High school football coaches Matt Johnson of Reeltown, Brent Hubbert of T.R. Miller, Robert Evans of Vestavia Hills and Bobby Carr of Montgomery-Carver couldn’t conceal their excitement at Wednesday’s AHSAA Kickoff Classic press conference held at the AHSAA’s Dan Washburn Auditorium.
The AHSAA hosted media from around the state at its annual Media Day Tuesday morning and topped off the day with the press conference highlighting the four teams set to open the 2024 season next week at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.
T.R. Miller and Reeltown open the season officially with their Thursday night battle which kicks off at 7 p.m., on August 22. Vestavia Hills and Carver will follow Friday night, August 23, with a 7 p.m. kickoff as well.
Both games will be televised over the AHSAA TV Network with WOTM TV’s Vince Earley producing the game. The games will be aired AHSAA TV Network’s cable station network, and it will also be livestreamed over the NFHS Network.
A full slate of games will be played August 22 and 23 as the season officially begins the AHSAA’s 103rd football season. While many schools participated in football as early as 1900, the AHSAA was formed in the spring of 1921.
“The matchups in the Kickoff Classic this year have sort of a semifinal or finals feel about them,” said AHSAA Assistant Director J.T. Lawrence. “I think the teams are that good, and I have heard a lot of chatter about them across the state being excited about them and we are looking forward to the games.”
Also on hand at the press conference were Hall-of-Fame volleyball coach Julie Gordon of Montgomery Academy, girls’ flag football coach Nancy Boyd of Percy Julian High School, and Tallassee High School swimming coach John Mask to discuss their upcoming fall sports seasons as well.
The football coaches swapped praises with their opponents as they discussed next week’s games as a large crowd of the state’s media attended the press conference. Earlier in the day the AHSAA’s annual Media Day was held with the AHSAA executive staff and new AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon held a question-and-answer round table with the media on hand discussing a wide range of topics including student transfers, NIL and, NFHS rules changes, and AHSAA rules and regulations, among other topics.
The Kickoff Classic press conference closed out the day for those in attendance. TG
PHOTO: AHSAA Kickoff Classic Press Conference participants include:
Front row, from left: AHSAA Assistant Director James Lawrence, Montgomery Parks
and Recreation Director Brandon Dean, AHSAA Associate Director Kim Vickers, AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon, Tallassee swim coach John Mask, Montgomery volleyball coach Julie Gordon, Percy Julian flag football coach Nancy Boyd, AHSAA Assistant Director Devin Booth.
Second row, from left: Reeltown football coach Matt Johnson, T.R. Miller football coach Brent Hubbert, Vestavia Hills football coach Robert Evans, and Carver-Montgomery football coach Bobby Carr. (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)
