PREP FOOTBALL: Collision of Hartselle, homecoming weeks at Cullman add flare to epic rivalry

Published 8:00 am Tuesday, October 6, 2015

It’s homecoming week at Cullman High, but there’s a different “H” week that has the Bearcat campus and community buzzing unlike any other time of the year.

Hartselle Week has finally arrived, and the stakes are at their usual highest. The Black and Gold enter with a 5-1 overall record surprising to most everyone but themselves, while the Tigers will head to Oliver Woodard Stadium Friday night sporting a 4-2 mark and identical 2-1 ledger in Class 6A, Region 8.

The unwritten rules of homecoming generally work a little something like this: Each school tries to schedule a program it feels it has the best chance of beating.

That obviously wasn’t the case for Cullman — which is sharing its home field with Fairview while Dafford Smith Stadium remains condemned — when it came to settling on a slot for the Tigers in 2015, but the coinciding of homecoming and Hartselle Week do present a few unique challenges nonetheless.

Bearcat coach Mark Britton admitted it’s not ideal for the two to mix, mostly due to distractions. Still, he’s been around long enough to realize “everyone wants to play well when you play against Hartselle, regardless if it’s homecoming week or not.”

“If this game means a lot to them, they will be focused,” Britton said. “They’ll find a way to enjoy the week, but they’ve also got a lot of work to do Friday night at 7 o’clock.”

Fittingly enough, New Hope transfer Chase Landrum strutted in for practice Monday donning a Hawaiian shirt for “Tacky Tourist Day.” As his coach indicated, the disruptive defensive end does plan to have fun this week.

It’s just not his No. 1 priority.

“Football’s always first,” the senior said. “It’s homecoming. It’s a big thing. But it’s not going to be as big as Friday night.”

Looking back on his five seasons at New Hope, Landrum pegged Plainview as his previous school’s biggest rival. The 3A teams have met 15 times, with New Hope finally ending an 11-game and 45-year series skid just last month.

Doesn’t exactly hold a candle to Cullman-Hartselle, does it?

The Bearcats and Tigers have matched up more than 90 Friday nights since 1916, with the Black and Gold holding a slim all-time advantage.

That’s the kind of history Landrum can get behind.

“I’m actually extremely happy and excited to be a part of this rivalry,” he said. “I’m just ready to see what it’s like.”

Two players who aren’t strangers to the annual clash of perennial contenders are Zach Glenn and Caden Winn.

Glenn was on the field when his older brother, Tyler, quarterbacked the ’Cats to their last win over the Tigers in 2013. He and Winn were also around during Cullman’s disheartening 28-0 loss at Hartselle a year ago.

Both are chomping at the bit for Friday’s shot at redemption.

“You can’t play Hartselle without having emotion. It’s almost impossible,” Glenn said. “Honestly to me, it’s like Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State. It’s the biggest game of the year. You have to win this game to have a good season.”

Added Winn: “You’ve got to get excited. It’s Cullman-Hartselle. They’re our rivals. We don’t like Hartselle, and Hartselle doesn’t like Cullman.”

Check out Thursday’s print edition and www.cullmantimes.com for a Game of the Week preview on this Region 8 showdown.