First Day of Practice Numbers ‘26

[Cousin_Hoyt]

On 8/4/2026 at 11:32 PM, SwvaOG said:

Go flag football until Middle School. This is happening in the cities.  Under Armour sponsors Under The Lights flag football.

Under Armour Flag Football - Start A League

 

Uncle Percy was saying this years ago. He also said flag football at the lower grades would increase the numbers in football because more would participate and stay as they got older, eliminate contact fear that some kids have at an early age, and we will not repeat what else he said because Mr. GMAN and Brother Lance would not approve. However,  it was something about eliminating ridiculousness and stupidity.

[Minj3]

Richlands has more cheerleaders than football players

[Gridiron60]

Bland -19 

[Unchained]

Unaka 18 😞

[UnionGuy2017]

I count 58 in the team picture for Union. 

[Real Sasquatch]

V-High 34

[Lee2000]

36 in the Lee High Picture

[V-Cats]

I was told Virginia High had 42

[Real Sasquatch]

5 hours ago, V-Cats said:

I was told Virginia High had 42

Counted 34 in the team picture.  Maybe some were not present.

[SwvaOG]

On 8/8/2026 at 8:32 AM, Minj3 said:

Richlands has more cheerleaders than football players

To be fair… they have more cheerleaders than most of the schools in the area has football players.

[goose111874]

On 8/8/2026 at 11:49 AM, UnionGuy2017 said:

I count 58 in the team picture for Union. 

How bout coaches still 30??

[UnionGuy2017]

26 minutes ago, goose111874 said:

How bout coaches still 30??

No coaches were involved in any of the team pictures… seemed intentional? 

[Real Sasquatch]

Pulaski County 49.

[Real Sasquatch]

James Monroe, WV - 40

[Gridiron60]

18 hours ago, UnionGuy2017 said:

No coaches were involved in any of the team pictures… seemed intentional? 

Did Harless bring any staff with him from LB? 

[Unchained]

21 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Did Harless bring any staff with him from LB? 

At the dinner there were I think 6 assts. None from LB that I recall

[UnionGuy2017]

21 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Did Harless bring any staff with him from LB? 

Not to my knowledge? His son helps out. The kids love him from what I’ve been told. 

[tornado99]

2 hours ago, UnionGuy2017 said:

Not to my knowledge? His son helps out. The kids love him from what I’ve been told. 

Unrelated to coaching, but the mention of LB assistants and remembering Harless was from Abingdon, didn’t a very big offensive lineman (Basham?) transfer from Abingdon to LB during his tenure? There could have been other circumstances, but I assumed there was a connection between the two. 
(FWIW-I’m not a hater. If true, it is more evidence that the talent acquisition and retention might be the biggest piece of the formula for great coaches and teams, not limited to Galax, Graham, Richlands, Union, etc.)

[Union_Fan]

1 hour ago, tornado99 said:

Unrelated to coaching, but the mention of LB assistants and remembering Harless was from Abingdon, didn’t a very big offensive lineman (Basham?) transfer from Abingdon to LB during his tenure? There could have been other circumstances, but I assumed there was a connection between the two. 
(FWIW-I’m not a hater. If true, it is more evidence that the talent acquisition and retention might be the biggest piece of the formula for great coaches and teams, not limited to Galax, Graham, Richlands, Union, etc.)

According to a Roanoke Times article...

Bassham said his decision to transfer to Botetourt for his senior year was not football-driven.

His grandmother had moved from West Virginia to undergo dialysis in Roanoke and, rather than commute from Abingdon, Gage and his father found a place to stay nearby.

Bassham’s father and Harless are fellow Abingdon High School graduates.

[Real Sasquatch]

Tazewell - 36

[tornado99]

14 minutes ago, Union_Fan said:

According to a Roanoke Times article...

Bassham said his decision to transfer to Botetourt for his senior year was not football-driven.

His grandmother had moved from West Virginia to undergo dialysis in Roanoke and, rather than commute from Abingdon, Gage and his father found a place to stay nearby.

Bassham’s father and Harless are fellow Abingdon High School graduates.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Real Sasquatch]

Graham - 41.  (I think) picture is hard to tell, some short guys behind some tall guys....

[Gridiron60]

6 minutes ago, Real Sasquatch said:

Graham - 41.  (I think) picture is hard to tell, some short guys behind some tall guys....

That’s more than I expected. Imagine if they hadn’t lost 3 to Bluefield. Even though, still decent number in my opinion probably a lot of young ones. 

[swva_fan]

28 minutes ago, Real Sasquatch said:

Graham - 41.  (I think) picture is hard to tell, some short guys behind some tall guys....

There's a roster out showing 39 currently. It may not be complete yet. 

[Real Sasquatch]

47 minutes ago, swva_fan said:

There's a roster out showing 39 currently. It may not be complete yet. 

Yeah.  The one just posted on max preps has 38 and the one on Arbiter live has 39.  Between the two there are 41 (3 kids not on both- between the 2)....so my guess is 41.  I also couldn't tell if one kid was a coach or a player in the picture.  Anyway...around 40 is about 7 or 8 more then I was hearing at first from some folks.