In 1978, Harry Wayne Parrish accepted the head-coaching position at Northview High School. The school was about to field their first football team and he saw an opportunity to lead the new program. His first team went 6–4 and the second team reached the state playoffs finishing with a 9–2 record. Parrish led Northview to state championships in 1981 and 1985.
The 1981 State Champs team was led by Larry Roberts (University of Alabama, NFL), Brent Gilbert (Auburn University), Tim Whaley (Southeastern Louisiana) and Dickey Lillard (Troy University). That Cougars team defeated Carver-Birmingham, 7-6, to go 13-1 on the season for the school’s first state title.
The 1984 season featured some talented players but resulted in the school’s first losing campaign. The 1985 senior class had a medicore 9th grade season, but were undefeated as 10th and 11th graders on the junior varsity. Surprisingly, they started the 1985 season with a 1-3 record before turning it around by winning 10 of last 11 games. All four losses were by seven points or less. Amazingly, the Cardiac Cougars played in five overtime games, going 3-2. Some notable records set that year included holding Blount to 33 yards rushing and setting a Cramton Bowl playoffs record for passing yards with 386 yards in a big comeback win.
Here are a few memories from that magical season.
