Legendary Vestavia Coach Weighs In On Upcoming Football Season

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — Believe it or not, football season is not far away, and high school football teams throughout the area are lacing up the cleats and buckling their chin straps in preparation. And Vestavia Hills High School football coach Buddy Anderson is ready for his 42nd season as the Rebels coach, despite a daunting schedule.

The Rebels play a "jamboree" game against Briarwood August 23, but the regular season begins August 30 at Homewood. Vestavia finished the 2018 seasosn 6-4 and did not make the playoffs, but look to improve on that in the coming season.

Anderson said one of the biggest obstacles in the way of the team is the schedule. "The schedule is tough," Anderson said. "Every week is going to be a challenge."

Another challenge facing the team, Anderson added, is replacing four starters on the offensive line this season. "That’s the challenge of high school football," Anderson said. "You have to replace (senior leadership) every year, and try to develop oneness as a team. "

However, the Rebels do return their quarterback from last season, Eli Sawyer, and Anderson said on the defensive side of the ball, the team's speed is a big strength, as well as te returb iof six defensive starters.

In more than four decades as a football coach, Anderson has seen exponential change in the game, but said some aspects of the game never change.

"Well we do have helmets now," Anderson joked, referring to his long tenure in the coaching ranks. "The use of technology has changed the game a lot. On the positive side, it saves time - you get the film faster and it doesn’t take as long as it used to to break it down. On the negative side, everyone doesn’t have access to the same technology due to finances."

Anderson has seen first-hand how much sports have become more serious than ever before, and said this is not a positive change for high school athletics.

"To the detriment of the game, I’ve see the game moving from an education-based experience (which it should be) to a win at all cost mentality," Anderson said. "In the past, part of the excitement and challenge was to work with the young men from your school. It is unfortunate to see coaches and community members going out of their community to entice athletes to transfer to their school."

He added, "On a positive note, the concern for concussions and development of concussion protocol (means) the game is safer now than when I first started."

But through all of the change, the constant, he said, remains the experience the players have on the team.

"Kids are still kids," Anderson said. "And even with all the changes, they are looking to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They enjoy the toughness of the sport and gain the experience of all the great things that the game teaches."