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If somebody ever asked me why I love SWVA football, I'd simply have them read Tim Hayes' article on Appy Bulldogs and then they might just understand. FOOTBALL: Appalachia Program Built On Toughness Tim Hayes Aug 13, 2009 Appalachia lineman Toby Needham talks to a teammate on the sidelines during a 1996 playoff game with Rural Retreat APPALACHIA, Va. – When recalling the glory days of the Appalachia High School football program, several images quickly come to mind. There’s the plain blue helmets and no-frill jerseys. There’s the muddy, spartan-like playing surface of Riggs Stadium. There are legendary coaches Jim Riggs and Tom Turner. There’s the toughness. There’s the tenacity. But perhaps the true essence of the institution known as Appalachia football was summed up by Turner himself. “It’s tradition,” the late Turner told the Bristol Herald Courier in a 1992 interview. “And all the credit goes to the kids because they grow up thinking they’re supposed to do well. They believe in Appalachia football. “We don’t have any doctors’ or lawyers’ kids that have cars to get around in or money to blow in town, so football is [the] biggest thing going here.” Turner seemed to be at the center of all of Appalachia’s biggest wins. He starred as a player on Appalachia’s 1971 Virginia High School League Group A state championship team and then coached his alma mater to state titles in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997. The small Wise County school was many times outnumbered, outsized and given little chance to succeed. However, the gritty Bulldogs always seemed to get it done. “You can’t compare the heart of a Bulldog to anybody,” said Shane Gibson, the star running back on Appy’s 1989 VHSL Group A, Division 1 state title team. “Every down and every guy, it’s 100 percent.” Turner stressed to his players that no opponent was unbeatable and no goal was unattainable. They listened and played with an unbridled passion for the sport. “I just remember we were expected to win. Not necessarily by everybody else, but ourselves,” said Chris Mabe, a standout linebacker on the 1992 state championship squad. “When we came up, he instilled in us the attitude, you come from a smaller school, but you still should be able to beat anybody out there … He expected us to outplay whoever we were scheduled to play.” The start At 6-foot-3 and 225-pounds, Turner was an intimidating presence as a player at Appalachia in the early-1970s. It didn’t take him long to set the tone his senior season in 1971, racking up 11 tackles in the first quarter alone in a 40-14 win over Saltville in the season-opener. His bruising style was a big reason why Appalachia rolled to a 13-0 record and captured the Lonesome Pine District and Region D titles. Under the direction of Riggs, the Bulldogs capped an unbeaten season with a 24-0 win over Madison in the state finals. Turner led Appalachia to the state basketball title that winter and earned a football scholarship to Virginia Tech, where he shined as a defensive lineman. He would officially become the head football coach at Appalachia in 1980. Nine years later, he would guide the team to his first state title as a coach in unlikely fashion. The 1989 Bulldogs finished the regular season just 5-5, lost its final three regular-season games and squeaked into the playoffs. “There was just at lot of pressure on us,” Gibson said. “The three previous years we had faced getting in the playoffs and there was a lot of pressure to get it done and win. We all had a lot of heart.” Appalachia posted close wins over Twin Springs and J.I. Burton in the regional playoffs. In a 27-23 victory over heavily-favored Bath County in the state semifinals, Gibson displayed his toughness by rushing for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries. “I was so excited with the win,” Gibson said. “We were such underdogs. I was so happy we won, the thought of being tired never even crossed my mind.” The next week Appalachia claimed the state crown with a 22-14 victory over Madison County. Appalachia would claim another state title in 1992, this time with running back Kris Clark and quarterback Ken Sizemore leading the way on offense and Mabe wreaking havoc on defense. However, the best was yet to come for the Bulldogs. The T-and-T connection Being the head coach’s son, Travis Turner had been groomed to be a star football player at Appalachia as long as he could remember. “Appalachia football was a big part of my life, growing up and being around it 365 days a year,” Turner said. Travis Clark also grew up dreaming of being a standout for the Bulldogs one day. He heard the stories and witnessed the postseason glory of past teams and hoped to add his own chapter to the success story. “There was a lot pride to wear that blue and gold,” Clark said. Together, Turner and Clark would combine to lead an explosive offense that won three titles in four years from 1994-1997. Turner was impressive at quarterback, while Clark had blazing speed in the backfield. Players like Sam Sellers, Jamie Jessee, Travis Wells and many others would emerge as postseason heroes during that span. “We had real good offensive lines,” Turner said. “We had great run blocking and pass protection.” The 1994 team went 12-2 and posted a 72-7 beatdown of Middlesex in the state finals, scoring 10 touchdowns in the title-clinching victory. As Turner and Clark continued to get better, the ’96 and ’97 squads put up impressive offensive numbers. For Turner, the four years playing for his father are among his most treasured memories. “It was a treat,” Travis Turner said. “It was something special when you look back on it now. You kind of relish those memories … He expected a lot of me and he expected a lot out of everybody. I think that’s what made us a good football team.” The Bulldog legacy Everybody that coached against him, coached for him or played for him seems to have a Tom Turner story. Mabe remembers one game in particular. “We were playing Virginia High or somebody in August and our field is pretty crappy and gets dusty [in the warm weather]. They took a timeout and VHS wanted a water break,” Mabe said. “Coach Turner came out to the huddle and the referee said, ‘Are you going to give them water?’ He said, ‘Hell, I gave them water on Wednesday. I don’t think they want it.’ We all said, ‘Nah, we’re good.’ The ref couldn’t believe it, he was shocked. It was just little things like that.” Turner was a master psychologist. He made it a habit of having the team bus roll into a stadium just before kickoff. Travis Turner remembers how his father and the team arrived at 1:27 p.m. – three minutes before kickoff – before playing Surry County in the 1996 state finals. “That was his trademark, showing up late for games,” Travis Turner said. “I really don’t know why he did it.” Compiling a scouting report for the Bulldogs was also difficult. “I’ve said this before, Tom was absolutely the best play-caller in crucial situations I’ve ever coached against,” Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins said. “You had no idea what he was going to call. Ninety-nine percent of the time what he called, it worked, because his kids believed in it. He had some great ballclubs.” The 1997 season marked Appalachia’s last state title under Tom Turner. He retired following the 2005 season with a 205-107-1 career record and a plethora of coaching honors and achievements. He died in 2006, but his legacy lives on in Appalachia. “He took a group of kids that probably, in reality, shouldn’t have won as many games as they did, and he would have you convinced you could run through a brick wall,” Mabe said. “That’s what it was about … I just have a thousand memories.” thayes@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2570

Wise Central was coached by Darren Reed 5 years ago. According to this board they automatically win and he deserves all the credit!

sorry about the caps. didn't see it until I was finished and didn't feel like doing it again. I don't shout anymore I'm DIVORCED :)

Not that many, and I for one am going to help the cause.

If ab played in their division it also be a different story.

Really I'll be seeing you on Friday night. That's just a pure dumbass comment. I was just going to talk about how Graham wouldn't be able to hand the rocks and some small pieces of glass lol, but you pal have shown your true colors and they bleed blue and red not orange we are suppose to be 1 and you calling my home town field a dump. Really says alot about how you feel. Just realize they're is alot of Appalachia folks that are some of the biggest bear fans down there and no we don't like playing everything in your beloved park.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I totally respect it. But the facts are not what you may think they are. The kids you are speaking of learned toughness from many other things. Reed didn't show up one day and Jake Sturgill was a 2 time all state QB. Matthew Fulton wasn't beast of a running back. Derrick Yates didn't just become a college prospect because he showed up and the list could go on. The current list of players who are seniors and started out in Reed's system didn't become tough and hard nosed because of his system. That trait came from playing together since they were 6 years old in flag football. That trait came from them becoming a band of brothers all the way through their youth league days, middle school, and JV. There were many other factors involved than saying "he toughened them up". Consider this: 2014 8-2 Colobro/ Amburgey on staff the year Reed is named head coach 2015 9-1 Colobro/ Amburgey on staff 2016 9-1 Colobro/ Amburgey on staff 2017 6-4 Colobro/ Amburgey NOT on staff 2018 8-2 Amburgey named head coach On a footnote: "Give them a couple years...they be back to being soft again" This sounds like wishful thinking.

Naa Everyone has their opinion. I just try to look at this year and what they have done. Not what would have happened or how many times they would have won against some one. It's playoff time. Win or go home. No matter who you have or don't have. A complete team doesn't depend on one player. I guess it could be said if Chilhowie had scored on the 4 and inches in the state final, the score would have been 14-7 right before half. Then if they hadn't have fumble on the first drive of the second half they might have scored again. If their RB hadn't got hurt in the second quarter. Riverheads beat them, no excuses but that was last year. Over and done with. I try to show respect to all teams. If Galax is playing to their competition then it should be a good game between the two (if they both make it) because Chilhowie is a legit team. If Galax plays in a lull, Chilhowie will beat them comfortably. However I do give Chilhowie the edge this year. All they got to do is take care of business like they have been. If we all played by our opinion or ifs, all the teams would have 10 or 11 different championships..lol

Weather good...field looks ok.....Richlands has big advantage based on eye test but we will see. Big recievers!

Union v Battle postponed until Saturday at 2pm

It all started with a joke, early in the thread, about slowing down Graham's speed on a muddy field and then went off the rails. And you're right, Graham needs to take care of Va High and Union has to get by Battle...again...a week later.

I have Graham as the Region D favorite at this point but you're right, VHS is far from a pushover.

Because we all hate you guys 😛

Lol. Central is the Red Herring of the forum.

Wish both teams the best, but think Graham wins, on a dry field, on a muddy field, in snow, rain, sleet, sunshine, it doesn't matter. If Va High wins it will truly be an upset, and then I'll cheer for them next week, unless they play Richlands. Hope both teams play injury free and have a bunch of fun doing so.

What? How dare they cancel a game at Bullit Park. Well I guess there is a first time for everything. dang entitled kids and coaches. and so on and so on.

I'll help too. Why is Grape so bitter? If anyone else has success, he and a few others just try to tear it down. I do know that he was wanting to help Coach Reed at Abingdon. How is that for sour grapes?

Very noble of you!

As a player the Stadiums history did not mean a thing......However field conditions are another matter all together.....Appy which I remember being something like playing on a hard packed strip job. We won both games both games played there in my playing days but there is not another field I can think of in which the field itself played a bigger part in the games

If anyone saw the F/A-18 Flyover at Lane Stadium Saturday, you might enjoy a little more detail on the crew. Stacy is a good friend of my wife. They graduated from VT together in 2000. They met as freshmen when my wife was trying out for The Marching Virginians and Stacy was trying out for the Highty-Tighties. Stacy is only the 2nd female Squadron Commander in Navy history. In short, she's a bad-ass! https://video.vt.edu/media/Alumna+returns+to+campus+with+Lane+Stadium+flyover/1_2ap539km/91886731?fbclid=IwAR0PMXHx4l3714cj94wrwnYr540r3r3WxcT20EZJK0upth0zudE7laGLSsM https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2018/10/corps-uttecht.html

Then maybe don't talk trash about Abingdon when your own program can't win more than 2 games.

I didn't go to Appalachia HS, but you absolutely can't ignore the history or mystique of Riggs Stadium. The only way to dismiss it so easily is to truly not understand or appreciate the toughness, ruggedness or heart of a HS football player in the coalfields of SWVA. An excerpt from one of my favorite articles on Appalachia football and coach Riggs: He held practices on a gravel parking lot to enhance his team’s fearsome reputation. Virginia Tech recruiter Carl Ellis told Clintwood coach Ralph Cummins of visiting a Thursday practice at Appalachia in hopes of watching Tom Turner and Luke Marsengill run some drills and agilities. What he saw was a brutal, two-hour, live scrimmage.“They were just out there knocking each others brains out. And this was the day before a football game,” Cummins said in a 2006 interview. “I think they won a lot of football games because teams dreaded playing them.”

Survive and advance is the name of the game now

Its game day! Like CHS90 said, its win or go home. Kickoff forecast at 7pm for Chilhowie, 47˚, 50% Rain. Going to be another wet one like last week just a little colder. Bring your rain gear!

This is playoff time, and some teams that didn't play well in the regular season show up and plays their hearts out, while some teams that played well during the regular season show up with high confidence and plays the worst game all year. Like Forest Gump stated, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get in the playoffs. Both teams have a good chance to take this one, but I think the Blues will pull it out in the end. Side Note: As a Blues fan, I want to thank all who responded to the death of Devon Johnson. Please keep praying for this family and this community. Thanks guys.

Yeap he just don't get it I guess writing for the coalfield has got to his head.

This is a prime example why I said that Region 2C doesn’t impress me much.

Some people just don't get it.

Exactly! I was talking from an opponent POV. Appy kids didn’t give a care if it was muddy or dry.

I think he was referring to the Way Appalachia opponents would react today.

I don’t recall Appalachia fans whining about field conditions. I have seen Appalachia smack teams around in bad conditions.

Man those rocks was rough.....

Riggs stadium has so much blood spilled on it...champions blood both from Bulldogs and like me Vikings. Who doesn’t admire coal camp kids in black cleats and that blue jersey whooping the hell out of schools much larger,let’s not forget about old Tom Turner smiling on the sideline with a big chew of I guess Redman tobacco in loving every second of it . Those of us who played on that field loved it, we knocked each other’s di$& in the dirt , bled , coughed up some dirt and did it again the next play, so I love that place as all real men do

Soooo what are you going to blame DB’s 4-6 record this season on? They have Colobro... What about that 0-10 season Colobro had in 2010 at Sullivan East? Yes Colobro was a good coach, but to take credit away from Reed for a team that he was the Head Coach of is foolish. Like I’ve said, a good head coach will surround himself with other good coaches. The key is to have a good staff. The teams players change, kids graduate and others fill their spot. Records vary due to that as well, didn’t Abingdon have to replace a lot of starters from the 2016 season? You lost 20 seniors from the 2016 team.

GS would be a good hire if he just worried about football and not politics. He would be a gamble, but I like his coaching style. Double edged sword with him.

He purportedly resigned over a historic shortage of talented players. It’s a shame really.

It would be a crime to hire anybody but Gerald Sensabaugh if he applied.

Here it is. Gone but never forgotten, we love ya, Devon. http://coalfieldsports.com/2018/11/08/southwest-virginia-sports-podcast-episode-41/

When was Reed's best year at Abingdon?? The year they played Lord Botetourt. Who called his offense that year?? Who came with him when he first got the Abingdon job? What was the difference in Reed at Wise Central and Reed at Abingdon....NICK COLOBRO!!! People who know, know why Abingdon was successful and they know why Reed started his decline at Abingdon, they also know why Luke Owens went 6-4 the year after Reed left at Central.... think about it!

You know what the Hell you were doing. Your first post was absurd, and it’s preposterous that you feel the need to defend it. Regardless the reason, a young man has passed away, and it’s basic human decency to avoid taking shots at someone. Were this my board, I’d permaban you for this.

https://mobile.twitter.com/hoya_saxual/status/1059998570424791043?s=12

I will gladly cheer on whatever team makes it to the state for Region D and be happy for them. After all, they are all high school kids working toward the same goal no matter the school they attend. Are they always perfect, not a chance but they are kids. As adults we should be the standard bearer for sportsmanship. With that said, Go GMen! If another team comes out on top for Region D, then I'll cheer "Bring it home to SWVA boys!"

Graham has the best athletes in the region and it’s not even close. Speed kills and they have plenty of it. The only thing that will slow them down at far a region D goes is injury, a team dominating them at the line of scrimmage (they are much improved in that department from years past), or a muddy field. VA high has a thunder and lightening back field with Rose and the freshman. The Mulumba kid is a freak on the d line along with #77 but they played before and it wasn’t close I’m not sure how much losing their leader early in the game had to do with that but as long as graham doesn’t over look them it should be the same result.

From now on, just for Falcon and SWSX, I'm bumping this thread once every couple days until I die or the zombies rise.

Much as I like to take some good-natured shots at my Bedford County neighbors, I have to give Staunton River credit for ingenuity on a trick play based on a "granny style" backwards pass. Video is included in the attached link -- the play itself starts at the 1:50 mark. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/sports/Patrick-Henry-at-Staunton-River-499470191.html