What did it mean to you to play for the Golden Eagles?

 “We all played together from seventh grade up. Most of us knew playing time would be sporadic due to the premium talent on the team. However, we ALL had so much pride in the team, school, and coaches—from Coach Brownie Nelson in middle school to Coach Larry McCoy in high school. Very special, once in a lifetime situation.”

—Lineman Mike May

What do you remember about the frustrating tie with Decatur?

“Since I ran plays in on offense, I was standing beside Coach McCoy as time expired against Decatur. I think I asked him how we would play overtime. He looked almost embarrassed as he told me that both head coaches had agreed not to have a playoff. That was how I found out the game would end in a tie. I can remember being so disappointed. We had now played two games without a win.”

 —Flanker/defensive back Greg Young

After starting the season with a one-point loss to Grissom and a tie with Decatur, did you feel the team gaining momentum as the season progressed? 

“We played 3A Buckhorn our third game, and they had a running back with the last name Matthews. He was the younger brother of Bo Matthews, who had been a star running back from Butler High School. Bo played college football at Colorado and in 1974 after his senior year, just a year before our 1975 season, Bo was the second pick in the first round of the NFL draft. Coach McCoy played up the fact that we were playing against Bo’s younger brother, which I know they regretted. We won 56 to 6. From then on we played teams in our 3A classification. Our best competition was Colbert County, who we beat by only one TD. Winning and getting better each game within our 3A classification allowed us to gain momentum.”  

 —End Bill Ming

What life lessons did you learn while playing high school football?

“I experienced many takeaways which were later applicable in our adult years….including the importance of Team play (Accountability to others while being a part of something larger than any one person or yourself) and Being part of a well-organized program that taught structure, discipline, respect, work ethic, and playing Life’s Game by the rules, and playing to win.”

 —End Rocky Stewart

Toward the end of the first half of the state championship game, you ran down Andalusia’s best runner and made a touchdown-saving tackle. Tell us about that play.

“Our defensive game plan was to try to stop the Andalusia running game. Each player on defense had a specific assignment to cover the various options of the wishbone offense. They normally lined up in a standard, tight formation with either two tight ends or one player flanked wide. They came right at you, with no intent of any deception. We were in a 7-7 tie when their fullback took a quick handoff and broke through the line. My responsibility was the last option, the pitch from the quarterback to the running back on the outside. But when I saw the fullback break free, I turned and took off after him. He was an exceptional player that was a key cog in their attack. He sprinted down the sideline but we were able to catch him around the ten yard line and prevent a touchdown on the play. We were taught to always play to the whistle blew. I knew I had to catch him. It turned out to be a huge play. The momentum swung in their favor as they lined up to try and score. But an untimely fumble on the very next play was recovered by our defense, which gave us a tremendous sense of relief heading into halftime. We had dodged a huge bullet.”

 —Defensive back Greg Haynes

What made the defense so dominant?

“Experience, Unity, and Determination. The three qualities of a great defense..”

 —Lineman John Marshall

Late in the second quarter of the Andalusia game, you recovered a fumble near the goal line, which turned out to be a huge turnover. What do you remember about that play?

“It was right before halftime, we were tied 7-7, and Andalusia had just broken a big run down close to our 10 yard line. The next play they ran an Option to my side and my assignment was the Quarterback. We did not have a Pinch stunt called, so, I played him slow, letting him approach me, and decide what he wanted to do with the football. The Quarterback might have been trying to fake a pitch to the Tailback, or, he might have been trying to pitch it to the Tailback, I don't know.

Whatever he was trying to do, he just ended up dropping the football, which luckily rolled in my direction, and I was able to pounce on it before he could recover it. We settled down and took care of business in the second half.”

 —End Tom Honeycutt

What was going through your mind when you came out of the dressing room at halftime locked in a 7-7 tie with Andalusia?

“From a manager’s perspective we are constantly tending to the players and coaches and really do not have time to ponder. But obviously I was excited at the possibility that this team could win the championship. “

 —Manager Nick Allen

What does the achievement of the 1975 state championship mean to you all these years later?

“It’s a very special feeling for a bunch of guys who came together and accomplished something that took a lot of hard work and learning to work as a team.”

 —Fullback/linebacker Freddie Smith