What has happened in K-Town? This is a program I have a whole alot of respect for years. Kannapolis is a football program with very high expectations. They haven't had a losing record since 1976 when Gerald Ford was President and Disco was in the making. Kannapolis has won 2 3A State Title out of 4. Their fans expect to compete for State Title every year. I have seen fans get really upset if they finish a season with 11 or 12 wins. This is year they are in danger of having a losing record for the 1st time in 45 years. Kannapolis is 3-4 and 0-4 in Conference. They have 3 games left in the season with South Iredell, Mooresville, and Concord. They might can beat South Iredell, I don't believe they can beat Mooresville, Concord might be a toss up. I hear Kannapolis JV not having a good season. The big ? How does Kannapolis Middle football program look like at this time? Kannapolis is a big working class, Blue collar Mill Town. And recently they tore one of the the old plant building and built a Minor League baseball field home of the Kannapolis Cannonballers in the downtown Kannapolis to make the downtown into a destination. They have upgraded downtown Kannapolis with Condos and apartment complex if I am not mistaken. With all of that might help the Kannapolis program to possibly get more good athletes at Kannapolis Brown High School. In that game vs West Cabarrus at the 1 yardline. I would guarantee you Bob Boswell or Bruce Hardin would have run the ball with smash mouth football and would have scored TD to win. What is future of Kannapolis football? I hear alot of fans are not crazy about the HC, but thats what I hear. I will say 45 years with out a losing record is remarkable for a traditional School. I have enjoyed Kannapolis powerful football program with the Kelly Green and white uniform. With the Kelly Green Helmet with big white K. I wish Kannapolis best of luck and hope they can avoid their 1st losing season in 45 years. Any Kannapolis fans or anyone like give their thoughts?
Future of Kannapolis Wonders football
- Thread starter Doppleganger#
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K-Town will never be what they once were. To many new Schools in the county that have diluted the talent level.
If they would have converted on one of those “stupid”plays the coaches made a great call but since they didn’t it’s their fault …hindsight is 20/20,coaches coach and players make the plays
I think your way way off base with your statement, kann is a school with 1600+ kids, the only team in the entire city of 60k, there is not another school with 5.5 miles in any direction of kann, nobody is pulling kids away from them as far a other school drawn lines. turnout is low with 37 varsity players, jv team is losing and not real good, middle school teams didnt play last year and are behind with about average numbers. I've been here 30yrs now since moving from concord after graduating and saying it forever, this old mill town and its people are old in age with about 53% of the city being over the age of 50. The people moving here lets face it arnt moving here to play football they are much better at soccer, track as those sports have really got better. These new apts and townhomes being built are for smaller or single people with less children, the career minded more than the family driven type. This town continues to grow older and older, don't be surprised to see 1-3 players transfer after this year, maybe a asst. coach shakeup. i expect turnout from middle school coming into 9th next year to be lower again, current jv numbers going forward into varsity next season arn't to large either. it is what it is, kann just got lucky and hasn't had to deal with it for the last 5-7 yrs like the other schools have.. It will take time to adjust to this new model of the sport that is shaping itself right now. I understand they want to play 3a but that nots going to happen with 4a numbers, there saving grace for the last 20yrs has been no other schools in the entire town, the very best thing that kind happen here now is to build a new high school, then they could move back down to 3a, but you would lose athlete's if that happens so its really a sharp double edge sword they would be dealt, moving down gaining that vs giving up players to a new school.. just my take on this current town he live in
I hate to hear this. Burns has played them several times up there in the playoffs and they have always been an opponent we respected, even if the outcome didn’t go the way we wanted. Hope they can get it turned around.
I personally think AL Brown will be ok in the future. One thing that sticks out in my mind is that covid has thrown a monkey wrench in HS football. Like Statesville they didn’t have a JV team last spring. This fall the JVs are struggling with I think maybe 1 win so far. I know with my school South Iredell the numbers had went down. Hopefully if things can get back to normal we will see some of these teams get straighten out. JMO
These teams are no where near where Kannapolis was under Coach Massey or Hardin - The demographics n all have changed imo but They have talent still but with 5 + schools outside of the area any kid can up n move n we have see that I mean Ex 2 former kids went from brown to East Rowan so
Coaching maybe apart of it
Coaching maybe apart of it
Kannapolis reminds me of Albemarle, Thomasville, Lexington, and a few other of the old SPC WNCHSAA towns. Populations have aged, the middle class has dwindled, other educational opportunities, kids not growing up "Wonders." The families moving to the Charlotte area for work or leaving Charlotte are not the mill workers that had hard nosed kids that scrapped on the playgrounds. The demographics have changed. With all of that said, I think a healthy AL Brown is in a much better situation than they currently are.
Saw them play West Henderson years ago in the playoffs.When they walked out on the field ,they went all the way around the field.Had at least 60 players.What has happened to them is happening at other towns in N.C .The mills shut down and families move away.
I don’t know the answer, but I wonder. No pun intended. For years, Kannapolis fielded large varsity and jv teams. They took advantage of the eight quarter rule. When Thomasville last played them, they wiped us out both games. But a few kids starred both nights.
I asked a Kannapolis superfan how they justified doing that with that many kids….about seventy on each squad. His answer to me, right or wrong, was that the coaches met with parents prior to the season and told them that many of their kids would never see the field.
If that was true, has that caught up with them? What kind of numbers do they field now?
Varsity we had around 35 players and on the JV’s we around 45, I read somewhere it was like 30 freshmen and 15 sophomores. We had some sophomores playing varsity.
AL Brown was 2 points and a QB missing a game from being 8-2.
The loss to Lake Norman 14-13(blocked extra point)
The loss to West Cabarrus 19-18( kicker out for Covid)
The loss at Cox Mill 16-3(QB out with Covid)
The loss to Lake Norman 14-13(blocked extra point)
The loss to West Cabarrus 19-18( kicker out for Covid)
The loss at Cox Mill 16-3(QB out with Covid)
And some very questionable play calling at the end of the game of the Lake Norman and West Cabarrus games that probably cost them those games.
Off the subject a little but, that is why it’s hard to believe that J. M. Robinson is next to the race track and they are a 2a school.
I know South Iredell had over 50 players on the roster. But between injuries and early season covid kept numbers down. When I saw South Iredell at AL Brown game I only counted little over 40 players dressed. Around 5 or or so out injured on sideline. Not sure what happened to the other 8 or 10 players.
One bad year at 5-5 and easily could/should have been 8-2 and everyone is kicking them down smh. They had some unfortunate situation on and off the field that hurt them this year. If everyone stays they have some talent coming back they will be fine. If the next two or three years continues like this year then yes there maybe a problem. Until next year GO WONDERS.
We had some talented sophomore and a couple of Freshmen playing on the varsity .And in all honesty the JR. quarterback probably should have been starting.
JV’S they were 30 Freshmen and 15 sophomores on the team from what I was told.
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I will add if you had seen the JV’s at the first of the season, and then at the end of the year you could see a big difference in them.
Concussions and TBI's have hurt HS football but more head injuries occur in Soccer and Lacrosse than football. The main thing is all schools are reporting TBI's and concussions now compared to the 80's and 90's . Back in my day it was ok you got your bell rung, you ok, then get in there the coach would say and the trainers didn't have a clue about concussion protocol. Now it is a shame to hear this about K-Town. I remember in 1984 as a senior we had heard rumors and their size of team 120 players, 110 players and Coach Brett came and said there are all not true! They are only dressing out 108 players. But remember they can't put but 11 on the field at one time and one in front of you, if you do your job we score and it want matter how many are on the sidelines.
That cold 20-degree night it was cold and we came out with our 42 players with the JV starters pulled up. Kannapolis came out with their 108 players and as the coach said it didn't help them it was a hard-fought game but we won 20-0 not giving up a single first down and had held the offense to 20 yards total offense. I remember seeing K Brown for the first time and a lot of my teammates commented that looks like a college, not an HS, and the field was in a hole and was the noisest play I ever played until being inside Kenan Stadium years later.
It's a shame they only have 30 to 40 varsity players now they were a powerhouse just not the night of December 7, 1984.
Marty Pittman #55 Center Tarboro High School
That cold 20-degree night it was cold and we came out with our 42 players with the JV starters pulled up. Kannapolis came out with their 108 players and as the coach said it didn't help them it was a hard-fought game but we won 20-0 not giving up a single first down and had held the offense to 20 yards total offense. I remember seeing K Brown for the first time and a lot of my teammates commented that looks like a college, not an HS, and the field was in a hole and was the noisest play I ever played until being inside Kenan Stadium years later.
It's a shame they only have 30 to 40 varsity players now they were a powerhouse just not the night of December 7, 1984.
Marty Pittman #55 Center Tarboro High School
THSVikings55
I was on the chain crew during that game. When NCPreps.com gave Todd Gurley the Arnold Solomon Award his Senior year. I was working with Deana at the time. I had my AL Brown jacket on with the Green K. At first he thought I was from Kinston. When he found out it was a AL Brown jacket. He took me to the trophy case and showed me the 1984 Football Championship trophy.I have seen a few video clips of the 1984 Tarboro Vikings including the State Championship game vs Kannapolis. Awesome throwback clips. I have talked to a Kannapolis fans over the years. When I ask about the Tarboro game, they turn their heads and say I don't want to talk about that game. It was probably the worst Kannapolis game ever.
Hon Dines off subject, but Todd Gurley is one of the most down to earth superstars I've ever met. Son went to his camp in Tarboro. He had Marshall, Funchess and other NFL guys there. Camp was completely free and they served food. The same camp in LA was about $400. He was proud of Tarboro and their football accomplishments. Todd made it known that he was a beast on the track also. Todds a great guy.