TD44 aims to revive the tradition of the PCHS Football Booster Club

Kenny Myers, Tony Powell and Brad Smith form TD44, a new booster club for the football team of the Pulaski County High School. From left: Kenny Myers and Tony Powell. (William Paine/Patriot Publishing)

Information meeting will take place on March 10th on March 10th in Valley Harvest Ministries

By William Paine

Patriot publishing

Lately three former football players of the Pulaski County High School have recently come together and decided to form a booster club to support and expand the PCHS football program.

Kenny Myers, Tony Powell and Brad Smith decided to form the TD44 club to revive the Booster tradition built by the former TouchDown Club, which supported the PCHS football teams for many years.

“We wanted Dan Callahan, Jay Vest, Bob Hudson, HW Huff, Bob Ingraham and all the boys who really made the touchdown club to Dan Callahan, Jay Vest, Bob Hudson, HW Huff, Myers said.

“The number 44 was added to honor PCHS coach Joel Hicks. He wore number 44 when he was a player in West Virginia. “

Myers (class of '86) played a defensive tackle in the PCHS football team.

“We went 10 and 0 in my second year and then again 9 and 1 and 9 and 1,” said Myers. “When I was at school, we got jackets and things at the end of the year. Of course we won district and regional championships, but even if they did not win, they still have a sweatshirt or something … especially the seniors and they didn't get anything. “

Powell and Smith graduated from PCHs in 1990.

“I was the kicker,” said Powell. “We went 10 and 0 in my last year, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Cougars should have a winning season almost every year. We only have to arouse more interest in sport with fans and players. “

“Every child in Pulaski County, whether it is basketball, football or whatever, should have a booster club that supports them, and that is what we support the children in the county who want to play football,” emphasized Myers. “I am sure that there are now some children in the community who may not be able to afford a few tunnels, and maybe that's why they will not come out for football. We could help. We also want to award services. In the past, the greater the greater the performance, the greater the reward. “

It has been five long years since the PCHS Cougar Football Team had a winning season. The Cougars finished 4: 6 in 2022 and 4: 7 in 2023. Despite the loss of loss, the team actually made the playoffs this season. Last season they ended 3: 7 of a 0-6 start to win three of their last four games.

The number of students who try for the team compared to the previous years, as well as for football fans. Meyers, Powell and Smith hope that the TD44 club will help to change this.

“I know that the enrollment is down, but not that bad,” said Myers. “We should have 40 or 50 children out there. When I played there were almost 3,000 students. Now I think it's 1,100 or something like that. We know that it is different now, but the children should be supported. Hopefully children will see what the football players get and think: “Hey, I want to be part of it.” Those who decide for some reason not to play themselves for any reason can decide to get out and play. “

The TD44 Booster Club will hold its first information meeting in Dublin in Dublin on Monday, March 10th, at 6:30 p.m. in Valley Harvest.

“Family market and corner deli provide us with food for this meeting,” said Powell. “We have food and drinks, so come in. Get something to eat and just listen to us.”

“Membership costs $ 100,” said Myers. “This buys a hat and a golf shirt with collar and access to everything we do. We will meet at the high school during the season. Hopefully some coaches can show us a film up there and give us a little insight into the time with the season. We shoot 20 to 25 people for this first meeting and hopefully it will grow from there. Cougar -Alumni from all over the country contacted and donated me so that we can do our integration items. “

Smith, Powell's former teammate, helps the TD44 team to incorporate itself as a non-profit organization. Powell and Myers have known each other for a while.

“I knew Kenny forever,” said Powell. “He was in the touchdown club when I played.”

All three founding members of TD44 played under the trainer Hicks, whose legacy in the High School Football Heritage of Pulaski County is great. Under Hicks' lead over 24 seasons, the Cougars won the state championship together with 15 districts and six regional crowns.

“When they won the district title, the regional title and even the state championship, Coach Hicks always said that the touchdown club was a great help,” added Mason Clark, who recently documented, published “The Days of Gold”, a book that documented Pulaski County High School Football.

“Before Joel ever had a training session, he said:” We will win championships, “said Myers.” There will be a time when we climb and fear on the I-81 towards Roanoke.

“I think this is a large part of why Hicks was successful early because he had a very well financed, very well -supported program,” added Clark (class from 2018). “When Hicks came in, we had been in PCHs for five years. The team had fought a lot up to this point, but they had a lot of people ready to do everything that was needed for the profit. The Cougars won 14 games in the first five years. We were probably the worst triple team in the state. The high schools of Dublin and Pulaski were both very good in football, but even after consolidation there was a strong rivalry between the students of every school. They hadn't been good as Cougars, but in the previous years they tasted good luck. The high schools of Dublin and Pulaski won eight or nine district titles in the last 15 years before consolidation. “

The first task of the business for TD44 will be to buy hats and shirts for the members. Myers and Powell then plan to set up fundraising events such as a golf tournament, a car show and bingo games.

“We want to get the Bingo game going again that we have had for several years,” said Myers. “That influenced the club quite a bit.”

“Everyone loves bingo,” added Powell.

“Everyone hopes that we can turn the Cougars over,” said Myers. “In the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, a feeling of pride in the community was. When they went to Salem or when they went to Wytheville or Bluefield, all of their Puma things were wearing. They knew where you came from and what you were about, but now we're just starting from the ground. You have to crawl before you go and you have to go before running. We are looking for some people in the community who love football and love to help the children in the community. If you have these two criteria, we want them. “

Contact Myers or Powell via e -mail at TD44CLUB@Gmail. Otherwise, the TD44 Club registrations will be available at a Harvest Way in Dublin at the Valley Harvest Ministries at the meeting on March 10th.