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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






1964 Coffee Yellow Jackets


 1964    Coffee Yellow Jackets
 Record: 10-0-0
 Head Coach: Joe Grant
 
 The 1964 Coffee Yellow Jackets were chosen Class 4A State Champions by the Associated Press
 

 
 

Coffee began the season ranked number eight in the first poll by the Associated Press released on September 17, 1964. They quickly rose to the fourth spot in the second poll and hung around there until the 9th week where they had risen to the third spot behind Sidney Lanier and Tuscaloosa.

Sidney Lanier lost to Lee Montgomery on the final weekend to leave Tuscaloosa and Coffee in a virtual tie for the championship. Tuscaloosa finished 9-1 and Coffee completed the season a perfect 10-0. In the final Birmingham Post-Herald poll the Black Bears from Tuscaloosa squeaked out the number one spot even though they had lost a game to Sidney Lanier earlier in the season.

Not to be denied the Associated Press, which was the forerunner to the current Alabama Sportswriters Association, voted the Yellow Jackets number one and they had their first state title in school history.

The Yellow Jackets finished 10-0 for their first undefeated season since 1937. They were loaded with star players scattered throughout the lineup. Led by co-captains Hugh Rice and Joe Hollis they picked up steam as the season went along after several close games early on.

The biggest win came in the second game when they face a good Woodlawn team at home. Coffee trailed 6-3 late in the second quarter and had done little of offense. Billy Hunt, who starred at halfback, raced 90 yards with a kickoff to give the Yellow Jackets the lead they would never relinquish. They hung on for the 9-6 victory and managed a 7-0 win over Russellville the following week and with the offense coming together they were able to complete the season unblemished. Two of their opponents, Woodlawn and Walker, were ranked at season end.

Coffee had actually led in the polls during the 1959 and 1960 seasons but stumbled along the way each year. They won the always tough Tennessee Valley Conference championship in 1959, 1960 and again in 1964.

Joe Grant coached the Yellow Jackets to the title in 1964. He arrived at Coffee in 1958 and would remain through the 1969 season winding up with a 84-38-6 record.


 1964    Coffee Yellow Jackets Team Photo


1964  Season
 Site   PF   Opponent   PA   W/L/T 
 19   Ramsay W
   Woodlawn W
   Russellville W
 20   Muscle Shoals W
 13   Deshler W
 13   Athens W
 28   Walker 14 W
 33   Decatur W
 21   Butler W
 39   Sheffield 19 W
  
202 10-0-0 75
 Associated Press 
 Final Poll                           11/26/1964
 Rank   Team   Record   Votes    
1       Coffee 83 
2       Tuscaloosa 82 
3       Sidney Lanier 79 
4       Tarrant 72 
5       Gadsden 58 
6       Dothan 57 
7       Lee Montgomery 31 
8       Walker 26 
9       Foley 13 
10       Woodlawn 12 


1964 Coffee All-State Players
 Bill HuntB 4A 1  Associated Press
 Gary McDonaldB 4A HM  Associated Press
 Hugh RiceL 4A HM  Associated Press
 Bill HuntB 4A 1  Associated Press
 Larry MarshallT 4A HM  Associated Press
 Bill HuntB 4A 1  Associated Press
 Gary McDonaldB 4A HM  Associated Press
 Hugh RiceG 4A HM  Associated Press


1964 Coffee All-Star Players
 All Southern   
 Billy Hunt B 4A  Associated Press
 AHSAA-University of Alabama All-Star Game   
 Bill Hunt HB 4A  Associated Press




1964 Coffee Roster
NO. NAME POS. WT.
  Bo Jackson E 150
  Danny Frederick E 155
  Sam Rice E 165
  Richard James E 185
  Tommy Hill E 170
  Richard Romine E 155
  John Uptain E 165
  Larry Marshall T 185
  Mike Broadfoot T 180
  Dan Young T 165
  Jerry Bernauer T 190
  Danny Killen T  
  Don White T  
  Robert Downey T  
  J.D. Grimes T  
  Hugh Rice G 170
  Doug Brown G 165
  George Luckey G 160
  Jimmy Johnson G  
  Tommy McMurtry G 165
  Jimmy Doss G 150
  Ronnie Brewer G 145
  Larry Brown G 150
  Don Balsden C 160
  Joe Neese C 165
  James Montgomery C 175
  Ken Williams C 155
  Joe Hollis QB 160
  Don Graham QB 155
  Randy Keeler QB 140
  Bill Hunt TB 165
  Joe Thigpen TB 140
  Greg Chapman TB 150
  Bryan Mason TB 145
  Ganum Smith TB 145
  Jimmy Grant WB 160
  Jimmy Hartley WB 150
  Jackie Townsend WB 140
  Larry Young WB  
  Gary McDonald FB 180
  Allan Spry FB 165
  Joe Creel FB 145
  Dewey Mitchell FB 155
       


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Foley outscored their opponents 433-6 in 1961. The Lions were named state champions by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that season.