some tense moments in the Williford household for many years to come.
Todd Williford in 2011
*To revisit the glory days of former Wonder great Todd Williford click on the appropriate button text below*
1974
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1975
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"The Hard Road to Glory"
Bob Boswell
There use to be an old television commercial that went something like this “When E.F. Hutton talks, People Listen.” That pretty much sums up the way supporters of Kannapolis Football feel about former Head Coach Bob Boswell in this town. Bob Boswell took over an ailing A.L Brown High School Football program in 1976 that was fading fast with not much hope of revival without some serious CPR. When Boswell arrived in Kannapolis as the new head coach of the Wonders he had a vision for the program and a reliable road map on how to get there. He accomplished it once before at T.W. Andrews and why would he not think it wouldn’t be successful in Kannapolis? Never again would the Wonders be considered a tune up game for the other South Piedmont Conference Teams, and once established would become a nightmare for schools in the Central Piedmont 4A. The Wonders in 1976 had just come off a 4-6 campaign in 1975 and the bad taste of that season was still fresh in everybody’s mind.
Boswell came in implementing what I like to call a "Three Pronged Plan" for making his vision a reality. (1) Update and improve the overall physical conditions of the athletics department at A.L Brown High School that were not up to any acceptable standard at that time. (2) Create a comprehensive Strength and Conditioning program that was accessible for all the athletes. (3) Surround himself with a pristine selection of assistant coaches who were experts in their field as supporting cast. Now, as I've said before "Rome wasn’t built in a Day" Boswell, and the Wonder faithful would have to endure another two years of heartache before folks in Kannapolis would begin to reap the fruits of his labor, but in 1978 The Wonders would record their first winning season since 1974, and there would be no looking back for thirty three years after. In short 1976 was the turning point in the Kannapolis Football Program, and though the 1976 team would ultimately come out on the short end of the stick for most of the season, the winning seeds had been planted in fertile soil. All it would take from that point on would be just a little watering for it to spring into full growth. Another area of concern for Boswell was the overall look of the Wonders. How can you be expected to play like champions if you don’t look like champions? Away went the old antiquated uniforms of the early seventies and a stronger more modern look was created. A new look that basically other than a few minor alterations here and there has remained constant since 1976.
A graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington, and Elon College, Coach Boswell began his coaching career as a Graham High assistant from 1960-65. He was 16-6-1 from 1966-67 as Graham's head coach. As the head football coach at High Point Andrews from 1968-73, his record was 46-7-2, including a 4A state championship in 1972. Boswell was hired by N.C. State coach Lou Holtz and was an assistant there from 1974-76. He came to A.L. Brown as the AD and head coach in 1976. He brought weight training and stability. Boswell's first two teams were 2-8 and 3-7, but a 7-3 season in 1978 began the Wonders' current run of 31 consecutive winning seasons. Boswell's 1980 team with future NFL standouts Ethan Horton and Lance Smith was ranked 19th nationally, and his 1982 team was ranked as high as 13th in the nation. His 1984 team was state runner-up. Boswell finished his tenure at Brown in 1988 with a record of 102-38-1 and six conference championships. Brown won 4A league titles in 1979 and 1980. Boswell continued his successful career in Rock Hill, S.C. Boswell also holds the dubious distinction as being the man who had the "Little" taken away from in front of the “Little Wonders“ as they were called throughout the
early seventies. Boswell stated that term little was giving the wrong image of his program. Boswell would step down as head football coach prior to the 1989 season when the reigns were turned over to the very capable Bruce Hardin.
Widely considered one of the best coaches in Wonder history, Coach Boswell was unable to provide the one thing that had eluded the Wonders in the modern era, and that was a State Title. What most fail to realize is that Bruce Hardin inherited some stellar athletes who Coach Boswell had already prepped for success in 1989. Coach Hardin was also the heir to Boswell’s core of high profile assistant coaches namely Mike Lambeth, Bill Whightman, Jay Vaughn and Pete Stone. In other words, Bruce Hardin didn’t step into stagnate waters when
he arrived in Kannapolis in 1989. Does this mean that Bob Boswell has been marginalized by the Wonder faithful? On the contrary. Most people highly in the know about Wonder football agree, had it not been for Boswell’s vision and personal initiative, Wonder Football would not be what it is today. Coach Boswell gives a lot of the credit to a most unlikely figure head of the time in Dr Grier A Bradshaw. This week I had the great privilege to sit down with the
man I know is responsible for the great program we have today, and document his experiences on “The Hard Road to Glory” he personally took with the A.L. Brown Wonders. Our conversation went as follows.
(FIK) How did the head coaches position in Kannapolis first become known to you in 1975?
(BB) I was recruiting at NC State for Lou Holtz, and one of my recruiting areas was Kannapolis along with Salisbury, Charlotte, and anything up I-85 Coach needed me to go. Being from North Carolina I probably knew more of the North Carolina coaches than most of the other coaches on the staff did at that time. I heard about the Kannapolis job on one of those recruiting trips. I was actually in Charlotte at the time, and I found out that Dr Bradshaw had been a principle in High Point while I was at High Point Andrews. I was the first coach at High Point Andrews. I actually started that program, and within four years we had won a state championship. Johnny Evans and Ted Brown were all there, and Coach Holtz knew about me from that as did Beau Ryan who I had become good friends with who later died in a plane crash. I then went to NC State.
Dr Bradshaw knew about me from High Point Andrews, so when they were interviewing for people I went by. He was telling me they were interviewing that night, and that they had lined up several people. Dr Bradshaw asked if I would mind coming back by, and talking to the school board. So it was really late after they finished with their interviews, it was probably about ten o clock. I stopped by, and they were going to take a break about then, and so we walked down to the break room which was in the basement. We started talking, and they started asking me questions about how you build a program. I was honest with them, and told them what all went into building a program, and they kept looking at one another, and would make comments about the amount of time we would put in on Saturdays and Sundays reviewing film. I would say “Well what about this?” and Dr Bradshaw would say “Well, it depends.” Then I would say “Well what about this” again Dr Bradshaw’s response would be “it depends.” After awhile of these “Well, it depends” going on I finally said “Dr Bradshaw what does it depend on?” His response was “It depends on who we hire.” He went on further to say “lets say you were interested in the job then we could do this, this, and this. I told him then I might be interested.
I went to NC State for thirteen thousand dollars a year, and took a three thousand dollar pay cut from high school to go to NC State because they didn’t pay college coaches anything back then. This job was quite a pay increase for me. Secondly having a masters degree in administration he told me this would be an administrative job, and I would be the athletic director in charge of football, and it wouldn’t involve any teaching duties. The job was actually labeled like an assistant principle. Anything you’re not teaching has to be an administrative job, and so I told him I might just be interested. I drove back to Raleigh that night. I get a call from Dr Bradshaw the next morning on the telephone. He said “Coach after you left last night we all discussed this, and decided we would like for you to be our new head football coach. I want to offer you this job, but you got to tell me now yes or no.”
Now, we are getting ready to start spring practice at State. I though about it for a minute, and I said Dr Bradshaw I think you just found yourself a football coach. So I tell coach Holtz that I’m leaving in the spring for Kannapolis, and he tried to talk me into staying, but I left and came to Kannapolis in the spring of seventy six.
(FIK) On your first visit to the school what were your initial impressions of the campus and the area?
(BB) I came down in March of seventy six and Dr Bradshaw said “Take a look around and evaluate the program.” so I did. The first thing I looked at was the gymnasium. It was in terrible shape. I was never so shocked in my life. It had hollow doors, and downstairs in the team room they had a locker system made up of wooden lockers with wooden pegs for them to hang their gear on. They would pull those wooden pegs out and jam them in the doors.
There were holes all in the doors, and things were just terrible. They had an old basket system that the kids could put their clothes in, but there were no lockers to dress in. They would hang their clothes on a rail. I went through all these little rooms that were piled up with equipment they had purchased from surplus and it just was not clean. The more I looked at it the more upset I got, and I finally went down to Dr Bradshaw’s office and told him, we have got to do something about this mess. So he designated one of the board members, I think it was Mr. Moser to come up. We went through the mess, and he said “you’re right coach, we got to do something with this mess.” So the first thing they told me was we are going to fix this building up, and you’re going to be in charge of it.
First thing I did was hire a dump truck driver to come over with a dump truck, and he made about three passes around the gym, and we opened up the windows and just started throwing things out the windows into the back of this dump truck cleaning things out. The inside of the gym was pink and white. (laughing) I said this is ridiculous. Our colors are green and white and its pink and white in here. (laughing) So we started painting and fixing it up. I spent the whole spring just getting the building cleaned up. If you will remember where the baseball field is, they use to park their cars there for the games and the field was hard as a brick, and that was another project we did before I left. The stadium track was cinder and the stands were old splintered wood. We started fixing that. We didn’t have a tractor or anything to keep up the fields, and I liked to keep up my own fields so it was just a series of things that needed cleaning up and re painting. We painted the inside of the stadium. Some of the football players actually helped with the painting then. We just thought there was a lot of things that could be done to fix things up and that’s what we did.
Boswell came in implementing what I like to call a "Three Pronged Plan" for making his vision a reality. (1) Update and improve the overall physical conditions of the athletics department at A.L Brown High School that were not up to any acceptable standard at that time. (2) Create a comprehensive Strength and Conditioning program that was accessible for all the athletes. (3) Surround himself with a pristine selection of assistant coaches who were experts in their field as supporting cast. Now, as I've said before "Rome wasn’t built in a Day" Boswell, and the Wonder faithful would have to endure another two years of heartache before folks in Kannapolis would begin to reap the fruits of his labor, but in 1978 The Wonders would record their first winning season since 1974, and there would be no looking back for thirty three years after. In short 1976 was the turning point in the Kannapolis Football Program, and though the 1976 team would ultimately come out on the short end of the stick for most of the season, the winning seeds had been planted in fertile soil. All it would take from that point on would be just a little watering for it to spring into full growth. Another area of concern for Boswell was the overall look of the Wonders. How can you be expected to play like champions if you don’t look like champions? Away went the old antiquated uniforms of the early seventies and a stronger more modern look was created. A new look that basically other than a few minor alterations here and there has remained constant since 1976.
A graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington, and Elon College, Coach Boswell began his coaching career as a Graham High assistant from 1960-65. He was 16-6-1 from 1966-67 as Graham's head coach. As the head football coach at High Point Andrews from 1968-73, his record was 46-7-2, including a 4A state championship in 1972. Boswell was hired by N.C. State coach Lou Holtz and was an assistant there from 1974-76. He came to A.L. Brown as the AD and head coach in 1976. He brought weight training and stability. Boswell's first two teams were 2-8 and 3-7, but a 7-3 season in 1978 began the Wonders' current run of 31 consecutive winning seasons. Boswell's 1980 team with future NFL standouts Ethan Horton and Lance Smith was ranked 19th nationally, and his 1982 team was ranked as high as 13th in the nation. His 1984 team was state runner-up. Boswell finished his tenure at Brown in 1988 with a record of 102-38-1 and six conference championships. Brown won 4A league titles in 1979 and 1980. Boswell continued his successful career in Rock Hill, S.C. Boswell also holds the dubious distinction as being the man who had the "Little" taken away from in front of the “Little Wonders“ as they were called throughout the
early seventies. Boswell stated that term little was giving the wrong image of his program. Boswell would step down as head football coach prior to the 1989 season when the reigns were turned over to the very capable Bruce Hardin.
Widely considered one of the best coaches in Wonder history, Coach Boswell was unable to provide the one thing that had eluded the Wonders in the modern era, and that was a State Title. What most fail to realize is that Bruce Hardin inherited some stellar athletes who Coach Boswell had already prepped for success in 1989. Coach Hardin was also the heir to Boswell’s core of high profile assistant coaches namely Mike Lambeth, Bill Whightman, Jay Vaughn and Pete Stone. In other words, Bruce Hardin didn’t step into stagnate waters when
he arrived in Kannapolis in 1989. Does this mean that Bob Boswell has been marginalized by the Wonder faithful? On the contrary. Most people highly in the know about Wonder football agree, had it not been for Boswell’s vision and personal initiative, Wonder Football would not be what it is today. Coach Boswell gives a lot of the credit to a most unlikely figure head of the time in Dr Grier A Bradshaw. This week I had the great privilege to sit down with the
man I know is responsible for the great program we have today, and document his experiences on “The Hard Road to Glory” he personally took with the A.L. Brown Wonders. Our conversation went as follows.
(FIK) How did the head coaches position in Kannapolis first become known to you in 1975?
(BB) I was recruiting at NC State for Lou Holtz, and one of my recruiting areas was Kannapolis along with Salisbury, Charlotte, and anything up I-85 Coach needed me to go. Being from North Carolina I probably knew more of the North Carolina coaches than most of the other coaches on the staff did at that time. I heard about the Kannapolis job on one of those recruiting trips. I was actually in Charlotte at the time, and I found out that Dr Bradshaw had been a principle in High Point while I was at High Point Andrews. I was the first coach at High Point Andrews. I actually started that program, and within four years we had won a state championship. Johnny Evans and Ted Brown were all there, and Coach Holtz knew about me from that as did Beau Ryan who I had become good friends with who later died in a plane crash. I then went to NC State.
Dr Bradshaw knew about me from High Point Andrews, so when they were interviewing for people I went by. He was telling me they were interviewing that night, and that they had lined up several people. Dr Bradshaw asked if I would mind coming back by, and talking to the school board. So it was really late after they finished with their interviews, it was probably about ten o clock. I stopped by, and they were going to take a break about then, and so we walked down to the break room which was in the basement. We started talking, and they started asking me questions about how you build a program. I was honest with them, and told them what all went into building a program, and they kept looking at one another, and would make comments about the amount of time we would put in on Saturdays and Sundays reviewing film. I would say “Well what about this?” and Dr Bradshaw would say “Well, it depends.” Then I would say “Well what about this” again Dr Bradshaw’s response would be “it depends.” After awhile of these “Well, it depends” going on I finally said “Dr Bradshaw what does it depend on?” His response was “It depends on who we hire.” He went on further to say “lets say you were interested in the job then we could do this, this, and this. I told him then I might be interested.
I went to NC State for thirteen thousand dollars a year, and took a three thousand dollar pay cut from high school to go to NC State because they didn’t pay college coaches anything back then. This job was quite a pay increase for me. Secondly having a masters degree in administration he told me this would be an administrative job, and I would be the athletic director in charge of football, and it wouldn’t involve any teaching duties. The job was actually labeled like an assistant principle. Anything you’re not teaching has to be an administrative job, and so I told him I might just be interested. I drove back to Raleigh that night. I get a call from Dr Bradshaw the next morning on the telephone. He said “Coach after you left last night we all discussed this, and decided we would like for you to be our new head football coach. I want to offer you this job, but you got to tell me now yes or no.”
Now, we are getting ready to start spring practice at State. I though about it for a minute, and I said Dr Bradshaw I think you just found yourself a football coach. So I tell coach Holtz that I’m leaving in the spring for Kannapolis, and he tried to talk me into staying, but I left and came to Kannapolis in the spring of seventy six.
(FIK) On your first visit to the school what were your initial impressions of the campus and the area?
(BB) I came down in March of seventy six and Dr Bradshaw said “Take a look around and evaluate the program.” so I did. The first thing I looked at was the gymnasium. It was in terrible shape. I was never so shocked in my life. It had hollow doors, and downstairs in the team room they had a locker system made up of wooden lockers with wooden pegs for them to hang their gear on. They would pull those wooden pegs out and jam them in the doors.
There were holes all in the doors, and things were just terrible. They had an old basket system that the kids could put their clothes in, but there were no lockers to dress in. They would hang their clothes on a rail. I went through all these little rooms that were piled up with equipment they had purchased from surplus and it just was not clean. The more I looked at it the more upset I got, and I finally went down to Dr Bradshaw’s office and told him, we have got to do something about this mess. So he designated one of the board members, I think it was Mr. Moser to come up. We went through the mess, and he said “you’re right coach, we got to do something with this mess.” So the first thing they told me was we are going to fix this building up, and you’re going to be in charge of it.
First thing I did was hire a dump truck driver to come over with a dump truck, and he made about three passes around the gym, and we opened up the windows and just started throwing things out the windows into the back of this dump truck cleaning things out. The inside of the gym was pink and white. (laughing) I said this is ridiculous. Our colors are green and white and its pink and white in here. (laughing) So we started painting and fixing it up. I spent the whole spring just getting the building cleaned up. If you will remember where the baseball field is, they use to park their cars there for the games and the field was hard as a brick, and that was another project we did before I left. The stadium track was cinder and the stands were old splintered wood. We started fixing that. We didn’t have a tractor or anything to keep up the fields, and I liked to keep up my own fields so it was just a series of things that needed cleaning up and re painting. We painted the inside of the stadium. Some of the football players actually helped with the painting then. We just thought there was a lot of things that could be done to fix things up and that’s what we did.
(FIK) Did you have a time table for charting your progression as changes were implemented?
(BB) I don’t say there was an absolute time table because there were some things that were just out of our control. I knew that first year there were problems with the lack of discipline on the team, and that came from a prior coaching philosophy. I also knew there were things like improving the facilities that we could do immediately. Fix the weight room try to do things that would instill a little more pride in the program. Change the uniforms, repaint, and things like that. I also felt like the next important step was I had to get a good staff. I knew this was something that wasn’t going to happen over night. The appearance of the facilities and staffing were probably the first priorities for me at that time. I would like to have been more successful that first year, but there were too many things on the team that needed repair that was going to take longer to fix and time wasn’t on our side. It was a slow process, and you really couldn’t put a time limit on it.
(FIK) How receptive was the 1976 team to your vision?
(BB) For the most part it was good, but you had a few like with any group that you’re going to have a hard sell. The thing you have to do in any organization is get a core. If you have on your football team sixty players and you can get twenty core players they will draw the peripheral folks on. That’s really what you build on, and what you go with. I believe they realized quickly that we were organized. I remember doing county fairs and we would get the last drop out them. I remember not long ago I saw old Dr. Troutman the Chiropractor and I told him “I might need to come see you about my back” He told me “You just come on down and we will try not remember those county fairs.” (laughing)
(FIK) Who came up with the initial design for the new uniforms and was there any outside input in the design?
(BB) I’m big on letters and that’s how we ended up with the large block “K” for the helmets. I liked that. So we went with the large Kentucky “K” Same with the “K” on the field. I sat up in the stands and thought to myself if you cant see it its not worth having, . I made the “K” bigger on the field until you could see it. We also put the “K” on the shoulders of the uniforms. I wanted there to be no doubt if you saw a picture in the paper with that ”K” you would know who it was. Projects like that just instilled some pride in the program. You remember they wore those brown pants, and I just thought they were ugly, so we went to the white pants with the green stripe on the side, and then later I incorporated silver to kind of go along
with the Philadelphia Eagles look.
(FIK) How was the new uniform design received by players and administration.
(BB) They liked it. I dint like the uniforms they had. Will Compagna had come up with a Brown uniform and I thought it was the ugliest thing. (laughing) The other thing you have to think about when you’re doing uniforms is this. I started out with a white pant with green stripe, and then I did green and white jerseys with the “K” on the shoulder, and then I went to a silver pant with green stripe. I wanted to be visibly striking. Another thing you have to understand about equipment is that every year you need to replace certain things.
If you go three years and don’t buy helmets, sooner or later you got to buy thirty or forty helmets and those things are about $150.00 a piece. Budgets get killed there. My thing is every year I’m going to buy a dozen helmets and every year I’m going to fill in those jerseys. When I left there we probably had over a hundred game jerseys or more. Because I’m going to add numbers as they get torn. Some players who play a lot are going to have to have their number replaced. Tony Pethel was one you were going to have to replace, but a kid who doesn’t play that much you don’t have to replace, so every year a dozen or so jerseys is all you’re going to fill in. So you just keep filling in until you have all this nice equipment. Most people don’t do this. Bruce was bad about this. He would wait and buy a whole set of jerseys and that’s expensive when you could just fill in all along.
(BB) I don’t say there was an absolute time table because there were some things that were just out of our control. I knew that first year there were problems with the lack of discipline on the team, and that came from a prior coaching philosophy. I also knew there were things like improving the facilities that we could do immediately. Fix the weight room try to do things that would instill a little more pride in the program. Change the uniforms, repaint, and things like that. I also felt like the next important step was I had to get a good staff. I knew this was something that wasn’t going to happen over night. The appearance of the facilities and staffing were probably the first priorities for me at that time. I would like to have been more successful that first year, but there were too many things on the team that needed repair that was going to take longer to fix and time wasn’t on our side. It was a slow process, and you really couldn’t put a time limit on it.
(FIK) How receptive was the 1976 team to your vision?
(BB) For the most part it was good, but you had a few like with any group that you’re going to have a hard sell. The thing you have to do in any organization is get a core. If you have on your football team sixty players and you can get twenty core players they will draw the peripheral folks on. That’s really what you build on, and what you go with. I believe they realized quickly that we were organized. I remember doing county fairs and we would get the last drop out them. I remember not long ago I saw old Dr. Troutman the Chiropractor and I told him “I might need to come see you about my back” He told me “You just come on down and we will try not remember those county fairs.” (laughing)
(FIK) Who came up with the initial design for the new uniforms and was there any outside input in the design?
(BB) I’m big on letters and that’s how we ended up with the large block “K” for the helmets. I liked that. So we went with the large Kentucky “K” Same with the “K” on the field. I sat up in the stands and thought to myself if you cant see it its not worth having, . I made the “K” bigger on the field until you could see it. We also put the “K” on the shoulders of the uniforms. I wanted there to be no doubt if you saw a picture in the paper with that ”K” you would know who it was. Projects like that just instilled some pride in the program. You remember they wore those brown pants, and I just thought they were ugly, so we went to the white pants with the green stripe on the side, and then later I incorporated silver to kind of go along
with the Philadelphia Eagles look.
(FIK) How was the new uniform design received by players and administration.
(BB) They liked it. I dint like the uniforms they had. Will Compagna had come up with a Brown uniform and I thought it was the ugliest thing. (laughing) The other thing you have to think about when you’re doing uniforms is this. I started out with a white pant with green stripe, and then I did green and white jerseys with the “K” on the shoulder, and then I went to a silver pant with green stripe. I wanted to be visibly striking. Another thing you have to understand about equipment is that every year you need to replace certain things.
If you go three years and don’t buy helmets, sooner or later you got to buy thirty or forty helmets and those things are about $150.00 a piece. Budgets get killed there. My thing is every year I’m going to buy a dozen helmets and every year I’m going to fill in those jerseys. When I left there we probably had over a hundred game jerseys or more. Because I’m going to add numbers as they get torn. Some players who play a lot are going to have to have their number replaced. Tony Pethel was one you were going to have to replace, but a kid who doesn’t play that much you don’t have to replace, so every year a dozen or so jerseys is all you’re going to fill in. So you just keep filling in until you have all this nice equipment. Most people don’t do this. Bruce was bad about this. He would wait and buy a whole set of jerseys and that’s expensive when you could just fill in all along.
(FIK) How important was implementing a comprehensive strength and conditioning program to your vision?
(BB) Strength and Conditioning was basically non existent when I arrived. There was a single weight lifting machine in Rons office or what is now Rons office, and it was all in pieces, and just not in good shape. That was their weight program. The first thing I wanted to do was take one of those side rooms in the gym and turn it into a weight room. I started talking to Dr Bradshaw about purchasing new weight equipment. I remember taking a salesman to see him one time. It was a guy named Moody from over in Statesville who sold weight equipment, and I took him over, and he and I came up with three plans. A base plan of where we should be right now, and where we need to be going. We went down to Dr Bradshaw’s office to talk to him about it, and put the plan on his desk and said “We got to have this” We cant even start a program if we don’t have this, but we really need to be right in here to build up to this. Dr Bradshaw said “Why do you want to go through those first two steps?” (laughing) I dont think Dr Bradshaw has ever gotten the credit he deserves for building that program. He allowed me to do things that needed to be done, and it didn’t matter what as long as I could justify it. I’ll tell you something not a lot of people know to this day. Dr Bradshaw told me one day “You’re in charge of this program. If anybody puts a roadblock in your way you come see me.” I worked directly for Dr Bradshaw, and answered to Dr Bradshaw alone. Our funds and everything like that went through the district office not the high school office. I was in charge. If the school or Mr. King wanted to use the athletic facilities then he had to come see me. Dr Bradshaw made that happen, and he allowed me to do things that needed to be done.
(FIK) How important was it for you to have a good core of assistants?
(BB) All I had to do was go to Dr Bradshaw, and let him know I needed somebody. If we had an opening in the school system, and I needed somebody he would say “find me a good teacher, and find you a good coach.” So by that we were able to hire good people. Mike Lambeth was one of the first people I hired. Super smart guy. I hired him straight out of college when I was at Graham. Mackie Carden was another great coach. A lot of people don’t remember Mackie, but he became the head coach at Elon. I hired Mackie straight out of college, and I took both him, and Lambeth with me to Graham. As a matter of fact I wouldn’t even take the High Point job until they allowed me to bring those two guys in. When I left state I tried to get those guys back, and over time I did. I hired Bill Wightman right out of East Carolina. I coached Bill in High School so I knew what kind of guy he was, and I promised him if he went to college I would have a job for him when he got out. So I kept that promise at Andrews. He later became the coach at Central Cabarrus. I finally talked him out of staying at Central, and coming to Kannapolis to head up the weight program. It was just a matter of finding these people, but there again Dr Bradshaw allowed me to get those people. I went after a lot of people I already knew, and trusted would do a good job for me. Gerald Heffner stayed with me. Great addition, and a super guy probably one of the most underrated people I worked with. I found out about Pete Stone in Stanley County. I knew he was a smart guy, and a pretty good football coach, and he became a great addition to our staff. Jay Vaughn who had been an all American at Elon who had been with Bill at Central. I played against him in high school. Jay is dead now, he died of cancer a few years ago. I just wanted to surround myself with the best people I could get. When they came in none of those people had to take a pay cut. That wouldn’t have been right, and Dr Bradshaw understood that. Dr Bradshaw was just a super guy to work for. If I had a problem I went to Dr Bradshaw. He might not always agree with me, but he would give me an honest answer, and a honest opinion.
(FIK) Did the athletes at that time seem enthusiastic about weight training?
(BB) For the most part. You had a few that weren’t as enthusiastic as they should have been, but that was because no one had them doing it. I remember coming into my office one morning, and Ray Rivers was in charge of the weight program then. He got up went over to the room, and unlocked the door, and came back in and sat down. That was the weight program. (laughing) I went over, and looked at the universal machine, and I noticed the heating units were about knocked off the wall. There were foot prints on the ceiling where the kids must have climbed on top of it, and put their feet on the ceiling, so I didn’t see a lot of work being done. (laughing) I loved Lope Linder to death, and he was one of the finest human beings I ever met, but he didn’t believe in strength. Lope believed in running and conditioning, but not weights because that’s not what they were use to when they came along. You have to understand that many kids back then worked on farms, and they did physical labor during the summer. Kids today do very little of that. Lope had been successful at South doing what he did, but then he had those country boys who had natural strength.
(FIK) What were your expectations for that first year in 1976?
(BB) I was hoping we would be successful, but it didn’t take long to see that some attitudes towards
certain things were going to have to change. We started playing people that were simply better than we were. They were better because they were bigger, stronger and faster. I knew then if we were going to compete against these guys things were going to have to be a lot different against the kind of people they were playing in the old western association. We weren’t very fast, we weren’t very big, as a matter of fact the strongest kid on the team was Tony Pethel. I think he could bench around 200lbs or 225lbs then. Tony was one of the few that worked hard and bought into what we were planning. I remember the first pep rally we had that year. (laughing) That was a shock. It was in the auditorium, and the players marched in and they all sat together. Do you know who led the Pep Rally? The players did. One of them had a whistle blowing it. (laughing) I though what is this crap? (laughing) You know Pep Rally’s are for the student body. I’ll get the team ready to play. They didn’t like it. The president of the student body didn’t like it, and lot of other folks didn’t like it. They didn’t like me. I really didn’t care if they liked me or not. That wasn’t my job. My job was to build an athletic program, and to do that we had to have a lot more discipline, and all you had to do was look around, and see that it wasn’t there at that time. Who was responsible for it? I don’t know. One unpleasant job I had to do was remove Bill Watts as AD. Bill was my friend to. I was becoming AD, and Bill had been involved with coaching, and athletics all his life. So I went to Dr Bradshaw, and I said “Dr Bradshaw I really don’t feel good about doing this to a guy who has put in as much time, and energy as Bill Watts had. If he and I can work together do you mind if I keep him on my staff?” Dr Bradshaw told me “That’s up to you” I took Bill aside, and told him if you can be loyal to me, and we can work together, I would like for you to stay and help me. I let Bill draw up his own job description. Bill took on more than I thought anybody would have, and we worked well together. We may have had a run in here and there, but we always worked it out.
(BB) Strength and Conditioning was basically non existent when I arrived. There was a single weight lifting machine in Rons office or what is now Rons office, and it was all in pieces, and just not in good shape. That was their weight program. The first thing I wanted to do was take one of those side rooms in the gym and turn it into a weight room. I started talking to Dr Bradshaw about purchasing new weight equipment. I remember taking a salesman to see him one time. It was a guy named Moody from over in Statesville who sold weight equipment, and I took him over, and he and I came up with three plans. A base plan of where we should be right now, and where we need to be going. We went down to Dr Bradshaw’s office to talk to him about it, and put the plan on his desk and said “We got to have this” We cant even start a program if we don’t have this, but we really need to be right in here to build up to this. Dr Bradshaw said “Why do you want to go through those first two steps?” (laughing) I dont think Dr Bradshaw has ever gotten the credit he deserves for building that program. He allowed me to do things that needed to be done, and it didn’t matter what as long as I could justify it. I’ll tell you something not a lot of people know to this day. Dr Bradshaw told me one day “You’re in charge of this program. If anybody puts a roadblock in your way you come see me.” I worked directly for Dr Bradshaw, and answered to Dr Bradshaw alone. Our funds and everything like that went through the district office not the high school office. I was in charge. If the school or Mr. King wanted to use the athletic facilities then he had to come see me. Dr Bradshaw made that happen, and he allowed me to do things that needed to be done.
(FIK) How important was it for you to have a good core of assistants?
(BB) All I had to do was go to Dr Bradshaw, and let him know I needed somebody. If we had an opening in the school system, and I needed somebody he would say “find me a good teacher, and find you a good coach.” So by that we were able to hire good people. Mike Lambeth was one of the first people I hired. Super smart guy. I hired him straight out of college when I was at Graham. Mackie Carden was another great coach. A lot of people don’t remember Mackie, but he became the head coach at Elon. I hired Mackie straight out of college, and I took both him, and Lambeth with me to Graham. As a matter of fact I wouldn’t even take the High Point job until they allowed me to bring those two guys in. When I left state I tried to get those guys back, and over time I did. I hired Bill Wightman right out of East Carolina. I coached Bill in High School so I knew what kind of guy he was, and I promised him if he went to college I would have a job for him when he got out. So I kept that promise at Andrews. He later became the coach at Central Cabarrus. I finally talked him out of staying at Central, and coming to Kannapolis to head up the weight program. It was just a matter of finding these people, but there again Dr Bradshaw allowed me to get those people. I went after a lot of people I already knew, and trusted would do a good job for me. Gerald Heffner stayed with me. Great addition, and a super guy probably one of the most underrated people I worked with. I found out about Pete Stone in Stanley County. I knew he was a smart guy, and a pretty good football coach, and he became a great addition to our staff. Jay Vaughn who had been an all American at Elon who had been with Bill at Central. I played against him in high school. Jay is dead now, he died of cancer a few years ago. I just wanted to surround myself with the best people I could get. When they came in none of those people had to take a pay cut. That wouldn’t have been right, and Dr Bradshaw understood that. Dr Bradshaw was just a super guy to work for. If I had a problem I went to Dr Bradshaw. He might not always agree with me, but he would give me an honest answer, and a honest opinion.
(FIK) Did the athletes at that time seem enthusiastic about weight training?
(BB) For the most part. You had a few that weren’t as enthusiastic as they should have been, but that was because no one had them doing it. I remember coming into my office one morning, and Ray Rivers was in charge of the weight program then. He got up went over to the room, and unlocked the door, and came back in and sat down. That was the weight program. (laughing) I went over, and looked at the universal machine, and I noticed the heating units were about knocked off the wall. There were foot prints on the ceiling where the kids must have climbed on top of it, and put their feet on the ceiling, so I didn’t see a lot of work being done. (laughing) I loved Lope Linder to death, and he was one of the finest human beings I ever met, but he didn’t believe in strength. Lope believed in running and conditioning, but not weights because that’s not what they were use to when they came along. You have to understand that many kids back then worked on farms, and they did physical labor during the summer. Kids today do very little of that. Lope had been successful at South doing what he did, but then he had those country boys who had natural strength.
(FIK) What were your expectations for that first year in 1976?
(BB) I was hoping we would be successful, but it didn’t take long to see that some attitudes towards
certain things were going to have to change. We started playing people that were simply better than we were. They were better because they were bigger, stronger and faster. I knew then if we were going to compete against these guys things were going to have to be a lot different against the kind of people they were playing in the old western association. We weren’t very fast, we weren’t very big, as a matter of fact the strongest kid on the team was Tony Pethel. I think he could bench around 200lbs or 225lbs then. Tony was one of the few that worked hard and bought into what we were planning. I remember the first pep rally we had that year. (laughing) That was a shock. It was in the auditorium, and the players marched in and they all sat together. Do you know who led the Pep Rally? The players did. One of them had a whistle blowing it. (laughing) I though what is this crap? (laughing) You know Pep Rally’s are for the student body. I’ll get the team ready to play. They didn’t like it. The president of the student body didn’t like it, and lot of other folks didn’t like it. They didn’t like me. I really didn’t care if they liked me or not. That wasn’t my job. My job was to build an athletic program, and to do that we had to have a lot more discipline, and all you had to do was look around, and see that it wasn’t there at that time. Who was responsible for it? I don’t know. One unpleasant job I had to do was remove Bill Watts as AD. Bill was my friend to. I was becoming AD, and Bill had been involved with coaching, and athletics all his life. So I went to Dr Bradshaw, and I said “Dr Bradshaw I really don’t feel good about doing this to a guy who has put in as much time, and energy as Bill Watts had. If he and I can work together do you mind if I keep him on my staff?” Dr Bradshaw told me “That’s up to you” I took Bill aside, and told him if you can be loyal to me, and we can work together, I would like for you to stay and help me. I let Bill draw up his own job description. Bill took on more than I thought anybody would have, and we worked well together. We may have had a run in here and there, but we always worked it out.
(FIK) Would it be fair to say that there was little chance the senior class of 1976 would experience much success that first year with all the new changes in the program?
(BB) That would be fair. Its not what we wanted, but its hard to take a group that has been use to another philosophy for so long, and try to turn them into what you want them to be in a year. It took a couple of years just to get the facilities looking descent. It took a couple of years to get some discipline in there, and you have to understand that we were in the old western association at that time, and within a year we were moving into the 4A.
(FIK) What year did you begin to see noticeable change, and development within the program?
(BB) By 1978 our system was beginning to fall into place, and the kids came in knowing what we expected. I believe that was when we had our first winning record if I’m not mistaken. What you also have to understand, and something else that we started was a system of testing to identify athletes that exhibited athletic potential in the middle school range. This was another thing Dr Bradshaw allowe me to do. Not only was I the AD and Head Football Coach, but I was also in charge of physical education. Physical Education is not my field, I’m a social studies major. He let me hire all of the elementary school PE teachers. So in all of these elementary schools we had these PE instructors who began testing kids in 5th and 6th grade. What I told them was I was testing to identify kids with problems in motor skills, but at the same time I was identifying those who had good skills, so it was beneficial to everyone. That’s how we found out about Pat Moore. We found him in the 5th grade, and he couldn’t play on any little league team because he was too big. He started playing JV when he was in the ninth grade. That was another reason I kept Mike Lambeth over at the junior high. He was in charge of the testing program. We tested all those kids with motor skills problems, and we identified them, and they were the ones who came into the advanced PE. It didn’t take long to find out we had athletes coming.
(FIK) In 1977 Kannapolis would enter into the Central Piedmont 4A Conference. Was this another step in your plan to advance the program?
(BB) Going into the 4A was something that we had no control of. What happened was the state determines by enrollment where your classification falls so they put all the schools on a line. They started bracketing, and it ended up that we were the thousand or eleven hundred that put us in the bottom of the bracket, so when the final alignment came out we fell just in the threshold that put us in the 4A classification. This is something that kind of rubs me a little bit. Fifteen of my losses came in my first two years. Most of my losses came from 4A. Most of my years I coached 4A, and we were the smallest 4A school at that time. It was only two or three years that we were allowed to play 3A. That all changed before I left. I helped set that up for the new conference back in 1989 when Bruce came in, and with the players we had left over from 1988, and the staff he kept they won the state that year. We’ve played 3A since. I had to play page and High Point Central, and all of those people who had a thousand more people than we had. (laughing)
(FIK) Do you think that move was beneficial to the success of the program looking back?
(BB) Yes I think so. I didn’t particularly like it, but I think it toughened us up. I was disappointed in our record the first couple of years, but I was getting good coaches then. I could see improvement in the kids. They were taking to the weight program, and they were working hard. We could see from our test results that things were getting better. We had a feeling if we could just hang in there, and be patient enough we were going to be good.
(FIK) Tell me your thoughts on some of these stellar athletes you coached? Ethan Horton
(BB) Ethan was a great athlete. Smart kid with a lot of pride. The way you got what you wanted from Ethan Horton was to challenge his pride. I did a roast last Tuesday for Ethan, and one of the things I asked him was tell me one of the things I did or said that made a difference in your life? He said “One day I was in the weight room clowning around with some of the guys, and you walked in and said “Horton” let me tell you something. You cant be satisfied to just to be as good or better than the people in this room. Because for what you want to do you better be thinking about that kid in Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania cause that’s who you want to compete against. So you better prepare yourself now. He told me he never thought about it that way, but after I said that to him his whole attitude towards working out changed, and it pushed him to be better.
(FIK) Lance Smith?
(BB) Lance Smith was a great kid and hard worker. Lance never realized or it didn’t matter to him how big he was as far as his athletic ability. I took him to camp once, and there were 140 and 150lb guys jumping over bags and doing hurdles, and he thought he was suppose to be able to do the same things that kid did. This is something that irritates me a little. Ethan deserved everything he got, but why don’t we treat Lance the same way? He was a two time All American at LSU, and played twelve years in the pros, and we don’t treat him the same. He was probably the best linemen to ever come out of Kannapolis without question. Lance was fast and strong. I thought Monty Kiffin was going to have a fit when he saw him. Both Ethan and Lance were good kids because more than anything else their parents took an interest in what they did.
(FIK) Terry Baxter?
(BB) Great athlete. Could have been one of the best, but he didn’t have the self discipline the others had, and I think he had some off the field issues that ended his college career, but I hear he is doing really well
now. I’m glad to hear that. I liked Terry a lot.
(FIK) James Lott?
(BB) Great athlete. He didn’t have great size, but he had great heart. One of Danny Ford’s favorites. He would call me once in a while cause James liked to have a good time. (laughing) He did a great job at Clemson, and probably one of the best defensive backs to come from Kannapolis.
(FIK) Steve Litaker?
(BB) Steve was a great kid, and had great foot speed. His brother Casey was the same way. Smart kids, and always hard workers. Casey and Steve are two of my favorite folks. I will never forget one time Steve kept coming out of the game holding his arm, and I asked him “Steve whats the matter?” he just said “I hurt my arm” I yelled at Doc to come over and take a look at Litaker. Doc took a look at him, and came back over to me, and said Coach, “Steve has a broken arm.” I said what? I yelled over at Steve “why didn’t you say something sooner?” I’ll never forget what Steve said. (laughing) Steve said well, I was trying to distinguish between pain and injury. (laughing) I was always telling them in practice that they had to distinguish between pain and injury. You’re not injured you just got pain. (laughing) Steve thought he just had pain. (laughing)
(FIK) Pat Moore?
(BB) Pat Moore, Great kid. If Pat had been 6’1 or 6’2 He could have gone anywhere in the country. His height limited him to where he could go. I’ll tell you something else, he was the strongest high school kid I
ever saw. Pat Moore could bench more than Howie Long with the Raiders. Pat Moore was the strongest bench presser in America at one time.
(FIK) Tracy Johnson?
(BB) Tracy was a great athlete in high school, and he proved to be a good one at Clemson. He came in from Kings Mountain, and wasn’t with us long. Tracy was a good kid too.
(FIK) Mike Morton?
(BB) Great kid. Smart as a whip. I’ll tell you something most people don’t understand about Mike Morton. He took all advanced classes in high school, and by doing that he couldn’t get weight training like the other guys did. He would get the workout from bill, and then he would go to the YMCA at night and do the workout on his own. How many kids do you know that will do that? Mike had the smarts to go with the ability. If Mike had been just a little faster he would have made a great pro. Great heart.
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(BB) Tony. (laughing) Tough as nails. He was one of the meanest white kids I knew. You talk about a junk yard dog that was Tony. Pethel was a piece of work. (laughing) Tony was a great kid, and he was one of those who bought in to what we were trying to do here. He did everything we wanted him to do, and again if Tony had been 6’1 or 6’2 he could have had more opportunities. Tony wasn’t scared of anybody. (laughing)
(FIK) What went wrong in the 24-0 loss to Tarboro in 1984 State Title Game?
(BB) For one thing Tarboro was really good. They executed better than any team I had seen that year. They had great speed. We had played the week before up in the mountains, and played pretty well, but we knew we didn’t have the best line in the world. We had some skill people, and one of those was James Lott. James was going to be big in this game because his job was going to be to cover a guy I knew we were going to have problems with. James ended up warming up but couldn’t go, so we ended up having to put a sophomore in there to cover this guy, and we just couldn’t match up speed wise. They just had a lot more speed than we did. That was a strange year because really we didn’t have that good of an offensive or defensive line. Most of our talent was at the skill positions. Our linebackers Elliot and Johnson were as good as they come. Our line was just a little too slow. They played hard, but they were not the fastest.
(FIK) There are those who believe that you fielded some of the strongest Wonder Teams Kannapolis has ever produced including those of the Bruce Hardin era. What are your thoughts on that assessment?
(BB) I think that’s true. You look at Horton’s group, and that was a stout unit even by today’s standards. Competition had a lot to do with it, and again I think there was the benefit of having played in the 4A that really toughened us up in those days.
(FIK) There are many who believe the Kannapolis Football program owes every ounce of its success to you and your staff. What are your thoughts on that assessment?
(BB) I get a lot of the credit for it, but again I have to say Dr Bradshaw was as much or maybe more to give the credit to for that. He allowed me to do some things that I believed in, and he trusted my judgment. I haven t been a part of a system before or since then where it was like that. Its flattering, and my head swells with pride that people believe that, but again I still maintain that a good portion of the credit goes to Dr Bradshaw for allowing me the resources to help make this possible.
(FIK) What was the determining factor that led to your decision to step down prior to the 1989 season?
(BB) I look back in retrospect, and in so many ways I wish I had not left. I wish I would have stayed. It would have been nice to win 300 games, and all of that, but I felt like I had an opportunity to retire from North Carolina, and draw North Carolina Retirement. It was strictly a financial decision not an emotional one. If I had gone on my emotions I would have stayed. Dr Bradshaw tried to talk me out of it. There was no pressure on me to retire, and I hear that a lot. I think some people may have the wrong interpretation of it. I was not forced out because of people that were not happy. If there was pressure I didn’t know it. If I had stayed it would have probably meant more in terms of record. I’m not in the North Carolina High School Hall of Fame, and that would have been nice. I have been recognized by the North Carolina Football Coaches and that means a lot to me.
(FIK) When you left Kannapolis in 1988 you left a stable powerhouse program. Did you foresee the program becoming what it has become today?
(BB) Yes. We still had the good people there, and the assistant coaches were all great coaches, so I knew it would carry on. I went to the State Title game in 1989. I was proud of all those guys. I knew that Bruce would do a fantastic job here, and the record reflects that. I knew Ron would do a great job as well. I think Ron was very under appreciated for his contributions I really do.
(BB) That would be fair. Its not what we wanted, but its hard to take a group that has been use to another philosophy for so long, and try to turn them into what you want them to be in a year. It took a couple of years just to get the facilities looking descent. It took a couple of years to get some discipline in there, and you have to understand that we were in the old western association at that time, and within a year we were moving into the 4A.
(FIK) What year did you begin to see noticeable change, and development within the program?
(BB) By 1978 our system was beginning to fall into place, and the kids came in knowing what we expected. I believe that was when we had our first winning record if I’m not mistaken. What you also have to understand, and something else that we started was a system of testing to identify athletes that exhibited athletic potential in the middle school range. This was another thing Dr Bradshaw allowe me to do. Not only was I the AD and Head Football Coach, but I was also in charge of physical education. Physical Education is not my field, I’m a social studies major. He let me hire all of the elementary school PE teachers. So in all of these elementary schools we had these PE instructors who began testing kids in 5th and 6th grade. What I told them was I was testing to identify kids with problems in motor skills, but at the same time I was identifying those who had good skills, so it was beneficial to everyone. That’s how we found out about Pat Moore. We found him in the 5th grade, and he couldn’t play on any little league team because he was too big. He started playing JV when he was in the ninth grade. That was another reason I kept Mike Lambeth over at the junior high. He was in charge of the testing program. We tested all those kids with motor skills problems, and we identified them, and they were the ones who came into the advanced PE. It didn’t take long to find out we had athletes coming.
(FIK) In 1977 Kannapolis would enter into the Central Piedmont 4A Conference. Was this another step in your plan to advance the program?
(BB) Going into the 4A was something that we had no control of. What happened was the state determines by enrollment where your classification falls so they put all the schools on a line. They started bracketing, and it ended up that we were the thousand or eleven hundred that put us in the bottom of the bracket, so when the final alignment came out we fell just in the threshold that put us in the 4A classification. This is something that kind of rubs me a little bit. Fifteen of my losses came in my first two years. Most of my losses came from 4A. Most of my years I coached 4A, and we were the smallest 4A school at that time. It was only two or three years that we were allowed to play 3A. That all changed before I left. I helped set that up for the new conference back in 1989 when Bruce came in, and with the players we had left over from 1988, and the staff he kept they won the state that year. We’ve played 3A since. I had to play page and High Point Central, and all of those people who had a thousand more people than we had. (laughing)
(FIK) Do you think that move was beneficial to the success of the program looking back?
(BB) Yes I think so. I didn’t particularly like it, but I think it toughened us up. I was disappointed in our record the first couple of years, but I was getting good coaches then. I could see improvement in the kids. They were taking to the weight program, and they were working hard. We could see from our test results that things were getting better. We had a feeling if we could just hang in there, and be patient enough we were going to be good.
(FIK) Tell me your thoughts on some of these stellar athletes you coached? Ethan Horton
(BB) Ethan was a great athlete. Smart kid with a lot of pride. The way you got what you wanted from Ethan Horton was to challenge his pride. I did a roast last Tuesday for Ethan, and one of the things I asked him was tell me one of the things I did or said that made a difference in your life? He said “One day I was in the weight room clowning around with some of the guys, and you walked in and said “Horton” let me tell you something. You cant be satisfied to just to be as good or better than the people in this room. Because for what you want to do you better be thinking about that kid in Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania cause that’s who you want to compete against. So you better prepare yourself now. He told me he never thought about it that way, but after I said that to him his whole attitude towards working out changed, and it pushed him to be better.
(FIK) Lance Smith?
(BB) Lance Smith was a great kid and hard worker. Lance never realized or it didn’t matter to him how big he was as far as his athletic ability. I took him to camp once, and there were 140 and 150lb guys jumping over bags and doing hurdles, and he thought he was suppose to be able to do the same things that kid did. This is something that irritates me a little. Ethan deserved everything he got, but why don’t we treat Lance the same way? He was a two time All American at LSU, and played twelve years in the pros, and we don’t treat him the same. He was probably the best linemen to ever come out of Kannapolis without question. Lance was fast and strong. I thought Monty Kiffin was going to have a fit when he saw him. Both Ethan and Lance were good kids because more than anything else their parents took an interest in what they did.
(FIK) Terry Baxter?
(BB) Great athlete. Could have been one of the best, but he didn’t have the self discipline the others had, and I think he had some off the field issues that ended his college career, but I hear he is doing really well
now. I’m glad to hear that. I liked Terry a lot.
(FIK) James Lott?
(BB) Great athlete. He didn’t have great size, but he had great heart. One of Danny Ford’s favorites. He would call me once in a while cause James liked to have a good time. (laughing) He did a great job at Clemson, and probably one of the best defensive backs to come from Kannapolis.
(FIK) Steve Litaker?
(BB) Steve was a great kid, and had great foot speed. His brother Casey was the same way. Smart kids, and always hard workers. Casey and Steve are two of my favorite folks. I will never forget one time Steve kept coming out of the game holding his arm, and I asked him “Steve whats the matter?” he just said “I hurt my arm” I yelled at Doc to come over and take a look at Litaker. Doc took a look at him, and came back over to me, and said Coach, “Steve has a broken arm.” I said what? I yelled over at Steve “why didn’t you say something sooner?” I’ll never forget what Steve said. (laughing) Steve said well, I was trying to distinguish between pain and injury. (laughing) I was always telling them in practice that they had to distinguish between pain and injury. You’re not injured you just got pain. (laughing) Steve thought he just had pain. (laughing)
(FIK) Pat Moore?
(BB) Pat Moore, Great kid. If Pat had been 6’1 or 6’2 He could have gone anywhere in the country. His height limited him to where he could go. I’ll tell you something else, he was the strongest high school kid I
ever saw. Pat Moore could bench more than Howie Long with the Raiders. Pat Moore was the strongest bench presser in America at one time.
(FIK) Tracy Johnson?
(BB) Tracy was a great athlete in high school, and he proved to be a good one at Clemson. He came in from Kings Mountain, and wasn’t with us long. Tracy was a good kid too.
(FIK) Mike Morton?
(BB) Great kid. Smart as a whip. I’ll tell you something most people don’t understand about Mike Morton. He took all advanced classes in high school, and by doing that he couldn’t get weight training like the other guys did. He would get the workout from bill, and then he would go to the YMCA at night and do the workout on his own. How many kids do you know that will do that? Mike had the smarts to go with the ability. If Mike had been just a little faster he would have made a great pro. Great heart.
(FIK) Tony Pethel?
(BB) Tony. (laughing) Tough as nails. He was one of the meanest white kids I knew. You talk about a junk yard dog that was Tony. Pethel was a piece of work. (laughing) Tony was a great kid, and he was one of those who bought in to what we were trying to do here. He did everything we wanted him to do, and again if Tony had been 6’1 or 6’2 he could have had more opportunities. Tony wasn’t scared of anybody. (laughing)
(FIK) What went wrong in the 24-0 loss to Tarboro in 1984 State Title Game?
(BB) For one thing Tarboro was really good. They executed better than any team I had seen that year. They had great speed. We had played the week before up in the mountains, and played pretty well, but we knew we didn’t have the best line in the world. We had some skill people, and one of those was James Lott. James was going to be big in this game because his job was going to be to cover a guy I knew we were going to have problems with. James ended up warming up but couldn’t go, so we ended up having to put a sophomore in there to cover this guy, and we just couldn’t match up speed wise. They just had a lot more speed than we did. That was a strange year because really we didn’t have that good of an offensive or defensive line. Most of our talent was at the skill positions. Our linebackers Elliot and Johnson were as good as they come. Our line was just a little too slow. They played hard, but they were not the fastest.
(FIK) There are those who believe that you fielded some of the strongest Wonder Teams Kannapolis has ever produced including those of the Bruce Hardin era. What are your thoughts on that assessment?
(BB) I think that’s true. You look at Horton’s group, and that was a stout unit even by today’s standards. Competition had a lot to do with it, and again I think there was the benefit of having played in the 4A that really toughened us up in those days.
(FIK) There are many who believe the Kannapolis Football program owes every ounce of its success to you and your staff. What are your thoughts on that assessment?
(BB) I get a lot of the credit for it, but again I have to say Dr Bradshaw was as much or maybe more to give the credit to for that. He allowed me to do some things that I believed in, and he trusted my judgment. I haven t been a part of a system before or since then where it was like that. Its flattering, and my head swells with pride that people believe that, but again I still maintain that a good portion of the credit goes to Dr Bradshaw for allowing me the resources to help make this possible.
(FIK) What was the determining factor that led to your decision to step down prior to the 1989 season?
(BB) I look back in retrospect, and in so many ways I wish I had not left. I wish I would have stayed. It would have been nice to win 300 games, and all of that, but I felt like I had an opportunity to retire from North Carolina, and draw North Carolina Retirement. It was strictly a financial decision not an emotional one. If I had gone on my emotions I would have stayed. Dr Bradshaw tried to talk me out of it. There was no pressure on me to retire, and I hear that a lot. I think some people may have the wrong interpretation of it. I was not forced out because of people that were not happy. If there was pressure I didn’t know it. If I had stayed it would have probably meant more in terms of record. I’m not in the North Carolina High School Hall of Fame, and that would have been nice. I have been recognized by the North Carolina Football Coaches and that means a lot to me.
(FIK) When you left Kannapolis in 1988 you left a stable powerhouse program. Did you foresee the program becoming what it has become today?
(BB) Yes. We still had the good people there, and the assistant coaches were all great coaches, so I knew it would carry on. I went to the State Title game in 1989. I was proud of all those guys. I knew that Bruce would do a fantastic job here, and the record reflects that. I knew Ron would do a great job as well. I think Ron was very under appreciated for his contributions I really do.
(FIK) How did you feel taking the assistant coaches position at South Rowan after coaching at Kannapolis?
(BB) (laughing) That wasn’t easy. I came back to Kannapolis, and I was bored to death and they needed some help. It worked out. We had a couple of good years there. I enjoyed that, and I enjoyed developing a
couple of the players we had then that really did well for them. I bored now. (laughing) I would be coaching now if I could. I thought I had a job last year at J.M Robinson, and they offered me the job on Bobby Clonninger’s staff, and I accepted it. The superintendent said no because I was retired, and they don’t hire retirees. I would be working now if I could.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the Kannapolis/Concord Rivalry?
(BB) I think its great. Its been going on for a long time, and I think “Z” and I made it better because we were so competitive. I hated to see E.Z. retire because he was Concord. He played there, and he was proud of the Concord tradition. “Z” and I are great friends. “Z” was at South Carolina when I was at State, and we played them, and a lot of people didn’t realize that, but we go back a long ways. I get tickled because I work over at the ABC store some, and “Z” will come over to the computer store. “Z” will not come in the ABC store. He wont even walk in front of it. (laughing) He is afraid somebody will see him. I tell him my gosh “Z” the lord knows you’re not drinking what do you care about other people? “Z’ is funny that way and I think the world of him.
(FIK) What are some of your most memorable moments in that rivalry?
(BB) It doesn’t take you long to realize once you come here how intense the rivalry is, and they were all memorable games for me. I remember when Baxter and Horton were here we pretty much dominated it then. In E.Z. Smiths first year as head coach we beat him like 42-0, and I think that really set him off. (laughing) He will tell you today that he changed his whole philosophy back then after that, and he would kick that field goal near the end of the game on someone. We had the ball that year, and some of the guys said “Coach, If we score points here we will break the record that Concord holds for scoring the most points in the series as the most lop sided victory. I thought eeegh I don’t want to kick a field goal now it would be rubbing their nose in it, and the guys said “who gives a crap he would do it to you” (laughing) So we ended up sending the kicking team out there for the field goal, and he never forgot that. (laughing) He asked me about it when we met across the field, and I just told him “We might need the points for the playoffs.” (laughing) He never lets me forget that. He said in practice everyday that following year he kicked that field goal. (laughing)
(FIK) From 1981 to 1984 did you ever feel the rivalry between Kannapolis and South Rowan had grown?
(BB) It did become that way for that time. It was because we all knew each other so well. The coaching staffs knew each other, and the players. They hated our guts so bad, but it was really intense. One of those games I didn’t think we should have lost because I believe that kid dropped the ball, and I proved it on film to the officials, but it was over so we ended up losing that one.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on Bruce Hardin?
(BB) Bruce is a great guy, and very knowledgeable. Our philosophies are a little different, but Bruce was always nice to me. He would tell me that first State Championship was ours. It was our kids, our coaching
staff, and he didn’t do much that hadn’t already been done with those guys. That was a very nice thing to say to me. He was always very gracious to me.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on Ron Massey?
(BB) I knew Ron better than I knew Bruce, and had been around him more where I knew his family. I think he’s really been misunderstood, and very under appreciated. I honestly believe he’s been one of the better football coaches Kannapolis had over the years. I just think he is a very quiet guy, very private person, and there is nothing wrong with that. People will tell you I’m a bull shooter, out going, and Ron is the exact opposite. That doesn’t make me wrong or Ron wrong. I like Ron. He has always been up front with me. When we first met I think he was a little stand offish but the more I got to know him I realized he is just a very private person, and again there is nothing wrong with that. I believe Kannapolis was very lucky to have Ron for the years he has been head coach. Look at his record, and I think that speaks for him highly.
(BB) (laughing) That wasn’t easy. I came back to Kannapolis, and I was bored to death and they needed some help. It worked out. We had a couple of good years there. I enjoyed that, and I enjoyed developing a
couple of the players we had then that really did well for them. I bored now. (laughing) I would be coaching now if I could. I thought I had a job last year at J.M Robinson, and they offered me the job on Bobby Clonninger’s staff, and I accepted it. The superintendent said no because I was retired, and they don’t hire retirees. I would be working now if I could.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the Kannapolis/Concord Rivalry?
(BB) I think its great. Its been going on for a long time, and I think “Z” and I made it better because we were so competitive. I hated to see E.Z. retire because he was Concord. He played there, and he was proud of the Concord tradition. “Z” and I are great friends. “Z” was at South Carolina when I was at State, and we played them, and a lot of people didn’t realize that, but we go back a long ways. I get tickled because I work over at the ABC store some, and “Z” will come over to the computer store. “Z” will not come in the ABC store. He wont even walk in front of it. (laughing) He is afraid somebody will see him. I tell him my gosh “Z” the lord knows you’re not drinking what do you care about other people? “Z’ is funny that way and I think the world of him.
(FIK) What are some of your most memorable moments in that rivalry?
(BB) It doesn’t take you long to realize once you come here how intense the rivalry is, and they were all memorable games for me. I remember when Baxter and Horton were here we pretty much dominated it then. In E.Z. Smiths first year as head coach we beat him like 42-0, and I think that really set him off. (laughing) He will tell you today that he changed his whole philosophy back then after that, and he would kick that field goal near the end of the game on someone. We had the ball that year, and some of the guys said “Coach, If we score points here we will break the record that Concord holds for scoring the most points in the series as the most lop sided victory. I thought eeegh I don’t want to kick a field goal now it would be rubbing their nose in it, and the guys said “who gives a crap he would do it to you” (laughing) So we ended up sending the kicking team out there for the field goal, and he never forgot that. (laughing) He asked me about it when we met across the field, and I just told him “We might need the points for the playoffs.” (laughing) He never lets me forget that. He said in practice everyday that following year he kicked that field goal. (laughing)
(FIK) From 1981 to 1984 did you ever feel the rivalry between Kannapolis and South Rowan had grown?
(BB) It did become that way for that time. It was because we all knew each other so well. The coaching staffs knew each other, and the players. They hated our guts so bad, but it was really intense. One of those games I didn’t think we should have lost because I believe that kid dropped the ball, and I proved it on film to the officials, but it was over so we ended up losing that one.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on Bruce Hardin?
(BB) Bruce is a great guy, and very knowledgeable. Our philosophies are a little different, but Bruce was always nice to me. He would tell me that first State Championship was ours. It was our kids, our coaching
staff, and he didn’t do much that hadn’t already been done with those guys. That was a very nice thing to say to me. He was always very gracious to me.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on Ron Massey?
(BB) I knew Ron better than I knew Bruce, and had been around him more where I knew his family. I think he’s really been misunderstood, and very under appreciated. I honestly believe he’s been one of the better football coaches Kannapolis had over the years. I just think he is a very quiet guy, very private person, and there is nothing wrong with that. People will tell you I’m a bull shooter, out going, and Ron is the exact opposite. That doesn’t make me wrong or Ron wrong. I like Ron. He has always been up front with me. When we first met I think he was a little stand offish but the more I got to know him I realized he is just a very private person, and again there is nothing wrong with that. I believe Kannapolis was very lucky to have Ron for the years he has been head coach. Look at his record, and I think that speaks for him highly.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the new head coach at Kannapolis Mike Newsome.
(BB) You know, I know very little about him, but I know about Anson County and Butler. I know Coach Hag, and all the other coaches respect him, and like him. With that being said I think he will do just fine.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the number of kids playing football who are getting college offers today as oppose to the number of players who got college offers in your tenure?
(BB) The thing that worries me a little, and I think it started in the Bruce Hardin era, and has since carried over is the actual development of the football players in general. What we started at A.L Brown, and what I liked about what we did is we took a special interest in developing our football players, and it started young. We had a lot of kids that went on to school to play ball during that time. You mentioned some of them, but there were some you didn’t mention. Mark Smith, Brent Holbrooks, Randy Bost, and so many more, but we don’t seem to be sending as many kids out today for whatever reason. I think it goes back to what I said earlier to the early development program we had set up in the junior high level that just isn’t there right now. I said before that Bruce, and I differed in philosophies quite a bit, and I remember when Bruce played at Appalachain State, and Ron Byerly was on that same team. They got on to Ron Byerly for lifting. Ron came from Thomasville, and they lifted. They called him in and told him that he needed to knock that off that they didn’t believe in that, but Ron knew the weight lifting made him stronger, and tougher as well as increasing his stamina. I look at kids now and see all these injuries, and I think, We played kids both ways all the time, Ruben Wells, James Lott, and so many more and they didn’t get hurt. We started them early getting strong, and I believe that was the difference from then and today. I commend Coach Hagler for all the outstanding work he is doing emphasizing this aspect to his kids, but its got to start sooner than the ninth and tenth grade. I think a lot of times in high school you win a lot of games by intimidation. If you remember when we went out for warm ups you saw very little of the unison hand clapping and yelling. We didn’t believe in that. Our mind set was lets intimidate them by our presence alone. I use to tell them when the other teams do those things in warm ups that they were getting their courage up. I would say to my guys “Look at em there, they are trying to get their courage up. They‘re scared” and it worked. (laughing) If you got in their head from the warm ups alone then you had the psychological edge on your opponent, and that can make all the difference in the world.
I also think again that it goes back to the preparation in the middle school. They have lost it in the middle school. When Milton Taylor left and Honberrier came in everything we worked so hard to put in place went right out the window. He just didn’t feel like the junior high should be the feeder program for the high school. Those two entities go hand in hand, and I believe until they recognize that, Kannapolis could be in store for some disappointment years down the road. Probably one of the things I’m most disappointed in now is how they changed the junior high program. I went and watched them last year, and the decline is evident. I watched the 7th grade Concord team beat ours 38-0. I have grandkids playing in Concord right now, and I was disappointed in what I saw. I know we had some changes after I left, and they didn’t think we should continue with what we had implemented in the junior high program. The next principal that replaced Milton Taylor at the middle school made the comment that their program wasn’t the building block for A.L Brown and I strongly disagree. It took away the advanced PE we had in place over there, and our testing program, and in the long run I don’t see how it helped them, and I don’t see how it helped us. Now that’s just my opinion. I know people think the world of Mr. Honberrier. I know Chip is doing the best he can to get that going again, but once you dismantle something like that it’s hard to get it back.
(FIK) Do you think the pressure on high school coaches to win is much greater today than when you were at Kannapolis.
(BB) I think today parents are a lot more vocal about the program, and feel they know a little more about it than they actually do. Everybody wants to be the winner. I think coaches today probably go through more scrutiny than we did, but at the same time I think parents back then were just tickled their kids were participating, and were doing well. I think they supported you more then. There are a lot of negatives today and I think it comes from the parents. You have to understand winning is their sensibility, but to win you have to have the best of what you have playing, and sometimes that is contradictory to parents of kids who maybe aren’t as gifted who aren’t getting that much playing time, so they tend to get disgruntled, and want to vocalize their displeasure more. I’m one of those people who believe your best players want to be on the field, and should be on the field. I know Ethan and Lance wanted to be on both sides, and I think to develop good players you do that. You look at Ethan Horton. He ended up being a tight end in college and he was a quarterback. You never know where you might end up on the playing field later on. I really feel like Nick Maddox would have been a better player if he had played both ways a little more. Platooning is fine if you have the depth, but I still believe your best players should play, and if you are trying to develop these kids into college players then it is essential that you play them or you are doing them an injustice.
(FIK) Do you think that kind of pressure takes the fun out of the game for some high school athletes?
(BB) I think it can, but I think that’s where the head coach has to have his thumb on the pulse of the team and to know when to let it up and when to push the gas. He has a lot to do with that. I think sometimes the
coaches have so much pressure on them, and then they transfer that pressure to the kids that it can be detrimental to their enjoyment of the game.
(FIK) Lacy Brumley, Tim Davis, Tony Pethel, Joey Roseman, Todd Williford and Todd Hagler all share the same opinion of coach Bob Boswell. All have stated they knew the program was heading no where but up at the news you were coming to take over the head coaching position at Kannapolis. All have stated that the program would not be where it is to day without your contribution. All have stated that Coach Boswell ranks as one of the greatest high school coaches ever to coach in North Carolina. What is your feelings on
those statements.
(BB) Wow. That makes your head swell. (laughing) I appreciate that so much, but again so much of the credit should go to Dr Bradshaw, and I cant re emphasize that enough. People in Kannapolis owe a big thank you to that man. He is without a doubt the unsung hero of this entire program, and I mean that whole heartedly. I remember when I came over to Brown early for recruiting visits and saw some of those guys that were leaving from 1973 and 1974 I thought man they had some studs. Then I looked around and saw what was coming, and Tony Pethel was one of the biggest guys I saw. (laughing) Lacy Brumley would have been a big challenge for me. (laughing) I remember Ed Emory came by and said “I want you to do me a favor Bos” and I said sure what is it? He said I’m gonna have Lacy come by and work out, and I want you to kinda keep an eye on him.” (laughing) I said I would be glad to. So Ed came back by near the end of the summer, and asked me “how did my boy do? and I said, The last time I saw him was the day you brought him in here. (laughing) I would read about him in the paper playing softball, and I never saw him again. (laughing) Brumley had as much natural athletic ability as Pat Moore and Lance Smith because he had the quick feet, and the hand and eye coordination. He just lacked a little better work ethic, and I have no doubt he would have made a fantastic player in the pros.
(FIK) Knowing how the majority of Wonder fans feel about you, and what you have done for the success of Wonder Football, Do you still feel a sense of pride in what you basically created?
(BB) Oh yes. What makes me feel good is I will go to the games now, and I will walk down through the stands, and someone will yell “Hey Coach” To still be called coach is such a good feeling because it means something to you. It makes you feel like you made an impression, and it’s very satisfying to me.
(FIK) What do you miss most about coaching the Wonders of A.L Brown High School?
(BB) The thing I’ve have missed most about coaching is the guys you work with. That’s the fun of it. You’re around them everyday, and we were close. We didn’t just coach together, but we went to the coast together, we partied together, and we still do. Bill Wightman and I both spoke at Ethan’s roast. I go by mike lambeth’s house all the time to talk with him, and the camaraderie with everyone is just something you don’t want to give up. To see players you coached do well is probably the most satisfying of all. They almost become like your
own kids when you are that close to them day after day. You feel like they are a part of your life, and for Ethan to say what he said about me the other night in his roast just pulled at my heart, and those are the things you never forget.
(BB) You know, I know very little about him, but I know about Anson County and Butler. I know Coach Hag, and all the other coaches respect him, and like him. With that being said I think he will do just fine.
(FIK) What are your thoughts on the number of kids playing football who are getting college offers today as oppose to the number of players who got college offers in your tenure?
(BB) The thing that worries me a little, and I think it started in the Bruce Hardin era, and has since carried over is the actual development of the football players in general. What we started at A.L Brown, and what I liked about what we did is we took a special interest in developing our football players, and it started young. We had a lot of kids that went on to school to play ball during that time. You mentioned some of them, but there were some you didn’t mention. Mark Smith, Brent Holbrooks, Randy Bost, and so many more, but we don’t seem to be sending as many kids out today for whatever reason. I think it goes back to what I said earlier to the early development program we had set up in the junior high level that just isn’t there right now. I said before that Bruce, and I differed in philosophies quite a bit, and I remember when Bruce played at Appalachain State, and Ron Byerly was on that same team. They got on to Ron Byerly for lifting. Ron came from Thomasville, and they lifted. They called him in and told him that he needed to knock that off that they didn’t believe in that, but Ron knew the weight lifting made him stronger, and tougher as well as increasing his stamina. I look at kids now and see all these injuries, and I think, We played kids both ways all the time, Ruben Wells, James Lott, and so many more and they didn’t get hurt. We started them early getting strong, and I believe that was the difference from then and today. I commend Coach Hagler for all the outstanding work he is doing emphasizing this aspect to his kids, but its got to start sooner than the ninth and tenth grade. I think a lot of times in high school you win a lot of games by intimidation. If you remember when we went out for warm ups you saw very little of the unison hand clapping and yelling. We didn’t believe in that. Our mind set was lets intimidate them by our presence alone. I use to tell them when the other teams do those things in warm ups that they were getting their courage up. I would say to my guys “Look at em there, they are trying to get their courage up. They‘re scared” and it worked. (laughing) If you got in their head from the warm ups alone then you had the psychological edge on your opponent, and that can make all the difference in the world.
I also think again that it goes back to the preparation in the middle school. They have lost it in the middle school. When Milton Taylor left and Honberrier came in everything we worked so hard to put in place went right out the window. He just didn’t feel like the junior high should be the feeder program for the high school. Those two entities go hand in hand, and I believe until they recognize that, Kannapolis could be in store for some disappointment years down the road. Probably one of the things I’m most disappointed in now is how they changed the junior high program. I went and watched them last year, and the decline is evident. I watched the 7th grade Concord team beat ours 38-0. I have grandkids playing in Concord right now, and I was disappointed in what I saw. I know we had some changes after I left, and they didn’t think we should continue with what we had implemented in the junior high program. The next principal that replaced Milton Taylor at the middle school made the comment that their program wasn’t the building block for A.L Brown and I strongly disagree. It took away the advanced PE we had in place over there, and our testing program, and in the long run I don’t see how it helped them, and I don’t see how it helped us. Now that’s just my opinion. I know people think the world of Mr. Honberrier. I know Chip is doing the best he can to get that going again, but once you dismantle something like that it’s hard to get it back.
(FIK) Do you think the pressure on high school coaches to win is much greater today than when you were at Kannapolis.
(BB) I think today parents are a lot more vocal about the program, and feel they know a little more about it than they actually do. Everybody wants to be the winner. I think coaches today probably go through more scrutiny than we did, but at the same time I think parents back then were just tickled their kids were participating, and were doing well. I think they supported you more then. There are a lot of negatives today and I think it comes from the parents. You have to understand winning is their sensibility, but to win you have to have the best of what you have playing, and sometimes that is contradictory to parents of kids who maybe aren’t as gifted who aren’t getting that much playing time, so they tend to get disgruntled, and want to vocalize their displeasure more. I’m one of those people who believe your best players want to be on the field, and should be on the field. I know Ethan and Lance wanted to be on both sides, and I think to develop good players you do that. You look at Ethan Horton. He ended up being a tight end in college and he was a quarterback. You never know where you might end up on the playing field later on. I really feel like Nick Maddox would have been a better player if he had played both ways a little more. Platooning is fine if you have the depth, but I still believe your best players should play, and if you are trying to develop these kids into college players then it is essential that you play them or you are doing them an injustice.
(FIK) Do you think that kind of pressure takes the fun out of the game for some high school athletes?
(BB) I think it can, but I think that’s where the head coach has to have his thumb on the pulse of the team and to know when to let it up and when to push the gas. He has a lot to do with that. I think sometimes the
coaches have so much pressure on them, and then they transfer that pressure to the kids that it can be detrimental to their enjoyment of the game.
(FIK) Lacy Brumley, Tim Davis, Tony Pethel, Joey Roseman, Todd Williford and Todd Hagler all share the same opinion of coach Bob Boswell. All have stated they knew the program was heading no where but up at the news you were coming to take over the head coaching position at Kannapolis. All have stated that the program would not be where it is to day without your contribution. All have stated that Coach Boswell ranks as one of the greatest high school coaches ever to coach in North Carolina. What is your feelings on
those statements.
(BB) Wow. That makes your head swell. (laughing) I appreciate that so much, but again so much of the credit should go to Dr Bradshaw, and I cant re emphasize that enough. People in Kannapolis owe a big thank you to that man. He is without a doubt the unsung hero of this entire program, and I mean that whole heartedly. I remember when I came over to Brown early for recruiting visits and saw some of those guys that were leaving from 1973 and 1974 I thought man they had some studs. Then I looked around and saw what was coming, and Tony Pethel was one of the biggest guys I saw. (laughing) Lacy Brumley would have been a big challenge for me. (laughing) I remember Ed Emory came by and said “I want you to do me a favor Bos” and I said sure what is it? He said I’m gonna have Lacy come by and work out, and I want you to kinda keep an eye on him.” (laughing) I said I would be glad to. So Ed came back by near the end of the summer, and asked me “how did my boy do? and I said, The last time I saw him was the day you brought him in here. (laughing) I would read about him in the paper playing softball, and I never saw him again. (laughing) Brumley had as much natural athletic ability as Pat Moore and Lance Smith because he had the quick feet, and the hand and eye coordination. He just lacked a little better work ethic, and I have no doubt he would have made a fantastic player in the pros.
(FIK) Knowing how the majority of Wonder fans feel about you, and what you have done for the success of Wonder Football, Do you still feel a sense of pride in what you basically created?
(BB) Oh yes. What makes me feel good is I will go to the games now, and I will walk down through the stands, and someone will yell “Hey Coach” To still be called coach is such a good feeling because it means something to you. It makes you feel like you made an impression, and it’s very satisfying to me.
(FIK) What do you miss most about coaching the Wonders of A.L Brown High School?
(BB) The thing I’ve have missed most about coaching is the guys you work with. That’s the fun of it. You’re around them everyday, and we were close. We didn’t just coach together, but we went to the coast together, we partied together, and we still do. Bill Wightman and I both spoke at Ethan’s roast. I go by mike lambeth’s house all the time to talk with him, and the camaraderie with everyone is just something you don’t want to give up. To see players you coached do well is probably the most satisfying of all. They almost become like your
own kids when you are that close to them day after day. You feel like they are a part of your life, and for Ethan to say what he said about me the other night in his roast just pulled at my heart, and those are the things you never forget.
(FIK) Support for the Wonders have gone through some drastic changes through the years with all the winning seasons, and the high expectations for winning. Do you have an opinion on why the support
level is not as great in the stands in this era?
(BB) I think it’s different for one big reason, and of course it’s just my opinion. The mill is closed, and I know that sounds crazy, but that use to be a big topic for the mill workers, and that was Wonder Football on Friday night. They built it up through the week, and when they got to the stadium on Friday nights they were pumped. I think we have lost a little bit of that through the years, but at the same time they have been winning for so long, and the expectation to do that is so high that maybe they have forgotten how to lose. That can affect the intensity of the support.
(FIK) Is there anything Bob Boswell would do differently if he had the chance go back and start all over again?
(BB) Yes there are a lot of things I would like to do over. As far as the coaching part is concerned, I still to this day debate whether I should have left in 1988, and I think about things like a good many others think about as you have brought to my attention. What could I have done differently or better to have won that Tarboro game, and the teams with Smith and Horton I know we should have won it then. I take that on as a coaching failure, that there was something I didn’t do. I did enjoy building the program. To take something like I was given at A.L Brown High School in 1976 that was in such disarray, and make something good out of it is one of my proudest moments. I enjoy building programs, and I believe Kannapolis is a program that has stood the test of time. For that I am quite pleased.
(FIK) If you were asked to address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room on opening night against Shelby in Memorial Stadium, What would you say to them?
(BB) What I always say to the teams I coached. “Guys the most important thing to you right now are the people in this room. (Showing me an open hand) You take that hand, and those five fingers, and they don’t mean much till you close it up. I call that the band of the hand. The people you are going to care about, and love the most are in this room right now. If you will band together you can accomplish all kinds of great things, and it all starts right here tonight with one step. Band of the hand.
As I was watching Coach Boswell answer that last question about addressing the 2011 Wonders, I couldn’t help but sense the fire of Coaching football still runs deep within his soul. Coach Boswell retired in 1988 as head coach of the Wonders, and began a coaching career in Socastee South Carolina. Coach Boswell told me the years he spent in that program were tough, and many times he would walk out onto the beach after a game in his coaches outfit, and walk into the water thinking “If I can just hold out a little longer.” It was obvious the decision to leave Kannapolis was a tough choice, and one that still haunts him to this day. I could sense the pride Coach Boswell still felt in his baby for a better word, and rightfully so. Coach Boswell took a raw piece of clay, and with love, loyalty, dedication and a single man who believed in his mission Dr Grier A Bradshaw molded the Wonder football program into the juggernaut it has been for thirty three years. Coach Boswell made it possible for Bruce Hardin, Ron Massey and new head coach Mike Newsome to come in, and not have to start from scratch as he did in 1976. I cant help but ponder what a major undertaking Coach Boswell took on in 1976. To come into a situation that had disaster written all over it, and transform it the way he did took nerves of steel. Only a person confident in their abilities as a coach would be crazy enough to take on a task like that, but coach Boswell saw something many did not. He saw that A.L Brown High School for all it’s short comings at that time had plenty of potential, and it was worth taking the risk.
When I think of what coach Boswell told me about the programs he took all the time to implement within the middle school, and how new administrations had dismantled what he worked so hard to create, I have to tell you it made me very angry. I’ve said for sometime now that a comprehensive program of physical fitness needs to be implemented in the middle school, and for persons even in the later years of elementary school. They are the future of Wonder football. You have to be some sort of oxy moron not to believe that, and coach Boswell confirmed my feelings on this issue. Most red blooded American boys when they get the opportunity to see their first game of football are usually hooked on the sport from there on. Many of them in this town will then dream of one day putting on the Green and White, and running out onto the field at Memorial Stadium. To not offer those kids the same chance for success as Coach Boswell offered the young boys who came up through the ranks during his coaching tenure is absolutely insane, and selfish on the part of the powers to be. All I can say is that I believe in our new head Coach Mike Newsome, but he is only going to be able to work with what he has, and coach Boswell had it set up so he would be getting the cream of the crop where his players are concerned. Coach Boswell for a better phrase is Kannapolis Football. Coach Boswell embodies every adjective that describes a quality head Coach, and I think it’s a shame he has not been inducted into the North Carolina High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Maybe one day he will get his day. Until then Wonder Football continues to thrive, and Coach Boswell should feel very pleased he had a big part in it. Maybe that is consolation enough when he picks up the paper on Saturday morning, and reads the account of the beating some poor unsuspecting team suffered at the hands of his Wonders, who today are still traveling “That Hard Road to Glory” laid out by Coach Boswell’s road map.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to personally thank Coach Bob Boswell for taking time out of his morning, and allowing me the rare privilege to hear the fascinating story of the building of the Kannapolis Football Program. It was an honor to sit in the presence of such football royalty, and to listen to the story you have been reading. I thank you for taking the time to tell this story and for your hospitality. You are Wonder Football.
level is not as great in the stands in this era?
(BB) I think it’s different for one big reason, and of course it’s just my opinion. The mill is closed, and I know that sounds crazy, but that use to be a big topic for the mill workers, and that was Wonder Football on Friday night. They built it up through the week, and when they got to the stadium on Friday nights they were pumped. I think we have lost a little bit of that through the years, but at the same time they have been winning for so long, and the expectation to do that is so high that maybe they have forgotten how to lose. That can affect the intensity of the support.
(FIK) Is there anything Bob Boswell would do differently if he had the chance go back and start all over again?
(BB) Yes there are a lot of things I would like to do over. As far as the coaching part is concerned, I still to this day debate whether I should have left in 1988, and I think about things like a good many others think about as you have brought to my attention. What could I have done differently or better to have won that Tarboro game, and the teams with Smith and Horton I know we should have won it then. I take that on as a coaching failure, that there was something I didn’t do. I did enjoy building the program. To take something like I was given at A.L Brown High School in 1976 that was in such disarray, and make something good out of it is one of my proudest moments. I enjoy building programs, and I believe Kannapolis is a program that has stood the test of time. For that I am quite pleased.
(FIK) If you were asked to address the 2011 Wonders in the locker room on opening night against Shelby in Memorial Stadium, What would you say to them?
(BB) What I always say to the teams I coached. “Guys the most important thing to you right now are the people in this room. (Showing me an open hand) You take that hand, and those five fingers, and they don’t mean much till you close it up. I call that the band of the hand. The people you are going to care about, and love the most are in this room right now. If you will band together you can accomplish all kinds of great things, and it all starts right here tonight with one step. Band of the hand.
As I was watching Coach Boswell answer that last question about addressing the 2011 Wonders, I couldn’t help but sense the fire of Coaching football still runs deep within his soul. Coach Boswell retired in 1988 as head coach of the Wonders, and began a coaching career in Socastee South Carolina. Coach Boswell told me the years he spent in that program were tough, and many times he would walk out onto the beach after a game in his coaches outfit, and walk into the water thinking “If I can just hold out a little longer.” It was obvious the decision to leave Kannapolis was a tough choice, and one that still haunts him to this day. I could sense the pride Coach Boswell still felt in his baby for a better word, and rightfully so. Coach Boswell took a raw piece of clay, and with love, loyalty, dedication and a single man who believed in his mission Dr Grier A Bradshaw molded the Wonder football program into the juggernaut it has been for thirty three years. Coach Boswell made it possible for Bruce Hardin, Ron Massey and new head coach Mike Newsome to come in, and not have to start from scratch as he did in 1976. I cant help but ponder what a major undertaking Coach Boswell took on in 1976. To come into a situation that had disaster written all over it, and transform it the way he did took nerves of steel. Only a person confident in their abilities as a coach would be crazy enough to take on a task like that, but coach Boswell saw something many did not. He saw that A.L Brown High School for all it’s short comings at that time had plenty of potential, and it was worth taking the risk.
When I think of what coach Boswell told me about the programs he took all the time to implement within the middle school, and how new administrations had dismantled what he worked so hard to create, I have to tell you it made me very angry. I’ve said for sometime now that a comprehensive program of physical fitness needs to be implemented in the middle school, and for persons even in the later years of elementary school. They are the future of Wonder football. You have to be some sort of oxy moron not to believe that, and coach Boswell confirmed my feelings on this issue. Most red blooded American boys when they get the opportunity to see their first game of football are usually hooked on the sport from there on. Many of them in this town will then dream of one day putting on the Green and White, and running out onto the field at Memorial Stadium. To not offer those kids the same chance for success as Coach Boswell offered the young boys who came up through the ranks during his coaching tenure is absolutely insane, and selfish on the part of the powers to be. All I can say is that I believe in our new head Coach Mike Newsome, but he is only going to be able to work with what he has, and coach Boswell had it set up so he would be getting the cream of the crop where his players are concerned. Coach Boswell for a better phrase is Kannapolis Football. Coach Boswell embodies every adjective that describes a quality head Coach, and I think it’s a shame he has not been inducted into the North Carolina High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Maybe one day he will get his day. Until then Wonder Football continues to thrive, and Coach Boswell should feel very pleased he had a big part in it. Maybe that is consolation enough when he picks up the paper on Saturday morning, and reads the account of the beating some poor unsuspecting team suffered at the hands of his Wonders, who today are still traveling “That Hard Road to Glory” laid out by Coach Boswell’s road map.
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to personally thank Coach Bob Boswell for taking time out of his morning, and allowing me the rare privilege to hear the fascinating story of the building of the Kannapolis Football Program. It was an honor to sit in the presence of such football royalty, and to listen to the story you have been reading. I thank you for taking the time to tell this story and for your hospitality. You are Wonder Football.
Bob Boswell in 2011
*To revisit the landmark years of Wonder Coach Bob Boswell click on the appropriate button text below*
1976
1984
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1978
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1979
1988
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1980
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1982
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