Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 12, 1993 TAG: 9312120069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Medium
Thousands of them rose before dawn and drove five hours from the hills of Southwest Virginia to the suburbs of Northern Virginia.
Once at the W.T. Woodson High School stadium, they filled the visitor bleachers and huddled against a stiff, frigid wind that blew in their faces all afternoon.
All of that, and the reward was a loss by their beloved Cougars in the Group AAA football championship game, 14-7 to Annandale.
Wintry afternoons, long journeys and championship football games are nothing new to the Cougars and their fans.
Those were the circumstances last year when Pulaski County High School won its first state title.
The similarities gave rabid Cougar fans a reason to believe that a repeat was in order.
So they came in caravans of cars and buses from the country to the city, strutting around hotels on the night before the game like happy conventioneers.
"This is good weather. This is football weather," Jimmy McGrady said.
McGrady stood at the top of the bleachers, hands jammed in his parka, as the teams warmed up below.
He and other Pulaski County residents arrived more than an hour before kickoff, passing the time by rattling cowbells, tooting diesel horns and razzing the Annandale players.
"We've got the followers. They don't care where the team plays - could be Florida, they'd be there," McGrady said.
"Florida - now that would be nice," he added, grinning against the wind.
However, fervor soon gave way to frustration as the game began. Pulaski County fumbled twice during their first possession and never thawed out during the first half.
Being scoreless was an indignity, but so was having to stand in a row 15 deep to reach one of the four portable toilets provided for the Pulaski side of the stadium.
Cougar fans roared again as the second half began. But the noise soon froze in their throats as Annandale continued to thwart Pulaski County's team.
As the game wore on, the weak sunshine subsided completely and the brisk winds blew colder.
The Cougars rallied for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter and created some heat and suspense by driving deep in Annandale territory with two minutes left.
Yet Pulaski County's drive froze to a halt. Annandale celebrated at midfield while the Cougars fans looked on in disbelief.
Slowly the Cougars fans filed out of the stands, headed toward the parking lot and a long, dark drive home.
by CNB