Center Point and Arab Football Programs team up for Shades of Service


Center Point, AL – When the Center Point Eagles and the Arab Knights meet on the gridiron Wednesday morning, the clash on the field was more than a prep for the 2018 football season.  

“These are the kind of events that the kids will remember forever, they may not remember game three of their sophomore season but they’re going to remember this when they’re 30 or 40 years old.”  Center Point head coach George Bates said.  

Predominately African American Center Point and mostly Caucasian Arab are unlikely to meet on the field in 2018 but the athletes on each squad were even more unlikely to forge a bond with each other off the field.  

Enter Shades of Service. 

First year head coaches George Bates (Center Point) and Oscar Glasscock (Arab) collaborated to bring the 5A squads together not only to get ready for the upcoming season but also to introduce their teams to a culture that they might not experience in their communities.  

The teams began the day with a combined practice followed by an 11-on-11 scrimmage at Eagle Stadium.  After knocking heads on the field, the Knights and Eagles teamed up to clean up the eastern Jefferson County community.

The Eagles plan to return the favor next year with a trip north to Arab.  

Coach Bates will lead the Eagles on the gridiron for the first time August 30th, on the road, at 7A Mountain Brook.

Glasscock will make his Arab debut August 24th against the Boaz Pirates in the Knights new off campus stadium.   

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