The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Jan. 2, 2023

Evergreen's Wayne Frazier

16 YEARS AGO
JAN. 4, 2007

Jarrett Kirk killed his first deer, a spike, on New Year’s Day. He is the seven-year-old son of Karen Baggett of Evergreen. He killed the deer while hunting with his cousin, Jason Booker.

Sparta Academy’s Michael Campbell and Chris Cinereski posted back-to-back double doubles last week to lead the Warriors to first place in the South Choctaw Academy basketball tournament in Toxey.
Sparta upended Marengo Academy 70-59 last Thursday to open the tournament. On Friday, the Warriors stormed past tournament host South Choctaw 69-34 in the finals.
Campbell, a 6-5 senior center, recorded 37 points and 30 rebounds in the two games combined. Cinereski, a 6-5 junior center, also scored a two-game total of 37 points and grabbed 27 rebounds.
Campbell was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, and Cinereski was named to the all-tournament team.
(Other standout Sparta players that year included Chase Brown, Ethan Johnson, Justin Webb, Myles Wiggins, J.R. Williams and Mason Black. Russ Brown was head coach.)

Sparta Academy’s Lady Warriors bounced back from a 58-41 loss to Patrician Academy to pound Marengo Academy 75-35 Friday in the South Choctaw Academy tournament in Toxey.
(Sparta head coach Russ) Brown pointed out that junior forward Susan Cook had the best game of her career Friday. Cook put up 29 points and got six rebounds, three assists and five steals in the game.

31 YEARS AGO
JAN. 2, 1992

From “Wright Angles” by Artie Wright: I couldn’t end the year without making one last statement for a handful of people out there. You know who you are… Auburn fans.
Now before you wad up the paper and toss it in the waste can, here’s my New Year’s wish for you. I hope that the Eric Ramsey stuff is put to rest and we can get back to some good old football once again.
It just wasn’t the same this year, not being able to cheer for someone to beat Auburn during the holidays. And watching Jennifer Qualls’ face during the Blockbuster Bowl lacked its luster as well.
Anyway, here is a toast to 1991 (good riddance) and one for 1992. May all your dreams come true and the new year find you healthy, wealthy and wise. Happy New Year and Roll Tide! Until next year…

46 YEARS AGO
JAN. 6, 1977

The Sparta Academy Warriors swung back into action after the holiday layoff with a solid 74-41 win over Escambia Academy’s Cougars. It was the sixth win of the season for Coach Richard Brown’s club against only one loss.
The Johnson boys paced the Warriors with Tim getting 22 and Bobby 20. Gray Stevens was also in double digits with 10 points. Wesley Stuckey had 9, Steve Dubose 7 and Hugh Bradford 6.
The Warriors won the B game 27-21. Sparta’s girls suffered the only loss of the evening, dropping a 16-32 decision.

From “The Colyum” by Bob Bozeman: Football nut that I am, I finally got enough of the game during the holidays. In fact, I had no desire to watch the games on the tube Sunday afternoon. I had truly had my fill of my favorite game. Of course, my appetite will be renewed by Sunday and the Super Bowl. I’m an Oakland fan because Ken (Snake) Stabler, former Alabama great, is their quarterback and leader, so I’ll be pulling hard for the Raiders.
Many of the bowl games were disappointing, some, in fact, were downright dull. I think that Pittsburgh’s team proved its claim on the No. 1 national ranking with a very convincing win over a fine Georgia team. I thought Pitt the best team I saw in the bowl games.
I would have to rank Alabama second only to Pitt on the basis of bowl performances. In fact, I think the Tide just might have given the Panthers all they wanted with their play against UCLA in the Liberty Bowl.

There will be a meeting of the Lyeffion Quarterback Club tonight at 7:30 at the school. All members and their wives are urged to attend the meeting.

61 YEARS AGO
JAN. 4, 1962

Pat Windham Foshee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Foshee of Cohassette, was awarded the Gulf Naval Trophy at a football banquet recently at the Red Level High School. The trophy was awarded to the Varsity Letterman with the highest scholastic average.

Ole No. 51 to have his day January 15: ‘Old Number 51’ will have his day come Mon., Jan. 15.
That date has been designated “Wayne Frazier Day” in Evergreen by Mayor Zell Murphy in a proclamation published elsewhere on this page. A group of volunteers, representing practically every group in the city, is now at work on arrangements for the celebration which will honor Frazier, varsity center for Auburn University’s football team for the past three years.
Frazier, a 1957 graduate of Evergreen High School, has reaped a number of honors while playing at Auburn, including academic honors. As an Aggie, he was always the outstanding player on the field although playing on a losing team. In many games he was credited with making upwards of 90 percent of Evergreen’s tackles.
For the past two seasons, he was Auburn’s number one center and considered by many the finest all-around center to ever play on the plains.
This Saturday, he’ll play his first game as a “pro” with the South in Mobile’s Senior Bowl.
Frazier has signed with the San Diego Chargers to become this city’s first professional football player. He was drafted by both the Chargers and the Chicago Bears in an early round last year.
Tentative plans for Frazier Day include a program at Evergreen High, a parade and program downtown and a banquet. Tickets to the banquet will go on sale this weekend at popular prices. They may be purchased at Northcutt’s and The Courant.
A number of visiting celebrities are expected to be here included members of the Auburn team and coaching staff.

76 YEARS AGO
JAN. 2, 1947

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gaston and son, Bert, spent the weekend in Montgomery and attended the Blue-Gray football game and also the dance Saturday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wild attended the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery Saturday and spent Sunday with her parents in Louisville, Ala.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman D. Bolden attended the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery Saturday.

Mrs. Rube Millsap Jr., Vernon and Temple Millsap attended the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery Saturday.

Cullman Hunter First To Bag Deer With Arrow: MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 31 – The distinction of being the first outdoorsman to ever bag an Alabama deer by means of bow and arrow goes to William H. Drinkard, Cullman businessman. While several bow and arrow hunts were held in years past in the William B. Bankhead National Forest and Birmingham archers had a special season in the Jefferson County preserve, Drinkard’s bagging of an eight-point, 162-pounder is the first successful effort, according to Alabama Department of Conservation officials.
The feat is all the more remarkable in that Drinkard is a left-handed bowman.
A guest of President Fred Stimpson at the Bull Pen Hunting Club on its Washington County preserve at Sunflower, Drinkard felled the deer on a drive near the Hickory Ridge clubhouse. The deer came by his stand after being shot at by four other hunters.