By Jim Hyde
Guest Columnist
If one goes online and looks at the official records of the N.C. High School Athletic Association, you will see that the title of most Football Championships (16) is given to Reidsville.
Reidsville won their first state championship when they won the Class B division – that’s correct, Class B, not 1A, 2A, etc., in 1930.
In 1930, there were only three divisions, Class A, Class B and Six-man. Reidsville went on to win five more Class B state championship titles by 1940.
In 1943 and 1945 – which included the Six-man Championship division – Reidsville won the Class A state championships. In 1950, classifications were changed in order to add “AAA” and “AA” Divisions to the Class “A” and “Class Six-man” divisions. In 1950 and 1954, Reidsville won the “AA” Division state championships.
Changes are numerous and today, Reidsville is winning state titles in “Class 2A”, not “2AA.” Throughout Reidsville’s storied career, it has played in and won crowns in at least four divisions, including the 1970 “Class AAA West” state championship, all of which are counted in the record books by the state.
If my math is correct, the trophy case at Robbinsville High School is correct and most importantly, the official record keepers of North Carolina high school athletics are correct, Robbinsville has 15 state championships, not 14.
If you look at the signs entering the Town of Robbinsville, they recognize the actual first state championship team from Robbinsville. But why are we as a community as a whole not accepting the 1965 win? The state has us on record as winning the Class 1A, Region 4 state championship.
You can bet back 56 years ago, our community was strutting around like banty roosters in a coop full of hens after Robbinsville was crowned state champions. It was really good bragging rights, especially since according to the state records, Andrews had laid claim to the title for the prior two consecutive years.
My point is, look at all the divisions Reidsville played in and got credited for, in order to hold the distinction as having won the most championships.
We are no different. Regardless of what division in which we have gained the title, the state treats us the same as they do Reidsville: a title is a title, as far as the official record keepers for North Carolina high school athletics are concerned.
If by chance, we win another championship before Reidsville, then the state records will show we are tied at 16 with Reidsville. If we win two more before Reidsville, then we will be able to lay claim to the most state championship titles. If that happens, I bet locally it does not go unnoticed, nor swept aside.
Personally, I believe it is time we give those young men who are now or would be in their 70’s from 1965 the same recognition as the young men from the following 14 teams. We have neglected them for too long, since 1969 to be exact.
Let’s pull together and make sure everyone recognizes it’s 15, not 14.
Jim Hyde is a resident of Robbinsville and played on the 1974 Black Knights state championship team