Our first day at Prattville was so impressive in so many regards, it left me and Trevor almost speechless.
First, I got a phone call from local legend Jimmy White, who has been covering Prattville for half a century. I emailed him on Sunday asking if we could get some insight from his persecptive, and he said he was more than happy to oblige. He and Chip Powell invited us onto their high school sports radio show tomorrow morning on WQIR 1410 AM. It should make for a really great start to the day. Everyone seems so friendly and welcoming here. All of the coaches knew we were coming, even Coach T, who invited us to drive our rental car over the grass field so we wouldn't have to walk far to get to the action (I declined...I don't think Avis would've been too happy).
I've never been to a high school like Prattville. It is in an extremely rural location with small, winding roads and a "mall" nearby that looked too small to house any individual store from the malls I'm familiar with. Still, I think that's part of Prattville's charm. It's a small Southern town with 35,000 people, modest homes, lots of green vegetation, and a national powerhouse football team.
The coaches and players are extremely modest, perhaps reflecting the demeanor of the entire town. This is particularly commendable, as the football facilities are world class, and might lead other schools/teams down the path of arrogance. They have an indoor practice facility, complete with dozens of Smith machines which the team uses for all types of lifts. It was pretty remarkable.
Coach Bill Clark and his entire staff were as inviting as any coaches we've encountered. Coach Clark was extremely open about his entire program, and willing to share all of his team's secrets. . .hard work. When a team becomes as successfull as Prattville, they're often accused of misconduct of one kind or another. That's why Coach Clark's goal to have his program be transparent. He has nothing to hide. The Lions work out in the mornings and in the afternoons, and go hard in the weightroom. It certainly pays off. They're defending 6A state champs, undefeated this year, and own a top 10 national ranking.
Tomorrow we'll be heading to Stanhope Elmore, home of the Mustangs. Lions vs. Mustangs should be an intriguing game. It might not be as intriguing as the appetizer I had tonight at dinner...alligator. First time I've ever had gator. People say it tastes like chicken, and I think they're right. But when you cover something in Italian breadcrumbs and fry it, I'm sure most things could taste like chicken.
More sports sputtering and culinary commentary tomorrow!