Football Legend Carl Madison, 77, Returns To Coaching
January 23, 2009
Legendary football coach Carl Madison is returning to sidelines as the offensive coordinator for the Tate Aggies. From his first coaching job at Ernest Ward High School at age 26, Madison went on to become one of America’s most winning coaches.
Madison, age 77, is 326-129-7 over a 45 year coaching career, making him number two on Florida’s all-time coaching victories list and in the top 30 in the entire nation. He coached Tate to a state championship in 1980, and took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semi-famous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950’s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
Madison will continue to live in Atmore. On March 1, he will begin working with the Aggies, which finished with a 4-7 record last year.
Basketball: Jay Over Northview
January 23, 2009
Jay downed Northview Thursday night in girls high school basketball action, 53-32.
Jay took an early 11-6 lead by the end of the first period, and the Royals expanded that lead to 24-10 by the half. Both teams added a baker’s dozen in the third, making it 37-23 going into the fourth period.
Gabe Wesley led the Chiefs with a dozen points on the board at Jay. Shaniqua Jones added half a dozen. Angela Roddriguez, Laneicia Gomez and Shakeria White had four points each, and Taylor Byrd added a couple.
Tessa Hendricks scored 18 for the Royals. Amber Steadham had a dozen, as did Joy Gandy. Ginger Jennings added seven. Becca Calloway had three, and Leely Trevino scored a point.
The Northview boys are on the road Friday night against Walton. The NHS girls don’t hit the court again until January 29.
New Football District For Northview: NHS And Jay Now Both In 1A
January 17, 2009
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals might just become big football rivals now that the two teams are in the same football district.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has released the final district alignments for both the 2009 and 2010 football seasons.
In preliminary district alignments released in December, Northview remained in District 1-2B. Under a FHSAA rule that allows schools to “play down” one district, the Chiefs requested to be moved down one district to District 1-1A, the same district as the Royals.
“I’m excited for our kids and our program,” Northview Heach Coach Cody Keene said after the FHSAA district announcements Friday. “There will not be as much travel, and I think that will be good for our program.”
In addition to Northview, District 1-1A also includes Baker, Bozeman (Southport), Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Vernon.
“Some of the schools are still a good distance, but it will be better for us,” Keene said. “We will be able to focus more on football. It will be a very competitive district.”
Keene said that he hopes Northview can develop a few strong rivalries within the district, like the Jay Royals.
Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, comprised primarily of schools with 521 or fewer students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications, but schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
Basketball: Jay 62, NHS 53
January 14, 2009
The Jay Royals beat the Northview Chiefs in boy’s varsity basketball action Tuesday night in Bratt.
Jay 62, Northview 53
Jay had the lead at the end of the first quarter of play in Bratt Tuesday night, 17-14. By the end of the half, that lead was just a single point, 25-24 for the Royals.
Jay’s Greg Nelson, who had 31 points on the night, helped pull the Royals out to a 9-point victory over the Chiefs
Northview: Aaron Bellamy 12, Colton Sims 12, Austin Arrington 12, Lance Bushaw 5, Wayne Marshall 4, Jody Levins 2, Luke Killam 2, LaDarion White 2, Dabney Langhorn 2.
Jay: Greg Nelson 31, Rush Hendricks 11, Dale Barlow 9, Steven Brabham 5, Dee Walker 3, Hunter Boutwell 3.
The Chiefs will be on the road Friday night against South Walton.
Volleyball Tournament Benefits EWMS Cheerleaders
January 4, 2009
A nine team coed volleyball tournament was held Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. All proceeds from the tournament will be used to help the Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders attend the national finals
For a photo gallery from the tournament, click here.
Pictured above and below: Action from a volleyball tournament held to benefit the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teams Still Needed For Coed Volleyball Tournament
December 29, 2008
At least four more teams are needed for coed volleyball tournament to raise funds to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders travel to the national finals early next year.
The volleyball tournament will be Saturday, January 3 at the First Baptist Church of Bratt Family Life Center. The tournament is for four person teams, with a $10 per player entry fee. All the proceeds will go to the EWMS cheerleaders.
To signup, or for more information, contact Amy Holland at (850) 327-4744 or (850) 516-8400 as soon as possible.
Straughn Downs Flomaton 59-46
December 27, 2008
Straughn High School beat Flomaton Friday in the Red Level Christmas Tournament.
Straughn was victorious 59-46 over the Hurricanes.
Dee Ellis scored 16 for the ‘Canes. Dominique Robinson added 15 for Flomaton.
Straughn will face LAMP in Saturday afternoon’s final game of the tourney.
Register Now For Cheerleaders’ Volleyball Tournament
December 18, 2008
A coed volleyball tournament has been scheduled to held the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders travel to the national finals.
The volleyball tournament will be Saturday, January 3 at the First Baptist Church of Bratt Family Life Center. The tournament is for four person teams, with a $10 per player entry fee. All the proceeds will go to the EWMS cheerleaders.
To signup, or for more information, contact Amy Holland at (850) 327-4744 or (850) 516-8400 before December 30.
New High School Football Districts Finalized; Northview Joins Jay In 1A
December 16, 2008
The FHSAA announced new football classifications Monday, with Northview and Jay remaining in the same classifications.
Due to declining enrollment, Pensacola’s Catholic High School dropped into Northview’s District 1-2B. Besides Catholic, it will be another season of long road trips for Northview’s away district games. Other teams in District 1-2B of the Florida High School Athletic Association include Bozeman (Southport), Chipley, Marianna, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Walton (Defuniak Springs).
Class 2B includes schools with 522 to 1014 students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications.
Jay remains in District 1-1A with Baker, Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads and Vernon. Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, with schools with 258 or less students.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
The FHSAA staff prepared an eight-district plan for Classifications 6A through 3A as passed by the Board of Directors in November. But an FHSAA release said there was extensive travel within this plan so the FHSAA staff made a unanimous decision to change to the new 16-district format. If the eight district plan had been approved, several districts would have teams making multiple trips in a single football season from Jacksonville to Pensacola or Niceville.
Schools will have until noon on January 9, 2009, to submit written requests for reassignment to a different classification and/or district if they believe the change is warranted. Schools have the option of playing in its assigned classification or one classification higher. Schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
The final football district assignments will be made on January 16 of next year.
Northview, Atmore Schools Score Cash With FNB&Trust Points Club
December 12, 2008
The First National Bank and Trust in Atmore distributed Points Club funds to area schools Thursday afternoon, paying out cash for points that three area schools earned at each home football game.
Each football program received $50 for each touchdown and $25 for each field goal scored during a home football game. Escambia County High School received $700; Escambia Academy earned $450. Northview High School was awarded $350.
Pictured above: Northview High School Head Coach Cody Keene receives a $350 Points Club check from the First National Bank and Trust Thursday afternoon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jessica Peebles, Tracy Hodgen, NHS Coach Cody Keene, Jean Nisewonger, Kathy Holland and Brandon Johnson. Pictured below, left photo: Tracy Hodgen presents a check to Escambia Academy Coach Heath Gibson. Pictured below, right: ECHS Principal Harvey Means (L) and Coach Kyle Davis recieve a check from Andrea Lassitter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
