There were to be no black roses or dead-flower bouquets sent last night or today by enterprising boosters, and no one expects to get spit on tonight when Bledsoe County plays football at Sequatchie County.
“The boosters used to do some wild things, like sending a dozen black roses to their own team and try to make them think the other team had done it,” said Sequatchie coach Chad Barger, a former Bledsoe player.
“It’s not as bad as it used to be, although I remember playing at the old Sequatchie field where you had to run through a tunnel to get out on the field. [Visiting players] always seemed to get spit on or worse as they came out of that tunnel. But it’s still a big rivalry and a big money game. There are people in both communities that might come to one game all year — this one.”
Barger’s Indians host his alma mater tonight in a game that besides rivalry rights could decide a playoff spot and quite possibly a first-round home playoff game. TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress is expected to be present.
“It’s a game where players from both schools play their best and their hardest,” Warriors coach Jason Reel said.