New football season getting close for Fairview High School:
GDW Analysis:
FAIRVIEW: Very good spirit from everyone involved in "Meet the Aggies" occurred Thursday from Fairview's Dafford Smith Stadium.
The festivity included introduction of the youth programs, plus the cheerleading squads.
The middle school and varsity teams along with spirited cheerleaders closed out the festivity.
Fairview's season officially begins on August 30 with a game at Springville High School.
But next Friday, the Aggies will welcome the Pisgah Eagles to campus for a jamboree assignment. Pisgah is preseason ranked No. 1 in Class 2A with Fairview the 9th rated team for Class 5A.
Coach George Redding was well involved with the get together. Redding enters his 18th season at his alma mater with Fairview compiling 117 wins against 69 losses in this span.
The next victory for Redding will put him in 2nd place of all time wins for a coach in the Cullman County school system.
Redding is tied with Hanceville legend Ray Talley. Talley directed Hanceville from 1976 to 1990.
The atmosphere is high for Fairview. The school last week celebrated its 100th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a resolution from Alabama House of Representative Randall Shedd.
During Thursday's "Meet the Aggies," a celebration of 50 years of youth football was recognized.
Since 2020, the Aggies have earned the most victories by a county program. Fairview is 38 & 10 and has been a participant in the AHSAA playoffs for five consecutive years.
Redding was quoted during the Cullman County football media day July 22, "We're getting there. How we understand of being successful is a work in progress. The chemistry we have bonded goes a long way. We are now focusing on leadership for this season."
Fairview was undefeated at Dafford Smith Stadium in the regular season of 2023. The Aggies will be playing with plenty of emotion to honor Smith, who passed away in June at the age of 88.
The Aggies have only one home game in September. It will be on the 6th when the West Point Warriors visit.
Three consecutive games at home will consist on October 11 vs. Priceville, October 18 against Sardis and October 25 vs. East Limestone.
Fairview is in Region 7 of 5A this year with West Point, Lawrence County, Russellville, Priceville, Ardmore and East Limestone. The Aggies claimed five victories out of six in their hotly contested region that did not change, with the exception of Priceville moving up from 4A.
The Aggies have been averaging five victories per the regional schedule since 2020. Fairview moved into the 5A class in 2020 and looks to remain in this level in its future.
Photo of Fairview football coach George Redding in front of his players Thursday during "Meet the Aggies" at Dafford Smith Stadium.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
