SYLACAUGA, Ala. – When Sylacauga Head Coach and Athletics Director Matt Griffith said “It’s Aggies versus everybody” at Talladega County football media days, he was simply being Coach Griffith – a man whose Sylacauga Aggie school spirit runs much deeper than football.
He had no idea the phrase would be a catalyst for unity inside – and outside – the doors of Sylacauga High School.
At media day the phrase just spilled out of Griffith as he had the podium when speaking about how many students play multiple sports, and how well the coaches get along with their student athletes.
Sylacauga, indeed, is a unique place when it comes to athletics. Every varsity spring sport made the playoffs last school year, football has made the postseason seven consecutive years and basketball has been on the greatest 4-year run in school history.
Principal Chad Murphy loved the idiom given by Griffith and ran with it, announcing it as a new slogan on the first day of school.
Since that day, “Aggies versus Everybody” has taken off like wild fire, and its not slowing down any time soon. In fact, the slogan is now on a t-shirt given to every student and faculty member at SHS after members of the staff thought it was a perfect motto to bring unanimity throughout the school from top to bottom.
The shirts were purchased directly from the Aggies’ football budget.
“I have a vision that when we walk into a pep rally, the entire pep rally is in one t-shirt, or going to a basketball game, volleyball game, soccer match or baseball and softball and our entire student body is in that shirt.” said Griffith. “Because, at the end of the day, we are saying ‘our school wants to be better than your school,’ so we did it. This is all about a unified front between our school and our sports teams.”
Friday night’s home opener vs. Chilton County should have a college football atmosphere surrounding it as the entire Sylacauga student section, which sits right on the 50 yard line, is encouraged to wear their new cardinal shirts.
“When our players look in the stands and see that, it’s something they will take a lot of pride in,” Griffith said.
Sylacauga kicks it off vs. Chilton County at 7:00 Friday night at Legion Stadium.
