Photo by Ted Melton
Vestavia Hills Football
Joseph Travis.
Vestavia Hills concluded the 2014 season with a record of 3-7, the Rebels’ first losing season since 1991.
But the Rebels wasted no time picking themselves up off the mat, putting together an impressive campaign in 2015 that included a win over Hoover in the regular season and second-round playoff berth. The final three weeks of the season, Vestavia found itself ranked in the top 10.
“I thought we had a great year,” said Buddy Anderson, who will enter his 39th season as head coach of the Rebels this fall. “We had great leadership out of our seniors last year.”
The challenge with having a team filled with great senior leaders comes the following year, as the Rebels will be faced with replacing over half of their starters from last season.
“We’re going to really miss those guys,” Anderson said.
The Rebels have another cast of seniors ready to step up and fill that role in 2016, and if they are to reach their goals, Anderson puts a lot of weight on that group. “We tell them, ‘So go our seniors, so goes our season,’” he said.
Anderson continued, “We expect our seniors to take a lot of leadership and a lot of ownership of this season, as far as being leaders of the season. Not that a junior or sophomore can’t lead, but we expect them to really take ownership.”
No matter the situation, the goal is always the same: to win a state championship, something Anderson has accomplished twice (1980 and 1998).
“That’s always the goal. We’ve got a lot of puzzle pieces that’s got to be put together and logs put on the fire and a lot of work. It’s just one day at a time. There’s no shortcuts.
“We live in an instant society, but there’s not one thing instant about football,” Anderson said.
Defensive back Tucker Queen is aiming just as high as his coach when writing down his goals for his senior season.
“We’re going to get a ring. There’s no other [other] expectation,” he said.
In order for the Rebels to duplicate the success from last fall, they are going to have to jell in a hurry. Vestavia opens with Homewood, Spain Park and Oak Mountain, all three formidable opponents.
But if there is one thing the Rebels will always be under Anderson, it’s physical.
“We’re the same every year,” offensive lineman Patrick Nuss said. “We’re just out there looking to get physical. That’s what our pride and joy is. We just know we’re going to out-hit every team we play.”
OFFENSE
On offense, there will be plenty of new faces donning the red and blue. Taking over for Brett Jones at quarterback will be Coleman Pettway or Sean Smyth. Both got chances to play last year, but will do some learning on the job this year.
“There’s only one way to get experience, and that’s to go out there and do it,” Anderson said.
The Rebels are “starting over from scratch” at fullback and much of the offensive line, but Toliver Chatwood returns with experience at the tailback position, and William Schaffeld will also get his chances to help out the running attack.
Mitchell Langley and Joseph Travis appear to be options to step up at the receiver position and give the new quarterback reliable targets. Patrick Nuss is impressed by what he’s seen.
“We got some height and strength coming back at receiver,” he said.
Nuss is the only returning offensive lineman, and he’ll man the left tackle position. While that may seem daunting, Nuss is optimistic.
He said, “I’m the only returning starter, but we have some guys that got reps at every position last year.”
Making sure the offensive line gets comfortable and settled in is a big priority for Anderson. It starts up front for the Rebels.
“You’ve got to have all of them, but you’ve got to have that big catalyst. You got to have those guys up front that are going to pave the way for you. It’s going to take a lot of work, and we’ve got some work to do there,” Anderson said.
DEFENSE
Tucker Queen and Jonathan Hess return to make up half the secondary, and look to lead the defense from the backside. Queen sees some other options being able to step up and fit in there, to replace the likes of Nolan Turner, who is off to Clemson.
“I think we have a good group of guys coming back, coming up, a good group of seniors to pick those spots up,” Queen said.
The Rebels are essentially starting over at linebacker as well, and a handful of guys will get the chance to step in and earn playing time.
On the defensive line, both ends have graduated, leaving a full-time starter and part-time starter at the tackle spots returning.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Anderson will have some work to do at special teams, as the Rebels’ kicker, punter and long snapper have all departed.
