Pittman cheerleaders and football players under the GREAT COUCH DUKE

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Comment by Karen Cole Swann on November 5, 2009 at 8:15pm

You’re invited to Gopher The Garland!

Rollercoasters
2000 19th Street ~ Bessemer, AL
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Party starts at 7, Southland starts at 9

Please join Robben Tindle, Tera York and Karen Swann as we Gopher The Garland and kick off the holiday season Gopher style!
It would be so sweet if you would bring a new unwrapped toy for the Marine Corp Toys For Tots program :) (but it's not required:)

All HHS classes and friends & family of HHS grads are WELCOME!

Comment by Kevin Hyche on January 25, 2009 at 10:11pm

The "B" team was where I started on the Pittman Jr High team. And boy do I remember tryouts! I was a scrawny kid and scared that I would not make it on the team. I was in the gym during tryouts and barely did 7 or 8 reps on the bench press of 95 pounds. I worked out all summer and came back to do 16 reps of the same weight. I remember telling Tab Whisenhunt how many I had done. I almost fell out. 2 years of hot practices and I had had enough. I quit the team when Dad bought us a ski boat. And decided that football was a lot less fun than skiing on the Warrior River with my brother and his buddies. We skiied every single day. Coach Duke's motto of "Be hostile, mobile and aggressive!" always stuck with me to this day. What a man he was. Coach Boyd was a great coach as well.

Comment by David Wellbaum on January 16, 2009 at 2:32pm

"Be hostle, mobile and aggressive!"
-Coach Duke

Comment by Terri Buttram Platt on September 10, 2008 at 5:07pm

Coach Duke was the best. He was quiet. I was sad when I read about his death in the Birmingham news.I loved those years and going for Pizza after the games. It was awesome in our black, white and orange cheerleading outfits. I did hate tryouts.

Comment by Ronnie & Dawn (Dobson) Matson on June 23, 2008 at 6:03pm

Im right there with you Higgy, had many a bad headache after practice and got that famous helmet tap, and those famous words HOSTILE ,MOBILE and AGRESSIVE. Thanks for the great memories Coach Duke. Ronnie

Comment by Mickey Stewart on April 21, 2008 at 10:46pm

Here is a newspaper article that was published when Coach Duke retired from coaching.

Comment by Nicole Ray Davis on April 6, 2008 at 1:20am

I have one group photo, on my page, of the 1987/"88 PJHS VARSITY CHEERLEADERS. It's a photo that was taken at camp at Auburn University in June of 1987. I'll try to find some more and get them on here soon!
Nicole

Comment by Earnie Franklin on March 25, 2008 at 8:42pm

My oldest son, who is now 13, is the same age I was when I first met and was so positively influenced by the great Coach Cecil Duke. I was not like most kids in Hueytown that grew up playing little league sports, but rather a Bessemer boy trying to find his way in the big city of Hueytown. I started playing for him on the B-Team and wrestling as a 7th grader. We won county championship and state championships under his awesome coaching. I still remember many of his little sayings like, "shoot, shoot, shoot," and many, many others mentioned by others. It is sad, but certainly the reality of our age group, to hear that he has passed, but I am thankful my good friend, Jeff Harris, pointed me to this site to get back in touch. Earnie

Comment by Todd Blankenship on March 25, 2008 at 4:05pm

Ill never forget that crooked pinky finger as long as I live.

Comment by David (Higgy) Higgins on March 24, 2008 at 11:20pm

As a 2 year varsity player in '82 and Captain in '83, I couldn't tell you how many pounds I lost on the practice field. But for those lost pounds came knowledge and disipline. Coach Duke was a straight forward coach and he didnt mind telling you of your mistake and he would SHOW you the right way. Just be careful where you were after scrimmage was over and every one hits a knee, his class ring made an awful loud noise when he banged it on your helmet.

Here's to you Coach Duke, for shaping so many lives without them knowing it.