1957 was a Very Good Year

The year started as Hamilton Watch Company introduced the first electric watch and on January 6, Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the third and final time and was shown from the waste up. 

1957 also was the year Wham-O produced the first frisbee and on January 20th Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated for his second term as President. 

Jimmy Hoffa would be arrested by the FBI, the Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) and in Memphis, TN - EP buys Graeland for $100,000. 

Hurricane Audrey demolishes Cameron, Louisiana killing 00 people, US Marine Major John Glenn flies a supersonic jet from California to New York in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds, and American Bandstand joins the ABC Television Network on August 5th. 

Summer is over and the 1957 school year has started and a hot preseason practice and '57 style football is being prepared at Red Level by Coach Charlie Stough and assistant James Milton.

Strough is entering his second year as the head coach after replacing Roy Davis  who left in 1955, but would return to Red Level in 1964.

Strough entered his first season coaching, according to the AHSFHS and turned the Red Level program into an immediate winner going 7-3 in 1956. 

The '56 team featured wins over Georgiana, Highland Home, Brantley and Florala, but the team faultered at Lowndes County (7-25), Andalusia (12-13) and McKenzie (6-12) setting up the record year for the Red Level Tigers. 

Coach Stough would remain at Red Level for two additional season after the championship run and then would move to Demopolis, Thompson and his final stop at Samson.  The Coach is recorded for 11 years coaching in Alabama high school football with a record of 50-52-3 and one Championship Title - his 1957 Red Level team. 

The year started off rather quietly with a 6-6 tie against Georgiana, however when Highland Home and coach Sherrill Busby's Flying Squadron meet the Tigers it started a path to victory.  H.Home was 0-2 coming into the Red Level contest and before the first was down 35-0. 

The Tigers continued their march through the schedule averaging over 50 points a game and ending as the 1A State Champion and the schools only football title. 

1957 Red Level Tigers -
Championship Season Remembered

'57 Schedule     |     '57 Final Football Poll / Awards
57 Roster / Cheerleaders