By Kyle Parmley
GARDENDALE – The mediator’s chair was vacated for just a short moment.
Clay-Chalkville head coach Jerry Hood sat down and opened up with one question for Pinson Valley head man Matt Glover.
“Are you the best-looking coach in the state of Alabama?”
Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover sits between DJ Gregory and Turner Shankles at media days in Gardendale. photo by Ron Burkett
Glover, flanked by a pair of his Pinson Valley players, answered the question with as much energy as any others he faced during his team’s 15-minute session at the Jefferson-Shelby high school football media days, held at the Gardendale Civic Center..
“No, but definitely the best-looking coach in Class 6A,” he said. “There’s no question about it.”
With Hood still sitting at the table directly across from him, Glover had one more clever remark in response to the Cougars’ offense averaging 48 points per game in a 15-0 2014 season.
“I have thought about this and I told Jerry about it, but I don’t know if my wife is going to along with it,” he said. “But I am going to be the new LED light changer for the Clay-Chalkville side (of the scoreboard).”
It is clear that Glover and Hood have formed a solid friendship despite being rivals in Region 6 of Class 6A. Clay-Chalkville’s media session directly preceded the Indians’ time at the table.
Clay-Chalkville is also willing to help Pinson Valley with a place to play, if needed.
The Indians are set to host Hartselle on August 21, but there remains a small chance the playing field at Willie Adams Stadium will not be ready due to an offseason landscaping project. If that is the case, the Cougars have offered to let the Indians play the game in Clay.
“(The field) looks better than it has in the past. We should be good though,” Glover said.
Cougar Stadium is available the first week of the season with Clay-Chalkville traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Blackman. Glover has a slightly different idea of the opponent the Cougars will face.
“I think they’ve got the Dallas Cowboys week one, in Arlington,” he said, in another lighthearted exchange.
The respect between the two coaches is mutual as well. As each was running through his team’s schedule for the upcoming season, here is what they had to say about the rivalry.
“We all know about Clay,” Glover said.
“Pinson Valley always plays their best game of the year against us,” Hood said.
Aside from the state championship game against Saraland, the Indians played the Cougars closer than anybody, falling 45-35. Pinson Valley was within a field goal as late as 1:25 remaining in the contest.
Hood and Glover have struck the balance of being friends and competitors. High school athletics could use more of the same.
