Good Column about Clintwood

[Slobber Knocker]

Justin Hamilton rushed for more than 3,000 yards during his career at Clintwood.
He was named a first-team all-state running back and defensive back in high school, before starting at safety for Virginia Tech during college. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and recently played for the Washington Redskins.
"[But] I'd give my whole career back,"? Hamilton said on Saturday, "if I could come back and be on this team with these seniors."?
Hamilton, sporting a bright-green mohawk for support, watched Clintwood's seniors play Holston at Ralph Cummins Stadium in the Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 State Semifinals on Saturday.
As welcome as Hamilton's support might have been, the Greenwave class of '08 didn't need his help. They drubbed Holston 41-21, finishing their final game at Cummins Stadium as they had 17 others ? with a victory.
The Greenwave's 12 seniors have a combined 17-5 record at home in their four years at Clintwood, including an 11-1 mark over the past two seasons.
"It's a dream come true,"? Greenwave senior lineman Russell Hull said of winning a state semifinal game in front of the Clintwood fans. "We didn't even think that the field was going to be playable with how wet it was. But the community stepped up ... you can't ask for a better atmosphere."?
"It's been over 30 years since we've had a state game here in Clintwood,"? senior quarterback Heath Counts said. "It's tradition. There's nothing better in the world."?
Hull and Counts said that the dozen now-seniors used to sit in the Cummins Field stands as eight- and nine-year-olds and dream about donning the green and gold of Clintwood.
Together, they watched their idols Hamilton and John Michael, part of the 1999 Greenwave squad, bring home the Lonesome Pine District Championship.
"We wanted to be like the 70s [state-title championship] teams,"? Hull said. "That's all we ever talked about. My brother used to play on that 1999 team. We used to look up to them like crazy. But now they're kind of looking up at us."?
While they were looking up, Clintwood head coach Rick Mullins was looking down into youth league football, eagerly awaiting their arrival.
"They had great teams, undefeated seasons, all the way through JV,"? Mullins said. "We just knew we had a special group coming."?
The current Greenwave players have not disappointed their coach.
"Sometimes you're ready to see your seniors go,"? Mullins said. "This group is totally different. They've been a joy to have around and we've enjoyed every minute of it with them."?
The seniors have amassed a 34-15 record during four years; their LPD Championship this season was the school's first since the 1999 squad and its back-to-back-to-back VHSL state tournament appearances. And the current Clintwood crew has made Greenwave football relevant again for the first time since the late "?90s ? not to mention their consecutive state championship game berths.
It was more of the same on Saturday. Hull gave senior running back Chris Robinson massive holes to run through, allowing the running back to gain 185 yards.
Counts threw for three touchdowns and senior fullback Derek Robbins ran for two more scores and kicked all of the Greenwave's extra points.
But the most dominating performance came from the Clintwood defense.
A defense featuring linemen Hull and senior Mikell Rose, as well as senior linebackers Robbins and Alec Osborne, held Holston's Eric Mefford ? a 1,500-yard runner during the regular season ? to zero yards on 13 carries.
Combined, the seniors' efforts pulled the Greenwave into the VHSL Group A, Div. 1 state title game against Franklin, which will be played at 12 p.m. next Saturday in Salem, Va.
However, more than the stats and more than the championship rings ? if they should come ? Clintwood's current crop of seniors will be remembered for re-injecting the fervor of football back into the streets of a small Southwest Virginia town.
"These guys have no idea what they meant to the community and how many people they brought together,"? Hamilton said. "Last year, I went to the state game and people saw other people that they hadn't seen in 15 or 20 years. You could've gone into any store in the town and robbed it today, because the whole city's shut down.
"I'd just give anything to be a part of it."?

[2000Wave]

Very good article....and I don't recall having John Michael on the team my senior yr of 99...Maybe it was a yr after or few yrs after..

[greencrest1272]

That quote confused me as well.


Great article though.

[SWVA-Football]

The fact that Hamilton stays so close to his hometown even after all the fame shows just what type of person he is.