Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 3, 1994 TAG: 9412050019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
For the Green Wave football fans of this small mountain town, there has been little to cheer about in recent years, while the Pearisburg-based Giles Spartans have enjoyed state championships and other post-season playoff glory since 1980.
But things are different this year, and Green Wave fans want everyone to know it.
"It's well-deserved," said Eric Conley, a 1992 graduate of Narrows High School. "We feel it's about time we got some respect around the county - show people that we're here and they need to pay attention to Narrows football."
Today the Green Wave will travel to Big Stone Gap to play the Appalachia Bulldogs for the Group A Division 1 state semifinal playoff, while the 1993 Division 2 state champion Spartans are staying home.
And as one might guess, Narrows has playoff fever.
"That's the one thing I admire about this town is how they stand behind their football team," said Travis Price, owner of the Shoppe Smart Grocery in Narrows. "I haven't been to many away games that we didn't have more fans than the home team."
Narrows High School has no booster club to support its athletic program, leaving spiritual and financial backing in the hands of team players, parents, fans and business leaders.
Like many shop and restaurant owners, Price supports the football team as much as he can, donating soft drinks for pep rallies and sometimes feeding the team before or after games.
But unlike other businesses in Narrows, Price's grocery is a spiritual home of sorts for the Green Wave, as is evident by its green and gold decor.
"I've supported them for years," Price said. "I think they're a great bunch of guys. I see no reason why they won't win."
The rest of the town agrees.
"We just love Green Wave football," said Linda Craft, who graduated from Narrows High School in the early '70s. "Once you're a Green Wave fan it's in your blood."
Besides decorating Price's grocery every weekend during football season, Craft makes brownies for Green Wave players during away games and helps organize fan support. She said that she and at least two busloads of fans would journey more than 100 miles to Big Stone Gap for the playoff game.
"Our fans will be there, I can tell you," she said, her voice still hoarse from last Saturday's game. "That 'other team' up the road always gets all the credit. We're the team this year."
But fans of the ``other team'' in Giles County say they're willing to cheer for their cross-county neighbors, as long as they're not playing the Spartans.
"Oh, you've got some that's not going to pull for them," said Arnold Tickle, a self-described Super Spartan who roams the Giles sidelines during games to fire up the fans. "But I think most of the fans here will root for Narrows. This is their year."
by CNB