1977 Baylor football squad
I cannot believe 30 years have passed since my fellow Baylor School teammates and I made a memorable run to the state football championship game, only to lose a heartbreaker at Memphis’ Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
In 1977, Division I and II did not exist. Nor did 4A or 5A classifications. The public and private schools played together in A, AA, and AAA divisions. Baylor, like McCallie and most of the public schools in Hamilton County, was an AAA school.
Under the late legendary coach E.B. “Red” Etter, we had been the dominant program in Chattanooga during most of the 1970s. And because our class had enjoyed much success in our junior high years, we were hoping to continue that tradition in the fall of 1977.
But we had experienced a frustrating 5-5 season the year before, so predictions that we would be the best team in Chattanooga in 1977, or one of the best in the state, were not found many places outside our campus.
In fact, optimism was actually very high at Hixson High School, where we were to play our first game. Because Baylor at that time often had a couple of players who had attended junior high school at Hixson, Red Bank and Tyner, those schools particularly wanted to beat the Red Raiders.
The Hixson game was also significant for one other reason – the school was opening its new stadium, the one it currently uses. Prior to that, the Wildcats played their games at what is now Hixson Middle School.
I feel confident in saying that Hixson has never had quite the home crowd atmosphere as it did when it opened its stadium in 1977, even though it has had some fine teams and crowds.
The inspired fans helped the Wildcats – coached by former UT all-American lineman Chip Kell - lead14-13 at halftime. But we fought back in the second half to win, 27-14.
The reason I can remember the result is that the game football with the score I later wrote on it has sat on my bookshelf wherever I have called home for the last 30 years.
Coach Etter let each senior select the game in which he wanted to serve as a game captain, and I chose Hixson because I was the only senior from that community. Part of the perk was getting to keep the game ball.
I was able to play some at running back that game, but a pain I began noticing after the game turned out to be a hairline stress fracture. As a result, I was out for much of the regular season and was relegated to team supporter instead of contributor.
But Baylor was a fun team to watch from whatever perspective one observed it.
After losing on the road to Northside High in the high school football-crazy community of Warner Robins, Ga., in the second week, we would not lose again until December. We went on to defeat Tyner, defending state champion Bradley Central and Brainerd before facing arch-rival McCallie – the game that really mattered on the schedule.
Played on a Saturday night in pouring rain at UTC’s Chamberlain Field, the game was close. McCallie – under respected coach Pete Potter - definitely came to play.
In large part because of the rain, the game turned into a defensive struggle. But junior Dan Reynolds was able to intercept a pass in the second half and run it back for the game’s lone touchdown and a 7-0 Baylor victory.
We then closed out the regular season with wins over City (Chattanooga High) and Coach Bobby Davis, Howard, Kirkman and Coach Nubby Napolitano and Red Bank. The Red Bank game, held at Rankin Field off Dayton Boulevard, was also played in the pouring rain. It also ended in a 7-0 Baylor victory over a younger Coach Tom Weathers.
We were not dominating in most of our victory margins. But we were winning, and that was all that mattered.
The wins also qualified us for the first round of the state playoffs against Bradley and coach Louie Alford. The first game against the Bears was a 7-point win for Baylor, and so was the playoff game, held at Baylor.
After defeating Columbia High below Nashville on the road, 21-10, we then came back home to Heywood Stadium to face the No. 1-ranked Oak Ridge Wildcats in the state semifinals on the Friday night after Thanksgiving.
The Oak Ridge game will always be a high point of the season. Although Oak Ridge did lose its star running back during the game, we came back from a two-touchdown deficit to win 31-27 in a wild one.
I never will forget excitedly jumping up and down on the field after the game with the other players.
“The game will likely go down as one of the most classic ever played at Heywood Stadium,” wrote Gary Davenport of the News-Free Press the next day.
As exciting as that week was, the following week would be equally devastating.
In those days, no Clinic Bowl state championship game was played at a neutral site, such as Nashville or Murfreesboro.
We had to go all the way to Memphis to play Christian Brothers High School, which had upset Father Ryan. Because of the stature of the game, however, the championship was played at the Liberty Bowl stadium.
Believe it or not, we actually flew to the game, just as the 1973 Baylor team had in its more successful state championship game, also at the Liberty Bowl.
I am sure Coach Etter – who was always smartly looking for an edge – figured we would be more mentally focused if we quickly flew over there on that Friday morning rather than sit on a bus for six hours or more. So, he used the available school or alumni resources to get us a chartered Piedmont Airlines jet.
Once we arrived in the Bluff City, the Memphis police were extremely kind in giving us a police escort wherever we went, as if we were a major college team.
Unfortunately, CBHS or Lady Luck would not be nearly so kind.
In the locker room before the emotional game, captain Richard Hays read a couple of telegrams, including one from our 7th and 8th grade football coach, Bob Polk, who was then living in Knoxville. In a touching statement, he said we had an opportunity to finish successfully what had begun way back in 1972, when many of the seniors had played their first Baylor game as seventh graders.
In the game, both teams appeared fairly even. We scored fairly late to take the lead and began sensing victory on the sidelines as the clock was winding down.
But then, CBHS desperately went to the bag of tricks. And, unfortunately for Baylor, it worked. They were able to score on a reverse pass back to quarterback Ronnie Skinner with 23 seconds left and win, 22-19.
The loss was stunning.
Although visions of Skinner jumping up to catch that pass and then streaking down the sideline for the winning score are still painful to recall 30 years later, happier memories seem to come more quickly to mind when I nostalgically look back.
I remember the winning-but-classy attitude all my teammates had, the strong character of the coaches, and the joy that comes from being part of a team, even though my role was somewhat limited due to my injury.
I also remember Troy Potter running hard in those playoff games, and quarterback Rusty Carnes coming back from an injury in time to lead us in the playoffs after Bobby Frost and Frank Hirsch had admirably replaced him.
I also recall the natural leadership skills of Rob Frazier, Richard Hays and Carnes, who were permanent team captains.
We worked hard, enjoyed plenty of victories and learned to overcome adversity in Memphis as well.
I salute all my great teammates, many of whom have gone on to do well in the working world. I am sure many would list the experiences enjoyed on the football fields of long ago as great life lessons – just as I do.
Senior lettermen on the 1977 Baylor team were B. Billings (now deceased), Trey Bryant, Rusty Carnes, Russell Craig, Ryan Crimmins, Doug Dyer, David Farmer, Rob Frazier, Bobby Frost, Mark Grigsby, Richard Hays, Bill Healey, Mark Hudson, Joe Jumper, Rob McRae (now deceased), Bobby Morrison, Ryan Murphy, Trip Reilly, Ken Royal (now deceased), John Shearer, Greg Simmons, Nick Thomas, Craig Troxler and Tinky Williams.
Junior lettermen included Wes Bowman, Ricky Clowdus, John Crawford, Bill Goldman, Mark Goldstein, Frank Hirsch, Steve Hudson, Randy Lagod, Mitch Lyle, Josh McConnell, Rivers Myers, Trip Pilgrim, Troy Potter, Dan Reynolds, Bill Stephenson, Craig Taylor, Jim Uhlinger and Bo Watson.
Sophomore lettermen included Don Acree, Freddie Berger, David Craig, Brad Hestand, Brent Hestand, Marc Lyle, Bill McAllester, Cole Powell, Don Samples and Joe Thomas.
Two other sophomores – Eddie Hart and Grayland Hilt – made the 1977 team the first varsity football team in school history to have African-American players.
Assistant coaches included Gene Etter, Sib Evans Jr., Fred Hubbs, Bill McMahan, and Ron Phillips. Etter, Hubbs and McMahan are still going strong teaching life lessons at Baylor.
Joe Key was the equipment manager, and the late Sandy Sandlin, who had been at UTC, was the trainer.
Student managers who lettered were Davy Allen, Scott Godfrey, Chuck Nix and Brooks Taylor. Wade Baker was the student trainer, while Stuart Ivy, Mark Robey and Rob Wilbanks did the video.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net