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Don’t get me wrong, while the bowl games were fun for me and Tracey, the state championship games were more special for me on a personal level. I really enjoyed the opportunities of playing in a state championship game! Four of them played in Kenan Stadium and one played in Greensboro. They were good times in my life for me personally.

To play for a state championship has to be an accomplishment that I wish every high school coach could achieve. To watch your players excel after 15 games in a year and numerous Eastern championships, is a coach’s dream! I watched my players compete against some of the best teams in the state.

We always took a Trailways bus to Chapel Hill. We made enough money to take it and had a pep rally to top that off! We had another pep rally when we got home and telephones were not allowed on the bus. They could tell how far we had to go . The townspeople were invited out to the school.

The city council in Williamston held a breakfast for the team. All the eggs and bacon you could eat! We didn’t spend the night. Other teams spent the night and I always said you could get better nights sleep in your own bed. They lost, so I didn’t have to explain to them anymore.

The local radio station broadcast the game intended for those that couldn’t come to the game but listened to it. They would have it up to their ears and come to the pep rally to see the champions of the state!

On the way back, the kids wore their jerseys and had their state championship hats on for the pep rally. Each time we had the highway patrol meet us at the Martin County line! The patrolmen had their sirens on all the way to Williamston and they would pull into the parking lot.

We would have a night of champions when we got back to pay for their rings. Jerry Cornwell saw to that and headed it up. One year we made enough to pay for cheerleading to get their rings and principals and secretaries got one too!
I wish every coach could win a state championship. It would be something they could cherish and the next year’s team would have to be encouraged to attain that.

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington, N.C. The Original Washington!

Harold Jr.