Okay so last week I was just sitting there thinking, man, I really wanna know who the big players are for Fair Grove High football this season. Couldn’t find a decent, updated roster anywhere online. School website? Forget it, last season’s info, maybe. Sports news sites? Bits and pieces, nothing full.
Figured whatever, I’m gonna figure this out myself. Properly. So Tuesday afternoon, I drove over to Fair Grove High. Thought maybe they’d have flyers up or something at the field house. Pulled up, place was pretty quiet after classes. Walked around the field fence, saw a notice board near the locker room entrance.
Tacked up right there on some peeling corkboard? Two copies of a pre-season announcement. Lists had names, sure, but jersey numbers scribbled over in pen, positions looked rearranged. Felt like ancient history already. Snapped pics anyway, just to have a starting point.
Then I remembered Coach Barnes – used to chat sometimes when my nephew played JV. Found the main office, asked the secretary nicely if Coach was around. Got lucky. She called back, said he had ten minutes before weights. Headed back out toward the gym.
Coach Barnes comes out, looking a bit tired but smiling. Said hello, asked how the family was. Chatted for a minute about nothing, then just asked straight up: “Coach, I’m trying to get an accurate look at this year’s roster for the blog. Website’s not updated… You got the real list handy?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, ours is awful.” Reached into his back pocket, pulled out this crumpled sheet of notebook paper. Like actual paper. “Had to shuffle kids around after preseason injuries. This is what we’re working with this Friday.”
Asked if I could take a pic. He shrugged: “Sure, just don’t expect it to look pretty.” Held it up against the gym wall. Snap. Got it.
Took that photo home, sat at the kitchen table. Transcribed it all into my laptop. Messy handwriting, positions abbreviated weirdly. Made my best guesses. Here’s who stood out based on what Coach mentioned as we talked:
- #12, QB Jake Reynolds: Junior. Apparently has an arm like a cannon now after summer camp. Coach just shook his head grinning when I asked.
- #45, LB Marcus “Tank” Bellweather: Senior. Got the nickname for a reason. Coach said he just eats up running backs. Big dude anchoring the defense.
- #22, RB / CB Tyler Shaw: Another Senior. Super quick. Plays both sides. Coach pointed him out as the energy guy on offense.
- #88, WR Ethan Cole: Tall kid, long arms. Sophomore (!) apparently making big strides. Coach said “Keep an eye on him,” especially for deep routes.
- #51, OL / DL Carter Finch: Senior leader on both lines. Coach emphasized how crucial his blocking has been keeping Jake clean.
Sure, my list ain’t perfect. Numbers might change week to week, positions get tweaked. But this? This is what Fair Grove is actually rolling with right now, straight from the horse’s mouth. That notebook paper pic is saved, backed up twice. Feels good to get it right, even if it meant bugging a coach at his day job. Real talk, gotta put the legwork in sometimes.