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





Alabama Mythical State Champions



   Prior to 1966 and the beginning of the playoff system State Championships were awarded by various newspapers and wire services. This process was highly scrutinized over the years and remains the subject of arguments even today.

Polls were produced by several newspapers and wire services over the years. The following are the ones we know about:

Birmingham Post-Herald 1956-1964
Birmingham News
Alabama Sports Writers Association 1960-
United Press International 1958-
Alabama Journal
Associated Press


The Birmingham News Regional Ratings 1951-1966

The Birmingham News awarded trophies for AAA champions and AA and A co-champions from 1951 to 1966. The 1966 AAA ratings were used to select playoff teams for that year.

The rating system was developed by the AHSAA to select teams for a 1951 playoff, but was voted down at the AEA convention. The Birmingham News decided to run the ratings and award trophies. It was not an official AHSAA sponsored championship.

The state was divided into 4 regions for AA and A classifications.

Region 1 was 1st and 2nd districts.

Region 2 was 3rd and 4th districts.

Region 3 was 5th and 6th districts.

Region 4 was 7th and 8th districts.


At last--a champion. By Jerry Bryan and Alf Van Hoose  1951

"The point system proposed to the AHSAA last march for deciding championships seems to be the best one studied. The system was written by a committee of state coaches and athletic officials for study for possible inauguration of a playoff to determine champions.

The Legislative Council voted down the proposal at the AEA gathering and The News immediately announced it would adopt it except for the playoff proposal. Consequently, the Birmingham News will use this system this season to determine the Alabama high school championship team. It will award that team a handsome sunray and walnut trophy, over 40 inches high."

"Under that plan the state is divided into three classes, AAA, AA, and A. The triple A schools of which there are less than 40 are those which have an enrollment of more than 400 in the upper three grades.

In order to give the Double A and A schools awards for which to compete, the Birmingham News will give handsome sunray and walnut plaques, properly engraved for the class AA and A champions in each of four regions."

 
Birmingham News Trophy 

Scoring system:

win 10 points
tie 5 points
loss 0 points
each game won by defeated opponent , 1 point
each game won by tied opponent, one-half point
each game tied by defeated opponent, one-half point
each game tied by tied opponent, one-fourth point.

Seven games count. All losses and ties must be counted. Wins against lower classification can not be used.

Twenty point bonus for an undefeated season.

"Records will be kept in The News sports office---"

The News appointed a board of coaches to handle controversial questions.

The reason for not having a single champion in AA and A was later given as the size of the classifications-113 teams in each one compared to 33 in AAA. The coaches reasoned that there was no way to adjust the ratings for the strength of each region. Teams in the Mobile area never played teams in the Tennessee Valley Conference for example.


Mythical State Champions


1966
 
Birmingham News
3A Russellville    9-1-0   Bill Doty  Season Summary
3A Walter Wellborn    9-0-1   Ed Deupree  Season Summary
2A Sardis    10-0-0   Ben Perkins  Season Summary
2A Sulligent    9-0-0   Larry Yancey  Season Summary
1A Clements    9-0-0   William Graham  Season Summary
1A Ranburne    8-0-0   Harlan Robinson  Season Summary

1965
 
Associated Press
4A Banks    10-0-0   George White  Season Summary
3A Scottsboro    10-0-0   John Meadows  Season Summary
2A Dadeville    10-0-0   Jack Williams  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
4A Banks    10-0-0   George White  Season Summary
3A Scottsboro    10-0-0   John Meadows  Season Summary
2AUnknown
1AUnknown
 
Montgomery Advertiser
4A Banks    10-0-0   George White  Season Summary
3A Shelby County    10-0-0   Don Bulger  Season Summary
2A Dadeville    10-0-0   Jack Williams  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Banks    10-0-0   George White  Season Summary

1964
 
Associated Press
4A Coffee    10-0-0   Joe Grant  Season Summary
3A Fort Payne    9-1-0   Vernon Wells  Season Summary
2A Linden    10-0-0   Walter Henders  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
4A Tarrant    10-0-0   Charles Richards  Season Summary
3A1 Satsuma    9-1-0   Roy Harrell  Season Summary
3A2 Shelby County    9-0-1   Don Bulger  Season Summary
3A3 Haleyville    7-2-1   Gerald Jack  Season Summary
3A4 Fort Payne    9-1-0   Vernon Wells  Season Summary
2A1 Washington County    8-0-0   Ed Boggs  Season Summary
2A2 Linden    10-0-0   Walter Henders  Season Summary
2A3 Curry    8-1-1   Travis Hudson  Season Summary
2A4 Stevenson    8-1-1   Ralph Williams  Season Summary
1A1 Repton    6-1-2   Gene Madison  Season Summary
1A2 Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
1A3 Walnut Grove    8-2-0   Fred Buster Gross  Season Summary
1A4 Hazlewood    9-1-0   Van Jones  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
4A Tuscaloosa    9-1-0   Bill Henderson  Season Summary
3A Fort Payne    9-1-0   Vernon Wells  Season Summary
2A Linden    10-0-0   Walter Henders  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
Montgomery Advertiser
4A Sidney Lanier    9-1-0   Bobby Wilson  Season Summary
3A Fort Payne    9-1-0   Vernon Wells  Season Summary
2A Linden    10-0-0   Walter Henders  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Sidney Lanier    9-1-0   Bobby Wilson  Season Summary

1963
 
Associated Press
4A Percy Julian    8-1-1   Tom Jones  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
4A Talladega    10-0-0   Harry Buddy Taylor  Season Summary
2A1 Geneva County    8-1-1   James Chesteen  Season Summary
2A2 Linden    9-0-1   Walter Henders  Season Summary
2A3 Cordova    9-0-1   Wayne Grubb  Season Summary
2A4 Haleyville    9-1-0   Gerald Jack  Season Summary
1A1 Frisco City    8-1-1   Leon Jackson  Season Summary
1A2 Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
1A3 Woodland    10-0-0   Don Murphy  Season Summary
1A4 Millport  (Co-champs)  8-2-0   S.E. Sullins  Season Summary
1A4 Ardmore  (Co-champs)  8-0-1   Eugene Cooper  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
4A Talladega    10-0-0   Harry Buddy Taylor  Season Summary
3A Lanett    10-0-0   Earl Webb  Season Summary
2A Cordova    9-0-1   Wayne Grubb  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
Montgomery Advertiser
4A Percy Julian    8-1-1   Tom Jones  Season Summary
3A Lanett    10-0-0   Earl Webb  Season Summary
2A Geneva County    8-1-1   James Chesteen  Season Summary
1A Hayneville    10-0-0   Mac Champion  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Talladega    10-0-0   Harry Buddy Taylor  Season Summary

1962
 
ASWA
B Notasulga    10-0-0   Paul Taylor  Season Summary
3A Percy Julian    10-0-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
2A Valley    9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary
1A Geneva County    10-0-0   James Chesteen  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
4A Cullman    10-0-0   Oliver Woodard  Season Summary
2A1 Foley    10-0-0   Ivan Jones  Season Summary
2A2 Valley    9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary
2A3 Lineville    9-1-0   Jack Stewart  Season Summary
2A4 Addison  (Co-champs)  10-0-0   Aubrey Hicks  Season Summary
2A4 Kennedy  (Co-champs)  9-1-0   Donald Babb  Season Summary
1A1 Rehobeth    8-1-1   Calvin Jones  Season Summary
1A2 Notasulga    10-0-0   Paul Taylor  Season Summary
1A3 Shelby County    10-0-0   Don Bulger  Season Summary
1A4 Brilliant    9-1-0   Glendon Gibbs  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
4A Cullman    10-0-0   Oliver Woodard  Season Summary
3A Foley    10-0-0   Ivan Jones  Season Summary
2A Geneva County    10-0-0   James Chesteen  Season Summary
1A Linden    10-0-0   Walter Henders  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Cullman    10-0-0   Oliver Woodard  Season Summary

1961
 
ASWA
B Notasulga    10-0-0   Paul Taylor  Season Summary
3A Sidney Lanier    9-1-0   Bobby Wilson  Season Summary
2A Foley    10-0-0   Ivan Jones  Season Summary
1A Lineville    10-0-0   Jack Stewart  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
AAA Ensley    9-1-0   Herbert Hanes  Season Summary
AA1 Foley    10-0-0   Ivan Jones  Season Summary
AA2 Tallassee    7-1-1   Jackie Davis  Season Summary
AA3 Sylacauga    9-1-0   Tom Calvin  Season Summary
AA4 Russellville    8-0-2   Bill Doty  Season Summary
A1 Rehobeth    8-0-2   Calvin Jones  Season Summary
A2 Notasulga    10-0-0   Paul Taylor  Season Summary
A3 Cedar Bluff    10-0-0   L.D. Bruce  Season Summary
A4 Ardmore    9-0-0   Eugene Cooper  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
4A Ensley    9-1-0   Herbert Hanes  Season Summary
3A Russellville    8-0-2   Bill Doty  Season Summary
2A Lineville    10-0-0   Jack Stewart  Season Summary
1A Ardmore    8-0-0   Eugene Cooper  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Sidney Lanier    9-1-0   Bobby Wilson  Season Summary

1960
 
ASWA
B Millport    8-1-1   Gene Sanderson  Season Summary
3A Percy Julian    9-0-1   Tom Jones  Season Summary
2A Enterprise    9-0-1   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
1A Georgiana    8-0-2   Hamp Cook  Season Summary
 
Birmingham News
AAA Percy Julian    9-0-1   Tom Jones  Season Summary
AA1 Enterprise    9-0-1   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
AA2 Benjamin Russell    9-0-1   Billy Sam Noland  Season Summary
AA3 Sylacauga    7-2-1   Tom Calvin  Season Summary
AA4 Haleyville    10-0-0   Bubba Scott  Season Summary
A1 Monroe County    10-0-0   James Allen  Season Summary
A2 Marengo County    7-1-1   Morris Ward  Season Summary
A3 Wadley    10-0-0   W.Z. Hassell  Season Summary
A4 Winston County    9-1-0   Bill Doty  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
B Winston County    9-1-0   Bill Doty  Season Summary
3A Vigor    9-0-0   Glen Yancey  Season Summary
2A Haleyville    10-0-0   Bubba Scott  Season Summary
1A Montevallo    10-0-0   Theron Fisher  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Percy Julian    9-0-1   Tom Jones  Season Summary

1959
 
Birmingham News
AAA Percy Julian    9-1-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
AA1 Fairhope    10-0-0   Joe Compton  Season Summary
AA2 Valley    9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary
AA3 Montevallo    9-1-0   Theron Fisher  Season Summary
AA4 Haleyville    10-0-0   Bubba Scott  Season Summary
A1 Newton    6-1-0   Bruce Long  Season Summary
A2 Linden    8-1-1   Walter Henders  Season Summary
A3 Cedar Bluff    10-0-0   L.D. Bruce  Season Summary
A4 Red Bay    10-0-0   Olan Cunningham  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A Valley    9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary
2A Haleyville    10-0-0   Bubba Scott  Season Summary
1A Sumter County    9-0-1   Sam Jones  Season Summary
 
Montgomery Advertiser
3A Percy Julian  (Co-champs)  9-1-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
3A Valley  (Co-champs)  9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary
2A Enterprise    9-1-0   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
1A Sumter County    9-0-1   Sam Jones  Season Summary
 
United Press International
3A Valley    9-0-0   Doug Lockridge  Season Summary

1958
 
Birmingham News
AAA Percy Julian    10-0-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
AA1 Andalusia    10-0-0   Grady Elmore  Season Summary
AA2 Holtville    9-1-0   Herb Chapman  Season Summary
AA3 Carbon Hill    10-0-0   Jim Cunningham  Season Summary
AA4 Haleyville    9-1-0   Bubba Scott  Season Summary
A1 Dale County    8-2-0   Jim Whatley  Season Summary
A2 Smiths Station    10-0-0   T.C. Britton  Season Summary
A3 Ashville    7-2-0   William Ellis  Season Summary
A4 Ardmore    9-0-0   Eugene Cooper  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A Percy Julian    10-0-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
2A Lanett    8-1-0   Mal Morgan  Season Summary
1A Pickens County    9-1-0   J.T. Elmore  Season Summary
 
Montgomery Advertiser
3A Percy Julian    10-0-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary
2A Lanett    8-1-0   Mal Morgan  Season Summary
1A Catholic Montgomery    9-1-0   Jack Kresek  Season Summary
 
United Press International
4A Percy Julian    10-0-0   Tom Jones  Season Summary

1957
 
Birmingham News
AAA Walker    10-0-0   Joe Gambrell  Season Summary
AAA Gadsden    9-0-1   Jerry Watford  Season Summary
AA1 Escambia County    9-0-1   Arvel Holmes  Season Summary
AA2 Lanett    10-0-0   Mal Morgan  Season Summary
AA3 Sylacauga    8-0-1   Tom Calvin  Season Summary
AA4 Sylvania    9-0-0   Elbert Couch  Season Summary
A1 Cottonwood    10-0-0   George Maddox  Season Summary
A2 Bullock County    9-1-0   R.G. Cook  Season Summary
A3 Ranburne    9-0-0   H.L. Ayers  Season Summary
A4 West Limestone    8-0-0   James Kennemer  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A Walker    10-0-0   Joe Gambrell  Season Summary
2A Lanett    10-0-0   Mal Morgan  Season Summary
1A Red Level    9-0-1   Charles Stough  Season Summary
 
Montgomery Advertiser
3A Sidney Lanier    8-0-1   Bobby Wilson  Season Summary
2A Lanett    10-0-0   Mal Morgan  Season Summary
1A Red Level    9-0-1   Charles Stough  Season Summary

1956
 
Birmingham News
AAANone Awarded
AANone Awarded
ANone Awarded
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A Woodlawn    10-0-0   Kenny Morgan  Season Summary
2A West Blocton    10-0-0   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
1A Pickens County    9-0-1   J.T. Elmore  Season Summary

1955
 
Birmingham News
AAA Woodlawn    10-0-0   Kenny Morgan  Season Summary
AA1 Elba    10-0-0   Pearino Gaithers  Season Summary
AA2 West Blocton    10-0-0   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
AA3 Handley    9-1-0   Oliver Woodard  Season Summary
AA4 Guntersville    10-0-0   Joe Chorba  Season Summary
A1 Coffeeville    9-0-0   James Kornegay  Season Summary
A2 Verbena    9-1-0   James Porch  Season Summary
A3 T.W. Martin    5-3-2   Hubbard Dotson  Season Summary
A4 Pickens County    8-2-0   J.T. Elmore  Season Summary

1954
AAA Bessemer    10-0-0   Euil Snitz Snider  Season Summary
AA1 Elba    10-0-0   Pearino Gaithers  Season Summary
AA2 Tallassee    9-1-0   Charles Hattaway  Season Summary
AA3 Sylacauga    10-0-0   Bill Harris  Season Summary
AA4 Stevenson    8-0-0   W.R. Smallwood  Season Summary
A1 Washington County    10-0-0   Henry Gresham  Season Summary
A2 Verbena    10-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary
A3 Altoona    8-2-0   Dugan Taylor  Season Summary
A4 Hayden    8-0-1   Wiley Robbins  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A Bessemer    10-0-0   Euil Snitz Snider  Season Summary
2A Sylacauga    10-0-0   Bill Harris  Season Summary
1A Verbena    10-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary

1953
 
Birmingham News
AAA Ramsay    9-1   Thompson Mutt Reynolds  Season Summary
AA1 Greenville    9-0-1   Luke Whetstone  Season Summary
AA2 Benjamin Russell    9-0-1   Hamp Lyon  Season Summary
AA3 McAdory    9-1-0   Paul Foote  Season Summary
AA4 Albertville    7-2-1   Vernon Wells  Season Summary
A1 Rehobeth    9-1-0   Warren L. Jones  Season Summary
A2 Verbena    9-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary
A3 Ohatchee    8-1-1   Charles Patty  Season Summary
A4 Winston County    10-0-0   Oliver Woodard  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
3A West End    8-2   Ward Proctor  Season Summary
2A McAdory    9-1-0   Paul Foote  Season Summary
1A Verbena    9-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary

1952
 
Birmingham News
AAA Bessemer    10-0-0   Euil Snitz Snider  Season Summary
AA1 Eufaula    10-0-0   A.W. Buchanan  Season Summary
AA2 Holtville    10-0-0   Herb Chapman  Season Summary
AA3 Alexandria    9-1-0   Lou Scales  Season Summary
AA4 Haleyville    10-0-0   Jimmy Wood  Season Summary
A1 Clayton    8-1-0   Harry Buddy Taylor  Season Summary
A2 Verbena    10-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary
A3 Walnut Grove    7-2-1   Morris Higginbotham  Season Summary
A4 Hubbertville    10-0-0   Bobby Lott  Season Summary
 
Birmingham Post Herald
1A Verbena    10-0-0   James Porch  Season Summary

1951
 
Birmingham News
AA1 Elba    9-0-1   Frank Buckner  Season Summary
AA2 Demopolis    9-0-0   E.D. Chink Lott  Season Summary
AA3 Pell City    10-0-0   Will Glover  Season Summary
AA4 Oneonta    9-0-1   Arvel Holmes  Season Summary
A1 Abbeville    10-0-0   William Ellis  Season Summary
A2 Pine Hill    10-0-0   Glenn Daniel  Season Summary
A3 Dora    8-1-0   Murphy Seal  Season Summary
A4 Pickens County    10-0-0   H.C. Elmore  Season Summary
3A Bessemer    8-0-1   Euil Snitz Snider  Season Summary

1950
 
Alabama Journal
Etowah    10-0-0   James Glover  Season Summary
Etowah    10-0-0   James Glover  Season Summary

1949
Tuscaloosa    9-0-0   Frank Swede Kendall  Season Summary
Tuscaloosa  (Co-champs)  9-0-0   Frank Swede Kendall  Season Summary
Decatur  (Co-champs)  9-0-1   H.L. Shorty Ogle  Season Summary

1948
Decatur    9-0-1   H.L. Shorty Ogle  Season Summary

1947
Decatur    10-0-0   H.L. Shorty Ogle  Season Summary

1946
Ramsay    9-0   Ed Eubank  Season Summary

1945
Ensley    8-1-0   J.W. DeYampert  Season Summary

1944
Gadsden    8-1-0   Nurmi Nelson  Season Summary

1943
Woodlawn    9-0-0   Malcolm Laney  Season Summary

1942
Woodlawn    7-0-0   Malcolm Laney  Season Summary

1941
Woodlawn    8-0-0   Malcolm Laney  Season Summary

1940
Bessemer    8-0-1   Euil Snitz Snider  Season Summary

1939
Sidney Lanier    9-0-0   James Oliver  Season Summary

1938
Ensley    8-1-0   J.W. DeYampert  Season Summary

1937
Woodlawn    7-1-0   Malcolm Laney  Season Summary

1936
Tuscaloosa    8-1-0   Hilmon Holley  Season Summary

1935
Athens    9-0-0   Melvin Vines  Season Summary

1934
Ramsay    9-0-0   William Cannonball White  Season Summary

1933
Decatur    9-0-0   H.L. Shorty Ogle  Season Summary

1932
Decatur    10-0-0   R.D. Taylor  Season Summary

1931
Tuscaloosa    8-0-2   Al Clemens  Season Summary

1930
Walker    11-0-0   Ebb James  Season Summary

1929
Tuscaloosa    9-0-0   Paul Burnum  Season Summary

1928
Sidney Lanier  (Co-champs)  11-0-0   Herschel Caldwell  Season Summary
Tuscaloosa  (Co-champs)  9-0-0   Paul Burnum  Season Summary

1927
Tuscaloosa    9-0-0   Paul Burnum  Season Summary

1926
Tuscaloosa    9-0-0   Paul Burnum  Season Summary

1925
Tuscaloosa    8-0-1   Paul Burnum  Season Summary

1924
Ensley    7-0-1   William White  Season Summary

1923
Undecided

1922
Sidney Lanier    10-1-0   R.C. Red Brown  Season Summary

1921
Tuscaloosa    5-0-2   L. Dawson  Season Summary

1920
Sidney Lanier    7-0-1   Doc Penton  Season Summary





Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Ozzie Newsome, John Stallworth, John Hannah and Buck Buchanan are all members of the NFL Hall of Fame and played high school football in Alabama.