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A. A. McLaughlin Appointed High
School Football Coach |
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May 29, 1936 - The appointment
of A. A. McLaughlin or better known as "Abe" at Alderson High School
next year as football coach, has met with the approval of every citizen
and football fan, who are interested in seeing Alderson again have a
team that ranks with the best in the Valley. McLaughlin was at Hillsboro
the past three years and will come here this fall with one of the best
records of any high school coach in the state over a period of three
years. Statistics show that McLaughlin's 1934 eleven was the best the
Greenbrier Valley has seen since Alderson's Indians of 1929 they scored
over 200 points against 6. With an actual squad of only 18 men some who
had never seen a football before, he molded a team together that swept
the valley with ease to win the conference championship. His coming to
Alderson next year will be the signal for more interest on the part of
the people and players alike despite the fact he will be greatly
handicapped from the lack of seasoned material in his first year.
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Indians Show
Promise of Developing Into a Formidable Team
(By Jr. R. "Dodie" Vaught) |
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August 19, 1936 - The
1936 Alderson High football combine has been working hard under their
new coach, Abe McLaughlin, for the past week, and the popular Greenbrier
Valley mentor is satisfied with the results of the first week's
preliminary practice. Several new men reported on Wednesday and two full
teams scrimmaged that day, with the regulars showing more real football
than has been seen at Alderson High school for a number of years.
The backfield quartet of Honaker, Simmons, Copeland and Hedrick are
really looking good, with the first named showing promise of developing
into a real ball carrier. The linemen are also showing lots of fight,
for their regular places are constantly threatened by a trio or more of
men working on the second squad. The new Alderson mentor is up against a
tough proposition as he only has another week to whip his squad into
condition to meet the strong Rainelle Rangers on their home field
Saturday, September 19.
Pre-season dope has it this year that the big three in the valley will
be Ronceverte, Rainelle, and Marlinton. The Rangers have eight men who
were ineligible last year and are planning on the best season since
Jerry Blake and Carl Weber left the lumber city in 1933.
However, over at Rainelle they have lots of respect for a McLaughlin
coached eleven, as he tripped them twice when they had almost a sure
shot at the Conference title. A large number of Alderson fans are
expected to be at the local field today when a picked
Alumni eleven by "Dot" Meredith will give the "36" combine some real
opposition. It is hoped that a large crowd of Alderson people will
follow the Indians to Rainelle on the 19th as moral support goes a long
way toward starting and giving a grid team lots of courage against a
stronger opponent.
Links to 1936 team:
Bill Simmons interview.
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Great Things
Expected of Indians
Alderson High School Slated to have Best Grid Team Since "32" |
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September 4, 1936 - The best team since 'thirty-two' is the cry of the
football fans around Alderson when twenty-two candidates report to Coach
Abe McGlaughlin for the initial practice session on Monday of this
week. Ten more likely prospects are expected to report at the start of
school next Tuesday. Assisting McGlaughlin for the first week are
Simmons, Patton and Bartholomew, the famous Greenbrier trio, and Hull,
the all-Valley center for the past two seasons, will be added to the
staff tomorrow for preliminary workouts.
Of the twenty-two men only nine have had experience under fire, but have
had practically no coaching at all. "It is a green squad, but with lots
of possibilities," says Coach Abe. "And we expect to be ready in less
than three weeks to make a creditable showing in our opener over at
Rainelle on September 18."
The new mentor is especially pleased with the looks of Pugh, Honaker,
and Hedrick, backs, the later is destined to make Alderson fans forget
the punting of McClung and Simmons, former stars. Raymond McClung, a
tackle, one of the best in the valley last year is in fine shape and
will be a tower of strength in the line. Copeland, Fawcett and the
Jones brothers are also expected to give a good account of themselves
this year.
A tough eight-game schedule is arranged mostly with conference elevens.
Hinton and Anstead, two other rivals will also be played.
Boys reporting for the opening practice sessions include: Robert
McClung, Copeland, B. Jones, A. Jones, Fawcett, Reed, Crawford, Hedrick,
Honaker, Hampton, Warren, Hill, Boyd, Steele, Feamster, Bondurant,
Carter, Ayers, Evans, Pugh, Simmons, Stover, Allred, Robert McClung.
(Note: Look at the spelling of McLaughlin…Talk about new.....he was
so new that the newspaper could not spell his name correctly.) This
intrepid reporter hopes to be on the sideline for the opener in Rainelle
on the 18th. As a special feature while reporting on this 1936 team
this reporter will review the 1932 team and provide highlights of that
season. Are there any readers out there who can name the coach of the
1932 Alderson Indians? Stay tuned for the answer.)
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