If there's anything in which Alabamians take pride, it's football!  And this season, Pickens County has been showing out for high school football.  Aliceville (2A), Pickens County (1A), and Gordo (3A) were all in the playoffs; and now, two of those teams will be playing for the championships in their divisions: Pickens County.... And ALICEVILLE!!!

Many people might question, "What's so special about that?" Simple answer.  It's HOME for me! (Standby. Pulling up my petty panties.)

At a time when our political climate has brought out the worst of racists and attempted to divide any bond that might have brought us together, football still prevails.  HOWEVER, it does NOT go without notice that when all three teams made it to the playoffs, two were acknowledged in the area's most local, supposedly notable publication The Pickens County Herald.

A mistake?  Possibly.  But not one any real journalist would make.

Why am I so passionate about this?  There is this thing called "journalistic integrity," which demands that journalists SEEK the truth and report it with accuracy.  Apparently, someone at The Herald didn't think what was being done in Aliceville was important enough to either seek to know or once known, acknowledge.  In addition, I graduated Aliceville High School, and my senior year, our team went to the championship.  That year, I was Football Sweetheart; and as "my guys" out-performed their opponents, I beamed with pride from the stands, just as I do any time I take seat in the stands.  As ALL Aliceville fans do!

For us, it's more than just football.  It's one of the city's few opportunities for entertainment at home.  It's a chance for the team to test speed, endurance, accuracy, skill, and unity! It's when they get to push their physical ability to the limit while hearing coaches, parents, friends, and neighbors cheer them on.... A chance to prove too that although often forgotten, they still exist AND EXCEL!

It may be small, but anyone from Aliceville is proud to be so. We overcome lack of funding, lack of employment, and lack of outside care to become some of the best people in the fields we choose.  It doesn't go without notice that the same teachers who receive a check from a public school system find that system inadequate for their own children.  Again, this is the system in which they teach! So, what does that say? What they give our children isn't good enough for their own. We're not dumb. In fact, we are well-equipped in reading between the lines.

So, Pickens County Herald, it may have been an oversight; but it won't be one that you make again. (Intentionally grammatically incorrect) We Goin' to the 'Ship! Click here for game info.

 

More From 92.9 WTUG