By Jon Collins

A large part of my early childhood revolved around football. Especially the Athens High Golden Eagles.

The 1975 season that resulted in the school’s first-ever state championship in the sport provided great memories for a 9-year old boy who was fortunate enough to attend most every game.

As a 4th-grader at West Athens Elementary, Fridays in the fall were definitely my favorite times of the school year. In fact, All-State running back Freddie Smith, one of the stars of that team, lived with his family right across West Hobbs Street from our little school.

I remember the Athens cheerleaders coming to our school on game days, selling spirit ribbons and such. The excitement of attending the game that night, plus getting to see some college football the next day (or more often, as it was back then, well before you could find every game on television, listening to Alabama or Auburn games on the radio) created a lot of anticipation and excitement.

A lot of my friends were the same way.

For me, however, the passion for football came honestly.

My oldest brother Lakin had been an All-State end for Coach Larry McCoy in the late ‘60s, getting to play opposite the likes of future Auburn quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan and Alabama star running back Johnny Musso, my first college football hero, in the North-South All Star game. My brother Dwight (Class of ‘71) played football as well.

Also, having two sisters, twins Beth and Cathy (‘74), allowed me access to Aquilla yearbooks to peruse, starting as early as I can remember. I knew the names and faces of many Golden Eagle greats, season records and scores from some of those tough Tennessee Valley Conference (TVC) games, as my favorite pages in those old yearbooks featured player photos and action shots.

As for memories of that unprecedented ‘75 season, the first two games stand out … and, they weren’t even wins.

There was the 7-6 loss to Grissom to open the season, followed by a tough 14-14 tie with arch rival Decatur. Both of those opponents were in the state’s largest classification at the time (4A), while Athens was 3A.

Even at that young age, I remember thinking the Golden Eagles would probably do well once they started playing programs more its own size. And did they ever, claiming the school’s first-ever Region title while recording 12 straight wins, going undefeated the rest of the season.

Some spectacular, long runs by Freddie Smith stand out from that golden season, with quarterback Jeff Johnson leading a high-powered offense. There were pass receptions by Ollie McGee, great kickoff and punt returns by Steve Parker. A stingy defense and hard hits. Solid line play on both sides of the ball, led by John Marshall and Thomas Woodroof.

The convincing 34-7 semifinal playoff win against Fairfield at home is memorable to me.

And, of course, the showdown for the state championship against powerhouse Andalusia the next week.

The build-up for that historic game in the first full season of a brand new Athens Stadium off Highway 31 was something else. Most storefronts around our Courthouse Square had their windows covered with well wishes for the home team, while many other businesses posted encouraging words on signs around town.

I couldn’t wait for the game to get here. And the Golden Eagles were definitely ready when it was time to kick off, soaring to a 35-15 victory.

Some youngsters went onto the field after the big win, and I remember wishing I could be with them. My parents thought better. A few even started climbing up the goalposts before being asked to come down. You couldn’t blame them for being excited, of course. It was a monumental victory for Athens High School and our small town.

I remember hearing that Andalusia’s head coach had been quoted the week before the game saying he “didn’t even know where Athens, Alabama was,” or something to that effect. Then I remember hearing about running back Adolph Cosby running across the field after the decisive win and giving him a map of the state with Athens circled on it, as a good-natured ribbing.

A year later, I got to go with my parents on the long road trip down to Andalusia as Athens made it back to the state title game under first-year head coach Ronnie Phillips. We were sitting in the end zone where a field goal attempt by the Bulldogs fell well short as time expired, resulting in a 7-7 tie on a cold night. They were co-state champions in 1976 as it was a state rule back then that in case of a tie there would be no overtime.

I was fortunate enough to witness the next state championship that Athens won, on another very cold night, 30 years later: in 2006 at Birmingham’s Legion Field, as Coach Allen Creasy’s Golden Eagles beat Eufaula, 10-7.

But nothing compared to that first state title and that magical 1975 season that put Athens High Football on the map.

One-time sportswriter Jon Collins is a 1984 graduate of Athens High School. He still lives in his hometown.