Battling the elements of what feels like the first ever winter storm to hit the south the next stop on the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard brought us to
Daphne (Daphne, Ala.), Alabama. I arrived a night early in Mobile, Alabama which just so happened to be the night of the BCS National Championship.
The next night on January 11th, I drove across the Mobile Bay and was introduced to the best high school football team in Alabama, the Daphne High School Trojans. When I arrived on campus for the presentation, which was to take place in between the boys and girls varsity basketball games, I immediately was drawn to the enormous water tower on campus with the Daphne Trojan surrounded by the words "Home of the Trojans". I walked around the school, passed the life size Trojan statue, to the gym where I met up with head football coach Glenn Vickery. Coach Vickery and I talked about his team and how thrilled he was for his players. He told me he dressed 94 players for the championship game against Hoover. That's 94!!
The girls varsity basketball game ended and the presentation was about to kick off. Set up at half court, the PA announcer invited the football players onto the court. A wave of players jumped off the bleachers and took residence at center court. The players all crowded together trying to get some TV-time with all the local media present covering the presentation. Shortly thereafter MaxPreps representative Brandon Bowling, once an Alabama native, was announced and spoke highly about the Daphne team and how excited he was to honor a team that was once in his backyard. Brandon then introduced Alabama Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Lloyd Wheeler to present the coveted Army National Guard national ranking trophy. Sergeant First Class Wheeler talked about the hard work needed to be in the Army National Guard and how the same traits relate to all of the players who formed a championship team. Sergeant First Class Wheeler and Staff Sergeant Chad Davis then presented Coach Vickery with the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy. Coach Vickery enthusiastically accepted the trophy and proudly proclaimed his players accomplishments. Taking a page from Coach Pat Reilly of the mid-80's Los Angeles Lakers, Coach Vickery also stated how he would love to win another one of these trophies next year!
The night ended with a Daphne boys' basketball victory over Fairhope, which seems to be the staple of the Daphne Trojans these days. Taking names and winning games. Congratulations to Daphne High School, Go Trojans!!
