On 4/15/2026 at 8:43 AM, gchs_uk9 said:

This looks great! I believe these two were playing in the old end-of-season Rec Bowl at Mount Sterling High School.

Any idea when teams moved away from long sleeve jerseys? I only go back to the 1980s and don't remember them.

Good observation. Not sure this is correct... but a guess.

 

I believe the longer sleeves were for protecting the arms. Shoulder blocks and forearm shivers took a toll on the arms. As time went on, hands were used more. In the picture below… playing QB but wearing a J Pad to play DE to the left of the defense. We made contact with our forearms. Now, most of the time, it is with our hands  

Also, football use to be almost exclusively a fall sport. It still would get hot in September, but when the season did not start until after Labor Day, generally, the temperatures would be cooler for game time. 
 

On 4/12/2026 at 6:35 AM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Covington Catholic vs. Highlands 1988. Cov Cath tight end Brian Williams (#81) shown running the ball for a touchdown in Cov Cath's 33-8 win over Highlands in the second round of the 3A playoffs. He would go on to attend Columbia University where he played football for the Lions. After college Willie took a job at Cantor Fitzgerald where he worked as a bond trader on the 104th floor of the north tower at the World Trade Center, and he died tragically in the September 11th attacks. As the recipient of the NFL Foundation's Northern Kentucky That's My Boy Award in is senior year, the award has since been renamed to bear his name.

Willie!   My friends and classmate.  Quite simply one of the nicest human beings to ever walk the earth.

On 6/26/2025 at 1:52 AM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

1975 Ludlow Panthers - Class A State Champions

Head Coach Randy Reese with team captains: #15 Nick Scharf (QB), #65 Matt Jones (OL), and #22 Jim Lokesak (HB).


1975 Ludlow Football Seniors


1975 Ludlow Panthers

Jim Lokesak was a great high school football player. Rushed for 2,001 yards in 1975 and was first team all state.

Fun fact - Ludlow was 12-1 in 1975 and their only loss was to Lloyd in their season opener.

In the bottom left picture #73 is OT Tim Wheeler. He was on this 1975 Ludlow team that is probably the greatest team in Ludlow history. Wheeler then moved to Erlanger and started at OT the next season for the undefeated 1976 state champion Lloyd Juggernauts, who many say is not only Lloyd's best team ever but one of the best in N. Ky. history. So Wheeler won back to back state titles and played on two great teams at different schools. Wheeler went on to play college football at Murray State, if I recall correctly.

I looked at and read this whole thread. Very many gems in these football team pictures over time, loved seeing all of them!