I have aquestion. Did Beechwood not play for the state championship the first time against Murray at EKU in the 70's? Mike Murray was the quarterback. Great ballplayer.Beechwood lost that game.

 

Yes, this is true. Beechwood went to the state finals for the first time ever in the fall of 1974. Unfortunately, they did not come home with a win. The graduating class of 75 was loaded with great atheletes, led by Mike Murray. Billy Ahlers was also on that team. I am proud to say I attended that game, and actually married one of those great players.

 

I was also there 10 years later when the Tigers made their second, and victorious trip down state. Had a brother on the team.

 

The 90's was a great decade for the Tigers. My daughter was two months old in 91 when I shamelessly left her with my sister, buckled my two toddlers in the car and drove to Louisville to see them play. My kids have great memories of going to those games over the years.

 

I pride myself on being one of the few people who have gone to see Beechwood play at state every time they have gone. Cant't wait to go tomorrow. If I am not mistaken, there is a young Ahlers on the team this year. David's son?

 

Would loved to have seen some of those films. Brings back so many memories. Good Luck Tigers! Make more great memories for you and your fans!

On a personal note, we (Beechwood) barely beat Paris in Beechwood's first ever state football championship in 1984. Both teams were about even, if we played ten games I doubt either team wins more than six...

 

Let me give some shoutouts to Scott Tackett, Chris Bowling, Steve Alhers, and Rodney Miller. There are many more guys I could mention but those four seniors were all stellar high school football players.

 

Chris Bowling had a senior year that was pretty darn good. State Champion QB and led the state in batting average for baseball. Waaaayyy better athlete than big bro Mike. :lol2:

Beechwoodfan. You are right B-wood had a really good team that year but Murray was a machine. Had 2 lineman that went D1. Fred Mariani was coach following Slagel who took Beechwood to their first post season game the year before.Like you I have been to every Beechwood Championship.Kind of an interesting trivial fact that would only interest No. Ky. people.In '74 The manager of the holiday Inn in FT. Mitchell, would hire Beechwood football players to work in the restaurant and kitchen,he was kind of a jock himself. The manager of the Holiday Inn in '74 was Jeff Ruby.

I have aquestion. Did Beechwood not play for the state championship the first time against Murray at EKU in the 70's? Mike Murray was the quarterback. Great ballplayer.Beechwood lost that game.

 

If I recall that was a close game, possibly 14-7? The next year, coach Barre's first year, the win Vs Ludlow slipped away at the end, Ludlow went on to win the state title that year.

Beechwoodfan. You are right B-wood had a really good team that year but Murray was a machine. Had 2 lineman that went D1. Fred Mariani was coach following Slagel who took Beechwood to their first post season game the year before.Like you I have been to every Beechwood Championship.Kind of an interesting trivial fact that would only interest No. Ky. people.In '74 The manager of the holiday Inn in FT. Mitchell, would hire Beechwood football players to work in the restaurant and kitchen,he was kind of a jock himself. The manager of the Holiday Inn in '74 was Jeff Ruby.

 

I'm probably misreading but Fred was in his second year of coaching BW in 1974. Slagle was there in 1972 and did take them to their first postseason game. Fred's first year was a 9-1 team who lost to Ludlow and didn't make the playoffs. Ludlow made a great stand at the goaline to win the district that year.

Beechwoodfan. You are right B-wood had a really good team that year but Murray was a machine. Had 2 lineman that went D1. Fred Mariani was coach following Slagel who took Beechwood to their first post season game the year before.Like you I have been to every Beechwood Championship.Kind of an interesting trivial fact that would only interest No. Ky. people.In '74 The manager of the holiday Inn in FT. Mitchell, would hire Beechwood football players to work in the restaurant and kitchen,he was kind of a jock himself. The manager of the Holiday Inn in '74 was Jeff Ruby.

 

I used to babysit at that Holiday Inn at that time. My brother worked there as well. Jeff Ruby fired him!

 

Last year Beechwood recognized the 1974 team at a game (40 th reunion! Hard to believe). There was a party afterwards. Fred Mariani and Bernie Barre came. We did miss Ben Powell, who coached those boys to a freshman championship.

 

All night the men kept saying. Remember that one game..., remember that play we ran... Remember practice when? They had great fun reminiscing...40 years later.

 

Just finished walking my dog and was so happy to see all the players state posters displayed in the windows of local businesses. It has been awhile. Go Tigers!

If I recall that was a close game, possibly 14-7? The next year, coach Barre's first year, the win Vs Ludlow slipped away at the end, Ludlow went on to win the state title that year.

 

14-0.

If I recall that was a close game, possibly 14-7? The next year, coach Barre's first year, the win Vs Ludlow slipped away at the end, Ludlow went on to win the state title that year.

 

Score was 14-0 Murray.

murray 7-0 Beechwood 1st and goal on like the 3. I believe it was Buckley, scores, Called back for holding or something. Murray takes over Beechwood lost all momentum. Never recovered. Great game though.

I can't help but notice that regular Beechwood posters have nothing to say in this thread. Glad to hear Rash is bringing up the history of Beechwood Football, to those more recent Tigers, that championship drive and toughness is what has been missing the last few years.

A good reminder of the tradition they are fighting for. That the jersey they wear and that tiger paw on their helmet stands for more than just themselves, but for an entire program, stretching over years of success, as well as a whole community of supporters. All the more reason to be 1st class all the way, no matter the outcome.

I can't help but notice that regular Beechwood posters have nothing to say in this thread. Glad to hear Rash is bringing up the history of Beechwood Football, to those more recent Tigers, that championship drive and toughness is what has been missing the last few years.

 

A good reminder of the tradition they are fighting for. That the jersey they wear and that tiger paw on their helmet stands for more than just themselves, but for an entire program, stretching over years of success, as well as a whole community of supporters. All the more reason to be 1st class all the way, no matter the outcome.

 

Beechwood has had many fine football teams but before all the success of the 90s and beyond Beechwood played pretty hard core football. Additionally, Coach Mariani and one of the greatest men I have ever known, Coach Barre, knew what they were doing.

Chris Bowling had a senior year that was pretty darn good. State Champion QB and led the state in batting average for baseball. Waaaayyy better athlete than big bro Mike. :lol2:

 

Mike was the better talker but you are right Chris was the athlete of the family. He was also a very good guard on the hoops team for Coach Shipley.

 

In short, Chris Bowling was a great high school QB. He was a quiet leader, he was always cool and collected, and most of all he was a very accurate passer.

 

The 1984 Beechwood team had a D1 RB in Scott Tackett but our passing attack was "pro level" for 1984 and Chris Bowling was the key.

More on Scott Tackett, I talked to his wife Lori about this thread (Lori is sweet, hot woman from Beechwood that went on to be a UK Cheerleader) and she had this to say about Scott:

 

That's hilarious...he is still a beast!! It helps when it comes to moving furniture too!!!

Not to get off topic, but when I was going to EKU I had a couple classes with former Beechwood great Brandon Berger. I know he was a really good running back in high school. I was surprised when I saw he elected to play baseball instead of football. He obviously made the correct choice because he did make it to the majors. Does anyone know what offers he had to play football?

 

I don't want to jump too far in the past but I got a little info on this. Brandon had a bunch of major college football offers but they all wanted him to play defense and he wanted to play offense. On a side note, UK didn't show any interest in him.

 

On a personal note, especially having coached Brandon, I always wanted to see what he would do playing RB on a D1 team, he was definitely good enough.

 

And for Brandon, I clearly remember it was the Lloyd game of his junior year when the real Brandon Berger showed up. He was good before that, but Lloyd of his junior year that D1 RB showed up. What else can I say, welcome to Class A Football Juggs.

 

Finally, Brandon played a long time in the minor leagues, a lot in Triple A I believe, and he also spent some time with the Kansas City Royals.