By Staff
I failed to make it clear to the composer that the remarks about the lack of bleachers and crowd control applied to football rather than basketball, so the article indicated basketball. Yes, it could have applied to basketball, except there were never enough fans at basketball games to start a decent "cat fight."
At that time, football games were played afternoons starting at 2 p.m. Students could be excused after 2 p.m. if they attended the games. No, there were no seats, so the fans strolled the sidelines, staying as close to the action as possible.
There were exceptions to the rule of playing on Friday. Each year, the final game of the season was played on the afternoon of Thanksgiving. This game would be Atmore versus Bay Minette, alternating the sites each year.
I can think of one other exception to the rule, which was Atmore against Milton. Atmore won, and I believe the score was 90-0. That game featured a freshman sensation, Robert Gordon. A knee injury the next year, 1927 I believe, cut short his football career.
This game was scheduled on Saturday afternoon -- in connection with the Fair Week in Atmore. I believe the year was 1926. That was the first football game I ever saw.
Clarence Walker
McDavid