My Heart Still Bleeds Black and Gold!

Tonight was the first football game of the season for Elba High School, and they played Opp. James loved going to the Elba home games and I felt we should go tonight just for him. It wasn't the same of course.


The weather was nice with a cool breeze blowing across the football stadium. We didn't buy reserved seats this year, thinking we probably wouldn't go to many games. Those metal/cement seats in the general admission section are really hard (and so cold in the winter).


It was fun scanning the crowd to see if there was anybody there "our age" and we saw a few. They were grandparents I am sure.


I had fun remembering how it was 56 years ago when Opp was beat by Elba and we had a year of being undefeated. The games were played in the old stadium by the Pea River - now called Foggy Bottom. The stadium is still being use for special events and the recreation dept. uses it for football and soccer.


The 1989 Elba High School Championship football team, coaches, managers and cheerleaders were recognized at the Elba-Opp game tonight at 6:45 p.m. Everyone welcomed the ’89 Champions in celebration of their 20th Anniversary.

Before the game, among those players being recognized was Ron McKinnon who was an outstanding player for Elba. He played for Univ. of North Ala and later spent 10 years playing for the Arizona Cardinals and one year for New Orleans Saints. He has retired and lives in Bessemer, AL.


The Elba band looked great in their black and gold uniforms. Missing this year are majorettes. I guess nobody wanted to twirl the baton this year. The band selected music by John Williams tonight and it was great.


I remember playing a clarinet in the band and our music consisted of marches. Nobody played show tunes, etc. We didn't need a big truck to transport our instuments. We went to the games via big yellow school buses and took our instruments with us on the buses.


While we enjoyed the football fever and got all caught up in cheering for the home team, we sat there with heavy hearts because we were both missing James. He loved Elba football. So much that a few years ago he was honored at their spring game and presented a jersey and cap and sat in a special section. It was at this game that he met "Miss America" who was at the school that day talking to the students about not taking drugs, etc. and she was also honored at the game. The picture of James and Miss America still hangs on the wall in our den near his TV and recliner. He was so proud of that picture.


We won't have to go to all the local Friday night ball games this year but we will definitely go back for Homecoming. I have a great niece cheering (Bethany Wilson) and a cousin (Chace Sauls) playing on the Elba Varsity team this year. We have to support them.